The Birth of St. John the Baptist is Totally Far Out, Man

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Church celebrates his birthday because he's the herald to Christ and proclaimed through word and works the coming of the Kingdom of God.

But why on this day?

The Feast day falls on the last day of Midsummer which began on June 21 (the solstice). This day is the longest day of the year. In some places, bonfires are lit to commemorate the enduring sun. Although there are pagan celebrations as well, fires are also called "St. John's Fire" in honor of our saint. The quote from John the Baptist is also at play here. John recognizes that once Christ is in the world, his own role will diminish: "I must decrease, while he must increase" (Jn 3:30).

 
For the hippie set, the solstice is a time to celebrate the Burning Man festival.

During this bacchanalia, a large wooden effigy of a man is set ablaze. This festival of wicker, wildness and...ummm...weed has nothing to do with St. John. As a matter of fact, he'd totally baptize those guys.

Not sure if this is Burning Man or a Diocesan Meeting...SHU-WIING!

With soap.

Marigold

Along with the bonfires, some cultures also collect various herbs for this day. St. John's wort is one such herb (again given it's name because of the day) and is hung over mantels in some homes to ward off evil. Girls in some countries weave the plant into crosses and wear them to ward off evil spirits. Maybe not so surprisingly, St. John's Wort is also medically a ward against depression. Other plants that are collected, such as marigold and chamomile, are plants that thrive in the sun and are placed on the altars of some churches on this day.

St. John's Wort, pretty flower, potent medicine.

In the Balkans, there is a custom among some people to encourage a prosperous marriage. Mothers give their daughters two coins: one gold and one silver. The gold goes in the right shoe of the girl and she puts the other in the left. and the silver one to be placed in the left shoe.The girl then supposedly goes to the Feast Day's Mass,or at least visits her priest, thus ensuring she will never be without money. This, of course, is not a Catholic belief. However, this day is also considered a "lucky" day for marriage.

Ancient Balkan coins

So, this is a pretty intricate and important feast. It's a reminder in the midst of the hot summer that Christmas is never too far away. Nor is Christ.

So, "Prepare the way of the Lord". And if you come to Mass, what the heck, put in a couple of coins. If you get rich, don't forget your priest!

Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher: pray for us!

St. Thomas More

St. John Fisher

Today is the feast day of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher: two Catholic martyrs during the English Reformation. Both men had been important figures in pre-Reformation England; both men were loyal to the Church when asked to abandon their faith; both men were publicly executed for their Catholic faith. Just prior to these deaths, the Catholic Church in England was officially suppressed and the Church of England (aka the Anglican Church) was founded by the king of England himself. The year was 1534.

The movement which gave rise to the martyrdom of these two saints (among many, many others) is a remarkable one in the history of the Catholic Church. Although it may be hard to imagine this now, before the 16th century, England had been one of the most staunchly Catholic countries in Europe. Catholicism was part of the very fabric of English society, so much so that the land of England was nicknamed "Our Lady's Dowry," implying that the ancient faith of English Catholics was worthy of comparison to a dowry given for Mary, Our Lady.

Catholic England?

Our Lady of Walsingham

The shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham near Norfolk, and the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral were two of the most popular shrines in pre-Reformation Europe. Pilgrims came from all over the world on pilgrimage to these holy sites. The see (i.e. bishop's seat) of Canterbury was founded in AD 597 and was one of the most ancient and most important sees in Western Europe. Until 1534, there was an unbroken chain of English bishops in communion with Rome which reached back nearly 1,000 years.

After King Henry VIII's decision to break communion with Rome and found an English national church, the Catholic Church in England was officially suppressed. Over the succeeding years, Catholicism waxed and waned in official favor and popular acceptance. In the 18th century, the Church was allowed to set up  "apostolic vicariates", a form of jurisdiction set up in mission territories where dioceses are not possible to establish.  It was not until the 1829 that many of the old anti-Catholic laws began to be removed from the books. In 1850 (just ten years before the American Civil War), the Catholic Church was finally allowed to re-establish dioceses throughout England.

The "Oxford Movement" and the unique situation of "Anglo-Catholics"

In the 1830s and 1840s, just a few years before the Catholic Church was officially re-established in England, a popular movement arose in English high society. Many prominent intellectuals and clerics within the Anglican Church began to argue that the Church of England is one of three branches of ancient Christianity (the other two branches, in this view, being the Catholic and Orthodox churches). They worked to inspire their Anglican brothers and sisters to reclaim many lost Catholic practices and traditions. This movement, which became known as the Oxford Movement, helped to re-establish the regular use of vestments and liturgical art within Anglican parishes and led to a renaissance of Anglican church music and to a "fuller" Anglican church calendar with more traditional feast days, etc. Those Anglicans which follow these traditions often call themselves "Anglo-Catholics" or are referred to as "high church" Anglicans.

Bl. John Henry Newman

Many within the Oxford Movement eventually became convinced that they should become Catholic and did so. Among the more well-known Anglicans who became Catholic during this period were Augustus Pugin (famed church architect), Ronald Knox (former Anglican priest and biblical expert) and, the most famous of all, John Henry Newman, a popular Anglican priest who eventually became a Cardinal in the Catholic Church and is now on the road to sainthood.


The popularity and widespread effects of the Oxford Movement within the worldwide Anglican Communion (the confederation of national churches, such as the Episcopal Church here in the United States, who are in communion with the Church of England) has had other, far-reaching consequences in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It has created groups of Anglicans that want to become Catholic but also want to retain what is good and beautiful in their Anglican heritage, in terms of worship, music and liturgical art.

In 1980, Pope John Paul II first responded to the requests of these Anglicans by issuing a "Pastoral Provision". This provision allowed the establishment of so-called "Anglican Use" Catholic parishes in the United States (the provision was limited to the U.S.) wherein some groups of Episcopalians were accepted into the Catholic Church and were allowed to establish their own parishes. These parishes use a form of the Mass based closely on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. These "Anglican Use" parishes were admitted on a case-by-case basis.

Here's another interesting fact: the 1980 Pastoral Provision also allows for the possibility of married Protestant clergy to be trained and ordained as Catholic priests. Over the past 30 years, most of the men accepted to the priesthood under this provision have been Episcopalian converts, but there have also been others: Lutherans, Methodists and even Baptists. Online stories about these men abound. Here is one. Here is another, just for examples. More examples are here, and here.

Benediction and Exposition at Our Lady of the Atonement.

Anyway, the above-mentioned Anglican Use parishes have always been a small group. As this point, there are 14 Anglican Use Catholic parishes and missions (along with an order of consecrated religious sisters) throughout the U.S. Arguably, the largest and most successful Anglican Use parishes have been in Texas. Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio and Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston are two of the largest. To reiterate: these are fully Catholic parishes, in union with Rome (and their local bishops). Their worship and parish traditions, however, have a distinctly Anglican flavor. And this has been deemed to be a very good thing.

A new chapter: Birth of the "Personal Ordinariate"

On November 4, 2009, Pope Benedict released a document which many describe as a bombshell. The document was called Anglicanorum Coetibus, and it established a new structure within the Catholic Church specifically set up to allow Anglicans from anywhere in the world to join the Catholic Church en masse. Each country's council of Catholic bishops has been encouraged to established their own "ordinariates" to this end.

Previously, Anglicans could join the Catholic Church the way that any other adult would join the church: individually, through RCIA. The old Pastoral Provision of 1980 was deemed too slow and very cumbersome (a big reason why there have only been a handful of Anglican Use parishes created in the past 30 years), and it unintentionally created a process which ultimately discouraged groups of Anglicans from joining the Church together. This new document is supportive of groups (even entire parishes) of Anglicans who want to become Catholic and encourages them "to maintain the liturgical, spiritual, and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, as a precious gift ... and a treasure to be shared."

Former Anglican bishops newly ordained as Catholic priests.

In response to the pope's initiative, on January 15, 2011, the first ordinariate was established in England and Wales. Appropriately, it is named "Our Lady of Walsingham." So far, three former Anglican bishops have been received into the Catholic Church under the ordinariate, along with about 900 laypersons and around 60 Anglican priests. Most recently, the Catholic bishops of Australia and of the U.S. have begun work on establishing ordinariates in their respective countries.

What does the future hold?

So, what does all this mean? Well, for starters, it's important to realize that things are not as they once were. Instead of only recognizing "dialogue," the Catholic Church has now paved the way for Anglicans to realize full, corporate unity with the See of Peter. It is also important to point out that the establishment of the ordinariate is not meant to be seen as a threat to our Anglican (and Episcopalian) brothers and sisters or to their beloved church. Will some Episcopalians become Catholic because of the ordinariate? Probably so. But the numbers will almost certainly be small.

Other groups of Anglicans that are already separated from the Episcopal Church will probably contribute a larger number of converts, proportionally. But all in all, the establishment of the ordinariate should be viewed as a way to more fully welcome those who were already "on their way to Rome," as it were. Far from being an attempt at "parish poaching," the ordinariate is truly a gracious gesture of outreach from our pope to fellow Christians who are seeking to be united with the successor of Peter. This is why Pope Benedict has already been called by some "the pope of Christian unity."

By establishing the ordinariate, Pope Benedict has also given explicit recognition to the beauty and good within the Anglican patrimony. He has acknowledged that there is much that is good in Anglican traditions and that those traditions are worthy of being preserved even within the Catholic Church. In a sense, Anglican heritage (many elements of which actually stretch beyond the Reformation, preserving unique aspects of pre-Reformation English Catholicism) is the heritage of the Catholic Church. The fact that this is being recognized is a very positive step.

Especially in areas of liturgy and music, the Anglican heritage certainly has much to offer the Catholic Church as a whole. By and large, in these areas the Catholic Church in the U.S. (by most accounts), fumbled the ball after the important changes of the Second Vatican Council. During the Council, good and important reforms were made in the area of liturgy (such as the re-introduction of vernacular languages), but the ways in which these changes were implemented created confusion and allowed for the introduction of many elements of change that went far beyond anything the Council fathers envisioned.

In traditional Anglican worship, we can often find the best marriage of beauty, tradition, and liturgical reform. The choral and musical elements of Anglican worship are hard to match. We American Catholics would do well by allowing ourselves to be influenced by them.

On this day, which commemorates the martyrdom of those who would have preferred to remain both Anglican (i.e. English) and Catholic, let us offer our prayers for those who are now coming back home to Rome. As a convert myself, I know that "coming home" is no easy feat. Pray, through the intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham, for unity and reconciliation within Christ's Church.

Saintly inspiration for your Tuesday...

Don't let your life be sterile. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and of your love. With your apostolic life wipe out the slimy and filthy mark left by the impure sowers of hatred. And light up all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you carry in your heart.

-St. Josemaria Escriva (d. 1975)

In Your Heart

Fooling around on youtube one evening, I found myself oddly transfixed watching THOUSANDS of cover tunes done by regular folks. In the midst of my search, I came across this video.

And people's parents who warned, "If you don't clean your room and continue to have a garden gnome in the house, you won't go far in life" were obviously wrong!

Now to be fair, here's the original artist, Miranda Lambert, doing it. No gnomes.

The lyrics are as follows:
I ain’t the kind you take home to mama
I ain’t the kind to wear no ring
Somehow I always get stronger
When I’m on my second drink

Even though I hate to admit it
Sometimes I smoke cigarettes
Christian folks say I should quit it
I just smile and say “God bless”

‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine

Daddy cried when he saw my tattoo
Said he’d love me anyway
My brother got the brains of the family
So I thought I’d learn to sing

‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine

I’ll fly away
From it all one day
I’ll fly away

These are the days that I will remember
When my name’s called on the roll
He’ll meet me with two long-stemmed glasses
Make a toast to me coming home

‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine

Oh, yes He would

Lambert explains in the video that although she grew up in Church, she has her own idea of how Jesus would be.The rebellious protagonist in the song doesn't fit in with the values that are espoused in the culture (supposedly). She's not the kind of girl you would bring home to your mother. She has a tattoo. She drinks to get strength. In effect, she's the opposite of the convert who is the central character in "Amazing Grace" who claims to have once "been lost" but "now I am found. Was blind, now I see" after admitting to be a "wretch" saved by grace.

Oddly enough, both this song and the hymn "Amazing Grace" have a basic tenet of American Protestantism running through the song. That is, Jesus Saves. More importantly, only the Lord knows your heart and that's what matters. And you get to make up how "Jesus would be" (with our without the Bible).

Catholics have a different idea of grace. Grace isn't done to you. It's given. And one can fall from it. From the admission that one is a sinner, a wretch or even the kind you don't bring home to mama, one has the responsibility to progress with the help of God's grace in righteousness. It's just not a cloak that's thrown on top of you but rather a transformative power that works from within.

This song, of course, speaks to the values of a Protestant culture. Smoking, drinking, tattoos are all somehow seen as evil to the mainline Protestant. In the same vein, Protestantism strongly promotes self-identity over following rules. It's what's in your heart that counts (Rm 10:9).

Catholics, of course, have no prohibition on smoking:

G.K. Chesterton smoking

Drinking:

Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) has a brewski

Or even tattoos:

Kat von D (ok, she's not like Chesterton or the Pope but still, Catholic)

Caveat: None of the above is a requirement for Catholics, either!

Smoking and drinking fall into the standards the early Church dealt with. The Kingdom of God isn't made of eating or drinking (or prohibitions thereof) says Romans (14:17). Consistency with the example of Christ is what's important. Be a person of peace, love and worship God with all your heart. To do otherwise is to create scandal (Mk 9:42, Mt 18:6, Lk 17:2).

When a man is ordained to the diaconate, he is told to live as he believes. This is good counsel for all of us. It can be a blessing or a curse.

Depending on where your heart is (Mt 6:21).

More new Mass news...

Dioceses in Australia have already begun using the new Mass texts. Here is an initial news report out of Australia on how they are being received there.

New Mass news...

As we've discussed in past posts, many of the words that we say during the Mass are changing. For years, it has been recognized that the current English translations of the Mass prayers (which are translated from Latin), are, at best, inadequate, or, at worst, incorrect in many ways. So, new English translations of the Mass will be introduced throughout the English-speaking Catholic world this year on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27, 2011, to be exact).

A lot of things will change. When the priest greets us in the opening dialogue of the Mass with "The Lord be with you," we will respond "And with your spirit." Many of the priest's prayers are different, too (we're all in this together). To facilitate a smooth transition to the updated texts of the Mass, our bishop has decided that all parishes within the Jackson Diocese will use the same musical Mass settings for a period of time. This means that, beginning on the Fist Sunday of Advent, the ordinaries (i.e. the Gloria, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei) that we use at St. John's, will be one of two approved for use in all parishes throughout the Diocese of Jackson.

A couple of months ago, Mary Woodward, the diocesan director of liturgy, invited all of us who are involved in parish music to a diocesan-wide meeting and workshop held in Gluckstadt, MS. Our input was invited in helping the bishop to select a Mass setting to be used throughout the diocese for a period of time beginning at Advent. In the end, two Mass settings were approved and the thought is that with all parishes using the same music for these settings, it will be easier for all to learn the new responses and ordinaries, even if they travel to different parishes from week to week.

So, what are the two newly-approved Mass settings? They are the Belmont Mass by Christopher Walker and the Missa Simplex by the late Richard Proulx. You can visited the linked sites to listen to samples of each setting. Both of these settings are beautiful and, in accordance with the Church's musical heritage, are based on chant settings, which means that they will be easy to learn and remember.

The important thing in all of this is the wonderful reality that the Church is improving her liturgy. She is stepping back and undertaking a sober reflection on the ways in which she worships. We are all called to enter into a more refined and more prayerful Mass which, hopefully, will lead all of us into a deeper reverence for the beautiful and timeless mysteries of our Eucharistic worship.

UPDATE:

The news of our diocese-wide implementation of the Mass settings has hit the internet and made waves on a some other blogs.

The blog Pray Tell had an initial piece on the news a few days ago. And Jeffrey Tucker's Chant Cafe also covered it.

"St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around..."

Yesterday was the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, one of the Church's most popular saints. Anthony was a Franciscan friar who came to be known as one of the most profound preachers of the Middle Ages. He was so popular in his lifetime that he was canonized (officially declared a saint) less than a year after his death in 1231). Sometimes called "the Wonder Worker," St. Anthony is also known as a powerful intercessor and is known as the patron of lost objects. In fact, if you lose something and are a devout Catholic, chances are you ask for St. Anthony's prayerful intercession for help in locating the lost item.

Here is a popular prayer to ask for help in locating a lost object:

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (mention your petition) which has been lost. As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

Why is St. Anthony invoked to help find lost objects? Well, this can be traced back to a story about the saint and his beloved book of psalms. In Anthony's day, long before the invention of the printing press, all books were composed by hand and, therefore, were very, very expensive. Anthony had a book of psalms which he used in his daily prayers. He was living in a community of Franciscans at the time and one of the newer members became disenchanted and decided to leave the order. As he left the community, he took Anthony's psalm book with him. When Anthony realized that his book was missing, he prayed fervently that it would be found. Simultaneously, the thief had a vision of Anthony and felt compelled to return the book. He also decided to return to the Franciscan Order.

Incidentally, at a California parish which bears his name, an important relic of St. Anthony was stolen early yesterday. The parish priest put the relic (a small piece of the saint's body) out for the faithful to venerate, as yesterday marked the 780th anniversary of the saint's death. Unfortunately, the relic was stolen before the morning Mass began. Police are investigating. You can read a news story on the incident here. "St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around. Something is lost and cannot be found..." Perhaps there is hope for the relics return and for repentance for the thief. 

Requiem for a Teenager

I was impressed by the lyrics and the sparse music of The Band Perry's hit song, "If I Die Young". It struck me as a disarmingly sweet hymn in the midst of pump and grind summer hip hop. The song is close to quaint in the imagery and the video is faithful to the song.

The Band Perry actually has Mississippi roots. The band, sister, Kimberly and brothers, Reid and Neil, spent some time in Ridgeland and Kimberly was born in Jackson. They later moved to Tennessee and were signed on to Republic Nashville Records after being discovered by Garth Brooks' manager. The band, however, claims Greeneville, TN as their hometown and still maintain residency there. They won the American Country Music Award's "Top New Artist" and "Top New Vocal Duo/Group" awards this year after being nominated for many other awards.

Now back to the song. The lyrics are:

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you're dead how people start listening

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls

The question of a young person's death takes on an interesting twist as the singer offers solace, comfort and instruction to those who survive "if she die young". Not the most accurate theologically but more in line with sentimental themes of death, the singer asks God to make her a rainbow so she can shine down on her mother who may think life as gray since she buried her baby.

She then appeals to God again as she desires to wear white as she enters his kingdom. Being a virgin (imagine that being a theme in this day and age), she speaks of the her being as "green as the ring" on her little "cold finger". I suppose she's speaking of being that pure and the ring, an engagement or promise ring, once being gold, takes on a patina after being unpolished for so long.

She then echoes one of the most poignant themes of the song as she recalls the boy who said he'd love her forever only to have that time "severed by the short knife of a short life". Wisely, she says: "I've had just enough time".

This is a powerful statement, actually. Many people talk of people being "cut down in the prime of their lives" or more telling, speak of "not having enough time to do the things they need to do". The song reminds us that we all have "just enough time". The quasi-religious Christian themes echo that God has given us all "just enough time". The writer Neil Gaiman in his Sandman comic series, introduces a scenario where the embodiment of Death (appearing as a goth chick) visits the world. In one scene, a character who has been given thousands of years to live realizes his time has come, he marvels over the length of his days. Death responds:

The 4th chapter of Wisdom cautions us not to be worried over the death of the young:
But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported--
Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul


Although the song is sweet and perhaps comforting, one of the caveats is that although the souls of the just are indeed in the hands of God (Wis 3), there is still nothing "good" about a young death. I say this because there seems to be a greater acceptance of young people, teens and college age, who either die young due to traffic accidents or mischief to suicides. Life is a gift from God. It is not a cheap gift nor a meaningless one. We indeed all have "just enough time" to do God's will, but we don't get to choose the day nor the hour(Matthew 25:13).

Sadly, I've seen a liturgy for young deaths become more and more familiar. Hopeless grasps at making sense of a senseless death. Teddy bears are placed on school fences. Soccer coaches are dragged out to deliver eulogies. Beers are snuck into funeral home parking lots to toast the dead. And songs are played to remind us of the deceased's happiness in the afterlife.

Hopefully, you can see the value in your life and let God give you the time you need. And, with God's help, may you live a long and prosperous life. Although this song means well, it doesn't speak of God's judgement on those who waste a life or make poor use of their lives. May we never have to hear this song ad nauseum to make sense of a young death for a foolish reason.

But we probably will.

Persecutions

Today we have a Memorial Day for Charles Lwanga, of the "White Fathers" (Society of Missionaries of Africa) and his companions. This saint, along with twenty-two others, were brutalized and killed in 19th century Uganda. So atrocious was the resentment to the faith that one of the executioners was ordered to kill his own son:

"He commanded that the group be taken on a 37 mile trek to the place of execution at Namugongo. The chief executioner begged one of the boys, his own son, Mabaga, to escape and hide but Mbaga refused. The cruelly-bound prisoners passed the home of the White Fathers on their way to execution. Father Lourdel remembered thirteen-year-old Kizito laughing and chattering. Lourdel almost fainted at the courage and joy these condemned converts, his friends, showed on their way to martyrdom. Three of these faithful were killed on road."

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=35

Tertullian tells us that the "seed of the church is the blood of the martyrs". Like our own United States, the advantages and liberties of our faith was hard won by those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We tend to speak of persecution in our own country, such as the employee who is told to take the cross off of her desk or the child who is not allowed to tell the story of Moses in his literature class. While there is something to be said of a disparity in allowing for religious expression, we in this country and this region are blessed to be able to freely be Christian without persecution.

Recently, a woman who has lapsed from the practice of the Catholic faith informed me of her spiritual "journey":

Dear all,
When we think of "church" in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a Pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, "church" meets in a home, an apartment, even in secret. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer and fellowship, as it is dangerous to travel to "church" and they want to make the most of their time together.
Secret Church is happening in Oxford this summer.  We will meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study--lasting 4-6 hours--and prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe. This is not for the uncommitted or faint at heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His Word, and know His Church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church.

God will use this focused time of study to enrich our knowledge of His Word as we gain understanding of the state of His Church and our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. The objective of Secret Church is for you to pass along what you learn to others, so that you can make disciples of Christ--both locally and globally.

For those who are interested in learning more about Secret Church before May 23, read Radical by David Platt available at Square Books and Promises and Praise.  Secret Church is open to anyone (any denomination) who would like to come and participate in intensive bible study and prayer.  Please eat dinner prior to our meeting and make arrangements for childcare, as babysitting will not be provided.
Bring your bible and a pen and wear comfortable clothes.

I understand that this movement is appealing to evangelicals. The adherents are asked to put down their cell phones, not to bring their purses or wallets, to not engage any media over a period of time and pray for the persecuted around the world. Sounds good but somehow misses the concept that the Catholic faith bore the martyrs and celebrate them. We also have never forgotten fasting as a form of mortification and solidarity. Ever.

More than praying and reading scripture for a few hours in comfortable clothes, Catholics have stood in the face of kings, tyrants and, as the story goes, family members in defense of the faith, not the least of which is protecting the sacraments. Secondly, and more radically, Catholics align with anyone who seeks peace. Which is why now I point this out:

Catholics, universal, are still being persecuted world wide. In the Mid-East, Christians (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) are uniting with peaceable Islamists to protest against the oppressive regime. Recently, a thirteen year old boy, the age of the above mentioned Christian martyr, Hamza al-Khateeb, was brutally tortured and executed by the Assad regime in Syria. Christians, who should be afraid, along with moderate Muslims, who also have much to fear, are in revolt. If you dare, you may read more about it here. The heart-breaking scene of the return of the boy's mutilated body is here. I warn you, it is terribly graphic. However, as any blood letting done in the name of tyranny, a strong seed is being sown. Social media is helping with the growth. If you want, you can read and sign up as one of al-Khateeb's Facebook friends.

Hamza al-Khateeb

 If you are so moved, use this Friday as a day of abstinence and align yourself to the truly persecuted. Christian or not, our Lord was tortured and killed for the peace of the Kingdom for all of us. Do something for peace today, even if it is as simple as educating yourself on the ways of the world. And you don't need comfortable clothes to do it with.

Martyrs of Uganda, pray for the faith where it is danger and for Christians who must suffer because of their faith. Give them the same courage, zeal, and joy you showed. And help those of us who live in places where Christianity persecution in other parts of the world. Amen

June for Jesus

Traditionally, the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This particular devotion to our Lord's limitless love, symbolized by his wounded heart aflame with love for all, is one of the most well-known and recognizable of Catholic devotions. At least it used to be.

Yesterday Fr. Z posted a quick piece about devotion to the Sacred Heart and his message was simple but profound: "don't be afraid to be pious." Great advice, worth repeating: "don't be afraid to be pious." Unfortunately, many well-meaning but dead-wrong men and women in positions of leadership in our Church have crammed down our collective throats in the past three decades the notion that one cannot properly live out the Gospel message of serving the poor while simultaneously carrying on the Church's age-old practices of piety and devotion. They set up a false dichotomy of service and devotion and many even went so far as to actively discourage traditional devotions among their parishioners and coreligionists.

Do not fall into such a simplistic, man-made trap. You're smarter than that. We can and should be both pious in our faith and active in living out the Gospel. After all, as I've said before, Catholic Christianity is a "both," "and" faith, not an "either," "or" religion. It is vitally important that we foster a deep personal devotion to our Lord and his saints, marked by traditional forms of piety such as praying the rosary, visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, wearing a medal and/or scapular. Doing these things will only strengthen our resolve to more fully live out the Gospel call to love and serve the poor and disenfranchised.

I recommend Father Z's advice: to be unabashedly pious in the practice of our faith. How do we do this? We start small. We add a daily examination of conscience to our evenings. We can memorize small prayers that we can utter throughout the day, whenever we think about it: "Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me." or "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours!" We can make a point to add some devotions to our weekly or daily routine. Devotions such as visiting our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar at the church, or praying the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

"Do not be afraid to bend yourself down before God especially and also to the angels and saints our intercessors and patrons and be simply pious," says Father Z. " Man was made to be pious.  This is the essence of religion, without which we are empty shells: to give due reverence to God."

Nun News

Of course, stealing is bad. Bad. Bad. Bad.

But this recent bank robbery in Chicago caught my interest not in the style of robbery but in the report:

"Police are searching for two suspects who robbed a Chicago bank dressed as nuns, in a scene reminiscent of the Ben Affleck movie The Town. According to Fox Orlando, the pair, dressed in black nun costumes and with rubber masks on their faces, robbed the TCF bank Sunday afternoon shortly before closing time.  
The same costumes were featured in a bank robbery scene in "The Town". Police did not disclose how much money was taken, but said no one was hurt in the incident."http://www.vibe.com/posts/today-smh-news-bank-robbers-dressed-nuns-get-loot

You see that?  Not the whole crime deal. Not the uncanny timing of the robbery. But this...

The same costumes were featured in a bank robbery scene in "The Town"

There was a time when that sentence would have read "The same costumes are those worn by Catholic nuns" but, alas, no longer.

And that is a bit of crime too.

Nuns who stole

Nun in stole

 

Darn cat...

Ya see? That's exactly why guys with cats shouldn't debate philosophy via internet-posted videos. I've been saying it for years!