An Important Distinction!!!

I kind of expected it...

Sickness.  Its not all it is cracked up to be.

I know people who enjoy the time of being at home in bed... "languishing" under the covers while they recuperate.  I, unfortunately, have been numbered among such poor souls for the last few days... except that I have been at work here at the parish. I contracted some kind of low grade headache that has been hanging around for almost a week now. 

Not that I am complaining, mind you.  Especially when people are getting into head on car crashes in Missouri!  If you haven't heard that has been a big manhunt for a priest who mysteriously appeared "out of nowhere" to offer the Anointing of the Sick for a young lady who had been in a car accident.  Initial reports made it sound more mysterious than real:
Check it out the video here, because I couldn't get it to stop auto-playing on my page :(

But it turns out that this may have not have been as mysterious as some had hoped!  In fact, over at the National Catholic Register website, people were hoping it was a Saintly priest from heaven who appeared to reveal God's mercy (see the comments at this link).  It turns out, the answer is much move obvious than some had hoped, and that in fact it was an average ordinary priest of God. 

What i find so interesting, though, is that even in that article one finds a very strange reaction: 

While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion has come to fruition. Still, the faithful would argue that God’s hand was in this gesture, regardless of the channel that was used to help usher in calm at the scene.

Really?  An "entirely human conclusion"?  One the one hand they are right in their meaning of the channel of God's grace, but on the other GOD'S GRACE has come into the world!!!  It is quite interesting to me that the Catholic Church is so common place to people that no one thinks it is strange that a man walks around in black clothes and dabs people with oil!  REALLY??  There is a reason this human being has done this!  He is not merely imagining that he is doing good deeds.  In fact, the news reports noted that the young lady was strengthened when the Holy Oils were administered.  The Emergency responders also noted that they were more at peace. 

What I am getting at here is that if you are a Catholic, we SHOULD NOT be comfortable with God's grace which is so generously offered to world.  We can not be complacent at the amazing hands of a Priest, who though he is only a "channel" of God's grace, it is GOD'S GRACE that we want to remember is entering into the world.  A real and direct power and reminder of His Truth and Strength that we can receive in the Sacraments.  The world and the media are happy enough to have found the "mystery priest" but they completely ignore that the power of the priesthood of Jesus Christ has and continues to act in the world!  AND THAT IS STILL NEWS!!!

The Church... is like a basketball team?

We have Totus Tuus going on this week at our Parish, and as usual it is an amazing feat of Catechesis, fun, and Worship of the Only Living and True God. However, as is often the case, we do have a few kids that aren't quite getting it.  Typical, really, and I am not concerned, as God has his hand upon all of us and guides us as we are ready.  Nevertheless, today one young boy was found in the bathroom all alone and would not come out.  I was summoned and went in to talk to him.  A smallish boy of around 7 dressed all in basketball shorts and t-shirt, I found him in a stall just sitting on top of the tank of the toilet.  He was sort of holding his knees and seemed quite sad.

I questioned him to make sure he was okay, and then asked what had happened.  It turned out he had been made fun of by some of the kids, later I found it out it was because he did not have a good guess for hangman.  Well, I asked him if he wanted to come out, but he said no.  Then I said okay, when you want to come out, then you can.  And I walked out of the bathroom and chatted with a team member and a few teen volunteers.  About a half hour later, he finally began very tentatively peeking out and looking if anyone was paying attention - he preferred to leave his "cave" on his own terms.  He went to a corner of the gym and sat down.  I noticed him and walked over and sat down beside him.  we chatted a little about what had happened, and then I asked him if he wanted to play basketball as we waited for the other kids to come in or until mass began at 11:15.  We played basketball, until a group of other kids about his age came in.  Then a game spontaneously was organized.  Unfortunately, this young boy would not pass, nor would not let anyone take a shot, except himself whenever he got the ball. 

After the game, I headed to the Church to prepare for Mass.  It wasn't until after the readings that I noticed that he was two rows directly in front of me.  This same young boy was messing around with the books, and not standing when he was supposed to stand.  When it came time for the consecration, he would not kneel.  There was a volunteer teen next to him, who was trying to encourage him but with little success.  I decided to step up and speak to him directly, about his playing with the books and not following proper decorum during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

After Mass, I was praying for this boy and I had a sort of epiphany of how to explain the mass to him analogusly: The Catholic Church is like a basketball team!  Now, what we do all week is "practice" our Faith.  We seek to be charitable, to be kind, to be forgiving because of our Coach - Jesus.  But Mass, that is "The Game" you need to be in and fully involved.  We can't just stand around, we need to be in and attentive - focused.  We need our proper uniform (which, contrary to popular belief, is NOT shorts and a t-shirt) that is dress-up clothes.    At mass, if we aren't focused, like playing with the books or flopping around or not doing our proper things, then we will not get it!  We will not have the experience we ought! What if someone walked out of the big game?  The whole dynamic would fall apart, and this is why people find mass boring!  They are not invested, they are not focused on what is happening.  Finally, who are in the bleachers?  Well obviously it is the Saints and Angels who gather around us to encourage us to draw nearer to the Coach, to hear his cousel, so that the game can be won (which it will, but we must do our part in it!).

To me this summarizes a lot about what Mass is and i think it can be a good sports analogy explanation of why Church is important and we need to go to Mass.  The Catholic Faith is not merely something we do for one hour, we must practice we must prepare our hearts for the sacrifice of Jesus and our ability to unify with it at Mass. 

What is "marriage" anyway?!?

Amongst my circle of friends a while back, a very interesting article was being passed around, namely this: http://mattfradd.com/2012/06/14/catholic-gay-and-feeling-fine/

The article goes on to explain how "Gay Marriage" is not even possible - that is right, IMPOSSIBLE.  Well, in the commentary that ensued on Facebook, one commentor noted that it seemed to him that this is a large part of the misunderstanding. No one denies, I hope, that two people can love each other, care for one another, live in an intense friendship with one another. But that does not constitute marriage.  Two people can engage in a sexual act or acts together, but that it not marriage either. Marriage is both for the complete union of the spouses, but also for the procreation of children of our species. The physical, spiritual, emotional complementarity that allows for this unity in which this procreation and union can even happen (regardless of whether it actually takes place or not) is precisely what marriage is about.

For those of us that hold to the Traditional understanding of marriage, it is only in the martial union of a man and a woman that children receive their right to these two complementary parents. These two parents certainly should grow in a union which is all those things I said above, but it doesn't always happen. Nevertheless, when two people of the same sex "love" one another, they can not enter into the same type of union because they do not have the ability to be complementary spiritually, emotionally and physically. They may connect on one or two of those, but that does not respect nor honor the entirety of the gift of service of a male husband and a female wife to one another that is supposed to take place in Marriage.

If we take it to the next step, the Catholic element, then the practice (not the desire or tendency, as some call it) of homosexual acts become sinful, just as adultery, pre-marital sex, even masturbation are all sinful, because they remove the ability to practice the fullness of the human love that one owes only to their spouse (i.e. the physical element). Now, certainly, not all people will appreciate or agree with any of this. But this is why the aforementioned author believes as he does. But, as well, to his point, a Father who truly loves us all - namely God, does not think the way we think. We may wish many things for our friends that are bad for them, to wit, "sand sandwiches", "sand pie", etc. it doesn't make those things healthy or nourishing and could in fact cause frustration and even illness.

In a similar way, so-called "Homosexual marriage" is like taking away the king or queen in a game of chess and replacing it with the same piece that remains (i.e. two kings or two queens). They will both move in the same directions, same manners, because they are the same. That would be really fun (as a game I mean), but it would no longer be Chess. In the same way, Marriage is no longer marriage with same-sex people. You can call it many things, but it is not Marriage. This, it seems to me, is why people are discussing "re-defining marriage."  If marriage were something man could define and establish, then there might be something to this - which, incidentally is why there has been increased buzz about the Catholic Church getting out of the "marriage business" (so to speak) all together.  That is, only needing to offer the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, and not concerning itself with the state's recognition of Marriage.  This might not be a bad idea.  Nevertheless, marriage or at least true Holy Matrimony is not defined by man's law.  It is defined by the God who is the "Lord and Giver of Life," since the Office of Holy Motherhood (as Holy Matrimony, could be retranslated as from the Latin cognate) comes as a gift to mankind in the Sacraments.  While it is natural to mankind to want to marry, it is only in the Baptized Union of Christian Man & Wife that mankind finds the fulfillment of that desire because it is blessed by God. 

Marriage is a ceremony declaring that a Holy Matrimony has been entered into, but if one removes the Office of Holy Motherhood - emphasis on the "holy", then I think it is arguable that a "marriage" is impossible.  Time will tell what will become of our world and our country because of this redefinition in progress, but in the world's recent past "redefining" things has not always ended well....

Busyness is God's business

WOW!  One never expects life to be so busy,  it just sort of sneaks up on you.  Of course, we all have responsibilities, but sometimes they seem quite overwhelming.  Thankfully, as so many Saints have noted, "God will not give us more than we can handle."

For this reason, however, I have not had a chance to get to this blog with so much frequency... ok... at all, really.  But, thankfully, this has happened because of many things that have been happening here at the Parish. As well, my wife has recently been notified by God (and a doctor) that we are having twins!  Nevertheless, I was particularly inspired by this short video that came out today:

So... I am back.

What has been happening at the parish, you ask?  Well, for one, we have just completed a number of classes for Notre Dame's Summer of The Year of Faith.  We looked at 8 amazing Saints that had come from various and wildly sinful backgrounds.  We saw the Mercy of God works even in the darkest places that man puts himself.  We saw dispelled 7 Myths about the Catholic Church and Science, and saw that science necessitates our understanding that there is more to life than our material world.  We saw various movies that helped us to consider lives of some great Saints  who have gone before us and Monks who take their faith most seriously.  We are also preparing for the arrival of the Denver Catholic Biblical School here at Notre Dame.  As well, in just less than two weeks the Totus Tuus Summer Catechetical Program is about to arrive here at Notre Dame.  All of these things take time, and organizational work.  However, the time has come, as I watched the video above about our present Holy Father (and noting that he is about to publish his First Encyclical letter to the Catholic Church), it seems I should challenge myself to be more active on this blog. 

If you happen to read this, please comment!  We all need a little encouragement, and I am no exception.  Having studied the "Catholic Thing" for a while, I think it would be good for me to keep on posting thoughts on things Catholic in our 21st century.  It just takes finding the time to do it....

Happy Feast of our Most Blessed Mother, and my mother!

Years later, things one does in college do not always rise to the top of things you want to remember.  Thankfully, for me, going away to college was a much more incredible blessing than I could have possibly imagined.  Not only did I meet my wife at Franciscan University, but I made some of the best friendships I have ever made in my life with men and women whom I hope to share in the Joy of Heaven with one day. 

As well, there is one "out of college" experience that I had during the Christmas Break of 1998 that I would gladly share with anyone.  Thankfully, with the horrible memory I have, one of those good friends I just mentioned has just posted the story online: http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=39275 

There is so much more that happened on this journey, and it was taken, on my part, because I had completed my Consecration to Mary according to the Preparation and Consecratory prayer of St. Louis DeMontfort.  I wanted to thank her for allowing me to go to Europe in the Spring of 1999 (the other side of that Christmas Break) to study in Franciscan's Gaming Campus in Austria.  So many blessings came of this year.  Really, too many to enumerate here.  But I must say that the Feast of Our Lady of Guadlupe, 4 days after my birthday, and 3 days after my Confirmation Saint's, Juan diego, feast day, will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. 

Of Paris & "Pomme Frites"

So I recently turned 38... though for the last year I was pretty sure that I had already been 38 all year long... I guess this happens to some people when they get older. There are many things that people would like to forget in our lives, of course. But as a community of human beings, "the hive" as some might argue, we ought not to forget the reality of the history of things. As has oft been said, "To ignore history is to repeat it," which apparently I am now doing this year in my "second year" of being 38 years old.

Regardless of me, sadly even in our own modern day it appears some want to do away with the Old things and cover them over with the new, for example a French Chateau:



Nevertheless, the things of history hold riches that we can mine and savor (not literally, unless you are talking wine... or a Good Scotch... or good Irish cheddar cheese! But I digress...) But our souls can be greatly enhanced the more we understand the things of our ancestors. Those who have gone before us have gained wisdom, sometimes by choice, but often by accident.

Catholics, in particular, have much to understand and much to savor in the stories of the Great Saints of our Tradition. I am working with a young woman in order that she be Baptized and we were talking about "reparation for sin" tonight in the context of the Sacrament of Confession. It reminded me of the glorious and, at the same time, sad story of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on the hill of Montmarte in Paris, which I have had the great privilege and blessing to visit and to adore the Lord in. That is, while I was at Franciscan University I had the opportunity to study abroad at the Campus in Gaming, Austria. From there, a friend and I, who last name rhymes with "Doctor" (for those who would know him), were able to make a visit to Montmarte.

Though the Basilica was only begun in 1873, the foundations of it go much further back, as the Basilica's website explains:

The name signifies "mount of martyrs" because by tradition it is the place of the martyrdom of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris (late 3rd century) and his companions. Many saints have come to this hill (Saint Germain - Saint Clotilde - Saint Bernard - Saint Joan of Arc - Saint Vincent de Paul, …) and, of course, Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis-Xavier who, with their companions, founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) here in 1534.

A big benedictine Abbey occupied the whole hill until the French Revolution at which date the nuns were guillotined and the Abbey destroyed. A village called Saint Peter's survived in this former lime quarry in the late 19th century; the working people were short of employment.

There is much there, but notice that the original Benedictine Abbey was only destroyed at the French Revolution. The young lady I am working with mentioned she was contemporaneously studying the French Revolution and I asked her what she had learned of it. I asked this particularly since she attends Government-based education, which is decidedly more and more devoid of religion - and in particular the Christian Faith in History. She was not aware that the French Revolution was largely waged as a way to reject and attack the Catholic Church and her Faith in France.

So intense was the persecution of the Church that many religious (i.e. monks and nuns) and priests were killed merely for maintaining their Catholic Faith. While many went along with the Revolutionaries and subjected their Faith to the State, others understand that only by being faithful to Christ will mankind come to know the Only Living and True God. In Notre Dame Cathedral it is reported by eyewitnesses that the statue of the Virgin Mary was toppled and she was replaced with the so-called "Goddess of Reason" who was nothing more, by some accounts, than a prostitute spontaneously exalted by the people.

In fact, there were some people in the Northern Region of the Vendee that rose up to try to stem the destructive tide of Revolutionaries - many of whom were Freemasons that reportedly instigated and promoted much of the killing of the Catholic People of France. Unfortunately, these people were unsuccessful as the rejection of God had become far more deep than merely a political struggle. It was a spiritual virus. As Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power, now that the Kingdom of France had become an almost officially anti-Catholic Democracy, this assault on the Faith had found deep root among some people. To the point that, as many have reported, Napoleon would not allow himself to be crowned by the Pope, but took the crown and crowned himself. A very symbolic act of that time, denoting his authority equal or superior to the Vicar of Christ, Pius VII!

Some time after Napolean's coronation, some 66 years later,the Germans came to invade Rome. Again from the Basilica's website:

In 1870, war broke out between France and Germany. The Council taking place at the Vatican broke up and the Pope, no longer protected by French troops, felt himself to be a prisoner in the Vatican City. France faced military defeat and occupation of part of the country by German troops. The response of MM. Alexandre Legentil and Hubert Rohault de Fleury was spiritual. They vowed to build a church consecrated to the Heart of Christ in reparation (in penitence for sins commited) since for them, the misery of France stemmed more from spiritual than from political causes... The work was financed by gifts, often modest, from all over France.The names of the donors are carved in the stone.

So even to this day there is perpetual adoration in the Basilica of Sacre Ceour (or Sacred Heart, in English) specifically for the reparation of the sins of the people of France that lead to the French Revolution among other calamities. The lesson we should take from all of this is that the wisdom of repentance, which led so many of the early great Saints to the desert and other great ones throughout history to worship Christ, is that acts of reparation allow us to unite amongst ourselves before God, but also to plead the cause of others to receive the grace of repentance.

Last night, my beloved wife and I went to eat at a French Restaurant downtown where i had the dish pictured at the beginning of this post! Steak with Roquefort Cheese in a port reduction, with Pommes Frites (basically, "souped up french fries")!!! GLORIOUS!!

What I find so sad is that many today cannot understand a Catholic culture that gave us great French Food, but also gave us one of the greatest acts of reparation for the sins of the people of that very culture. Perhaps we Catholic Americans ought to consider things we too might do to make acts of reparation for our own country's sinfulness, if we hope to gain the wisdom passed on from our forebears.