Thursday, December 28, 2006
For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Their Lives are Sacred (B.C. Courier Times, 9/17/97)
(Click individual images to enlarge)
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
re: "Bought With a Price: Pornography & the Attack on the Living Temple of God"
These excerpts are from Bishop Paul Loverde's "Bought With a Price":
"What was once the shameful and occasional vice of the few has become the mainstream entertainment for the many - through the Internet, cable, satellite and broadcast television, cell phones and even portable gaming and entertainment devices designed for children and teenagers. Never before have so many Americans been so tempted to view pornography. Never before have the accountability structures - to say nothing of the defenses which every society must build to defend the precious gift of her children - been so weak....
"Pornography depicts the body solely in an exploitative way, and pornographic images are created and viewed only for the purpose of arousing sexual impurity. Hence the production, viewing and spread of pornography is an offense against the dignity of persons, is objectively evil, and must be condemned....
"The immorality of pornography comes, first of all, from the fact that it distorts the truth about human sexuality. It perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other (CCC 2354). Rather than being the expression of a married couple's intimate union of life and love, sex is reduced to a demeaning source of entertainment and even profit for others. Pornography violates chastity also because it introduces impure thoughts into the viewer's mind and often leads to unchaste acts, such as masturbation or adultery.
"Pornography offends also against justice. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others (CCC 2354)....
"pornography represents a serious abuse of the means of communication, and, in that regard, is a violation of the eighth commandment....
"the use of pornography - i.e. its manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing - is gravely sinful. Those who engage in such activity with full knowledge and complete consent commit a mortal sin. Such actions deprive them of sanctifying grace, destroy the life of Christ in their souls, and prevent them from receiving Holy Communion until they have received absolution through the Sacrament of Penance.
"The gravity of this sin becomes clearer when one considers the tremendous damage the use of pornography causes to society. It damages first of all the family, the basic cell of society and the Church, because it tears at the marital bond. Since it immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world (CCC 2354), a man's use of pornography turns his attention and affection away from his wife. It creates in his mind unrealistic and often immoral expectations for their intimate life....
"Pornography's availability and intrusion injure the common good by producing a consumerist and licentious view of sexuality, particularly of women. Inculcating and guarding the precious virtue of chastity becomes increasingly difficult....Society's interest in preparing young men and women for marriage also suffers when the media presents as a mercantile plaything the holy act of intimacy that is proper to the sacred bond of marriage.
"Perhaps worst of all, however, is the damage that pornography does to man's 'template' for the supernatural. Our natural vision in this world is the model for supernatural vision in the next. Once we have distorted or damaged that template, how will we understand the reality? Our Lord has given us the gift of sight with the intention that we ultimately may see Him. The sinful use of this faculty both warps our understanding of it and - worse still - cripples our ability to realize its fulfillment in heaven. What man should use for receiving the true vision of God and the beauty of His creation, he uses instead to consume false images of others in pornography. How can we understand the supernatural sight God desires for us - i.e. the contemplation of God in the beatific vision - once our natural sight has been damaged and distorted?....
"like the people Israel who were called out of Egypt , members of the Church, too, find themselves inextricably tied to the same culture of death from which God has freed them....
"we find ourselves assuming secular attitudes and becoming confused about the true nature of sin. This confusion becomes deadly when we use it to justify our own sinfulness, or seek to 'define away' the evil nature of sins that tempt us. This is nowhere more evident than in the confusion that some Christians experience about the true nature of pornography....
"The justification of pornography often begins by viewing the activity as a private exchange between the viewers and those who produce and distribute the material....The illusion inherent in this rationalization is that all the participating parties complete the exchange as the same persons, with no harm done, as when they entered. Like all rationalizations, this is an illusion.
"The first illusion is that the viewing of men and women in intimate relations does no harm to them as persons. Often this is not true on even a physical plane....
"By taking an essential aspect of the person - human sexuality - and making it a commodity to be bartered and sold, to be used and discarded by unknown others, the pornography industry commits a most violent attack on the dignity of these victims....
"Every year, thousands of men and women are lured into the pornography industry by the promise of easy money. The industry preys on the most vulnerable: the poor, the abused and marginalized, and even children. This exploitation of the weak is gravely sinful....
"More and more of these victims are younger, even children. When these, the most vulnerable and innocent of our society, become victims of the dehumanizing demands of an industry willing to destroy innocence for profit, it is an unspeakable act of violence....
"The entire pornography industry exists to realize profit, and there can be no profit without customers. Those who seek out and use pornographic images are active participants in the victimization of others....And the viewers themselves are degraded.
"It is a mistaken notion that the singular effect of sinful moral choices is the harm these choices cause to others. Certainly, the immediate effect of choosing to participate in pornographic viewing is the spiritual and emotional violence committed against those whose images are viewed. Yet, the personal and existential effect on the one choosing to view pornographic images lies at the heart of these sinful actions.
"The human person, the only creature with a moral sense, progressively builds or destroys his or her character by each and every moral choice. Thus one becomes virtuous by the very act of practicing virtue, and one becomes depraved by practicing acts of vice....
"The false promise of intimacy offered by pornography leads instead to an ever-deeper alienation that cripples the user's ability to experience truly intimate human contact....
"If the person is not master of self-through the virtues and, in a concrete way, through chastity-he or she lacks that self-possession which makes self-giving possible....
"Once given over to this vice, the family member makes great efforts to keep this betrayal secret. Ultimately, however, it is vain to expect that a secret that distorts the core of human sexuality can fully remain a secret from those to whom we have pledged our love and our lives....
"The first to feel the violence of pornographic use is the spouse....The use of pornography is a violation of the commitment of marriage. Even if tolerated by the spouse, how can one possibly not feel rejection and betrayal when one's committed partner turns to illusion and fleeting happiness in pornographic images? This rejection, if left unhealed, will often lead to the permanent destruction of the marital commitment.
"As is the nature of all sin, the ones who suffer the most are the innocent. Children who naturally strive to imitate and integrate the self-giving love of their parents instead find themselves faced with tension, betrayal and selfishness. It is understandable then that they may come to believe that true love, a sacrificial and self-giving love, is an illusion.
"Just as it is a vain hope for a spouse using pornography to keep this sin a secret, it is also a vain hope to think that the material itself can be kept a secret....
"All married couples will face times when marital intimacy is not possible. For some, these times may be prolonged. To pose such deprivation as an excuse for the use of the pornographic is to cheapen the promise of faithfulness upon which any marriage is founded. To embrace pornography as a substitute for marital intimacy is a tacit admission that the spouse is a means to meet biological 'needs' rather than a partner in the communion of human love....
"There cannot be a 'temperate' use of pornography, just as there cannot be a 'temperate' use of hatred or racism. To pose such a possibility is to accept giving in to evil one step at a time. Any seeming relief will be fleeting and the long-range consequences will make future resistance even more difficult, possibly escalating into an addiction....
"Without the self-mastery that comes from controlling and, when necessary, struggling with one's destructive behaviors, including pornography, maturing young persons find themselves in the fearful condition of being unable to control either the world or themselves....
"Those who defend the 'free speech' rights of pornographers often present the Church's defense of purity as puritanical rather than pastoral. Defenders of this criminal enterprise pose as defenders of a true humanism, portraying Christian teaching on chastity as 'anti-human.' The Church is presented as hating the human body and so reacting against human nature.
"This lie has been restated so many times through the long history of the Church that many accept it as central to Christian thought. In fact the exact opposite is true. The Church has always condemned a dualistic understanding of spirit as good and the body as evil. God created all things, both spirit and matter, and saw that all these things were good (cf. Gen 1). It is the resurrection of the body which is our hope, and our recognition of the body as an integral part of the human person is the foundation of Christian chastity.
"The Church does not pose an opposition of body and soul but rather the necessary completeness of both body and soul for a true and life-affirming wholeness. Far from denigrating the human body and treating sexuality as an evil thing, the Church affirms the sacredness of the body. Because of this sacredness, the marital act is recognized as having a sacramental and sacred character which the Church seeks to protect....
"Where the pornographic mentality has invaded even mainstream media - and certainly, what is now offered on cable and even broadcast television increasingly approaches pornographic content, citizens must demand that public officials whose service is to regulate such media take immediate and effective action. Contrary to the self-serving defense of some media outlets, such actions are not censorship, but rather the demand for an end to the exploitation of persons and the degradation of public morality....
"Christians of every generation are called to live in conformity with the truth of Jesus Christ and to stand apart from those aspects of culture which are contrary to this truth. A most effective way in which believers can combat the plague of pornography is by the witness of their lives....
"Within one's capabilities, each person should make every effort to contribute healthy and chaste entertainments that can be shared by all. In the fields of art, literature and music, we must never compromise our own Christian dignity to suit the expectations of a decadent culture....
"Sadly, a great amount of the information available on the Internet is pornographic in nature. Some will find this instant access to impure images a temptation difficult to overcome. Do not justify the presence of a snake in the home for the benefits it may bring. We must remember our moral obligation not to place ourselves knowingly or deliberately in the occasion of sin. The inconvenience of losing instant access to information will be far outweighed by the ability to live an integrated and pure life.
"Spiritual growth is impossible without an honest admission of guilt and reconciliation. All Christians should avail themselves of the grace of the Sacrament of Penance and make this sacrament of mercy the cornerstone of the struggle against pornography.
"Finally, never underestimate the efficacy of Christian prayer. Pray for the victims of pornography, that their precious human dignity may be healed and restored. Offer concrete acts of penance through spiritual works and fasting for those who manipulate others in this crime of pornography, and who share in the complicity of its distribution. Through these acts of reparation, offer to God an acceptable sacrifice pleasing in His sight.
"Entrust the Church always to the protection of Saint Joseph....
"I turn with particular concern to my young brothers and sisters in Christ. I fear that the full burden of our culture's surrender to pornography will fall on your shoulders, both now and in years to come. Not only have you been targeted by this criminal enterprise as a source of financial gain, but you also have to endure the impoverished notion of intimacy that results from a culture that has confused love with self-gratification. Know first that God has destined you for a true and fully human love that finds its center not in manipulating others but in sharing and flourishing in a communion with your beloved....
"The true guardian and caretaker of the unique dignity of human persons is the family, and most particularly husbands and wives, who are custodians of the sacredness of life....
"While husbands and wives share equal dignity as persons, they do not share temptations equally - especially the temptations associated with the scourge of pornography. It must be admitted that the use of pornography is largely, although certainly not exclusively, associated with males. If a marriage begins to be damaged by pornography, it will most likely be introduced by the husband.
"Husbands, be aware that your solemn promise of faithfulness, which is the foundation of the formation of your family, is damaged by any use of pornography. Strive to bring honor to the promise you made at the beginning of your married life. The times where intimacy is difficult are opportunities to practice the sacrificial love of a spouse that only your noble vocation illustrates most perfectly....
"Wives who find that their husbands have entered into a sinful attraction to pornographic images or stories must be loving and forgiving, but also stern in calling the spouse to return to his true manly vocation of marriage....
"Husbands and wives must practice constant vigilance to ensure that the plague of pornography does not enter into the lives of their children....
"Most importantly, husbands and wives provide the clearest and surest teaching of chastity through the love, devotion and self-sacrifice they display in their relationship one to the other. Recall always that the Lord has entrusted to you by your very life together the perfect means to bring children to a true and mature understanding of human intimacy....
"I now turn to my brothers in Christ, my brother priests....While being students of the culture so that we may become more capable of evangelizing, we must be always alert lest we find ourselves being overwhelmed by the very elements we wish to banish....
"You and I are celibate men for the Kingdom of God . This tremendous gift of celibacy is an invitation to the intimacy that Christ shares with His Church. We must always embrace this gift with joy and grow in the self-giving love that is our inheritance. Submission to the lures of pornography is a serious sin against the gift of celibate chastity....
"Our sight, more than just a physical ability, also serves as an important means for understanding faith, heaven and salvation. Indeed, its proper end and fulfillment is the vision of God Himself. Man's final purpose is caught up with his ability to see. With this profound truth in mind, we can better appreciate the grave threat pornography presents to the human soul, to the family and to society....
"We stand at a threshold - either we can continue to allow this plague to spread with fewer and fewer checks, or we can take concrete steps to uproot it in our lives, our families, our neighborhoods and our culture.
"We are a people called to share in the pure and noble vision of God and His creation. We are also a people whose future glory has been bought with the precious sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must never forget the high cost of this purchase.
"A free people can combat the tremendous moral, social and spiritual danger of pornography with great courage. My fervent prayer is that Catholics, other Christians, and all people of good will understand this threat, confront it, facilitate true healing, and ever more fully live out our God-given use of human sight."
"What was once the shameful and occasional vice of the few has become the mainstream entertainment for the many - through the Internet, cable, satellite and broadcast television, cell phones and even portable gaming and entertainment devices designed for children and teenagers. Never before have so many Americans been so tempted to view pornography. Never before have the accountability structures - to say nothing of the defenses which every society must build to defend the precious gift of her children - been so weak....
"Pornography depicts the body solely in an exploitative way, and pornographic images are created and viewed only for the purpose of arousing sexual impurity. Hence the production, viewing and spread of pornography is an offense against the dignity of persons, is objectively evil, and must be condemned....
"The immorality of pornography comes, first of all, from the fact that it distorts the truth about human sexuality. It perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other (CCC 2354). Rather than being the expression of a married couple's intimate union of life and love, sex is reduced to a demeaning source of entertainment and even profit for others. Pornography violates chastity also because it introduces impure thoughts into the viewer's mind and often leads to unchaste acts, such as masturbation or adultery.
"Pornography offends also against justice. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others (CCC 2354)....
"pornography represents a serious abuse of the means of communication, and, in that regard, is a violation of the eighth commandment....
"the use of pornography - i.e. its manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing - is gravely sinful. Those who engage in such activity with full knowledge and complete consent commit a mortal sin. Such actions deprive them of sanctifying grace, destroy the life of Christ in their souls, and prevent them from receiving Holy Communion until they have received absolution through the Sacrament of Penance.
"The gravity of this sin becomes clearer when one considers the tremendous damage the use of pornography causes to society. It damages first of all the family, the basic cell of society and the Church, because it tears at the marital bond. Since it immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world (CCC 2354), a man's use of pornography turns his attention and affection away from his wife. It creates in his mind unrealistic and often immoral expectations for their intimate life....
"Pornography's availability and intrusion injure the common good by producing a consumerist and licentious view of sexuality, particularly of women. Inculcating and guarding the precious virtue of chastity becomes increasingly difficult....Society's interest in preparing young men and women for marriage also suffers when the media presents as a mercantile plaything the holy act of intimacy that is proper to the sacred bond of marriage.
"Perhaps worst of all, however, is the damage that pornography does to man's 'template' for the supernatural. Our natural vision in this world is the model for supernatural vision in the next. Once we have distorted or damaged that template, how will we understand the reality? Our Lord has given us the gift of sight with the intention that we ultimately may see Him. The sinful use of this faculty both warps our understanding of it and - worse still - cripples our ability to realize its fulfillment in heaven. What man should use for receiving the true vision of God and the beauty of His creation, he uses instead to consume false images of others in pornography. How can we understand the supernatural sight God desires for us - i.e. the contemplation of God in the beatific vision - once our natural sight has been damaged and distorted?....
"like the people Israel who were called out of Egypt , members of the Church, too, find themselves inextricably tied to the same culture of death from which God has freed them....
"we find ourselves assuming secular attitudes and becoming confused about the true nature of sin. This confusion becomes deadly when we use it to justify our own sinfulness, or seek to 'define away' the evil nature of sins that tempt us. This is nowhere more evident than in the confusion that some Christians experience about the true nature of pornography....
"The justification of pornography often begins by viewing the activity as a private exchange between the viewers and those who produce and distribute the material....The illusion inherent in this rationalization is that all the participating parties complete the exchange as the same persons, with no harm done, as when they entered. Like all rationalizations, this is an illusion.
"The first illusion is that the viewing of men and women in intimate relations does no harm to them as persons. Often this is not true on even a physical plane....
"By taking an essential aspect of the person - human sexuality - and making it a commodity to be bartered and sold, to be used and discarded by unknown others, the pornography industry commits a most violent attack on the dignity of these victims....
"Every year, thousands of men and women are lured into the pornography industry by the promise of easy money. The industry preys on the most vulnerable: the poor, the abused and marginalized, and even children. This exploitation of the weak is gravely sinful....
"More and more of these victims are younger, even children. When these, the most vulnerable and innocent of our society, become victims of the dehumanizing demands of an industry willing to destroy innocence for profit, it is an unspeakable act of violence....
"The entire pornography industry exists to realize profit, and there can be no profit without customers. Those who seek out and use pornographic images are active participants in the victimization of others....And the viewers themselves are degraded.
"It is a mistaken notion that the singular effect of sinful moral choices is the harm these choices cause to others. Certainly, the immediate effect of choosing to participate in pornographic viewing is the spiritual and emotional violence committed against those whose images are viewed. Yet, the personal and existential effect on the one choosing to view pornographic images lies at the heart of these sinful actions.
"The human person, the only creature with a moral sense, progressively builds or destroys his or her character by each and every moral choice. Thus one becomes virtuous by the very act of practicing virtue, and one becomes depraved by practicing acts of vice....
"The false promise of intimacy offered by pornography leads instead to an ever-deeper alienation that cripples the user's ability to experience truly intimate human contact....
"If the person is not master of self-through the virtues and, in a concrete way, through chastity-he or she lacks that self-possession which makes self-giving possible....
"Once given over to this vice, the family member makes great efforts to keep this betrayal secret. Ultimately, however, it is vain to expect that a secret that distorts the core of human sexuality can fully remain a secret from those to whom we have pledged our love and our lives....
"The first to feel the violence of pornographic use is the spouse....The use of pornography is a violation of the commitment of marriage. Even if tolerated by the spouse, how can one possibly not feel rejection and betrayal when one's committed partner turns to illusion and fleeting happiness in pornographic images? This rejection, if left unhealed, will often lead to the permanent destruction of the marital commitment.
"As is the nature of all sin, the ones who suffer the most are the innocent. Children who naturally strive to imitate and integrate the self-giving love of their parents instead find themselves faced with tension, betrayal and selfishness. It is understandable then that they may come to believe that true love, a sacrificial and self-giving love, is an illusion.
"Just as it is a vain hope for a spouse using pornography to keep this sin a secret, it is also a vain hope to think that the material itself can be kept a secret....
"All married couples will face times when marital intimacy is not possible. For some, these times may be prolonged. To pose such deprivation as an excuse for the use of the pornographic is to cheapen the promise of faithfulness upon which any marriage is founded. To embrace pornography as a substitute for marital intimacy is a tacit admission that the spouse is a means to meet biological 'needs' rather than a partner in the communion of human love....
"There cannot be a 'temperate' use of pornography, just as there cannot be a 'temperate' use of hatred or racism. To pose such a possibility is to accept giving in to evil one step at a time. Any seeming relief will be fleeting and the long-range consequences will make future resistance even more difficult, possibly escalating into an addiction....
"Without the self-mastery that comes from controlling and, when necessary, struggling with one's destructive behaviors, including pornography, maturing young persons find themselves in the fearful condition of being unable to control either the world or themselves....
"Those who defend the 'free speech' rights of pornographers often present the Church's defense of purity as puritanical rather than pastoral. Defenders of this criminal enterprise pose as defenders of a true humanism, portraying Christian teaching on chastity as 'anti-human.' The Church is presented as hating the human body and so reacting against human nature.
"This lie has been restated so many times through the long history of the Church that many accept it as central to Christian thought. In fact the exact opposite is true. The Church has always condemned a dualistic understanding of spirit as good and the body as evil. God created all things, both spirit and matter, and saw that all these things were good (cf. Gen 1). It is the resurrection of the body which is our hope, and our recognition of the body as an integral part of the human person is the foundation of Christian chastity.
"The Church does not pose an opposition of body and soul but rather the necessary completeness of both body and soul for a true and life-affirming wholeness. Far from denigrating the human body and treating sexuality as an evil thing, the Church affirms the sacredness of the body. Because of this sacredness, the marital act is recognized as having a sacramental and sacred character which the Church seeks to protect....
"Where the pornographic mentality has invaded even mainstream media - and certainly, what is now offered on cable and even broadcast television increasingly approaches pornographic content, citizens must demand that public officials whose service is to regulate such media take immediate and effective action. Contrary to the self-serving defense of some media outlets, such actions are not censorship, but rather the demand for an end to the exploitation of persons and the degradation of public morality....
"Christians of every generation are called to live in conformity with the truth of Jesus Christ and to stand apart from those aspects of culture which are contrary to this truth. A most effective way in which believers can combat the plague of pornography is by the witness of their lives....
"Within one's capabilities, each person should make every effort to contribute healthy and chaste entertainments that can be shared by all. In the fields of art, literature and music, we must never compromise our own Christian dignity to suit the expectations of a decadent culture....
"Sadly, a great amount of the information available on the Internet is pornographic in nature. Some will find this instant access to impure images a temptation difficult to overcome. Do not justify the presence of a snake in the home for the benefits it may bring. We must remember our moral obligation not to place ourselves knowingly or deliberately in the occasion of sin. The inconvenience of losing instant access to information will be far outweighed by the ability to live an integrated and pure life.
"Spiritual growth is impossible without an honest admission of guilt and reconciliation. All Christians should avail themselves of the grace of the Sacrament of Penance and make this sacrament of mercy the cornerstone of the struggle against pornography.
"Finally, never underestimate the efficacy of Christian prayer. Pray for the victims of pornography, that their precious human dignity may be healed and restored. Offer concrete acts of penance through spiritual works and fasting for those who manipulate others in this crime of pornography, and who share in the complicity of its distribution. Through these acts of reparation, offer to God an acceptable sacrifice pleasing in His sight.
"Entrust the Church always to the protection of Saint Joseph....
"I turn with particular concern to my young brothers and sisters in Christ. I fear that the full burden of our culture's surrender to pornography will fall on your shoulders, both now and in years to come. Not only have you been targeted by this criminal enterprise as a source of financial gain, but you also have to endure the impoverished notion of intimacy that results from a culture that has confused love with self-gratification. Know first that God has destined you for a true and fully human love that finds its center not in manipulating others but in sharing and flourishing in a communion with your beloved....
"The true guardian and caretaker of the unique dignity of human persons is the family, and most particularly husbands and wives, who are custodians of the sacredness of life....
"While husbands and wives share equal dignity as persons, they do not share temptations equally - especially the temptations associated with the scourge of pornography. It must be admitted that the use of pornography is largely, although certainly not exclusively, associated with males. If a marriage begins to be damaged by pornography, it will most likely be introduced by the husband.
"Husbands, be aware that your solemn promise of faithfulness, which is the foundation of the formation of your family, is damaged by any use of pornography. Strive to bring honor to the promise you made at the beginning of your married life. The times where intimacy is difficult are opportunities to practice the sacrificial love of a spouse that only your noble vocation illustrates most perfectly....
"Wives who find that their husbands have entered into a sinful attraction to pornographic images or stories must be loving and forgiving, but also stern in calling the spouse to return to his true manly vocation of marriage....
"Husbands and wives must practice constant vigilance to ensure that the plague of pornography does not enter into the lives of their children....
"Most importantly, husbands and wives provide the clearest and surest teaching of chastity through the love, devotion and self-sacrifice they display in their relationship one to the other. Recall always that the Lord has entrusted to you by your very life together the perfect means to bring children to a true and mature understanding of human intimacy....
"I now turn to my brothers in Christ, my brother priests....While being students of the culture so that we may become more capable of evangelizing, we must be always alert lest we find ourselves being overwhelmed by the very elements we wish to banish....
"You and I are celibate men for the Kingdom of God . This tremendous gift of celibacy is an invitation to the intimacy that Christ shares with His Church. We must always embrace this gift with joy and grow in the self-giving love that is our inheritance. Submission to the lures of pornography is a serious sin against the gift of celibate chastity....
"Our sight, more than just a physical ability, also serves as an important means for understanding faith, heaven and salvation. Indeed, its proper end and fulfillment is the vision of God Himself. Man's final purpose is caught up with his ability to see. With this profound truth in mind, we can better appreciate the grave threat pornography presents to the human soul, to the family and to society....
"We stand at a threshold - either we can continue to allow this plague to spread with fewer and fewer checks, or we can take concrete steps to uproot it in our lives, our families, our neighborhoods and our culture.
"We are a people called to share in the pure and noble vision of God and His creation. We are also a people whose future glory has been bought with the precious sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must never forget the high cost of this purchase.
"A free people can combat the tremendous moral, social and spiritual danger of pornography with great courage. My fervent prayer is that Catholics, other Christians, and all people of good will understand this threat, confront it, facilitate true healing, and ever more fully live out our God-given use of human sight."
Monday, December 25, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
A Look at Redemptionis Sacramentum
These fascinating excerpts are from the Vatican's 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:
The Chair of the Priest Celebrant [ 2006-06-20 ]
Using Deacons as Readers and Servers [ 2006-01-10 ]
Lector in an Irregular Relationship [ 2005-12-20 ]
Bells at the Consecration [ 2005-08-23 ]
Tabernacles, Adoration and Double Genuflections [ 2005-07-26 ]
Obedience to a Priest [ 2005-07-19 ]
Genuflections by Concelebrants [ 2005-06-21 ]
If Confessor Doesn't Know Penitent's Language [ 2005-03-22 ]
When a Priest Is in Mortal Sin [ 2005-02-08 ]
Removal of Altar Rails [ 2005-02-01 ]
Liturgical Dancing [ 2004-10-05 ]
Reservation and Exposition of Blessed Sacrament [ 2004-09-28 ]
Both Species From an Extraordinary Minister [ 2004-09-21 ]
Homilies While Walking? [ 2004-08-31 ]
Eucharistic Prayer for the Celebrant(s) Alone? [ 2004-07-06 ]A
Crowded Altar? [ 2004-05-04 ]
Anonymity in the Confessional [ 2004-04-06 ]
Holding Hands at the Our Father? [ 2003-11-18 ]
Communion for Late Arrivals at Mass? [ 2003-11-04 ]
Can Priest Go Down Aisle at the Kiss of Peace? [ 2003-10-28 ]
Are Extraordinary Ministers the Norm? [ 2003-10-14 ]
Liturgy: Are Glass Chalices OK for Mass? [ 2003-09-16 ]
“The Mystery of the Eucharist 'is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured.' On the contrary, anyone who acts thus by giving free reign to his own inclinations, even if he is a Priest, injures the substantial unity of the Roman Rite, which ought to be vigorously preserved, and becomes responsible for actions that are in no way consistent with the hunger and thirst for the living God that is experienced by the people today. Nor do such actions serve authentic pastoral care or proper liturgical renewal; instead, they deprive Christ's faithful of their patrimony and their heritage….The result is uncertainty in matters of doctrine, perplexity and scandal on the part of the People of God, and, almost as a necessary consequence, vigorous opposition, all of which greatly confuse and sadden many of Christ's faithful in this age of ours when Christian life is often particularly difficult on account of the inroads of 'secularization' as well....Liturgy questions are posted at www.zenit.org, such as
“As early as the year 1970, the Apostolic See announced the cessation of all experimentation as regards the celebration of Holy Mass and reiterated the same in 1988....In order to carry out experimentation of this kind in the future, the permission of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is required. It must be in writing, and it is to be requested by the Conference of Bishops. In fact, it will not be granted without serious reason....
"The constant teaching of the Church on the nature of the Eucharist not only as a meal, but also and pre-eminently as a Sacrifice, is therefore rightly understood to be one of the principal keys to the full participation of all the faithful in so great a Sacrament....
“from the fact that the liturgical celebration obviously entails activity, it does not follow that everyone must necessarily have something concrete to do beyond the actions and gestures, as if a certain specific liturgical ministry must necessarily be given to the individuals to be carried out by them. Instead, catechetical instruction should strive diligently to correct those widespread superficial notions and practices often seen in recent years in this regard, and ever to instill anew in all of Christ's faithful that sense of deep wonder before the greatness of the mystery of faith that is the Eucharist, in whose celebration the Church is forever passing from what is obsolete into newness of life....
“To be avoided is the danger of obscuring the complementary relationship between the action of clerics and that of laypersons....
“The lay Christian faithful called to give assistance at liturgical celebrations should be well instructed and must be those whose Christian life, morals and fidelity to the Church's Magisterium recommend them....No one should be selected whose designation could cause consternation for the faithful....
"It is appropriate that each one give the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner….The Priest may give the sign of peace to the ministers but always remains within the sanctuary, so as not to disturb the celebration. He does likewise if for a just reason he wishes to extend the sign of peace to some few of the faithful….As regards the sign to be exchanged, the manner is to be established by the Conference of Bishops in accordance with the dispositions and customs of the people, and their acts are subject to the recognitio of the Apostolic See.....
"it sometimes happens that Christ’s faithful approach the altar as a group indiscriminately. It pertains to the Pastors prudently and firmly to correct such an abuse....
“care should be taken lest out of ignorance non-Catholics or even non-Christians come forward for Holy Communion, without taking into account the Church's Magisterium in matters pertaining to doctrine and discipline. It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed....
“Where it happens, however, that a child who is exceptionally mature for his age is judged to be ready for receiving the Sacrament, the child must not be denied First Communion provided he has received sufficient instruction....
‘Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law....
‘If there is a risk of profanation,...Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful....
“The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling....
“Where there exists in certain places by concession a particular custom of blessing bread after Mass for distribution, proper catechesis should very carefully be given concerning this action. In fact, no other similar practices should be introduced, nor should unconsecrated hosts ever be used for this purpose....
“The norms of the Roman Missal admit the principle that in cases where Communion is administered under both kinds,...the Blood of the Lord may be received either by drinking from the chalice directly, or by intinction, or by means of a tube or a spoon….As regards the administering of Communion to lay members of Christ’s faithful, the Bishops may exclude Communion with the tube or the spoon where this is not the local custom, though the option of administering Communion by intinction always remains. If this modality is employed, however, hosts should be used which are neither too thin nor too small, and the communicant should receive the Sacrament from the Priest only on the tongue....
“In accordance with what is laid down by the canons, one who throws away the consecrated species or takes them away or keeps them for a sacrilegious purpose, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; a cleric, moreover, may be punished by another penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state....To be regarded as pertaining to this case is any action that is voluntarily and gravely disrespectful of the sacred species. Anyone, therefore, who acts contrary to these norms, for example casting the sacred species into the sacrarium or in an unworthy place or on the ground, incurs the penalties laid down. Furthermore all will remember that once the distribution of Holy Communion during the celebration of Mass has been completed, the prescriptions of the Roman Missal are to be observed, and in particular, whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ must be entirely and immediately consumed by the Priest or by another minister, according to the norms, while the consecrated hosts that are left are to be consumed by the Priest at the altar or carried to the place for the reservation of the Eucharist....
"Mass is celebrated either in Latin or in another language, provided that liturgical texts are used which have been approved according to the norm of law. Except in the case of celebrations of the Mass that are scheduled by the ecclesiastical authorities to take place in the language of the people, Priests are always and everywhere permitted to celebrate Mass in Latin....
"Reprobated...is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily. This norm is to be applied even as regards metals and other materials that easily rust or deteriorate....
“Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations, which are acts of Christ and of the people of God hierarchically constituted, are ordered in such a way that the sacred ministers and the lay faithful manifestly take part in them each according to his own condition. It is preferable therefore that Priests who are present at a Eucharistic Celebration, unless excused for a good reason, should as a rule exercise the office proper to their Order and thus take part as concelebrants, wearing the sacred vestments. Otherwise, they wear their proper choir dress or a surplice over a cassock…It is not fitting, except in rare and exceptional cases and with reasonable cause, for them to participate at Mass, as regards to externals, in the manner of the lay faithful....
“According to the structure of each church building and in accordance with legitimate local customs, the Most Holy Sacrament is to be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is noble, prominent, readily visible, and adorned in a dignified manner. and furthermore .suitable for prayer. by reason of the quietness of the location, the space available in front of the tabernacle, and also the supply of benches or seats and kneelers. In addition, diligent attention should be paid to all the prescriptions of the liturgical books and to the norm of law, especially as regards the avoidance of the danger of profanation....
“This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not 'special minister of Holy Communion' nor 'extraordinary minister of the Eucharist' nor 'special minister of the Eucharist', by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened....the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason....
“Let the diocesan Bishop give renewed consideration to the practice in recent years regarding this matter, and if circumstances call for it, let him correct it or define it more precisely. ...
“A cleric who loses the clerical state in accordance with the law . . . is prohibited from exercising the power of order.. It is therefore not licit for him to celebrate the sacraments under any pretext whatsoever save in the exceptional case set forth by law, nor is it licit for Christ's faithful to have recourse to him for the celebration....Moreover, these men should neither give the homily nor ever undertake any office or duty in the celebration of the sacred Liturgy, lest confusion arise among Christ's faithful and the truth be obscured....
“Whenever an abuse is committed in the celebration of the sacred Liturgy, it is to be seen as a real falsification of Catholic Liturgy....Among the various abuses there are some which are objectively graviora delicta or otherwise constitute grave matters, as well as others which are nonetheless to be carefully avoided and corrected....
“those actions that are brought about which are contrary to the other matters treated elsewhere in this Instruction or in the norms established by law are not to be considered of little account, but are to be numbered among the other abuses to be carefully avoided and corrected....
“whenever a local Ordinary or the Ordinary of a religious Institute or of a Society of apostolic life receives at least a plausible notice of a delict or abuse concerning the Most Holy Eucharist, let him carefully investigate, either personally or by means of another worthy cleric, concerning the facts and the circumstances as well as the imputability....
“let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected....
“Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ's faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse....
“Against the seeds of discord which daily experience shows to be so deeply ingrained in human nature as a result of sin, there stands the creative power of the unity of Christ's body. For it is precisely by building up the Church that the Eucharist establishes fellowship among men.. It is therefore the hope of this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments that also, by the diligent application of those things that are recalled in this Instruction, human weakness may come to pose less of an obstacle to the action of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and that with all distortion set aside and every reprobated practice removed, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, .Woman of the Eucharist., the saving presence of Christ in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood may shine brightly upon all people.
“Let all Christ’s faithful participate in the Most Holy Eucharist as fully, consciously and actively as they can, honouring it lovingly by their devotion and the manner of their life. Let Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in the exercise of the sacred ministry, examine their consciences as regards the authenticity and fidelity of the actions they have performed in the name of Christ and the Church in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. Let each one of the sacred ministers ask himself, even with severity, whether he has respected the rights of the lay members of Christ's faithful, who confidently entrust themselves and their children to him, relying on him to fulfill for the faithful those sacred functions that the Church intends to carry out in celebrating the sacred Liturgy at Christ’s command. For each one should always remember that he is a servant of the Sacred Liturgy."
The Chair of the Priest Celebrant [ 2006-06-20 ]
Using Deacons as Readers and Servers [ 2006-01-10 ]
Lector in an Irregular Relationship [ 2005-12-20 ]
Bells at the Consecration [ 2005-08-23 ]
Tabernacles, Adoration and Double Genuflections [ 2005-07-26 ]
Obedience to a Priest [ 2005-07-19 ]
Genuflections by Concelebrants [ 2005-06-21 ]
If Confessor Doesn't Know Penitent's Language [ 2005-03-22 ]
When a Priest Is in Mortal Sin [ 2005-02-08 ]
Removal of Altar Rails [ 2005-02-01 ]
Liturgical Dancing [ 2004-10-05 ]
Reservation and Exposition of Blessed Sacrament [ 2004-09-28 ]
Both Species From an Extraordinary Minister [ 2004-09-21 ]
Homilies While Walking? [ 2004-08-31 ]
Eucharistic Prayer for the Celebrant(s) Alone? [ 2004-07-06 ]A
Crowded Altar? [ 2004-05-04 ]
Anonymity in the Confessional [ 2004-04-06 ]
Holding Hands at the Our Father? [ 2003-11-18 ]
Communion for Late Arrivals at Mass? [ 2003-11-04 ]
Can Priest Go Down Aisle at the Kiss of Peace? [ 2003-10-28 ]
Are Extraordinary Ministers the Norm? [ 2003-10-14 ]
Liturgy: Are Glass Chalices OK for Mass? [ 2003-09-16 ]
excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s 1/28/06 Address to the Roman Rota
Some excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s 1/28/06 Address to the Roman Rota,
“The canonical proceedings for the nullity of marriage are essentially a means of ascertaining the truth about the conjugal bond….
"in its twofold natural and sacramental dimension, marriage is not a good that spouses can dispose of nor, given its social and public nature, can any kind of self-declaration be conjectured….
"The trial's aim is rather to declare the truth about the validity or invalidity of an actual marriage, in other words, about a reality that establishes the institution of the family and deeply concerns the Church and civil society….
"pastoral love can sometimes be contaminated by complacent attitudes towards the parties….by avoiding confrontation with the truth that saves, they can even turn out to be counterproductive with regard to each person's saving encounter with Christ….
[The indissolubility of marriage]"is sometimes obscured in the consciences of Christians and of people of good will….
"pastoral sensitivity must be directed to avoiding matrimonial nullity when the couple seeks to marry and to striving to help the spouses solve their possible problems and find the path to reconciliation. That same pastoral sensitivity to the real situations of individuals must nonetheless lead to safeguarding the truth and applying the norms prescribed to protect it during the trial”
Western Civilization - Anti-Catholic biases in its presentation
The author of "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" is Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D. (who received his doctorate from Columbia). As per an interview with Dr. Woods,
"No institution has done more to shape the West than the Church....[Yet] The Catholic Church... has come in for a bad press....many people are only aware of the darker parts of Church history....
"Western civilization...does not derive exclusively from Catholicism. Nevertheless, it is easy to forget just how much the Church contributed in such areas as art, music, architecture, science and law.
"A strongly negative view still persists regarding the Middle Ages, even though...just about all historians have now rejected the old prejudice of this period as the 'Dark Ages.' While there was indeed a period of decline in the sixth and seventh centuries, this was due to barbarian invasions and constant wars. The destruction would have been worse if it had not been for the Church's efforts at maintaining some kind of order.
"Modern civilization owes a particular debt to the work of countless monks during the Middle Ages....It was in the monasteries that the great Roman texts were copied and preserved for future generations....
"The medieval monasteries were also vital in the development of agriculture....the many thousands of Benedictine establishments played a crucial role in clearing and developing land. They also introduced the local populations to important techniques, such as cattle rearing, cheese making, water management and raising bees. Cistercian monasteries also played a vital role...in areas such as the development of water power and metallurgy....
"Far from being a period of ignorance the Middle Ages saw the birth of the university system. The Church was at the center of this advance, which took off in the second half of the 12th century in centers established in Paris, Bologna, Oxford and Cambridge. The papacy...also played a central role in establishing and encouraging the universities....
"Modern science also owes a large debt to the Catholic Church. Most people remember the Church's conflict with Galileo, which was not nearly so negative as popular myths would have it....The Church was at the center of scientific advances, with many clergymen combining their divine vocation with an interest in science.
"In the 13th century, the Dominican St Albert the Great, for example, was considered one of the precursors of modern science. And Robert Grosseteste, chancellor of Oxford University and bishop of Lincoln, is...considered to have been one of the most knowledgeable men of the Middle Ages. He was, among other accomplishments, the first to write down a complete set of steps for performing a scientific experiment.
"The Church's involvement with science would continue in later centuries. In the 17th century Father Nicolaus Steno of Denmark was credited with setting down most of the principles of modern geology. And in the 17th and 18th centuries the Jesuits made many important contributions to science, particularly in areas such as mathematics and astronomy.
"Art and architecture also owe a great debt to the Catholic Church. When the iconoclasts, who were opposed to images of religious figures, sought the destruction of religious art in the eighth and ninth centuries, it was the Church that resisted this heresy.
"In the following centuries Catholic patronage, through the construction of the great cathedrals and the commissioning of innumerable works of art, was at the center of European art and architecture. The popes, in particular, as patrons of many great artists were behind the production of many masterpieces....
"The discovery and conquest of the New World presented Catholic theologians with the task of developing what should be the legal and ethical principles governing the treatment of the native peoples in the new territories. One of the best-known of these thinkers was Francisco de Vitoria, a Dominican who is credited with helping to lay the foundations of modern international law. He defended the principle that all men are equally free and have the same right to life, culture and property.
"Vitoria, along with other figures such as fellow Dominican Bartolomé de las Casas, played an important role in defending the native populations against those who sought to treat them as a subhuman class, thus legitimizing slavery and other kinds of ill treatment. Injustices were committed in spite of these efforts..., but the Spanish theologians made important contributions to concepts such as natural rights and the just war.
"Many other aspects of Western legal systems also owe their origin to the Church....canon law, was the first systematic body of law developed in medieval Europe and formed the basis for subsequent secular legal systems.
"Church influence was vital in ensuring, for example, that a valid marriage required the free consent of both the man and the woman. And the Church's defense of human life meant that the Greek and Roman practice of infanticide was discontinued. Other barbaric practices such as trial by battle or blood feuds were eventually discouraged due to the Church's influence. Canon lawyers also introduced principles such as reducing legal liability due to mitigating circumstances....
"From the first centuries the Church sought to alleviate the suffering caused by famines and diseases. Inspired by the Gospel the faithful were encouraged to donate money to the Church to be used to help those in need.
"In the early Church, hospices were organized to care for pilgrims, ransomed slaves and the poor. Other groups, such as widows and orphans, also benefited from institutions set up by the Church. The establishment of hospitals on a large scale also stems from initiatives organized by the Catholic Church from the fourth century onward. And, during the Middle Ages, monasteries became the providers of medical care in many areas.
"The extent of this aid was such that many who were otherwise hostile to Catholics, ...such as Voltaire, ...paid tribute to the Church's charitable work.
[When] "King Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries in England and confiscated their properties the subsequent loss of charitable aid led to civil uprisings in some parts. And the nationalization of Church property during the French Revolution meant that more than a half-century afterward, in 1847, France had 47% fewer hospitals than in 1789.
"Woods concludes by affirming 'So ingrained are the concepts that Catholicism introduced into the world that very often even movements opposing it are nevertheless imbued with Christian ideals.' The Catholic Church, he continues, 'did not merely contribute to Western civilization -- the Church built that civilization.' Contemporary civilization has cut itself off from this foundation more and more, ...in many cases with negative consequences" (Zenit News Agency, 6/4/05).
Sharing the Faith - a Study Guide for the Catechism
This 1997/1998 effort is a 26 lesson study guide for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, based on an RCIA Class outline from Rev. John Trigilio, Jr. (Diocese of Harrisburg & the Fraternity of Mary, 9/03/94.). It was an attempt to present material in an easy-to-read format:
PART ONE - THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION ONE - "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER ONE - MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD ( Lesson 1 )
CHAPTER TWO - GOD COMES TO MEET MAN
ARTICLE 1 - THE REVELATION OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION ( Lesson 2 )
ARTICLE 3 - SACRED SCRIPTURE ( Lesson 3 )
CHAPTER THREE - MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
ARTICLE 1 - I BELIEVEARTICLE 2 - WE BELIEVETHE CREDO ( Lesson 4 )
SECTION TWO - THE CREEDS
CHAPTER ONE - I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
ARTICLE 1 - "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF HEAVEN & EARTH"
PARAGRAPH 1 - "I BELIEVE IN GOD"
PARAGRAPH 2 - THE FATHER ( Lesson 5 )
PARAGRAPH 3 - THE ALMIGHTY
PARAGRAPH 4 - THE CREATOR
PARAGRAPH 5 - HEAVEN AND EARTH
PARAGRAPH 6 - MAN ( Lesson 6 )
PARAGRAPH 7 - THE FALL ( Lesson 7 )
CHAPTER TWO - I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"
ARTICLE 3 - "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"
ARTICLE 4 - "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED & WAS BURIED"
ARTICLE 5 - "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL,ON THE 3RD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
ARTICLE 6 - "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN& IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"
ARTICLE 7 - "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAINTO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD" ( Lesson 8 , Lesson 9 )
CHAPTER THREE - I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
ARTICLE 8 - "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT" ( Lesson 10 )
ARTICLE 9 - "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"
PARAGRAPH 1 - THE CHURCH IN GOD'S PLAN
PARAGRAPH 2 - THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST,TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PARAGRAPH 3 - THE CHURCH IS ONE,HOLY,CATHOLIC,&APOSTOLIC
PARAGRAPH 4 - CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY,CONSECRATED LIFE( Lesson 11 )
I - THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH
II - THE LAY FAITHFUL
III - THE CONSECRATED LIFE
PARAGRAPH 5 - THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
I - COMMUNION IN THE SPIRITUAL GOODS
II - THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH OF HEAVEN AND EARTH( Lesson 12 is meant to consist of a history of the Church, Lesson 13 )
PARAGRAPH 6 - MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST,MOTHER OF THE CHURCH ( Lesson 14 )
ARTICLE 10 - "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"
ARTICLE 11 - "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"
ARTICLE 12 - "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING" "AMEN" ( Lesson 15 )
PART TWO - THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION ONE - THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
CHAPTER ONE - THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH
ARTICLE 1 - THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY
ARTICLE 2 - THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH'S SACRAMENTS
CHAPTER TWO - THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
ARTICLE 1 - CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY
ARTICLE 2 - LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY( Lesson 16 )
SECTION TWO - THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE - THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
ARTICLE 1 - THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
ARTICLE 2 - THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ( Lesson 17 )
ARTICLE 3 - THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST ( Lesson 18 )
CHAPTER TWO - THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
ARTICLE 4 - THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
ARTICLE 5 - THE ANNOINTING OF THE SICK( Lesson 19 )
CHAPTER THREE - THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
ARTICLE 6 - THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS ( Lesson 20 )
ARTICLE 7 - THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY ( Lesson 21 )
CHAPTER FOUR - OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
ARTICLE 1 - SACRAMENTALS
ARTICLE 2 - CHRISTIAN FUNERALS ( Lesson 22 )
PART THREE - LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE - MAN'S VOCATION IN THE SPIRIT
CHAPTER ONE - THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
ARTICLE 1 - MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE
ARTICLE 3 - MAN'S FREEDOM
ARTICLE 4 - THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS
ARTICLE 5 - THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS
ARTICLE 6 - MORAL CONSCIENCE
ARTICLE 7 - THE VIRTUES ( Lesson 23 )
ARTICLE 8 - SIN
CHAPTER TWO - THE HUMAN COMMUNION
CHAPTER THREE - GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE ( Lesson 24 )
SECTION TWO - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER ONE - YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND
CHAPTER TWO - YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ( Lesson 25 )
PART FOUR - CHRISTIAN PRAYER (Prayer)
SECTION ONE - PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
WHAT IS PRAYER?
CHAPTER ONE - THE REVELATION OF PRAYER
THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER
CHAPTER TWO - THE TRADITION OF PRAYER
CHAPTER THREE - THE LIFE OF PRAYER
SECTION TWO - THE LORD'S PRAYER
( Lesson 26 )
PART ONE - THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION ONE - "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER ONE - MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD ( Lesson 1 )
CHAPTER TWO - GOD COMES TO MEET MAN
ARTICLE 1 - THE REVELATION OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION ( Lesson 2 )
ARTICLE 3 - SACRED SCRIPTURE ( Lesson 3 )
CHAPTER THREE - MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
ARTICLE 1 - I BELIEVEARTICLE 2 - WE BELIEVETHE CREDO ( Lesson 4 )
SECTION TWO - THE CREEDS
CHAPTER ONE - I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
ARTICLE 1 - "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF HEAVEN & EARTH"
PARAGRAPH 1 - "I BELIEVE IN GOD"
PARAGRAPH 2 - THE FATHER ( Lesson 5 )
PARAGRAPH 3 - THE ALMIGHTY
PARAGRAPH 4 - THE CREATOR
PARAGRAPH 5 - HEAVEN AND EARTH
PARAGRAPH 6 - MAN ( Lesson 6 )
PARAGRAPH 7 - THE FALL ( Lesson 7 )
CHAPTER TWO - I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"
ARTICLE 3 - "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"
ARTICLE 4 - "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED & WAS BURIED"
ARTICLE 5 - "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL,ON THE 3RD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
ARTICLE 6 - "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN& IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"
ARTICLE 7 - "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAINTO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD" ( Lesson 8 , Lesson 9 )
CHAPTER THREE - I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
ARTICLE 8 - "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT" ( Lesson 10 )
ARTICLE 9 - "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"
PARAGRAPH 1 - THE CHURCH IN GOD'S PLAN
PARAGRAPH 2 - THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST,TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PARAGRAPH 3 - THE CHURCH IS ONE,HOLY,CATHOLIC,&APOSTOLIC
PARAGRAPH 4 - CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY,CONSECRATED LIFE( Lesson 11 )
I - THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH
II - THE LAY FAITHFUL
III - THE CONSECRATED LIFE
PARAGRAPH 5 - THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
I - COMMUNION IN THE SPIRITUAL GOODS
II - THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH OF HEAVEN AND EARTH( Lesson 12 is meant to consist of a history of the Church, Lesson 13 )
PARAGRAPH 6 - MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST,MOTHER OF THE CHURCH ( Lesson 14 )
ARTICLE 10 - "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"
ARTICLE 11 - "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"
ARTICLE 12 - "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING" "AMEN" ( Lesson 15 )
PART TWO - THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION ONE - THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
CHAPTER ONE - THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH
ARTICLE 1 - THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY
ARTICLE 2 - THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH'S SACRAMENTS
CHAPTER TWO - THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
ARTICLE 1 - CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY
ARTICLE 2 - LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY( Lesson 16 )
SECTION TWO - THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE - THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
ARTICLE 1 - THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
ARTICLE 2 - THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ( Lesson 17 )
ARTICLE 3 - THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST ( Lesson 18 )
CHAPTER TWO - THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
ARTICLE 4 - THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
ARTICLE 5 - THE ANNOINTING OF THE SICK( Lesson 19 )
CHAPTER THREE - THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
ARTICLE 6 - THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS ( Lesson 20 )
ARTICLE 7 - THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY ( Lesson 21 )
CHAPTER FOUR - OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
ARTICLE 1 - SACRAMENTALS
ARTICLE 2 - CHRISTIAN FUNERALS ( Lesson 22 )
PART THREE - LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE - MAN'S VOCATION IN THE SPIRIT
CHAPTER ONE - THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
ARTICLE 1 - MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD
ARTICLE 2 - OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE
ARTICLE 3 - MAN'S FREEDOM
ARTICLE 4 - THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS
ARTICLE 5 - THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS
ARTICLE 6 - MORAL CONSCIENCE
ARTICLE 7 - THE VIRTUES ( Lesson 23 )
ARTICLE 8 - SIN
CHAPTER TWO - THE HUMAN COMMUNION
CHAPTER THREE - GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE ( Lesson 24 )
SECTION TWO - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER ONE - YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND
CHAPTER TWO - YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ( Lesson 25 )
PART FOUR - CHRISTIAN PRAYER (Prayer)
SECTION ONE - PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
WHAT IS PRAYER?
CHAPTER ONE - THE REVELATION OF PRAYER
THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER
CHAPTER TWO - THE TRADITION OF PRAYER
CHAPTER THREE - THE LIFE OF PRAYER
SECTION TWO - THE LORD'S PRAYER
( Lesson 26 )
Sunday, December 10, 2006
re: "Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests"
As Pope John Paul II beautifully explained in his Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, each human being has a special calling from God. Lay people have thrilling opportunities to respond to this call in the secular sphere. In the day-to-day, we may lose sight of this. On some - unspoken - level, perhaps, we seem to suspect that the "the sacred ministry of the clergy" constitutes the only legitimate means to respond to God. "Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests" is a corrective.
The Instruction reminds us that "the lay faithful, men or women and non-ordained members of Institutes of Consecrated Life & Societies of Apostolic Life, are called to assist"[emphasis added] in the ministry of the priest. Some particularly interesting excerpts from the Instruction's 13 articles are noted below:
- "Need for an Appropriate Terminology" While the Instructions indicate that confusion has been created through the multiple uses of the terms minister or ministry, it goes on to say that "It is unlawful for the non-ordained faithful to assume titles such as 'pastor', 'chaplain', 'coordinator', 'moderator' or other such similar titles which can confuse their role and that of the Pastor, who is always a Bishop or Priest."
- "The Ministry of the Word....Preaching in churches or oratories by the non-ordained faithful....cannot...be regarded as an ordinary occurrence nor as an authentic promotion of the laity....catechists [are to] take care to instruct those being catechized on the role and figure of the priest as the sole dispenser of the mysteries for which they are preparing."
- "The Homily....during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, must be reserved to the sacred minister, Priest or Deacon to the exclusion of the non-ordained faithful, even if these should have responsibilities as 'pastoral assistants' or catechists in whatever type of community or group."
- "The Parish Priest and the Parish....The non-ordained faithful, as happens in many worthy cases, may collaborate effectively in the pastoral ministry of clerics....Provisions regulating such extraordinary form of collaboration are provided by Canon 517, §.2.
§.1. The right understanding and application of this canon...requires that this exceptional provision be used only with strict adherence to conditions contained in it.... §.2. In the same regard, it must be noted that the Parish Priest is the Pastor proper to the parish entrusted to him and remains such until his pastoral office shall have ceased." - "The Structures of Collaboration in the Particular Church....It is for the Parish Priest to preside at parochial councils. They are to be considered invalid, and hence null and void, any deliberations entered into, (or decisions taken), by a parochial council which has not been presided over by the Parish Priest or which has assembled contrary to his wishes."
- "Liturgical Celebrations....In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant....the use of sacred vestments which are reserved to priests or deacons (stoles, chasubles or dalmatics) at liturgical ceremonies by non-ordained members of the faithful is clearly unlawful. Every effort must be made to avoid even the appearance of confusion which can spring from anomalous liturgical practices....To avoid any confusion between sacramental liturgical acts presided over by a priest or deacon, and other acts which the non-ordained faithful may lead, it is always necessary to use clearly distinct ceremonials, especially for the latter."
- "Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest.... A special mandate of the Bishop is necessary for the non-ordained members of the faithful to lead such celebrations. This mandate should contain specific instructions....It must be clearly understood that such celebrations are temporary solutions and the text used at them must be approved by the competent ecclesiastical authority....such celebrations cannot substitute for the eucharistic Sacrifice and that the obligation to attend mass on Sunday and Holy days y[sic] obligation is satisfied only by attendance at Holy Mass. In cases where distance or physical conditions are not an obstacle, every effort should be made to encourage and assist the faithful to fulfil this precept."
- "The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion ....Such liturgical service is a response to the objective needs of the faithful especially those of the sick and to those liturgical assemblies in which there are particularly large numbers of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion....Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion. They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion....It is...useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion. To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:
— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;
— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;
— the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of 'a great number of the faithful'." - "The Apostolate to the Sick....Innumerable works of charity to the sick are constantly provided by the non-ordained faithful either individually or through community apostolates....In using sacramentals, the non-ordained faithful should ensure that these are in no way regarded as sacraments whose administration is proper and exclusive to the Bishop and to the priest. Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or ony[sic] other oil....It must also be affirmed that the reservation of the ministry of Anointing to the priest is related to the connection of this sacrament to the forgiveness of sin and the worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist. No other person may act as ordinary or extraordinary minister of the sacrament since such constitutes simulation of the sacrament."
- "Assistance at Marriages....With the exception of an extraordinary case due to the absolute absence of both Priests and Deacons who can assist at marriages provided for in Canon 1112 of the Code of Canon Law, no ordained minister may authorize the non-ordained faithful for such assistance. Neither may an ordained minister authorize the non-ordained faithful to ask or receive matrimonial consent according to the norm of Canon 1108 § 2."
- "The Minister of Baptism....absence or the impediment of a sacred minister which renders licit the deputation of the lay faithful to act as an extraordinary minister of Baptism, cannot be defined in terms of the ordinary minister's excessive workload, or his non-residence in the territory of the parish, nor his non-availability on the day on which the parents wish the Baptism to take place. Such reasons are insufficient for the delegation of the non ordained faithful to act as extraordinary ministers of Baptism."
- "Leading the Celebration at Funerals....death and the time of obsequies can be one of the most opportune pastoral moments in which the ordained minister can meet with the non-practising members of the faithful. It is thus desirable that Priests and Deacons, even at some sacrifice to themselves, should preside personally at funeral rites in accordance with local custom, so as to pray for the dead and be close to their families, thus availing of an opportunity for appropriate evangelization. The non-ordained faithful may lead the ecclesiastical obsequies provided that there is a true absence of sacred ministers and that they adhere to the prescribed liturgical norms. Those so deputed should be well prepared both doctrinally and liturgically."
- "Necessary Selection and Adequate Formation Should it become necessary to provide for 'supplementary' assistance in any of the cases mentioned above, the competent Authority is bound to select lay faithful of sound doctrine and exemplary moral life....those chosen should possess that level of formation necessary for the discharge of the responsibilities entrusted to them. In accordance with the norms of particular law, they should perfect their knowledge particularly by attending, in so far as possible, those formation courses organized for them by the competent ecclesiastical Authority in the particular Churches, (in enviornments other than that of the Seminary, as this is reserved solely for those preparing for the priest hood). Great care must be exercised so that these courses conform absolutely to the teaching of the ecclesiastical magisterium and they must be imbued with a true spirituality."
The Catholic Families of Individuals with Disabilities (Catholic Family Perspectives Weekly, 6/1/97)
(Click individual images to enlarge)
We Can Recapture the Spirt that Cherishes All Human Life (Bucks Cty Courier Times, 11/16/06)
[What follows is the unedited version originally submitted; click to enlarge...]
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Honor St. Patrick not with Beer but with Devotion to God (Bucks Cty Courier Times, 3/17/06)
(Click individual images to enlarge; this piece was reprinted at www.saintagnesparish.org/docs/bulletin/2007/WB070311.pdf.)
In the fifth century A.D., a teenager was kidnapped from Roman-Britain and enslaved in Ireland . Six years later, he escaped. He eventually returned as a bishop to the land of his captors. As per Anita McSorley, “These were people who still practiced human sacrifice, who warred with each other constantly & who were renowned as the great slave traders of the day.” Patrick’s influence on Ireland was phenomenal. His introduction of Christianity brought about a dramatic decline in war and murder, as well as an end to the slave trade. When the Roman Empire collapsed, it was through the monks of Ireland ’s monasteries that the writings of Western Civilization were preserved.
In the sixteenth century, King Henry VIII divorced himself and his empire from the Catholic Church. Subsequently, there were times when it was illegal to be a Catholic in England or her territories. So-called “penal laws” even succeeded – for a time – in lessening the influence of Catholicism in Ireland . Fourteen centuries after Saint Patrick, Edward T. O’Donnell tells us that “only 30 to 40 percent of the population attended Mass and many who identified themselves as Catholic had virtually no knowledge of the faith's dogma and practices….many still clung to pre-Christian pagan rituals and beliefs that had never fully died out after Ireland was converted to Christianity.”
As per the Southern Poverty Law Center, “Just before the English colonized America , they invaded Ireland and attempted to subdue its population of Catholic ‘savages’…. When a wave of Irish Catholic immigrants began arriving in the U.S. in the 1820s, they found a bitter welcome among the Anglo-Saxon Protestant majority….In some cities, such as Philadelphia, anti-Catholic and anti-Irish hatred erupted into violence….In the three days of upheaval [of May 1844], 20 people had been killed, scores more injured and two Catholic churches and more than 50 Irish homes destroyed….The nativist/Irish conflict erupted again in Philadelphia later that summer….This time, the death toll reached 13. Several months after these episodes, Philadelphia County complied with state law by repaying Catholics for damages incurred to their property in the mob violence.” In Pennsylvania of just two decades later, the Irish paid dearly to secure freedom in our nation. A cursory look at Gettysburg ’s tombstones reveals that Union victory was secured by their sacrifice.
Despite the “welcome” given to our forebears, events of mid-nineteenth century Ireland explain why they continued to come to America . From 1845 to 1850, 2.7 of her 8 million people died from the Potato Famine. As per Judy Ball, the late nineteenth century saw a profound impact on Irish character: “Into the vacuum created by the trauma of the Great Famine stepped a more public and assertive Roman Catholic Church….Mass attendance increased, devotion to the rosary flowered, seminaries and convents were built to prepare ever-growing numbers of men and women seeking to give their lives in service to God.” Armies of priests, religious brothers, and nuns were among those who emigrated to America . Through their devotion and self-sacrifice, numerous Catholic parishes, schools, hospitals, and social services were established. Because of the “Devotional Revolution,” Edwin T. O’Donnell tells us that “the Irish and their cousins in America had begun to achieve the now familiar reputation for their devotion to the Catholic Church.”
Irish-Americans have now become firmly entrenched in the middle class. Today’s Ireland – the so-called Celtic Tiger – also experiences great economic success. As per a Zenit interview with Father Vincent Twomey, “Though prosperity is to be welcomed, it has also given rise to consumerism. I get the impression that the energy Irish people once put into achieving the salvation of their own souls — and the souls of others — has now been channeled into creating heaven on earth.” On both sides of the Atlantic , economic success has been coupled with a decline in religious practice.
Archbishop Sean Brady spoke on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Ireland : “For each new generation is a new opportunity to address the challenges of the present with the wisdom of the past….the Holy Father had spelled out that challenge. In quite prophetic words he prayed that prosperity would never ‘cause Irish men and women to forget God or abandon their faith.’ He pleaded that they would ‘remain faithful in prosperity to the faith they would not surrender in poverty’ ….the sense of reverence and respect for all that is sacred has diminished significantly in our society….[Yet] success does not have to be at the expense of the soul….The practice of virtue and a constant awareness of the presence of God can open up, rather than curtail the most creative and life-giving energies of the human person and society as a whole.”
The Catholic Church calendar designates March 17th to honor and remember Patrick. Displays of leprechauns (i.e., symbols from pre-Christian Ireland ) and excessive drinking dishonor Saint Patrick, as well as our forebears. A better way to honor both would be a recommitment to the great heritage which Patrick bestowed to us – an untiring devotion to God and recognition of the sanctity of human life.
(My references include
•Judy Ball’s “The Famine That Brought the Irish to America” •Thomas Cahill's "How the Irish Saved Civilization" •Anita McSorley’s “The St. Patrick You Never Knew” , •Edward T. O’Donnell’s “Hibernian Chronicle: The Devotional Revolution” •Patrick O’Sullivan’s “Leaving the Old Neighborhood Behind: The Irish in America”•Martin Wallace's "A Short History of Ireland ." •Southern Poverty Law Center ’s “In the City of Brotherly Love” •Zenit’s “Church in Ireland : Diving the Future” )
In the fifth century A.D., a teenager was kidnapped from Roman-Britain and enslaved in Ireland . Six years later, he escaped. He eventually returned as a bishop to the land of his captors. As per Anita McSorley, “These were people who still practiced human sacrifice, who warred with each other constantly & who were renowned as the great slave traders of the day.” Patrick’s influence on Ireland was phenomenal. His introduction of Christianity brought about a dramatic decline in war and murder, as well as an end to the slave trade. When the Roman Empire collapsed, it was through the monks of Ireland ’s monasteries that the writings of Western Civilization were preserved.
In the sixteenth century, King Henry VIII divorced himself and his empire from the Catholic Church. Subsequently, there were times when it was illegal to be a Catholic in England or her territories. So-called “penal laws” even succeeded – for a time – in lessening the influence of Catholicism in Ireland . Fourteen centuries after Saint Patrick, Edward T. O’Donnell tells us that “only 30 to 40 percent of the population attended Mass and many who identified themselves as Catholic had virtually no knowledge of the faith's dogma and practices….many still clung to pre-Christian pagan rituals and beliefs that had never fully died out after Ireland was converted to Christianity.”
As per the Southern Poverty Law Center, “Just before the English colonized America , they invaded Ireland and attempted to subdue its population of Catholic ‘savages’…. When a wave of Irish Catholic immigrants began arriving in the U.S. in the 1820s, they found a bitter welcome among the Anglo-Saxon Protestant majority….In some cities, such as Philadelphia, anti-Catholic and anti-Irish hatred erupted into violence….In the three days of upheaval [of May 1844], 20 people had been killed, scores more injured and two Catholic churches and more than 50 Irish homes destroyed….The nativist/Irish conflict erupted again in Philadelphia later that summer….This time, the death toll reached 13. Several months after these episodes, Philadelphia County complied with state law by repaying Catholics for damages incurred to their property in the mob violence.” In Pennsylvania of just two decades later, the Irish paid dearly to secure freedom in our nation. A cursory look at Gettysburg ’s tombstones reveals that Union victory was secured by their sacrifice.
Despite the “welcome” given to our forebears, events of mid-nineteenth century Ireland explain why they continued to come to America . From 1845 to 1850, 2.7 of her 8 million people died from the Potato Famine. As per Judy Ball, the late nineteenth century saw a profound impact on Irish character: “Into the vacuum created by the trauma of the Great Famine stepped a more public and assertive Roman Catholic Church….Mass attendance increased, devotion to the rosary flowered, seminaries and convents were built to prepare ever-growing numbers of men and women seeking to give their lives in service to God.” Armies of priests, religious brothers, and nuns were among those who emigrated to America . Through their devotion and self-sacrifice, numerous Catholic parishes, schools, hospitals, and social services were established. Because of the “Devotional Revolution,” Edwin T. O’Donnell tells us that “the Irish and their cousins in America had begun to achieve the now familiar reputation for their devotion to the Catholic Church.”
Irish-Americans have now become firmly entrenched in the middle class. Today’s Ireland – the so-called Celtic Tiger – also experiences great economic success. As per a Zenit interview with Father Vincent Twomey, “Though prosperity is to be welcomed, it has also given rise to consumerism. I get the impression that the energy Irish people once put into achieving the salvation of their own souls — and the souls of others — has now been channeled into creating heaven on earth.” On both sides of the Atlantic , economic success has been coupled with a decline in religious practice.
Archbishop Sean Brady spoke on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Ireland : “For each new generation is a new opportunity to address the challenges of the present with the wisdom of the past….the Holy Father had spelled out that challenge. In quite prophetic words he prayed that prosperity would never ‘cause Irish men and women to forget God or abandon their faith.’ He pleaded that they would ‘remain faithful in prosperity to the faith they would not surrender in poverty’ ….the sense of reverence and respect for all that is sacred has diminished significantly in our society….[Yet] success does not have to be at the expense of the soul….The practice of virtue and a constant awareness of the presence of God can open up, rather than curtail the most creative and life-giving energies of the human person and society as a whole.”
The Catholic Church calendar designates March 17th to honor and remember Patrick. Displays of leprechauns (i.e., symbols from pre-Christian Ireland ) and excessive drinking dishonor Saint Patrick, as well as our forebears. A better way to honor both would be a recommitment to the great heritage which Patrick bestowed to us – an untiring devotion to God and recognition of the sanctity of human life.
(My references include
•Judy Ball’s “The Famine That Brought the Irish to America”
Empty Tomb (Bucks Cty Courier Times, 6/8/06)
On February 10th, Terry Mattingly asked: “Are Reporters Prepared to Write About Religion?” As per Mattingly, “Anyone who talks to people in pulpits and pews knows that many _ especially in conservative sanctuaries _ believe they know the answer. They believe that most journalists are biased against religious people. [Richard John] Neuhaus, however, is convinced the problem is even more basic than that. Journalists work hard, he said, but they are ‘not always the sharpest knives in the drawer.’” Anti-religious bias seems perceived as a new phenomenon. Yet, the most important event in history went underreported, in its time, and continues to be denied, misunderstood, unappreciated, and underreported - 2000 years later.
Reasonable people, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or atheist, do not deny that Jesus Christ was a great moralist and moral figure, who lived in the Middle East of two thousand years ago. Dan Brown’s efforts to profit off recycled gnostic myths aside (i.e., “The Da Vinci Code”), this Jesus made the audacious claim to be God incarnate! What sort of moralist and moral figure makes such a claim? To claim to be God, when one is not God, clearly disqualifies one from being a moral teacher or being called moral! One making such a false claim would be the worst charlatan or simply delusional. In “Evidence Which Demands a Verdict,” Josh McDowell summed this up – If Jesus wasn’t the Lord, he must have been a lunatic or a liar! Logic leaves no fourth choice. Yet, Jesus did claim to be God and offered evidence! Most astounding of this concerns predictions of His own resurrection.
Viewed by Roman authorities as a nuisance worth killing, the last thing the world’s foremost empire wanted was for Jesus’ followers to claim He accomplished His resurrection. There should have been little concern. The most “rough and ready” of Jesus’ associates were nowhere to be found. Their leader even denied knowing Jesus - three times! Yet, the Romans still fortified the tomb and stationed an armed guard. Somehow, it was empty on that first Easter morning.
The absence of Jesus’ body was in no way similar to the sad case of Natalie Holloway. In advance, the Roman Empire planned cautiously against the disappearance of Jesus’ body. When the tomb was found empty, they wanted a quick end to the incident and a return of the body. To posit that Jesus’ sheepish intimates could have snatched and forever hidden the body defies logic. It was after encountering the risen Christ that these “scaredy cats” were transformed into powerful witnesses; most suffered martyrdom.
Boston College professor Peter Kreeft notes “escape hatches” to the foregoing argument, to which some “Christian” leaders have sadly been susceptible. Like Dan Brown, they question the historicity of the Gospels and suggest Jesus never claimed to be God: “Perhaps all the embarrassing passages were inventions of the early Church." Kreeft satirically counters, "Here is what they got out of their hoax. Their friends and families scorned them. Their social standing, possessions, and political privileges were stolen….They were persecuted, imprisoned, whipped, tortured, exiled, crucified, eaten by lions, and cut to pieces by gladiators. So some silly Jews invented the whole elaborate, incredible lie...for absolutely no reason, and millions of Gentiles believed it, devoted their lives to it, and died for it - for no reason....a fantastic practical joke, a hoax." The second “escape hatch” is of a New Age variety. Maybe, Jesus talked about being God, in the same way you and I are God! Maybe, Jesus simply “realized his own inner divinity just as a typical Hindu mystic.” Kreeft reminds us that this is unhistorical: “Jesus was not a Hindu but a Jew!....He said he was God but not that everyone was."
Two years ago, the media greeted a movie premiere with dire prophecies. As per Rabbi David G. Dalin, “While liberal critics feared that The Passion of the Christ would create an anti-Semitic frenzy, the only frenzy, in fact, was their own hysteria.” While the media hasn’t acknowledged its inaccuracies in these regards, culpability pales in comparison to inaccurate reporting about the original Passion and Resurrection.
Reasonable people, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or atheist, do not deny that Jesus Christ was a great moralist and moral figure, who lived in the Middle East of two thousand years ago. Dan Brown’s efforts to profit off recycled gnostic myths aside (i.e., “The Da Vinci Code”), this Jesus made the audacious claim to be God incarnate! What sort of moralist and moral figure makes such a claim? To claim to be God, when one is not God, clearly disqualifies one from being a moral teacher or being called moral! One making such a false claim would be the worst charlatan or simply delusional. In “Evidence Which Demands a Verdict,” Josh McDowell summed this up – If Jesus wasn’t the Lord, he must have been a lunatic or a liar! Logic leaves no fourth choice. Yet, Jesus did claim to be God and offered evidence! Most astounding of this concerns predictions of His own resurrection.
Viewed by Roman authorities as a nuisance worth killing, the last thing the world’s foremost empire wanted was for Jesus’ followers to claim He accomplished His resurrection. There should have been little concern. The most “rough and ready” of Jesus’ associates were nowhere to be found. Their leader even denied knowing Jesus - three times! Yet, the Romans still fortified the tomb and stationed an armed guard. Somehow, it was empty on that first Easter morning.
The absence of Jesus’ body was in no way similar to the sad case of Natalie Holloway. In advance, the Roman Empire planned cautiously against the disappearance of Jesus’ body. When the tomb was found empty, they wanted a quick end to the incident and a return of the body. To posit that Jesus’ sheepish intimates could have snatched and forever hidden the body defies logic. It was after encountering the risen Christ that these “scaredy cats” were transformed into powerful witnesses; most suffered martyrdom.
Boston College professor Peter Kreeft
Two years ago, the media greeted a movie premiere with dire prophecies. As per Rabbi David G. Dalin, “While liberal critics feared that The Passion of the Christ would create an anti-Semitic frenzy, the only frenzy, in fact, was their own hysteria.” While the media hasn’t acknowledged its inaccuracies in these regards, culpability pales in comparison to inaccurate reporting about the original Passion and Resurrection.
Shared Responsibility to Those on the Streets (Bucks Cty Courier Times, 8/26/05)
(Click image to enlarge)
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Use of Emergency So-Called Contraceptives in Catholic Hospitals for Those Reporting Rape
Book & Film Reviews, pt 1
Book & Film Reviews, pt 2
And yup, that's me!
(from page 1 of the NY Sun, 3/22/04)
March for Life 2010
