On the feast of the first Roman Martyrs

Missionaries of Charity

Four Missionaries of Charity were confronted in India and detained by Hindus as they were going on their regular rounds to visit patients in a hospital. They have been arrested and jailed.

One always imagines the people of India to be so gentle, especially Hindus, who revere cows and animals and believe in reincarnation, why would four little nuns be such a threat? Here's the story from Asia News:

Four Sisters of Mother Teresa imprisoned on proselytism charges

The four Missionaries of Charity were harassed and imprisoned on proselytism and conversion charges. The archbishop of Hyderabad told AsiaNews about their complete dedication to the poor and called for an in-depth inquiry into what happened.

Hyderabad (AsiaNews) – A crowd of Hindu fanatics set upon four sisters of Mother Teresa in a hospital and had them arrested by local police on charges of proselytism and conversion of the sick.

Archbishop Oswald Gracias, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India told AsiaNews: “This tragic attack on the nuns of Mother Teresa is shocking and has to be condemned in the strongest terms. This is all the more so because these nuns are known all over the world for their altruism and dedication to the poor.”

The four Missionaries of Charity were attacked on 25 June as they went about their weekly visit in a hospital in the city of Tirupati – a Hindu pilgrimage place – in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The four sisters, all aged around 35, were in the government hospital of Ruia, where they usually spend time with patients who are terminally with AIDS. A group of around 50 fanatics of the Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Samithi [group for the defence of the Hindu religion] broke into the hospital, blocked the four sisters and accused them of trying to convert patients.
The crowd swelled rapidly and soon there were around 300 people. They forced the sisters to remain in the hospital until 8.30pm. Then police officials arrived and took the women to the local police station.

Mgr Marampudi Joji, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad, told AsiaNews: “The sisters have official government permission to do visit the wards, which they have done every Sunday for the past 20 years. The sisters, in agreement with the hospital administration, have welcomed these dying patients into their homes, where they can die surrounded by dignity and love.” [Snip]

I know in the past some of Mother's nuns have been killed, I do not kow if they are classified as martyrs however. St. Francis of Assisi saw martyrs from his Order within his lifetime. The slap on the face we used to receive at Confirmation was a sign of what we could expect for our witness to Christ and the Gospel. The red vesture of a Cardinal is to signify his readiness to die for Christ. There are so many symbols of martyrdom in Catholic life, and the possibility is no longer unlikely for any Christian anywhere in the world.

Here is another story I found, an anecdote from the life of Blessed Mother Teresa, I guess it shows that there have been troubles from the beginning:

Sister Andrea tells the story of Mother Teresa and the Kali temple in Calcutta. “The temple is a Hindu temple, and Mother and the sisters were there helping the poor and dying. This upset the locals, that someone of another faith would be in a Hindu temple helping Hindus, and the local people called for an official to remove Mother. The man arrived and entered the temple to find Mother washing a dying man and sisters helping various people. The official walked out on the steps of the temple and addressed the people: ‘Tomorrow when I return, if I see your wives and sisters doing the work of Mother Teresa, then I will throw her out of the temple.’” (Needless to say Mother and the Sisters were never thrown out. Perhaps these Sisters today will be exonnerated as well.)

I the meantime, let's pray for our sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, on this the feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Church of Rome. The Missionaries are an extraordinary group of very holy and courageous women. Holy Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for your daughters, be with them and comfort them in their trials.

Night of the Long Knives

Pope St. Pius V

I was looking at some traditionalist websites to see if they had anything to say about Paul VI and came across a startling brief by Pius V on the punishment regulated for priests found guilty of homosexuality. (Praise God that we live in the era of Divine Mercy!) After reading it I recalled a moment in history from Nazi Germany that seemed to me even more grotesque. It happened on this night in 1934. (What a strange coincidence that I should recall all of this today - when I went to Wikipedia I discovered that June 30 was the anniversary of the massacre.)

The night of June 29th and June 30th is a dark anniversary of sorts. It came to be known as the night of the long knives when Hitler ordered that members of the SA or "Brown Shirts" (his storm troopers) be purged of communists, gays and other unsavory types he felt threatened his regime. I saw a film about it in the late '60's, I think it was called "The Damned", a film that left a strong impression upon me. That being the case, it is most likely the reason why I thought of the film, and subsequently the event.

The paranoia of all dictators, Adolf Hitler being no exception, revolves around the inability to trust the people surrounding him. These individuals witnessed how power was seized, and therefore, may want to take over the position themselves. Historically, dictators have taken the important step to eliminate their rivals. Hitler was no different and began murdering the competition, individuals within the party whom he had earlier exploited, almost immediately after he gained power.

Many of these men were in his "Brown Shirt" organization. On 30 June 1934, at 3:00 in the morning, Hitler sent his personal bodyguards the "schutzstaffel" or SS to arrest key leaders of the "Brown Shirts." In all, 1000 men were picked up, driven to local prisons and shot. These were the same men that Hitler had used to gain power, and in many cases, were close personal friends. With elimination of potential threats to his rule, and the death of Hindenburg, Hitler was in firm control. The only institution left that posed an immediate threat to his power was the army. As Chancellor and President of Germany, Hitler took the bold step of forcing the army to swear allegiance to him personally. This meant that the soldiers were to fight for him, not their country.


The leader of the SA was Ernst Rohm, a friend of Hitler's. Hitler initially protected Rohm from other elements of the Nazi Party which held his homosexuality to be in violation of the party's evolved anti-gay policy. However, Hitler later changed course when he perceived Rohm to be a potential threat to his power. As mentioned, during this night of 1934 a purge of those who Hitler deemed threats to his power took place. He had Rohm murdered and used Rohm's homosexuality as a justification to quell outrage within the ranks of the SA. After solidifying his power, Hitler would include gay men among those sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust. Many of these gay men were also Jewish and this seems to be a major reason that they were so heavily targeted by the Nazis.

Himmler had initially been a supporter of Rohm, arguing that the charges of homosexuality against him were manufactured by Jews. But after the purge, Hitler elevated Himmler's status and he became very active in the suppression of homosexuality. He exclaimed, "We must exterminate these people root and branch... the homosexual must be eliminated." (Thanks to Wikipedia and other sources for this information.)

It is interesting to note that "Gay Pride" month ends upon so dismal an anniversary. It is my opinion that acceptance of a person's homosexual orientation is one matter, acceptance of homosexual activity is quite another. Especially when it is forced upon society and culture through legislation such as same-sex marriage laws, gay adoption, etc. I do not in any way condone or approve of concentration camps or murderous rampages, nor any kind of violence against gay people. I just do not trust history however. Currently the gay agenda is useful for the "cultural warriors" seeking to promote the culture of death, just as they were in nascent Nazi Germany. There will be a backlash against all immorality one day, not by Christians but by totalitarian regimes, this could all happen once again. Nevertheless, first of all the Christians will have to suffer persecution from the governments who consider their moral teachings to be hate crimes. Remember, Hitler intended that as well, after the war he intended to crush the Church.

It's an extreme thought for extreme times, and it's late and I'm tired. perhaps I shouldn't post this.

St.'s Peter and Paul

The Coronation of Paul VI.

June 30 marks the forty third anniversary of the Papal coronation of Pope Paul VI, the last pope to accept this ritual. Very few Catholics realize that Paul VI also initiated the crucifix crosier that became so identified with John Paul II. When he adopted this crosier it immediately suggested to me that the Holy Father chose to emmulate the Apostle St. Paul when he wrote, "I came among you preaching Christ crucified, and Him alone." (Please excuse my 'free-base' quotes of Sacred Scripture.) Paul VI became at that time the most widely traveled pontiff in modern history, only to be outdone by his successor JPII. Paul VI closed the Vatican Council and proceeded upon a pontificate of evangelization. Sadly, under his reign all hell broke loose in the Church and he suffered much as a result, doing his best to avoid schism and splintering within the Church. He has been gravely criticized since.

I for one always thought he was a saint. I once referred to him as 'great' in a conversation with a couple of rather intellectual and holy priests. One priest immediaately corrected me with anecdotes of his weaknesses and omissions. I silently accepted the correction however, knowing in my heart that I was speaking of his personal sanctity. To this day I wonder if we may criticize or judge the Supreme Pontiff.


Everyone knows his truly great, as well as prophetic encyclical "Humanae Vitae" which penetrated like a sword through the heart of western culture. This encyclical could possibly be said to have caused something of a 'spiritual' schism of sorts amongst some of the so-called faithful, although no one ever has cited it as such, referring to those who opposed it as dissenting Catholics. As we all know, they remain with us in abundance today.

The Holy father was not immune to assasination attempts, the most notable in the Phillipines when a man armed with a knife nearly attacked him. At one point in his pontificate an ex-seminarian or priest? - if I remember correctly - probably a homosexual activist, accused him of homosexuality. There had been a news clip of the Holy Father decrying the slander on television wherein his voice broke with emotion, denouncing the slanderous accusation. "The Holy Father will have much to suffer." (Our Lady's prophecy at Fatima.) Pope Paul surely did suffer. Physically, morally, and spiritually. He had nearly crippling arthritis, making it difficult for him to walk in his later years. He resorted to the use of the sedan chair carried by attendants (pictured above at his coronation ceremony) when celebrating liturgical functions at St. Peter's and elsewhere in Rome.

The very last two Masses of his that I had the privlege to attend were for today's feast of St. Peter and Paul, and for tomorrow's memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. He looked frail and needed a great deal of assistance. I knew he would not live much longer. A year or so later, he was dead. In my mind he was a great Pope, a holy Pope. I do not have the intellectual acumen, the ecclesiastical sophistication, nor the moral or spiritual superiority to say otherwise. His dark eyes looked at me once as he was being carried into St. Peter's, blessing the crowd, and I was certain when our eyes met that he looked into my soul - how many people say things like that? - yet for me it was an inestimable grace. I love him and I love the Pope!

St.'s Peter and Paul, pray for us!

More Queer Stuff...

The Holy Trinity, image of God, image of man, image of love, image of wholeness.

I was checking out Drudge for something for 'Gay Pride' month and came across a science report considering another 'genetic' aspect in defense of homosexuality. This is interesting because it concerns the fetal development in the womb. Does that mean that science acknowledges the foetus as a viable human being? Read the following:

Womb environment 'makes men gay'

A man's sexual orientation may be determined by conditions in the womb, according to a study.
Previous research had revealed the more older brothers a boy has, the more likely he is to be gay, but the reason for this phenomenon was unknown.

But a Canadian study has shown that the effect is most likely down to biological rather than social factors.

The research is published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Professor Anthony Bogaert from Brock University in Ontario, Canada, studied 944 heterosexual and homosexual men with either "biological" brothers, in this case those who share the same mother, or "non-biological" brothers, that is, adopted, step or half siblings. "These results support a prenatal origin to sexual orientation development in men" - Professor Anthony Bogaert. He found the link between the number of older brothers and homosexuality only existed when the siblings shared the same mother. The amount of time the individual spent being raised with older brothers did not affect their sexual orientation.

'Maternal memory'
Writing in the journal, Professor Bogaert said: "If rearing or social factors associated with older male siblings underlies the fraternal birth-order effect [the link between the number of older brothers and male homosexuality], then the number of non-biological older brothers should predict men's sexual orientation, but they do not. "These results support a prenatal origin to sexual orientation development in men." He suggests the effect is probably the result of a "maternal memory" in the womb for male births. A woman's body may see a male foetus as "foreign", he says, prompting an immune reaction which may grow progressively stronger with each male child. The antibodies created may affect the developing male brain.

In an accompanying article, scientists from Michigan State University said: "These data strengthen the notion that the common denominator between biological brothers, the mother, provides a prenatal environment that fosters homosexuality in her younger sons."
"But the question of mechanism remains."

Andy Forrest, a spokesman for gay rights group Stonewall, said: "Increasingly, credible evidence appears to indicate that being gay is genetically determined rather than being a so-called lifestyle choice.

"It adds further weight to the argument that lesbian and gay people should be treated equally in society and not discriminated against for something that's just as inherent as skin colour."
Story from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5120004.stm: 2006/06/27 09:44:27 GMT© BBC MMVI

Maybe,but I doubt it. However this could explain why some boys or girls demonstrate an apparent predisposition towards effeminate or masculine behavior, nevertheless it does not mean it is genetic - wouldn't the womb enviroment still come under the umbrella of 'nurture'? If chemicals or antibodies excreted by the mother influence the development of the foetus, isn't that similar to the effects of alcohol upon a developing child in the womb? There are persons born with down syndrome, or mental retardation, any number of disorders, some affected by enviroment - namely chemical imbalance in the womb.

At work today we were discussing this subject - how some boys appear more feminine even in early childhood. I still think it has some basis in nurture; enviromental, socio-psychological, and more deeply, spiritual and affective components that cause a person choosing to be gay - albeit the choice is not always made in perfect freedom. It can be a compromise, a coping mechanism, but there is an element of choice, even if it is relatively unconscious - at some point it is a choice. And in the more depraved, it is often chosen as a result of hedonism.

What is so askew in our culture is the notion that homosexuality is not inherrently and potentially a moral disorder. The politicization of the subject, the media exposure of it, and most recently the medical establishment (after the psychiatric establishment was coerced to take it off the books as a disorder) is now researching the subject to find some sort of genetic affirmation for it's viability as an equal to heterosexual relations.

This proves to me that every gay man or woman has searched their soul to discover why they have this unfortunate affliction. But they stop at intellectualizations and unsubstantiated studies, they stop at the emotional level. They simply cannot accept the call of the Gospel, "Reform your lives and believe in the Gospel!" Jesus calls those caught in sin, not to change His teachings but to accept them as well as conform to them, and He offers the necessary grace to do so. To believe and trust in His healing power of love, to accept the freedom of the sons of God, and to carry our cross in His footsteps. It is the individual who must change - in and through His grace and mercy - not the laws of nature or the teaching of the Church or the Gospel for that matter. Everyone, gay or straight, is called to conversion. (In many cases there may be persons so seemingly confirmed in the lifestyle they are not able to change, but at least they are able to stop acting out homosexually. Through grace they can live a chaste life in obedience and communion with the Church. This cross in their lives can be the means of their sanctification.)

What if John Lovitz said "Repent!" not "Eat Fresh!" Yeah, that's pretty dumb. But we are all - straight or gay - called to repentance, not excuses.

Comic Relief!

"Aren't you neat though Agnes!" -Rosalind Russell's line from the movie "Auntie Mame".

The Cafeteria is Closed has a fun post on the recent ordination of women ' priestesses' on a boat in Pittsburgh by 'Bishopessses' no less - as European news agencies have dubbed them.

Another line from Auntie Mame, "When you're from Pittsburgh one has to do something!"

Rather than Roman Catholic, I believe they appear to have been ordained in some New Age/Wiccan sect. It is so not Roman Catholic however.

"EAT FRESH!" - Jon Lovitz for Subway (I've been spelling his name wrong!).

Stonewall

Gay Pride weekend in the Twin Cities.

June is celebrated by homosexuals as Gay Pride month, an inspiration derived from the 1960's equal rights campaigns for minorities, specifically Black Pride, and later, Black Power movements. The birth of the politicized gay rights campaign actually had it's beginnings in New York city at a gay bar in the Village known as The Stonewall Inn. It was a bar largely patronized by hispanic and black gay men, many, because of poverty and racial marginalization were hustlers, with transvestites and other drug dealers among them. NYC was beginning to clamp down on illegal activity at the time, including prostitution, while in their effort to clean up the city the police also began raids upon gay establishments and general harrasment of gay men engaging in public misconduct.

On June 27th, 1969 the same day as Judy Garland's funeral, (a pathetic icon of sorts for gay men of the day, much like Barbara Streisand or Madonna may be now.) the police raided the bar and attempted to arrest the patrons for lewd conduct or any other charge that applied. They encountered massive resistance and the men fought back. The Stonewall riots, as the press dubbed it, initiated the modern gay rights movement we witness today. At the time coverage of the event was headlines across the country, I remember Life magazine had a cover of the event with a story covering it inside. Earlier in the '60's, Life, Time, and other publications carried related stories on the gay sub-culture in NYC and San Francisco that gradually acquainted the general population with a lifestyle heretofore never spoken about, much less accepted.

Pictured, 2004 gay pride parade in Brazil, this years event attracted over a million according to press reports.

The gay pride movement rapidly spread throughout Europe and Canada and gave bold impetus to the feminist movement as well. Today we have gay pride celebrations in every major city in the United States during the month of June. Stonewall has gone down in history as the "Boston Tea Party" for gay liberation. It gave birth to numerous movements, including "Act Up!" the Black Panther style, more militant movement from the 1980's. I should also include organzations such as Dignity and the Rainbow Sash movement, they most likely wouldn't be around without Stonewall either.

Fr. Benedict Groeschl was once speaking about the gay pride parade passing in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC and mentioned it as being an affront to the Catholic Church that has done so much to help those suffering from AIDs as well as providing support groups such as "Courage" to help men and women live a chaste life in keeping with the Commandments and Church teaching. He expressed incredulity as to how these people could expect any respect when they flaunt their sexuality and practices publicly in such a shameful display. In the past there have been drag queens and nearly nude men simulating sex acts on the floats and among the revelers - which becomes a distasteful display of depravity for any moral person witnessing it. When one does see the extreme elements of the homosexual lifestyle it becomes obvious that there is a lack of maturity as well as morality, it is a culture marked by a sort of 'arrested development syndrome' - as if the majority are stuck emotionally and socially in their early teens. Watch reruns of "Will and Grace" to see what I mean, these people are somewhat retarded emotionally as well as sexually. Gay culture is a sex based culture. It's emphasis has always been focused upon the rather antiquated term 'freelove' and voluptuousness.

Gay publications are littered with sex ads and personals that enjoy an unabashed promotion of pornography. In the past alcoholism has gone hand in hand with the gay lifestyle, and still does to some extent. (Although anti-depressants may now have lessened the need for alcohol.) Yet there are many today who seem to live a conventional lifestyle; many are professionals and live very discreetly, these are the 'upper class' if you will excuse my lack of a better description. It is this more or less affluent group making a rather convicing argument for same-sex marriage, gay adoption, etc. They are influencial with politicians and pepper the media, and business. (As a gay bumper sticker announces, "We are everywhere.") The gay agenda is moving forward. The acceptance of homsexuality in our contraceptive, pro-abortion age by the educated elite and popular culture adherents has removed much of the stigma of same-sex attraction as well as sexual relations - even so-called bi-sexuality. An un-churched, faithless generation who cohabitates liberally, or marries and yet contracepts, cannot really be expected to understand why two men or two women may not enjoy equal status with their own sterile, selfish consumer/leisure driven lifestyles and relationships.


St. Benedict Joseph Labre


"Gay Pride" seems to me to be nothing more than an emotionally charged, adolescent mentality in rebellion against truth and the natural law, devoid of authentic faith or spirituality. Some gay people have adopted the form of religion without adherence to moral teachings. The term 'gay pride' is a decidedly oxymoron. Underlying the 'gay' is a sense of inferiority and loneliness; beneath the 'pride' lays an unconsious sense of shame that none can or will acknowledge, an awareness of conscience that has been more or less stiffled by a deluded self acceptance. Contrary to what the American Psychiatric Association (or whatever the name of the organization) has said in declassifying it as a mental disorder, it seems to me that it still has to be a neurosis of some type. This does not preclude one from living a normal life - it's not as if anyone has to be locked up. To realize that it is an "objective moral disorder" can be a starting point for a person on the path of conversion and wholeness in Christ - "in whom there is no longer male or female, slave or freeman" - in Him we become a new creation. In Him, every person can become the person God created him/her to be. I often look to St. Benedict Joseph Labre, the mendicant who most likely suffered from a sort of mental disorder and was homeless. He lived his life as a pilgrim, on the fringe of society. Through grace and fidelity to prayer and penance he became very holy; a great mystic, and a complete man who lived in intimate union with God.

Thinking about today's events I had hoped that the entire day would be a wash and that thunderstorms and rain would hamper the celebrations. The rain ceased and the sun came out and I recalled Our Lord's admonition to "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you." And elsewhere, "Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful; He makes the sun to shine on the just as well as the unjust." They've got a gorgeous day for their celebrations here in Minneapolis, so let's pray all the harder for their conversion and make reparation for their omission of keeping holy the Lord's Day.

Say, say, say...(Didn't McCartney do a song with Michael Jackson by this name?)

Sometimes I just don't know about this blogging thing. I'm kind of in a transition mode about the practice - I've been pretty 'safe' in what I've posted this past week. But like John Lovitt (who appears on the Subway ads) I want it to be more 'edgy''! - I 'm so in a mood to...

I wrote a wonderful bit on the blogging scene last night - I posted it and it remained overnight - but alas, I deleted it when I got up this morning. (I'm just so Minnesota nice, ya know! Ya sure, ya betchya.)

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Behold this heart which has so loved men...

This is not the best reproduction of the image of the Sacred Heart but it is one that I like very much as it shows Our Lord offering us His heart, His love - presenting it to us freely, as He does in the Eucharist.

Don Marco sent me the hymn from the Office of Matins for the feast:

O Heart of God¹s Eternal Word,
Creation¹s origin and end:
How great the mystery of your love
To make of man, mere dust, your friend.
O Heart of flesh which has sustained
The wound we on ourselves inflict:
How great the mystery of your love
Outpoured on us the blind and sick.
O Heart of Jesus, strong and sure,
Obedient to the bitter end:
How great the mystery of your love
To suffer Golgotha¹s torment.
O Sacred Heart whose burning love
Craves to set all the world ablaze:
You yearn for us to share your life:
What can we offer but our praise?
O Heart of God the Father¹s joy,
O Heart of Christ, the Spirit¹s lyre,
What else have we in heaven but you,
Our morning praise is all desire. Amen.

Forgiveness

Cimabue: Crucifix

"If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness.
Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips." Psalm 141 (out of sequence.)

An unedited homily from Don Marco for the Mass of the day, June 20, 2006: (A day late!)

³I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those whopersecute you² (Mt 5:44). ³Bless those who curse you, pray for those whoabuse you² (Lk 6:28). These are not suggestions, dear brothers and sisters;they are not pious recommendations. They are clear precepts of Christ:commandments conceived in His merciful Heart and addressed to each of uswithout exception. It is no coincidence that this Gospel passage should be given usat this particular liturgical moment: halfway between the Solemnity of theMost Holy Body and Blood of Christ and that of the Most Sacred Heart ofJesus. One cannot receive the Forgiving Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist andpersist in refusing anyone forgiveness. One cannot approach the PiercedHeart of Jesus and not be drawn into His prayer to the Father from theCross: ³Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do² (Lk 23:34). The prevalent culture of options and of personal choices has allbut rendered us impermeable to the commandments of Our Lord. We prefer tothink of them as suggestions or as ³talking points.² Contemporarysensibilities in the world and, alas, even in the Church, resent theobjective precept, the non-negotiable commandment, the mandate coming fromabove. A combination of the effects of original sin and actual sins ofpride has conditioned us to want to discuss everything, to debateeverything, to argue the value of any law coming from above us or outside ofus. Today in the Gospel Our Lord presents us with just such a commandment.It is not a suggestion. It is not open to discussion. It is not thesubject of debate. It is a divine commandment. In obeying it, we obey God.In neglecting to obey it, we neglect to obey God. Insofar as we consider ourselves disciples of Christ, we arebound to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who speak evil againstus. We are commanded to do good to those who hate us. This good that weare commanded to do is, first of all and above all, prayer. There is no greater force for good than prayer. There is nobetter way to do good to those who hate us than by asking the light of theFace of Christ to envelop them and penetrate them. There is nothing morebeneficial to those who afflict us than confident recourse to the piercedHeart of Jesus. There is no more powerful blessing of those who curse usthan the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered on their behalf. For thosespeak evil against us there is no prayer more powerful than the prayer ofChrist the High Priest who, in every Mass, stands before His Father,pleading and interceding for those who approach God through Him. Mother Church, with her ancient experience of human nature,provides us with the means of obeying this commandment of our Lord. TheRoman Missal contains a Mass specifically for this purpose. It is entitledPro Affligentibus Nos, ³For Those Who Afflict Us.² The title of the Massspeaks volumes. Opening my Latin dictionary to the entry for affligo, I seethat it means to throw down, to afflict, damage, crush, break, ruin; humble,weaken, or vex. If you have ever felt thrown down, if you have ever feltafflicted, damaged, crushed, broken, ruined, humbled, weakened, or vexed,you need to enter wholeheartedly into today¹s Mass Pro Affligentibus Nos. There is a mysterious power in praying for those who have hurtus, in interceding wholeheartedly< for those who have spoken ill of us,< for those who have damaged our reputations,< for those who have incited others to think less of us,< for those who have hurt us emotionally, physically, or spiritually,< for those who have been abusive toward us,< for those who have cursed us,< for those have broken our hearts, betrayed us, or rejected us. Our Lord commands us to pray for them, not only for their sakes,but also for our own. Our own spiritual liberation, our own inner healingfrom resentment, hatred, and lingering bitterness is contingent upon ourpersevering obedience to the commandments of Christ in today¹s Gospel. Prayer for those who afflict us has, at times, immediate andastonishing results. Persons suffering from physical complaints < chronicillnesses, pains, and weaknesses < have been completely healed after prayingsincerely for those with whom they are at enmity. Persons suffering fromemotional illnesses < depression, chronic jealousy, addictive patterns ofbehaviour, and irrational fears < have been liberated from these afterobeying Our Lord¹s commandment to pray for those at the root of theirsuffering. Prayer for those who afflict us sets in motion concentriccircles of reconciliation and healing. In praying for those who have hurtyou, place no limits on the munificence of God. Ask boldly. Beg God tooverwhelm them with His choicest blessings, to make them profoundly andtruly happy in this world and in the next. This kind of prayer, made inobedience to the commandment of the Lord, radiates an invisible butsupremely efficacious love: the very charity of God ³poured into our heartsby the Holy Spirit which He has given us² (Rom 5:5). ³In all these thingswe are more than conquerors through Him who loved us² (Rom 8:37). You may find it helpful as part of your preparation for thefeast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to pray the following prayer offorgiveness and reconciliation, or one like it: Lord Jesus Christ,Who revealed the infinite mercy of Your Sacred Heartin saying: ³Love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you² (Mt 5:44)and again, ³Bless those who curse you,pray for those who abuse you² (Lk 6:28),give me, I beseech You,grace to obey these commandments of yours,and to persevere in praying dailyfor those who, in any way,have abused, cursed, hurt, or rejected me. I pray for those who hate me,for those who resent meand for those who have spoken ill of me.I beg you to bless them abundantlyand to pour into their heartssuch a profusion of healing merciesthat in them and around themlove will triumph over hatred,friendship over resentment,sweetness over bitterness,meekness over anger,and peace over enmity.I further ask you to extend these gracesto their families and to all whom they hold dear. In particular, I pray today for N. (and N.).I present him/her/themto Your Eucharistic Face,asking You to envelop him/her/them in Its healing radiance,dispelling whatever shadows of sinmay have darkened his/her/their mind(s)or hardened his/her their heart(s)in anger, hatred, or the refusal to forgive. For my part,with deep sorrow I confessthat I have sinned grievously against others,causing them pain and even endangering their souls.I pray you, O Merciful Jesus, to repair the evil I have done to othersand to heal the hurt I have inflicted on them.In particular, I acknowledge my sins against N. (and N.)imploring You to heal and repair the harm I have done him/her/them. I ask you so to penetrate my heartwith the charity of Your Pierced Heartthat I will be able to forgivethose who have offended me,to love them sincerely,and to desire for them all that will contribute to their true happiness inthis life and in the next. By means of a permanent intention,I desire to renew this prayerin every offering of Your Holy Sacrifice.Let the light of Your Eucharistic Faceshine in the hearts of all who harbourhatred or resentment toward me,to bring them healing and peace.Let Your Precious Bloodtriumph over evilin those against whom I have sinnedand in those who have sinned against me,so that, delivered from the shadowsof this valley of tears,we may one day praise Your Mercy togetherin the sweetness of a boundless charity.Amen.

Some thoughts on wearing the Scapular of Our Lady

Todays first reading at Mass continues the cycle of the life and mission of Elijah culminating in what is referred to as the 'assumption' of the prophet and handing over to the prophet Elisha the prophetic charism. The icon pictured illustrates this well.

 

In the scripture Elisha prays "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." in response to Elijah's command to ask whatever legacy Elisha may have desired. Elijah replied, "If you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted, otherwise not." The scripture states that a fiery chariot came between the prophet and his disciple and took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, while the prophetic mantle fell at the feet of Elisha. Elisha tore his garments in mourning over the loss of his spiritual father and took up the mantle, rolling it up and striking the water of the river Jordan, causing it to divide, thus allowing him dry passage across the river bed. How many layers of spiritual significance to this story! Nevertheless, I have only one simple reflection, and that is regarding the Order of Carmel.


Pictured: St. Simon Stock receiving the scapular of Mt. Carmel.

First of all, the Order of Carmel has always seen the prophets Elijah and Elisha as the 'proto-founders' of the order. In the passage from Kings wherein Elijah sees the "little cloud rising from the sea" from his perch atop the summit of Mt. Carmel many have written that this little cloud prefigures the Virgin who would bear the Savior. Archeological evidence tells us hermit followers of Elijah inhabited Mt. Carmel even in Old Testament times, and of course Christian hermits lived there later, in the spirit of Elijah, hence the origins of the Order of Mt. Carmel.

Perhaps it is a stretch on my part but I have always seen the Scapular of Mt. Carmel somehow prefigured as it were, in this episode in the Book of Kings when Elijah passes on the mantel to Elisha. It seems to me when Our Lady gave the scapular to St. Simon there was a similar significance. To be sure it is a sign of her favor and protection, first to Carmel and then to the lay person who wears her 'livery' as the medieval word refers to it. Ponder the idea and consider it's meaning.

Without doubt there is a prophetic charism imbedded in the Order of Carmel, signified by Our Lady herself. The scapular of Mt. Carmel provides numerous benefits and graces for those who wear it, and it is a garment that the Church has highly praised and given many indulgences to. One may either wear the cloth scapular, which one must be enrolled in to enjoy all of the indulgences, or one may simply have it blessed by a priest and still enjoy the protection of the Mother God. A Scapular medal may also be worn in place of the cloth one, but the wearer must have been enrolled in the cloth scapular first in order to gain the same privledges. It all sounds so complicated, but it is not. Some people like to nit pick about how big it should be, or if the medal may substitute, but that makes it more of a fetish or talisman than a revered sacramental of the Church. (The Carmelite order has come out with revised conditions regarding the Scapular devotion.)

There are many other scapulars of various orders in the Church, as well as those that have cropped up from private revelations. If one's devotion moves one to wear these, that is fine, but sometimes I see the occasional person wearing all of them at once, as well as numerous medals and crucifixes - that's a bit off. Sometimes people use sacramentals to make themselves feel holy or appear holy, sometimes they use them superstitiously, all of that should be discouraged. In today's Gospel Our Lord cautions against "performing our religious deeds in order that people may see them."

For the laity however, the scapular is normally worn beneath one's outer garments, the devotion is a matter of the heart, it signifies our consecration to God, and the entrustment of ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as a guarantee of Our Lady's protection and guidance.

The affiliation to the Order of Carmel (indeed simply being a baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic) gives our lives a prophetic character, that of witnessing to our faith, albeit sometimes silently and hidden, much as the Scapular we discreetly yet devoutly wear next to our heart.
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Icon: The Assumption of the prophet Elijah.

June 21, St. Aloysius (Louis) Gonzaga

St. Aloyisius Gonzaga

The young Jesuit cleric was born to a princely familyof Castiglione in Lombardy, Italy in 1568. He renounced his inheritance and legally turned it over to his brother, after which he then entered the Society of Jesus. Known for his angelic purity and perfect observance of the rule, he died after contracting the plague while ministering to those afflicted.

He is an attractive saint for youth as well as young novices in religious life. St. Aloysius pray for us who have not followed your innocence that we might at least follow the example of your penance and charity towards the poor. Amen.

Chapter of faults.

Titian's St Jerome.

How the workplace can be a Chapter of Faults. (The monastic setting for fraternal correction, probably fallen into disuse in our days.)

A wonderful nun once consoled me about saying things I either regretted or may have inadvertently offended another by in what I may have said - or written - in their regard. She explained to me why St. Jerome was often shown in art as holding a stone that he used to pound against his breast in a mea culpa for the sins of his tongue. That was Sr. Patrick, now deceased, a holy Dominican from the daughters of Rose Hawthorne. She understood my candor, albeit tactless at times. (It is ineteresting that candor and naivete may oftentimes go hand in hand, hence the stunning realization someone may have been disingenuous in their relationship with me.) I never felt very consoled however, since I knew I never could come close to the sanctity of this saint, let alone his intellect - I mean, he had some thought and education behind what he said. Nevertheless I understood that even the saints sinned and said things they regretted. Oftentimes the mere knowledge of the offense was the occasion of great contrition and penance.

I never ever realized that what I say in a weblog, for that is what a blog is (a log of one's reflections and opinion) could affect people the way it does. I received the most incredibly hostile comment on a another blog I write - it actually read like something from a mental patient. But it brought home to me many lessons. I understood that what I write can indeed offend or anger another. It was such a fine correction for me. Like Simei rebuking David. I have prayed for compunction, for contrition, and this cut me to the heart, Our Lord spoke to me through this simple soul. I am so grateful for this rebuke. One may never dismiss rebukes or attacks, because God permits them for our humility. There is nothing better for humility than humiliations. I am so very grateful for this person who holds me in contempt, and I pray for her. I pray for the people I have held in contempt and had let them know it through my words.

I love St. Jerome beause he suffered from himself. I love Celine, Therese's little sister, who suffered from herself. It is better to know that people dislike you, and hold you in contempt, than to ever be praised for anything. John of the Cross, that gentle father said, "he who praises you deceives you." (Or was he quoting scripture?) It is so true.

We must pray for people with mental disorders and afflicted with depression. We must always be very solicitous and kind towards them. They see thngs in a manner differently from those more "well adjusted", and sometimes - I am conviced - Our Lord uses them to correct our own egotistical pride. "I rejoice to be-littled!" - A Thereseian paraphrase.

The secret to prayer; Lectio Divina (For the feast of St. Romuald, June 19)

Pictured; The Vision of St. Romuald.

St. Romuald saw in a vision, like the prophet Jacob, his monks ascending a ladder to heaven. It brings to mind the classic practice of prayer, known as Lectio Divina; the monastic way of prayer our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI hopes will have something of a renaissance in our time. It is perfectly compatible with the Teresian method of 'mental prayer' - when St. Teresa of Avila writes that she went to prayer with a book, I feel certain she understood this manner of prayer.

The Ladder of Monks, Guigo the Carthusian
On Lectio Divina:

ONE DAY while I was occupied with manual labor
Cum die quadam corporali manuum labore occupatus
I began to reflect on man’s spiritual work,
de spiritali hominis exercitio cogitare coepissem,
and suddenly four steps for the soul came into my reflection:
quatuor spiritales gradus animo cogitanti se subito obtulerunt
reading,
meditation,
prayer,
[and] contemplation
lectio
scilicet meditatio,
oratio
contemplatio

THIS is a ladder for monks
by means of which they are raised up from earth to heaven
qua de terra in coelum sublevantur,

It has [only a] few separate rungs, yet its length is immense and incredible:
gradibus quidem distincta paucis, immensae tamen et incredibilis magnitudinis,

for its lower part stands on the earth,
cujus extrema pars terrae innixa est,

while its higher [part] pierces the clouds and touches the secrets of heaven.
superior vero nubes penetrat et coelorum secreta rimatur


JUST as its rungs have various names and numbers,
Hi gradus sicut nominibus et numero sunt diversi

so also so they differ in order and merit;
ita ordine et merito sunt distincti;

and if one diligently searches out their properties and functions
quorum proprietates et officia,

- what each [rung] does in relation to us, how they differ from one another and how they are ranked-
quid singuli circa nos efficiant, quomodo inter se differant et praeemineant, si quis diligenter inspiciat,

he will regard whatever labor and study he expends as brief and simple compared with the great usefulness and sweetness [he gains].
quidquid laboris et studii impenderit in eis breve reputabit et facile prae utilitatis et dulcedinis magnitudine.

Reading is careful study of [Sacred] Scripture,
Est autem lectio sedula scriptuaru

with the soul’s [whole] attention:
cum animi intentione inspectio.

Meditation is the studious action of the mind
Meditatio est studiosa mentis actio,

to investigate hidden truth, led by one’s own reason.
occultae veritatis notitiam ductu propriae rationis investigans.

Prayer is the heart’s devoted attending to God,
Oratio est devota cordis in Deum intentio

so that evil may be removed
pro malis removendis

and good may be obtained.
vel bonis adipiscendis.

Contemplation is the mind suspended -somehow elevated above itself - in God
Contemplatio est mentis in Deum suspensae quaedam supra se elevatio

so that it tastes the joys of everlasting sweetness.
eternae dulcedinis gaudia degustans

HAVING assgned descriptions to each of the four rungs,
Assignatus ergo quatuor graduum descriptionibus,

we must see what their functions are in relation to us.
restat ut eorum circa nos officia videamus.



III THE FUNCTIONS of THESE AFOREMENTIONED RUNGS
III QUAE SUNT OFFICIA PRAEDICTORUM GRADUUM
FOR the sweetness of a blessed life:
Beatae vitae dulcedinem

Reading seeks;
lectio inquirit,

meditation finds;
meditatio invenit,

prayer asks;
oratio postulat,

contemplation tastes.
contemplatio degustat


Reading, so to speak, puts food solid in the mouth,
Lectio quasi solidum cibum ori apponit,

meditation chews and breaks it,
meditatio masticat et frangit

prayer attains its savor,
oratio saporem acquirit,

contemplation is itself the sweetness that rejoices and refreshes.
contemplatio est ipsa dulcedo quae jocundat et reficit.


Reading concerns the surface,
Lectio in cortice,

meditation concerns the depth
meditatio in adipe,

prayer concerns request for what is desired,
oratio in desiderii postulatione,

contemplation concerns delight in discovered sweetness.
contemplatio in adeptae dulcedinis delectatione. ( taken from "The Ladder of Monks")

June 19: Feast of St. Romuald

Pictured, St. Romuald, in the white habit of the Camaldolese, by Fra Angelico.

St. Romuald (952-1027) entered the Benedictines in atonement for his father's sin of murder - he killed a relative. Seeking to live a more solitary life as a hermit, he left the cenobitic life of the Benedictine abbey to search for an appropriate refuge. He eventually founded monastic communities throughout northern and southern Italy. He reformed the monastic life of his time, which had become rather decadent. St. Romuald's most famous hermitage is in Camaldoli, near Arezzo in Italy. In the United States we have two Camaldolese foundations, both different congregations with different expressions of the eremetic life. One is in Big Sur, California, the other in Bloomingdale, Ohio.

Shortly after my conversion and return to the Church (thirty some years ago now) I wanted to leave everything and enter the strictest monastery possible. I really believe it was much more than first fervor driving me, but I quit my job and took to the road, never realizing that this was the begining of my pilgrimage of prayer in life. I found myself at Steubenville and moved on to Holy Family Hermitage, the more strictly enclosed and eremetical of the two Congregations of Camaldolese in the U.S. - at least they were then.


St. Conrad of Parzham


The Prior sent a lay brother to the gate to send me away. (The Prior evidently was having some psychological problems as well as being frustrated that 'charismatic' students were just showing up unanounced at the hermitage, hoping to pray with the hermits.) The lay brother was older and looked a little bit like St. Conrad of Parzham. He was so kind to me and did his best to explain why the Prior refused to see me. He took me on a secret tour of the enclosure and prayed with me in the chapel, but in the end he had to send me on my way. He gave me the bread he was to eat that day to take with me. I often wonder if he continued to pray for me. Because of his age, I expect that he is now dead, I hope he still remembers me in heaven.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI at the elevation during the Consecration of the Mass.





The remaining sign of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano. The Eucharistic species remains intact, Therefore it can be considered something of an ongoing miracle.




Eucharistic Miracle
Lanciano, Italy 8th Century A.D.
(Taken from "The Real Presence" website.)

Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a divine response to a Basilian monk's doubt about Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist.

During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.

The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back. The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.

Various ecclesiastical investigation ("Recognitions") were conducted since 1574.
In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrious scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy. He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena.

The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs.These analyses sustained the following conclusions:

The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.
The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.
The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.
In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.
The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

Another miracle contributing to the feast of Corpus Christi.

Bolsena-Orvieta, Italy
A priest had difficulties believing in the Real Presence, and blood began seeping out of the Host upon consecration. Because of this miracle, Pope Urban IV commissioned the feast of Corpus Christi, which is still celebrated today. ("The Real Presence")

Don Marco

Pictured, the Madonna with Tobit and the Archangel Raphael and St. Francis.

Why have I pictured St. Raphael and Tobias? It is because I am reminded that sometimes Our Lord sends us a special friend to help us on our pilgrimage toward Heaven. In His blessed Providence He has given me one of His beloved to help me, His name is Don Marco, monk and priest. His wonderful spirituality has enlightened me and given me untold consolation. The meeting of the Archangel Raphael and Tobias is a signal grace and mark of true friendship. (I have often prayed for such an encounter as Tobias had, once, years ago I met a person who spoke to me in similar fashion - I never saw him again. Sometime I should tell the story.) I am so grateful to God for Don Marco's counsel. Here is a homily of his for this day, I hope he doesn't mind that I share it with you.

Homily for the Memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, Monk and Priest.

We celebrate today the memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant,a Cistercian monk of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert beatified by PopeJohn Paul II on October 3, 2004. Father Marie-Joseph died on June 17, 1903;he was twenty-five years old. Solemnly professed for three years, he hadbeen a priest for only nine months. From childhood he wanted nothing else.³Where his treasure was, there was his heart also² (cf. Mt 6:21).

Bl. Marie-Joseph Cassant

In his last letter to his family, he wrote, ³For such a longtime we hoped against hope to be able to have the whole family together after my ordination so as to share the joy of being present and receivingCommunion together at my first Mass. The good Lord heard our deepest wishes. It now remains to us to thank him and to enter more and more deeplyinto the greatness of the priesthood. Let us never dare to equate the Sacrifice of the Mass with earthly things.²

Americans first learned of Father Marie-Joseph Cassant fromThomas Merton in The Waters of Siloe, first published in 1949. Merton wrotethat, ³On the afternoon of June 17, 1903, the body of Father Joseph Cassantwas lowered into its grave in the préau of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert. Someone had thrown into the grave a few bright handfuls of petals from the flowers that had been scattered before the Blessed Sacrament in the cloister procession that same day - for it was the octave of Corpus Christi.²

The American Trappist made a novena to Father Marie-Joseph and through his intercession received significant favours. Merton was not alone in invoking Father Marie-Joseph. Since 1903 more than 2200 persons from thirty different countries have attested to favours received through the intercession of Father Marie-Joseph. The catalogue of graces attributed to the young monk is impressive: conversions, reconciliations, cures, and comfort in uncertainties and doubts. Father Jacob and I went in pilgrimage to his tomb in 1982 and prayed that both of us might become priests.

Father Marie-Joseph¹s road to the priesthood was not an easy one. His parish priest judged him intellectually inadequate for theological studies. After tutoring him for fifteen months in French and Latin, he saw that the young Joseph was not suited for the diocesan seminary. He directed him instead to the Trappe of Sainte-Marie-du-Desert where the monks were ordained to the priesthood after a simpler course of studies, given that they had no pastoral responsibilities or outside ministry.

Joseph entered ³Le Desert² on December 5, 1894. Sister Thérèsede l¹Enfant Jésus et de la Sainte-Face, five years older than Joseph, had three years left in her Carmel of Lisieux. Their lives were in some ways similar. Although Thérèse had a stronger personality, both were led to find their strength in weakness. ³Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me² (2 Cor 12:9).

Frère Marie-Joseph was timid, fearful, and scrupulous at times,suffering from insecurities. It was by trusting obedience to his NoviceMaster, Père André Malet, that he began to grow in confidence in the Heartof Jesus. ³My grace is sufficient for you: for power is made perfect ininfirmity² (2 Cor 12:9). Confidence in the Heart of Jesus became his way.Echoing the words of the psalmist, he called the Eucharist ³his one happiness on earth.² ³What have I in heaven? And besides you what do I desire upon earth?² (Ps 72:25).

Even in the abbey, theological studies were not easy for Joseph.The monk charged with teaching him often humiliated him publicly for his stupidity, saying, ³ You are totally limited! It is useless for you to study. You will not learn any more. To ordain you would be a dishonour to the priesthood.² Father André, his gentle and patient spiritual father, was always there to encourage Father Marie-Joseph, to set him again and again on the path of confidence in the Heart of Jesus.

Father Marie-Joseph was ordained on October 12, 1902 at twenty-four and a half years of age. Already tuberculosis was ravaging his young body. His abbot sent him home to his family for seven weeks of rest,hoping that his health might improve, but it was too late for that. Upon returning to the abbey, Father Marie-Joseph was sent to the infirmary. His lungs were irreparably damaged, his breathing difficult. As infirmarian he was given none other than the theology professor who had so harshly berated him.

Father André remained close to his spiritual son, offering reassurance and comfort, helping him to trust in the love of the Heart ofJesus for him. On June 17, 1903, Father Marie-Joseph received HolyCommunion for the last time and, a few moments later, passed into the contemplation of Christ face to face. The beautiful collect composed for his liturgical memorial sums up his life: ³O Lord, Glory of the lowly, who inspired a burning love for the Eucharist in Blessed Joseph Mary, and led him into the desert through the Heart of Jesus; grant, we beseech you, that by his intercession and example we may prefer nothing to Christ, that he may bring us to life everlasting.

The memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, falling on this Friday in the month of the Sacred Heart, and on the day after SaintLutgarde, invites us to follow him along the path of confidence in the Heartof Jesus and burning love for the Eucharist. For Blessed Marie-Joseph
nothing equaled the Mass; the Mass became his life. At the hour of death his identification with Christ, priest and victim, was complete. Today,through Christ, with Him, and in Him, he makes priestly intercession in heaven for those who ask for it on earth.

"³In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment,there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host.Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful.It is a source of comfort and light particularly to those who are suffering." -²Pope Benedict XVI, May 25, 2006

Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, pray for me a sinner. And thank you Don Marco for this homily - pray for me, for us.

Dysfunction at the junction...

Pictured, Rosselli's Sermon on the Mount, Sistine Chapel

When I was in high school there was a Motown song "Function at the Juntion" - so that explains this title somewhat - it rhymes.

Today's Gospel from the sermon on the Mount speaks about not taking a false oath, and that we should let our yes be yes and our no be no - no dissimulating, no lying, no passive aggressive 'round the back door behavior.

That stuff happens all too often in the work place. Many times employees lie, make false excuses, use their time deceptively, and complain about others to take the attention off of their mistakes, bad behavior, or incompetence, etc. Sometimes Management does the same things, thus enabling the offenders to continue their charade. They will look away from a problem, perhaps hoping it will go away, yet nevertheless prolonging it. They do not enforce rules, maybe because they sometimes are afraid of lawsuits, or just paying unemployment, or just unable to confront someone or something. They want to be liked and they do not like confrontation, so this 'stealth action' thing goes on. It's dysfuntional. Dysfunction always starts at the top, in a family it starts with the parents. In a business it starts with Management.

We have to "put aside lying" in all its forms. We must let "our 'yes' be 'yes' and our 'no' mean 'no'. Anything beyond that is from the evil one." - Matthew 5

Mother Teresa's rule: No fund raising.

Missionaries of Charity of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

I had an incident one day a month or so ago in the Store I work in. It made me do a lot of thinking. The Missionaries of Charity came in to see me. Every time they visit the Store I feel like I'm seeing Mother. Sometimes I even lapse and call them Mother instead of Sister. No offense to any other religious order but these nuns are exceptional examples of the religious life; they remain just as faithful to radical poverty and their original charism as when they were founded. They are women of prayer as evidenced by the rosary they carry in their hands and are actively praying as you meet them - their rosaries do not just hang on their belts.

When you encounter the sisters you cannot help but tangibly feel their charity. I love them. They had to talk to me about a mistake we made in our catalog. It concerns one of those latex wrist bands, a JPII memorial item, a piece of "I could care less merchandise" that is over-priced as well as a post-peak trend item. A seemingly insignificant item. In our catalog copy, that we took from the vendor we bought it from - I must hasten to say - it states that "a percentage of the proceeds from sales of this item go to the Missionaries of Charity." Mother Marcella, the provincial in the U.S. contacted me a few months ago that this was in error. I was totally unaware of the copy and promotion. I assured her I would look into it. I explained I had no knowledge of the connection and told her I knew very well that the Missionaries and Mother have always had a prohibition against fund raising. I knew that! I assumed everyone did. I told management and explained how important the matter is, they seemed to understand. And guess what happened? Another re-mail catalog had already gone to press and was subsequently mailed out. You can imagine the embarrassment for me and the Company when Sister came in and talked to me about the same mistake that had not been taken care of. I explained as best I could, I said I would take care of it for them and I apologized. I went immediately to the Owner of the Company and explained to him the problem. I called the Company we buy the items from and explained the situation. He explained that he had bought the business from another fellow and he was the one who promoted the item that way and he simply continued it. As I spoke to him on the phone he removed the line from his web site. I knew it was going to be taken care of. (And it was - immediately.)

The entire episode gave me pause however. The Missionaries themselves always remind me of the parable of the goats and sheep being judged at the end of time, because they are so hidden and humble and also because Mother often referenced this parable. (I shuddered because of what scripture says in regard to merchants and how they will be judged!) What struck me about this Gospel however is how the people to the right hand of our Lord, those who have done well, question Jesus saying, "When did we see you hungry and give you food? Naked and we clothed you?" and so on. They honestly did not know until Jesus told them that when they did this to the least among them that they did it to Him. The blessed were totally unaware of their good works - they were simply acting from the goodness of their hearts. They neither measured nor tallied their good works - they simply were acting and doing what was right, the right hand not knowing what the left was doing‌.

It is human nature to take an account of possessions, money, honors, etc. We deduct our charitable contributions from our taxes. (In our Store we even sell "Sacrifice Beads" a pious custom adopted from the life of Therese of Lisieux, you're supposed to count your sacrifices throughout the day by moving a bead every time you do a good work. Unless you are about five years old, as Therese was when she used it, I'd strongly recommend not using such a device. (It's for training kids - not for adults.)

We often carry this accounting practice into our spiritual lives. Many who practice prayer like to figure out what stage of prayer they are at. In my Store we carry a book called "The Stages of Prayer" written by an former Discalced Carmelite nun, it more or less 'retarded' my own progress in prayer since it focused so much on stages and levels of prayer - it isn't the best study on the practice of prayer. Teresa of Avila's famous book, "The Interior Castle"‌ documents the various stages of prayer as well. This is great for directors or to inspire a person to strive for the higher gifts, but it's a waste of time, in my opinion, to use it to try and figure out where you are at in the spiritual life. You're just measuring again. You're keeping score of your virtue - similar to what an overly solicitous parent does in regard to their kids sports activities or academic life. Jesus said not to let your right hand know what your left hand is doing and to keep your works of mercy secret. In other words forget your self and mortify your self seeking. Love and act out of love, "Love and do what you will" as St. Augustine wrote. We should neither count the cost nor the accomplishments of our charity - or prayer for that matter. We might take it a step further, maybe we should not use other people's charitable mission or accomplishments to raise funds or make a sale. If we are going to do an act of charity, we ought to do it in the name of Jesus, for Jesus, and let Him alone know we are doing it. Don't try to make a profit off the backs of the poor.

Remember the Pharisee and the Publican, the one guy recounted to God all of his merits and good deeds, he tithed, gave to the poor, he did a lot of good. (What if he was one of those who traipsed by that other guy laying on the side of the road that the Samaritan helped?) But the one who was justified was the Publican - who had nothing but his sins. At the end of her life St. Therese proclaimed she went to God "empty handed“ not unlike the Publican.

I think that is how the Missionaries of Charity think of themselves as well. Yeah, they never take account of what they do, they simply follow Jesus.

(We eventually got rid of the phrase in our catalog. The Missionaries were happy and hopefully we learned a good lesson.)

More Dyke-o-rama

Bishop Gisela Forster - she's the blonde I think. (No blonde jokes please!)

With just another ugly pseudo-nun.

See the Cafeteria is Closed for details.

The girls are getting 'ordained' in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 31st. On a boat in the river, isn't that lovely? The press thinks it is real - that these are 'pedigreed' Roman Catholic women carrying out a legitimate ordination rite. That is so bogus.

They are not Roman Catholic , none of them are Bishops, and none of them are priests. It's not a story. It may be a funny skit for Saturday Night - but nothing more.

It's a sweet photo however.

Excerpts from my interview...

Jiminy Glick interviews me...
( This is a fantasy interview that was done at the Toronto Film Festival but landed on the cutting room floor - it's surprisingly current with todays issues however - how that happened is a mystery. This is transcribed from the audio by the well known Schwan audio services. JG is Jiminy and TN is me of course.)

JG: Well Terry, I have wanted to meet you for a long time. What brings you to Toronto?
TN: The Film Festival of course. You asked me here.
JG: Oh yes - you are correct of course. I was hoping you'd have something more original to say. Anyway, I understand you're blogging now days. Is that because no one will publish you?
TN: Pretty much.
JG: What do you blog about?
TN: Anything that comes to mind.
JG: (Laughs nervously.) Well, ahhhhh, Terry, can you be more specific? Doesn't your writing have a particular thrust? Do you have any agenda?
TN: Not really. (long, long pause.) Well I write about Catholic stuff. On the Rome-ing Catholics blog I write alot about saints and spirituality. On Abbey-Roads I'll do the same but I've gotten into writing about Catholic news items and controversies. I get to editorialize on my own without censorship, I can more or less say what I want and..."
JG: AHhemmmmm! (Jiminy interrupts me in mid-sentence)
TN: You just interru....
JG: Yes I know. But I want to stop you right there. You say you can say what you want - implying that there is no one to edit you. Is that correct?
TN: No. There are comments - people can contradict me or correct me. But I can say pretty much what I want, and when I review it, if it's out of line or I see I made a mistake, I can delete it.
JG: Like last week - the prediction that your local News channel was going to announce the new Bishop?
TN: Hey! I was just guessing like everyone else, only I was more emphatic than anyone else because I wanted to be first with the news.
JG: Okay then. So were you correct? No you were not. Were you embarrassed?
TN: You know so much, why don't you answer that.
JG: You don't have to get hostile.
TN: I'm not - did you ever hear my Cary Grant quote? He said, "Women always interpret a man's honesty as cruelty." I believe that was from "Philadelphia Story".
JG: Oh yes! (A glint of flaming recognition in his eyes!) That was the film where Katherine Hepburn said, "I carried Calla lilies on my wedding day and I'll carry them again today!"
TN: (Laughing wildly, choking and gasping words through tears and laughs.) You do her so well - it reminds me of Martin Short!
JG: Yes. Well back to the rumors. What have you heard this week?
TN: (Still laughing) It's still Bishop Aquila as far as I know. I heard Cardinal Arinze has been involved somehow, but I really forgot the details, also, the announcement probably will not be this week because of the Bishops meeting and also Bishop Sullivan died.
JG: Why do you think people are so interested in this matter? Do they dislike Archbishop Flynn?
TN: Some people may dislike him, but I think they misunderstand him. He has done some excellent things in this Archdiocese and has been very careful about preserving unity in the Church. One man cannot possibly undo all of the problems that have evolved since the Council.
Remember the parable of the tares and the wheat. Things take time, and after all, everything is guided by Divine Providence.
JG: Well, aren't you reconcilliatory this week!
TN: Yeah, I went to confession.
JG: So some people like him and some don't -
TN: Like who?
JG: Paul Reubens you idiot! Who do you think? We are talking about Archbishop Flynn -
TN: Well up yo - hey - I like him, so drop it. I feel sorry for him and can imagine he'd like to retire -
JG: Who? Peewee Herman?
TN: I thought you were talking about the Archbishop! Geesh!
JG: We were discussing him, yes. Let's move on however. How do you feel about all of this?
TN: About what?
JG: You are just about the worst interview I've ever done.
TN: And you are fat.
JG: And you're not? How many chins do you have? Let's see - one, two -
TN: Can we get back to the interview please?
JG: Well tell me about your son. I know he's not your real son, you just call him that because you wish you had a son, that's hard for you isn't it. I heard it is sort of like George and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf".
TN: No, it's not really. But sometimes you get to have a friendship with someone and you really feel a sort of kinship with them. I actually have three guys I call my son, for fun of course, and I never believed for a second they were my son, although I love manic humor and so play around about it, but -
JG: (Interrupts) Yes, we get that. So these guys are not really your sons but they are friends? Yes? No? What is it?
TN: Well they are friends of a sort but not people I socialize with, I have a great deal of respect for them and like them and admire them. They would be perfect sons. Why are we talking about this?
JG: Well someone said you call these guys your sons and I just want to know about them.
TN: There's nothing much to say - they have all moved on and it was a fun relationship when they worked for me, but we've all moved on.
JG: So tell me, back to this blogging thing, why are you so into it?
TN: I don't know. It's fun to share ideas and my point of view.
JG: What do you think of Nicole Kidman?
TN: I don't think that much of her, her type of beauty, when she's made-up, is too pasty for my taste. I know nothing of who she is marrying but I've heard that she is being reconciled to the Catholic Church, I just hope she is sincere and perseveres.
JG: That is surely a sweet sentiment! Now what is your favorite blog?
TN: Abbey-Roads, I like the name - I love the name! "Abbey Road" was the Beatles album that most chronicles my life. But then I like the Cafeteria is Closed, as well as all the local blogs that ever mention me.
JG: What do you think of local Catholic publications?
TN: Pretty safe and boring.
JG: What about Catholic radio and TV?
TN: I'm not that interested.
JG: What is your favorite religious music?
TN: I don't really like religious music. I like chant but not to listen to but to pray.
JG: Are you a traditionalist then?
TN: I grew up with the so-called "old" Mass, and I like it. I do like the vernacular however. I like a quiet Mass, like the 6:30AM at St. Agnes. It seems more contemplative, to me at least. But I also like the "old" Mass. I really feel it's a mistake to say one is better than the other, or more holy. How can that be? It is the same sacrifice taking place isn't it? It's like the differentiation of a high Mass and a low Mass - does that mean a high Mass is holier? No of course not. Let's get off of this because I'm no authority and as Fr. "Z" would say I should be better informed when I speak.
JG: Speaking of traditional things, I hear you are not fond of chapel veils for women.
TN: That's so not true. But what is wrong with a scarf? Women don't wear scarves any longer. But chapel veils or mantillas are fine. I prefer black ones on older and married women, the white for young girls. I guess it's a woman's thing however, although I know some husbands who expect their wives to wear one. If I were a woman I would never wear one, but I would also keep my maiden name -
JG: (Gasps in disbelief!) Isn't that a sin?!
TN: Of course not you freak! But I don't think a woman has to cease being who she is - a marriage is two people becoming one, but what is wrong with keeping her maiden name, at least professionally?
Anyway - I don't want to discuss this because it bores me and I am single and never intend to marry.
JG: Okay, okayeee, (As he tries to cross his legs) let's talk about single life. A priest you know just said that he does not believe there is such a thing as a vocation to the single life, what do you say to that?
TN: He's wrong.
JG: He's wrong? Is that all you can say?
TN: Pretty much.
JG: Can't you elaborate? Can you defend your position on this?
TN: You know, this interview is just about the worst interview I have ever done. I'm so out of here! (As I pulled off my mic and walked off the set.)

End of interview.

Still the best game in Town!

I love a good mystery!

Now! Just for fun mind you - I'll just mention the fact that someone said we should hear either Tuesday or Thursday of this week who the new Coadjutor will be. Last week I was sure it would be announced and used this picture and so on...so just for good luck I'm using it again.

I went with Bishop Aquila last week and I have not changed my mind, now Mitchell and Judith of Our Word have said they have heard from a reliable source that he indeed will be the man named. So maybe - just maybe kids - we will hear this week. Maybe tomorrow for the feast of St Anthony and the anniversary of the 2nd apparition at Fatima of Our Lady.

May God bless Archbishop Flynn and his successor. This entire matter is kind of fun though, isn't it? And being a guy, I love being right. As my assistant at work said, "Why Terry, I've never known you to be wrong!" Walking away I heard her mutter, "Men always have to be right."

I hope I am! I hope I am! I hope I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Otherwise - Like Mitchell and Judith, I'm done with this story too!)

Religious liberty threatened?

Pictured, Roman catacombs.

Here comes the persecution...maybe! So before the world is rid of evil, there has to be some real suffering, don't you think? Fr. Altier often talked about a persecution coming. It could happen! The homosexual and liberal agenda is gaining steam - priests and religious and other Catholics could eventually be arrested and jailed for speaking out against immoral issues that secular law has legalized. Or maybe arrested for hate crimes if the right person reads the right blog...

Once again, from Catholic News Agency:

Same-sex marriage will impact religious liberty say experts

New York, Jun. 12, 2006 (CNA) - In a recent column, Newsweek religion editor, Peter Steinfels, discusses the opinion of several respected legal scholars, many of whom are proponents of same-sex "marriage", that the legalization of same-sex “marriage” will have an inevitable impact on religious liberty.

Steinfels, the former editor of Commonweal, contributed a commentary in Saturday’s New York Times, titled “Beliefs; Advocates on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue see a potential clash with religious liberty.”In the article, Steinfels discusses comments made by several scholars during a conference last December, sponsored by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. One attendee of the conference, Marc D. Stern, who has handled religious freedom cases for the American Jewish Congress for many years, said that clashes with religious liberty would be "inevitable," if same-sex “marriage” was legalized.

While Stern doesn’t believe clergy will be forced to perform marriages that are against the values of the faith group they represent, other programs or institutions-like schools, health care centers and social service agencies-that operate by religious standards will be impacted. Steinfels referred to the decision of Boston Catholic Charities to withdraw from providing adoption services because the state license required placing children with same-sex couples.

Stern was joined by several scholars on the subject, including Chai R. Feldblum, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and a proponent of same-sex marriage. Feldblum agreed with Stern that religious liberty will be challenged. However, Feldblum holds, the dignity and equality of gay people should almost always outweigh considerations of religious freedom.

Arguments from the conference were initially reported by Maggie Gallagher and published in The Weekly Standard. Steinfels says that in her report Gallagher observes that legal scholars opposed to same-sex marriage are more hopeful about overcoming the potential conflicts with religious liberty than those in favor of it.While University of Chicago Law School constitutional scholar, Cass Sunstein did not attend the conference, he called the conflicts Feldblum and Stern's views point to "real and serious." Sunstein told Steinfels that same-sex marriage does not raise new issues. Rather, it intensifies existing tensions "between antidiscrimination norms and deeply held religious convictions." He also said the first great impact will be in the political realm.

Many morally contentious laws contain exemptions for religious bodies or even for the personal moral beliefs of some professionals. However, these exemptions are being challenged in the courts. [snip] from Catholic News

Vatican II - 40 years after!

Pictured, the incorrupt body of Bl. John the XXIII

Shortly before he died, John Paul the Great stated that an event was coming that would rid the world of evil, at least that is how his statement resonates in my mind. However, here is the exact quote that I just happen to have in my Bible: "Satan, the original adversary, who accused our brothers in the heavenly court, has now been cast down from heaven and no longer has great power. He knows he has not much time left because history is about to see a radical turning point in freedom from evil and therefore he is reacting full of great fury." ("for history is nearing the radical turning point of liberation from evil and he consequently reacts with 'great wrath'". - literal from Vatican archives.) -John Paul II, Allocution Wednesday General Audience, 1/12/05. This amazing statement is from the Fatima Pope, the "Pope of the third secret'. The great Pope who traversed the globe catechizing the masses, seeking to set straight the misinterpretations of Vatican II.

Are we now emerging from the desert we've wandered in for 40 years after Vatican II? Is the new springtime of the Church really dawning? Have all of the scandal and abuse fomenting lately been Satan striking out before his ultimate defeat? I read an article from Cardinal George regarding the 40 year anniversary of the close of Vatican II. Below is a snippet and if you find it of interest, go to the entire text at The Catholic New World, Newspaper of the Chicago Archdiocese.

>>The Second Vatican Council (1962-1966), 40 years after its conclusion, remains for many Catholics a source of both joy and tension. What was the Holy Spirit calling us to think and to do? For some, the Council itself was the work of the Spirit, but its implementation has been hijacked by left-wing or right-wing ideologues, depending upon one’s choice of enemies. For others, the Council itself was flawed because its documents are ambiguous or even inconsistent with apostolic tradition. The extremists in this line made tradition another word for museum and lose the sense of a living Body of Christ. Some even believe that Pope John XXIII and all his successors are anti-Popes and that the Church has been without a Bishop of Rome since the death of Pius XII in 1958.

A few months ago, the current Bishop of Rome and successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, offered an interpretation of the Second Vatican Council that merits close attention. The Council was called in order to give genuinely new impetus to the Church’s mission in the world. In order to overcome within the Church anything that might impede or obscure the Church’s mission, the Council called for an updating or renewal in the Church’s life. “Aggiornamento,” which is Italian for updating, was not, however, intended to mean that the Church should simply accommodate herself to the world. Ecclesiastical renewal is not a form of self-secularization. Pope Benedict says of those who took this path: “They have underestimated the inner tensions as well as the contradictions of the modern epoch.”<<

Angry voices...

Pray! Pray! Pray! Without ceasing!

Ever since the Fr. Altier deal in the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese people have not been afraid to go public with their anger, in fact the anger seems to be pretty deep seated, stemming back a decade or so, in some cases maybe even longer. It's catching up with the times as it were. The reassignment of Fr. Altier and the prospect of a new Coadjutor Archbishop in the Twin Cities has unleashed a hail storm of hostilities. I hear it, I read it. At times certain individuals seem down right bi-polar about it - one day they are incensed about the 're-assignment surgeries' happening in the Archdiocese and the next they are praising the current Archbishop for doing the best he could in a bad situation, only to bash him the next day for participating in a liturgical function that was anything but orthodox, or something else. Is this a Church in turmoil or what?

When I came back into the Church in 1972 I was so deeply impressed with the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist that I paid little attention to His ministers. When away from the Church I had a contempt for the hierarchy, and most priests and religious. Perhaps that was the result of having grown up and educated by mean nuns with cold and indifferent parish priests. I attribute my negative experiences to their knowledge of my mother as a divorced, re-married, and therefore, non- practicing Catholic, while my father was a non-practicing Lutheran who despised the Church; and both were alcoholic and of course we were poor. I cannot really say anything against these religious however, since they did accept me tuition-free in their schools, and I got a great education, and because of a childish reverence for their habit and status, I never thought I was being mistreated - until I got older. At the time I likened it to how the saints suffered from others in their lives, so I accepted the harsh treatment, considering anything better than what my home life was like. I have to thank those nuns now! Nevertheless, in my rebellious years I came to resent their harsh treatment and developed a nasty case of anti-clericalism, the scars of which remain today - now tell me the devil did not have a hand in that! As I said however, at my conversion, my faith in the Lord's real presence in the Blessed Sacrament became so living, I was able somehow to differentiate the priest, who stood in persona Christi, from the man with his human weaknesses and foibles. It was a supernatural grace, to be sure, because it freed me from preoccupation with any perceived faults I may have ever witnessed. Contemporaries have told me I have had my head in the sand, I hope it has been more that I have had my eyes fixed on Jesus.

These recent events in our Archdiocese have been a good wake-up call for me, to realize how distracted I have become from my true focus, turning my head 'like Lot's wife to look at the destruction' (St. John, III Precaution) while my spiritual life has turned to stone, as it were. Over the years I have encountered priests who refused to give me absolution for sins I confessed telling me they were not sins. I had to beg them to impart absolution by humbling myself and asking them to do so from a purely psychological viewpoint - at the very least - so that I could have peace. Strangely enough they would then absolve me, having more faith in psychology than the sacraments. (I was not having psychological problems, I was having difficulty with a habitual sin, one I knew was grave, I needed and wanted absolution.)

Over the years I've encountered all sorts of priests one might call heretical, unfaithful, homosexual, even debauched. One thing I could never disparage is their priesthood, again, it is a supernatural grace. I looked away all of those years, I prayed for them. I delighted when I'd encounter a good priest, such as Fr. Altier, or the other numerous faithful and devout priests of this Archdiocese, and I gravitated towards them.

So I've known about all of the abuses yet I refused to focus upon them. I don't think it does me much good to focus upon them. When I was in a monastery for a time, the prior was an alcoholic and for recreation we had cocktails and watched TV. I left. I enterd another monastery, my novice master turned out to be gay and asked me very personal and impertinent questions about my sexuality. I left. Then a priest I knew wanted to get into 'mutual massage' - and when I said "No way!" I was accused of being uptight, ashamed of my body, etc. I left. Like I said, I have been on the receiving end of bad theology, bad liturgy, bad celebrations of the sacrament of penance, and other eccentricities. I more or less had to be on my own for many years. Like the guy in The Way of the Pilgrim, I just continued on my way. It's a grace, and an act of Divine Mercy when one encounters a saintly priest - it's really not a right - everything is a grace, is a mercy. On some level I think it's always been this way. We may now be living in the era of the great apostasy, but I wonder. What I know for certain is that I have been distracted from the 'one thing necessary', and I must 'return to my early love'.

Having said that, check out this news story about persecuted priests, it seems to be happening all over, not just here. Let's not get mad, or try to get even by adding fuel to the scandal and fight, let's pray. Pray, pray, pray. "It is not human activity that can save us now, but only the sufferings of Christ." - Edith Stein.