Our Lady of the Mount RCIA

Addendum--Religious Orders

2012-01-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

      A slight clarification is in order, given that even a lot of cradle Catholics these days have little knowledge of religious communities, especially here in the South: Religious orders are communities of men or women who live in community in service to the Church and according to their rule. These communities are each single-sex, but an order (The Franciscans, for example) may have separate religious houses (congregations) for men and women (though never together).

      Some orders share an overall affiliation (they might, for example, all be Dominicans) but each house has a separate governance and charism. The Hawthorne Dominicans (Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne), founded by the daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne, are dedicated to the care of the sick poor, especially in hospice settings. Our own local Nashville Dominicans (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia) are focused on teaching. But they are all Dominicans (O.P.) Likewise, there are a number of Franciscan orders for both men and women including the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (C.F.R.) who tend to the poor and outcast often in city slums.

      Sometimes both orders share a common name (Dominicans, Franciscans) whether the individual community is for men or women; sometimes the names are slightly different (Trappists/Trappistines; Redemptorists/Redemptoristines).

     Orders come and go. Some have existed for hundreds of years, others are quite new. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950; the Benedictines were founded in the Sixth Century. Two of the newest orders are Daughters of Mary, Our Lady of Nazareth, founded by Sister Olga, an Iraqi who came to the Roman Catholic Church from the Assyrian Church (where she was the first nun in 700 years) and Daughters of Mary, Israel's Hope, an order in the process of being founded by Rosalind Moss, a convert from Judaism. The Holy Spirit never stops calling men and women to vocations in religious life--and orders change as times and needs change.

Why do you call him Monsignor if he’s the Pope?

2012-01-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

A friend who came into the Church last year heard me talking about Monsignor (Charles) Pope, author of a blog I particularly like. After hearing me say this several times, she asked in some confusion, “If he’s the Pope, why do you call him Monsignor?”

Catholic hierarchy and titles can be confusing. Most folks know that Catholics call priests Father, but even that can be confusing. I have a friend, for example, who , inquiring after the health of our pastor, insists on asking me how “My father” is doing. Given that my dad is dead, this always perplexes me, until I realize he means the good priest in current charge of my parish.

Here are a few tips on hierarchy and titles—at least in the Roman rite. Things get even more complicated in the Eastern churches, so we will leave that for another time .

There are three distinctions in Holy Orders: deacons, priests and bishops. The individuals who are ordained to those states are addressed in person as follows:

Deacon Jones
Father Smith
Bishop (or Archbishop) Brown.

Deacons come in two varieties: permanent and transitional. Permanent deacons serve various sacramental and service needs in a parish. They can marry, bury and baptize, assist at mass and take communion to the sick but cannot celebrate the Eucharist or hear confessions. They may be married men, but if married when ordained, they may not remarry if their wife dies. If unmarried at ordination, they must remain so. Transitional deacons are men who are ordained as deacons about a year in advance of being ordained a priest. They must be unmarried and are required to remain so. Deacons are addressed by title and last name, though many may permit the more informal Deacon First Name

When referring to the priest in charge of a particular parish, he can be referred to by title and name or as the pastor. Some priests ask to be addressed as Father First Name. This is appropriate if the priest indicates he is comfortable with such informal address but not otherwise. So, really, my friend should ask me about Father Smith or my pastor. I suppose he could ask about my father in faith, but that’s a little contrived even though it’s theologically correct and I am not above teasing my friend about it.

In the past, Bishops were addressed, both in writing and in person as Your Excellency. These days, most don’t insist on that, but it’s a nice sign of respect to maintain the traditional practice--and a good idea to do so until being told that it is permissible to address him as Bishop Last Name. Anglican Bishops have traditionally been called Your Lordship or My Lord, (Archbishops as Your Grace) which, I suppose, raises the question of how Bishops in the new Ordinariate for Anglicans received into the Church will be addressed—stay tuned!

Archbishops are bishops in charge of a large, metropolitan archdiocese (like Chicago, Atlanta, New York). They receive the title according to the archdiocese and hold it while they serve there. Our own local diocese is an Archdiocese, and so our Bishop is Archbishop Gregory. By contrast, Knoxville is a smaller diocese with Bishop Stika at its head. Our archdiocese has an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Zarama. Because he is an auxiliary bishop and not the head of the diocese, Bishop Zarama does not receive the title of Archbishop, even though he serves an archdiocese. Most archbishops have at least one auxiliary to assist with the duties within a diocese that require a bishop. Bishops are the pastors for their diocese and like the pastor of a parish have both liturgical (confirmations outside the Easter Vigil, ordinations of priests and deacons) and administrative duties.

In addition to the offices of deacon, priest and bishop, there are honorific titles given within the Church to recognize outstanding service or contribution to the Church. A priest may be made Monsignor (there are three types of these, and they differ in dress and rank). Monsignori are still priests and many are content to be addressed either as Father or Monsignor, but respect would suggest that the lay faithful recognize the honor in addressing the man.

Similarly, Bishops may be made Cardinals. These men are the clergy in bright red cassocks wearing red hats you’ll see at the enclave to elect a new pope. That and advising the pope when he requests it are the sole jobs of a cardinal as a cardinal; most have duties in dioceses outside Rome. Those who do not serve in the Curia (Church administration in Rome) or hold a diocese in Rome or its suburbs are Cardinal priests (this is true of Cardinals like the newly appointed Cardinal Dolan of New York). Cardinals who govern a Roman diocese are Cardinal Bishops and those who serve full time in the Curia are Cardinal deacons. Cardinals are entitled to be addressed as Your Eminence but most these days are addressed simply as Cardinal Last Name. There’s another idiosyncrasy in addressing a cardinal: you will often—though not always—see him addressed by his first name, his title and his last name: John Cardinal Doe.

Both monsignori and cardinals are made so only by papal appointment.

Religious brothers and sisters are consecrated to religious life, having taken solemn vows to live celibate and dedicated lives but they have not received holy orders (although a brother can, in addition, become a priest in his order and then is addressed as a priest would be). There are many, many religious orders, some large, some small, some thriving, some, not. Their members are identified by the letters following their names: Brother John Smith, O.P. (Dominicans) or Brother James Doe, OCSO (Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance—the Trappists). Brothers are addressed as Brother; sisters as Sister. The head of a monastery is generally called, and addressed as, Abbot, which comes from the word Abba—Father. The head of an order of religious sisters is addressed as Mother.

Religious sisters are likewise identified by the initials following their names. In many orders, especially the more traditional ones, the sisters some (brothers too) are given new names at the time of their profession of vows and are no longer known by their baptismal names: Sister Peter Chanel, O. Carm (Carmelites). Some religious orders have both male and female members (Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Trappists) but others do not. Go here for a list of abbreviations of orders and an idea of just how many religious orders there are.

Some religious orders customarily wear a distinctive dress (a “habit”) and some do not. Some wear ordinary clothes most of the time and reserve the habit for special occasions. Go here To have a look at some of the habits worn by various orders. Most of them have changed over time, and some orders gave them up entirely in the years following Vatican II. Many did not and still others have found it beneficial to return to them.

Habits are much debated and the discussions are passionate on both sides, but one thing is certain: wearing a habit (or clerical dress) makes a silent, very public statement that an individual totally committed to his faith is present. Religious dress (and the clerical collar) reminds us of God’s presence among us, the need for our response, and those among us who have given up their entire lives in service to God and to us. Unfortunately, these days, it also can make the wearer a target of abuse. A good many priests stopped wearing their clerical dress in public after being harassed, even physically assaulted, in the wake of the sex abuse scandals. On the other hand, many also report having people approach to offer thanks and support--or ask for confession! One thing is certain, a priest or religious in identifiable clothing is never "off duty."

One religious order of note is composed only of priests, who also take a vow never to be bishops: the Jesuits (Society of Jesus, S.J.) Neither do they have a lay “third order” as many other religious orders do—an affiliated order in which laypeople who wish to be associated with the order may, after a time of discernment and education, be formally associated with the order after taking their own vows as laymen.

Nuns are religious sisters who remain cloistered—withdrawn from the world and confined, for the most part, to their religious house (monastery or convent) for life, engaging in contemplative prayer for the rest of us. Monks are consecrated religious men who live in community apart from the world in a monastery and engage in a life of prayer and work. Consecrated (and ordained) religious take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and live according to the rule of the order. The Rule of St. Benedict is one of the more well known-take a look at it here. It provides some good advice for getting along in community—we in the world would do well to observe much of it! It is followed not only by the Benedictines (O.S.B) but other orders as well.

Each individual religious order is a community with its own individual gift or charism that it lives out as a community and for the greater good of the Church and the world. The Dominicans are preachers and teachers, the Franciscans are known for their adherence to a strict form of evangelical poverty, the Carmelites for their devotion to contemplative prayer, The Missionaries of Charity for service to the poor.

Last and not least, there is the matter of how to address the Pope, should we be so lucky! Popes are drawn from the ranks of Cardinals and take a new name on assuming the papacy –continuing the tradition that a name change accompanies being selected by God for a particular purpose (Abram to Abraham, Mary to Full of Grace, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul). The Pope is referred to as the Holy Father, or His (Your) Holiness. He has a number of other titles: Bishop of Rome, Supreme Pontiff and—the one most treasured by the last two Popes—Servant of the Servants of God.

Baltimore Catechism

2012-01-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

I goofed in class today. It was question #6, not Question #1: Why did God make me?

It's been something that has bothered men for centuries: what is our purpose? The answer according to the original Baltimore Catechism? God made me so that I can know Him, love Him, and serve Him so that I can be happy with him for eternity in heaven. There is great simplicity in that answer as well as great depth. God did not create out of need, for God is perfect and needs nothing. God brought us forth out of a sheer, gratuitous act of love--a reality that ought to make us both joyful and humble. God is Love in the most profound and deepest sense of that simple statement. When we glorify God, God then reflects that glory back on those He loves for all of creation to see. And that is how the revised version answers that question: God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven. There is a lifetime of meditation in those two statements alone.

As I said in class, the Baltimore Catechism, originally written in 1891, is a local catechism (that is, one published by a local diocese or in a particular place, but still one taken from the official Catechism of the Universal Church) in a Q and A format. It was meant for children, many of them the children of immigrants faced with the necessity of catechesis in a new land and a new language. It was revised in 1941 and used up until the time of Vatican II (mid-sixties) in many locales--ask a cradle Catholic over 50 why God made him and odds are the answer you get will harken back to the Baltimore Catechism. Here's a link to the original, and one to the 1941 revision.

Take a look for yourself--bring questions on the questions to class. This catechism is intended to get you started thinking about these mysteries--it's not a black and white, be-all, do-all substitute for thinking! I hope you find it a useful supplement to the materials you already have, and a way to jump-start your own inquiries. You might want to look at what the Baltimore Catechism says about sacraments as we move deeper into our discussion of the sacramental life of the Church. At any rate--enjoy!

Christmas Days

2012-01-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just to keep you updated on the Catholic version of Christmas:

This year, the Christmas season looks like this:

December 26-:Feast of St. Stephen, martyr
December 27:Feast of St. John the Evangelist
December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents
December 29: Feast of Thomas Becket, martyr
December 30: Feast of the Holy Family
December 31: Feast of St. Sylvester I
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
January 2: Feast of Sts. Basil and Gregory Nazianzen
January 3: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
January 4: Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
January 5: Feast of St. John Neumann
January 8 Epiphany of the Lord

As you can see, there are a good many particular feasts to remind us of one or another aspect of the meaning of the Incarnation. Twelve days isn't nearly long enough to take it all in, let alone a single day...explore these feasts and you will soon find favorites that speak to you in a special way.

Then, January 9--the first day of Ordinary Time is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, marking His entrance into public life.

We'll talk about this calendar (briefly) on Sunday before we begin our discussion of sacraments. Please bring any questions/comments.

Shoring Up the Walls

2012-01-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

As we begin a more intensive study of the Catholic faith, I would like for you to listen to Fr Barron's sermon on Nehemiah (# 315 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time). You can access it at wordonfire.org. Part of being Catholic is understanding what practices set us apart, shore up our faith and enrich our lives. When we lose sight of those practices, we tend to drift away from the faith. Being Catholic is not just about how we think--it is about what we do, both publicly and privately.

We will begin studying the sacraments this Sunday and, in part, it is our sacramental theology that sets us apart as Catholics. Over the next few months as we learn about the sacraments and the Catholic life, we will also be exploring Catholic devotions.

Friday is the First Friday of the month, and that is associated with both the Firth Friday Devotion as well as the practice of Adoration. If you can, please join me in the chapel at 2:30 for some time of Adoration, and stay until Benediction---one of my favorite liturgies.

First Friday devotion is associated with the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Read about it here.
Eucharistic Adoration--the silent adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament--has a long history in the Church. It lost popularity in the years immediately following Vatican II but has re-emerged. St. Jude parish in Chattanooga has adoration daily; most parishes have it often, usually on First Fridays and there is a perpetual adoration chapel--where the Blessed Sacrament is always exposed for adoration--in Atlanta (as well as in many other cities and towns). The Archdiocese has a Eucharistic Congress every year (on Corpus Christi weekend) where 30,000 or so Catholics converge on the Convention Center for Eucharistic Processions, masses, adoration, and talks on the Eucharist as it relates to Catholic life. It's a great experience, and I strongly encourage you to go (this year--2012-- it will be on June 8-9).

The Holy Innocents

2011-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

The shadow of the cross falls over the manger--Christ was, as the old hymn says, born for to die. The shadow of the cross falls over us all. We in the midst of the season of Christmas; in fact, we are in the Octave, where every day is celebrated as if it were Christmas Day. So who do we celebrate, in the very center of that octave, the brutal death of innocent children? Surely it is a cause for sadness and not joy.

Even as a helpless baby, Christ threatened the powers of the world. From the first moments of His life, there were those who rejected Him and plotted His death. And nothing, least of all other innocent babies, would get in the way of Herod's--and the world's--efforts to get rid of Him. John the Baptist lost his life because he proclaimed the coming of Christ. St. Stephen lost his life for proclaiming the truth of Christ. The Holy Innocents died simply because they resembled Him too closely. They died not so much for Christ , as Stephen and John did, but in His place. Thus the Church venerates them as martyrs.

Here is St. Augustine on the Holy Innocents ("birthday" refers to the day of death--the birth into heaven):

Today, dearest brethren, we celebrate the birthday of those children who were slaughtered, as the Gospel tells us, by that exceedingly cruel king, Herod. Let the earth, therefore, rejoice and the Church exult — she, the fruitful mother of so many heavenly champions and of such glorious virtues. Never, in fact, would that impious tyrant have been able to benefit these children by the sweetest kindness as much as he has done by his hatred. For as today's feast reveals, in the measure with which malice in all its fury was poured out upon the holy children, did heaven's blessing stream down upon them.

"Blessed are you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah! You suffered the inhumanity of King Herod in the murder of your babes and thereby have become worthy to offer to the Lord a pure host of infants. In full right do we celebrate the heavenly birthday of these children whom the world caused to be born unto an eternally blessed life rather than that from their mothers' womb, for they attained the grace of everlasting life before the enjoyment of the present. The precious death of any martyr deserves high praise because of his heroic confession; the death of these children is precious in the sight of God because of the beatitude they gained so quickly. For already at the beginning of their lives they pass on. The end of the present life is for them the beginning of glory. These then, whom Herod's cruelty tore as sucklings from their mothers' bosom, are justly hailed as "infant martyr flowers"; they were the Church's first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief.

— St. Augustine

The Holy Innocents also bring to mind the holocaust of abortion, the killing of innocents in our day and time. Mother Teresa once said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." The Holy Innocents died so that Herod could live as he wished--or so Herod thought. The Holy Innocents, patron saints of babies, have been also proposed at patron saints of the aborted and those recovering from abortion.

We take some time from our joyful celebration of the birth of Christ to remember that a holy life also involves suffering, much of it undeserved.

Three French Hens....

2011-12-27T04:15:00.000-08:00

This is about Boxing Day (yesterday, the second day of Christmas) from Sister Mary Martha:

Today is the day the Good King Wenceslaus looked out at the snow that was deep and crisp and even. Actually, it's not today, it's tonight, because the moon was bright (although the frost was cruel). The Good King spotted a poor man gathering wood for his fire. He asked his page if the page knew where the poor man lived, and the page knew exactly where the poor man lived. So Wenceslaus told the page to make up a box of groceries and stuff with a plan to bring it to the poor man so they could sit and watch him eat it all.
Nothing would have happened without the page, really. The king wouldn't have known where to find the man and even if he could have figured it out, he would have had to get the groceries together himself. I'll bet the page carried all the stuff once they went out, too, because otherwise, if you think about it, why did he have to go out there with the King? It wasn't the page's idea and he had already told Wenceslaus where to head.

We never hear anything about what happened once they reached the poor man's house. We are more interested in what happened on the way, when the poor page nearly froze to death but was saved by Wenceslaus' hot foot tracks.

Today is the second day of Christmastime, a time of hope and love. May your footsteps also leave a warm path in the world.

I am struck by several things:

(1) As modern Americans, we have lost what kingship means. Kings weren't crowned by acclimation---they held office by right. Some were good, some bad--but no matter which, you owed your king obedience--and he had great control over your daily life. And you didn't get to decide, one day, that you just wouldn't be subject to the king any more--he was yours for life. We have a good King indeed in Christ, who should, in fact, have sway over EVERYTHING in our life.

(2) Boxing Day, the day when in British Countries boxes of food are taken to the poor, are in a way a nod to Good King Wenceslas. He restored Christianity to his kingdom, bolstered the Church, took a vow of virginity in the service of the Church and was--as the song says--considered a good king. He was murdered by his brother for political reasons. In a slightly happier ending to the story than one might expect, the brother later repented, and returned Wenceslas' body to a royal resting place.

(3) Kings use their pages to get the job done. Christ usess us to be His hands in the world.

(4) The page is saved by the warmth of the King's footsteps as he followed according to the king's order. We are ordered to take up our cross and follow Christ, but in His footsteps is the way of life, even if there's trouble and hardship on the way. But by following in His footsteps we are saved. Christ did first what we are to do so that we would know the way.

The Church teaches we have several reliable ways to encounter Christ in our daily lives:

In the Eucharist
In the Church, her teaching and her works
In the Scriptures
In the priest in his priestly functions which he exercises through Christ
In the poor

Advent prepares us to meet Christ--the Christmas season can help us prepare to carry Him into the world, serving, especially, the poor.

Turning to today's feast, we honor one of God's great pages: St. John the Evangelist, who. like Wenceslas' page, followed in the footsteps of his King. John is the Apostle of the Incarnation, the only of the faithful Apostles who was not martyred. His gospel is the most theological, the richest in the underlying truths of the faith. It has been described as the passion gospel, and John delves deep into the mysteries of the Incarnation. By modern standards it's not a long book--why not begin to read it today on John's feast day--and finish it before the end of the Christmas season?

It is said that at the end of his life, John simply preached, over and over, "Little children, love one another..." Love is not just an emotion, it is willing the good of the other as other, with no mind to ourselves. That's a good thought for meditation on the third day of Christmas. Perhaps deliver three French hens to the poor in John's admonition of love? Perhaps this might be a way to come face to face with Christ?

Two Turtle Doves...

2011-12-27T04:11:00.000-08:00

Remember the old song? It accurately reflects the Liturgical Calendar. Christmas BEGAN yesterday with the Feat of the Nativity (the Feast of the Incarnation) and will not end until the Feast of the Epiphany, traditionally January 6, but moved to the nearest Sunday, this year January 8--so Christmas has 14 days this year!

The Season of Christmas has many other feasts embedded in it---today's is the Feast of St. Stephen, martyr. You have heard of it in the Carol of King Wenceslas. Read the story in Acts 6:8-8:1. Note, also that they coats of the mob were laid at the feet of Saul, later to be St. Paul...Paul himself will speak of this in his letters. St. Stephen was a deacon in the early Church, and he is the patron Saint of Deacons, stone masons, and coffin makers as well as against headaches (no doubt he got one from being stoned..) and for horses--go figure.... (and a bunch of towns--check this link_). And remember--doves were a traditional animal used for sacrifice in the Temple.....Stephen sacrificed his life for his faith in Christ.

It may seem odd that the first day after the Feast of the Nativity is a feast of a martyr, but the Church wants us to realize that the cross is always near us--that as Christ was persecuted, so will we be for no servant is greater than his Master (John 15:18-29)

Consider these words of St. Augustine:

Do not say that Christians are not persecuted. The Apostle's (Paul's) words are always true....all who desire to live a Godly life in Christ will be persecuted. (2 Tim 3:12). All, he says, with no one being excluded or exempted. If you want to test the truth of this saying, you have only to begin leading a pious life and you will see what good reason he had for saying this....In former times, Christians were incited to renounce Christ; now they are taught to deny Christ. Then they were forced, now they are taught. The violence was used, now it is deception. Then, one heard the shouts of the enemy, now he prowls around, gentle and insinuating; it is difficult to recognize him. Everyone nows how he tried to force Christians to deny Christ; he tried to attract them to himself so that they would renounce HIm but they confessed Christ and were crowned by HIm. Now they are taught to deny Christ by trickery because he doesn't want them to realize he is drawing them away from Christ....

These were in my morning meditation, and I read them with increasing realization that they are more true now than when he wrote them almost 1600 years ago. It caused me to reflect on the subtle ways society tries to draw me away from my love of Christ and my service to Him--in ways that seem innocuous, pleasant and completely ordinary. The presence of the Feast of St. Stephen in the great Season of Christmas reminds us that if Christ is born in our lives, so is the cross--and we must accept them both, together. Faith is not just an act of the intellect, it is an act of the will, a living out in daily life that which we have accepted in our hearts with th birth of the Christ Child in our world---and in our lives....

Happy New Year!

2011-11-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

No, I am not an overachiever, looking more than a month ahead to the excesses of January 1. The Church begins her new year the Sunday following Thanksgiving, when the season of Advent Begins.

Before that, however, is the Feast of Christ the King, this Sunday--the Culmination of Ordinary Time and the last big feast of the Church year. As Ordinary Time has come to an end, the readings have focused us on Jesus' life and teachings and they will end with a flourish reminding us that He is our King, the ruler of our our hearts, to whom we owe quite simply ...everything.

Advent, the season which begins the new Church year, prepares us for the birth of Christ. Take time to meditate on what the Incarnation really means--God taking humanity to Himself, to live as one of us, among us, and to redeem us and reconcile us to Himself. The Advent readings will take us through the expectation of the Jewish people for the Messiah, which we see fully realized in Christ. But it is important to remember that we have experienced His first Advent, and now wait as expectantly as the ancient Jews ever did, not for His first coming, but for His Second Advent.

You will see the color of vestments change from green to purple and the decorations in the church become more subdued. Advent is a time of prayer and preparation, the lesser of the two penitential seasons, both in length and severity. I would encourage you to set aside time for prayer and meditation, take on a new devotional practice (maybe the Advent wreath, killing two birds with one stone...) and to find a way to add both penance and almsgiving to your routine. Purple is the color of royalty, and we use it to mark the preparation for the coming of the Infant King. But it is also the color of suffering and penance, and it reminds us that Jesus' birth cannot be separated from His death--that the Incarnation is intimately tied to the Crucifixion. Advent is rich in reflections.

Unlike the rest of the world, we will not be singing Christmas carols during Advent and you won't see decorations in the church until late in Advent. Traditionally, Christmas decorations don't go up until Christmas Eve--though that's usually not the case these days, even in my house. But do try to avoid the ever present Christmas carols until Christmas actually arrives on the evening of the 24th. You'll be surprised how much more they will mean if you do. (I refuse to go to the mall and limit my time in stores because I really do want to avoid Christmas carols....I've been known to walk through Bi-Lo with earphones in listening to my tunes rather than hear one more pa-rum-pa-pa-pum....it's turned out to be one way to limit the economic excesses of the season as well.)

Christmas carols commence in Catholic worship on the vigil of Christmas (Dec 24, evening) and we sing them for twelve days (just like in the song...) ...until Epiphany. So when everyone else is sick and tired of carols, we will just be starting on them. When everyone else is done with Christmas, we'll just be getting geared up....being Catholic is definitely counter-cultural in December! I have found great joy over the years in keeping to the traditional calendar, and would encourage you to give it a try. After all, the Incarnation is such an important Event, it needs more than a single day to honor it.

Try getting a selection of Advent music to listen to. Here's what's on my Advent playlist"

The O Antiphones

O Come Emmanuel

On Jordan's Banks

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Creator of the Stars of Night (Latin and English...)

Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

The King Shall Come

People Look East

Magnificat

O Magnum Mysterium

Wake, O Wake

Patience People

Come Thou Almighty King

Of the Father's Love Begotten

Comfort, Comfort O My People

Saviour of the Nations Come

O Come Divine Messiah

There are several Advent collections on iTunes, and another great tradition is the service of Lessons and Carols, also available on CD from several sources--Check out Wyoming Catholic College for their version--magnificent, and buying from them helps keep a light of Catholic education burning....

Welcome 2011-2012 Catechumens

2011-11-17T04:12:00.000-08:00

I will begin using this blog for links and posts and announcements. I'll add you to the list so that you will get automatic notifications--take some time to look at what has been posted in prior years--you might find it helpful. And please--COMMENT! It will be a good way to keep the conversations going in between meetings!

In His hands and service--BHG

Holy Week

2010-03-28T14:52:00.001-07:00

The end of Holy Week is marked by three days' services, the Triduum of Easter. Please make every effort to be at all of these, which culminate in the Vigil on Saturday evening. They are really one long service and it's not only powerful but beautiful to be present for all of them.

Holy (Maundy) Thursday: 6 PM at OLM: We remember the first Eucharist at the Last Supper.
Good Friday at 3PM: At OLM, Stations of the Cross, at the time Christ died for us.
Good Friday 6 PM: Service of Reserved Sacrament at OLM. Good Friday is the only day on which mass is not celebrated.
Saturday, 6 PM :Easter Vigil.

ALSO REMEMBER

Saturday 11 AM at OLM: Rehearsal for Vigil. Please be present with sponsors.
Saturday 5:30 PM Please arrive early for the Vigil Mass, with your sponsors.

RECEPTION: After the Vigil Mass at Golders'.

Prayers and Devotions......

2010-03-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

The Sign of the Cross...

In the Name of the Father; and of the Son; and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Lord's Prayer...

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary...

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be...

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed...

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

Grace Before Meals...

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

Grace After Meals...

We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Act of Contrition...

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to do penance, sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for my sins. In His name, My God, have mercy. Amen.

Morning Offering...

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, thr reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and of all the associates, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.

Evening Prayer...

O my God, I adore You, and I love You with all my heart. I thank You for having created me and saved me by Your grace, and for having preserved me during this day. I pray that You will take for Yourself whatever good I might have done this day, and that You wil forgive me whatever evil I have done. Protect me this night, and may Your grace be with me always. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)...

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God; That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
By the power of God, cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
Who prowl about the world
Seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Angelus...

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary...
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary...
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. Hail Mary...
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Memorare...

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

The Seven Sacraments...

Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony.

For Poor Souls...

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

For Courage...

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve You as You deserve. To give and not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds. To toil and not to seek rewarded, except that of knowing that I do Your will. Amen.

My Gift...

Lord, I freely yield all my freedom to You. Take my memory, my intellect and my entire will. You have given me everything I am or have; I give it all back to You to stand uner Your will alone. Your love and your grace are enough for me; I shall ask for nothing more. Amen.

Day by Day...

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits and blessings Thou hast given me. For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me. Merciful Friend, Brother and Redeemer, may I know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly and follow Thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.

Guardian Angel...

Angel of God, who are my Guardian, to whom Merciful God entrusted me, guard and lead me this day, enlighten and keep me. Amen.

Prayer for Peace...

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, guide that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Holy Days of Obligation

Solemnity of Mary (January 1), Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8), Christmas (December 25). And every Sunday......

The Beatitudes...

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Stations of the Cross...

1. Jesus is condemned to die.
2. Jesus carries his cross.
3. Jesus falls the first time.
4. Jesus meets his Mother.
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
7. Jesus falls the second time.
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus falls the third time.
10. Jesus is stripped of his garment.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
12. Jesus dies on the cross.
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross.
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

The Ten Commandments...

1. I am the Lord thy God: thou shall not have strange gods before me.
2. Thou shall not take the name of Thy Lord Thy God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.
4. Honor thy father and mother.
5. Thou shall not kill.
6. Thou shall not commit adultery.
7. Thou shall not steal.
8. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's goods.

The Spritual Works of Mercy...

Admonish the sinner. Instruct the ignorant. Counsel the doubtful. Comfort the sorrowful. Bear wrongs patiently. Forgive all injuries. Pray for the living and the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy...

Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Shelter the homeless. Clothe the naked. Care for the sick. Visit the imprisoned. Bury the dead.

The Laws of the Church

1. Celebrate Christ's resurrection every Sunday and on holy days of obligation by taking part in the Mass and avoiding unnecessary work.
2. Lead a sacramental life. Receive Holy Communion frequently and the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.
3. Study Catholic teaching throughout life, especially in preparation for the sacraments.
4. Observe the marriage laws of the Catholic Church and give religious training to one's children.
5. Strengthen and support the Church; one's own parish, the worldwide Church and the Holy Father.
6. Do penance, including not eating meat and fasting from food on certain dates.
7. Join in the missionary work of the Church.

The Rosary...

A rosary has a cross, followed by one large bead, three small beads and another large one. Then there is a circle with five "decades." Each decade consists of one large bead followed by ten smaller beads. Begin the Rosary with the Sign of the Cross. Recite the Apostles' Creed. Then pray one Our Father, three Hail Mary's, and one Glory Be. To recite each decade, say one Our Father on the large bead and ten Hail Mary's on ths smaller beads. After each decade pray the Glory Be. As you pray each decade, think of the appropriate Joyful, Sorrowful or Glorious Mystery, or a special event in the life of Jesus and Mary.

The Five Joyful Mysteries...
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The Finding in the Temple

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death

The Five Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Mary

The Five Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist as a Sacrament

And these questions......

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Who are the following people—what are their stories—and what do they teach us as Catholics?

Adam and Eve
Cain and Able
Noah
Moses
Aaron
Daniel
Melchizidek
Joseph
Joshua
Abram/Abraham
Isaac
David
Solomon
Uriah and Bathsheba
Nathan
Ezekiel
Elijah
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednigo
Rachael
Rebecca
Leah
Esther
Ruth
Lot (and his wife)
Job
Daniel
Isaiah
Elizabeth, cousin of Mary
Samuel
Absolom

What are the corporal acts of mercy?
What are the Spiritual acts of mercy?
What are the seven deadly sins?
What makes a mortal sin?
What are the ten commandments?

Who were the original 12 disciples?

When, how and why did Saul become Paul?

Who was the first Christian martyr (or martyrs)?

What is a martyr, anyway?

For that matter, what’s a saint? How do people become canonized saints? What’s a “blessed” person as opposed to a saint?

Who was Stephen? How did he die? Who held his coat when he was killed?

What are the types of Holy Orders?

Who wrote most of the psalms? What was their use?

What was the ark of the covenant?

What is Passover?

What was the Transfiguration? Who was there?

What is the Immaculate Conception?

What is the Assumption?

What is the Incarnation?

Where did Jesus get His name and what does it mean?

What Bible verse(s) show(s )that Christ gave us a pope?

What Bible verse indicates that priests have the power to forgive sins?

When did Jesus establish a priesthood?

What happens at Mass?

What is purgatory?

What is the temporal punishment of sin?

What is the eternal punishment of sin?

What is your purpose in life?

What is an indulgence? Is it true that if you earn an indulgence you can sin for free? Why or why not?

Do Catholics worship Mary and the saints? Why or why not?

Do Catholics worship idols? Why or why not?

What are the seven sacraments? Which ones did Jesus Himself institute?

How do you pray the rosary?

Why do we make the sign of the cross?

Why do we genuflect before entering the pew when the candle is lit by the tabernacle?

What is a tabernacle anyway?

Who was Saint Katherine Drexel and what did she do?

Why can women not be priests?

Why do we call priests “father” when Jesus said ‘Call no man father?”

Was is meant by the Real Presence?

What is penance?

What are the seasons of the church year in order? What colors are associated with their vestments?

What is a holy day of obligation? Name them.

What is a feast day?

On what days is a Catholic required by current discipline to abstain from meat? To fast? What is the difference between abstaining from meat and fasting? Where in the Bible does it say to do that?

What is the difference between discipline and doctrine?

What is Sacred Tradition?

What is the Magesterium?

Who is your favorite prophet?

What is your favorite quote from the gospels? From the letters of Paul? From the Old Testament?

When was the Bible created? By whom/what?

How many books in the Old Testament? New Testament?

How is the Protestant Bible different?

What is the difference between an angel and a person?

What does “epistle” mean?

How often must a Catholic make confession? Receive communion?

What is the Sunday obligation?

Recite the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare

What are the stations of the cross? (Extra credit if you can name them) When is it traditional to make the stations of the cross?

What is a sacrament, anyway? What is form and what is substance for the Eucharist, Baptism and Confirmation

What sacraments have you experienced?

Who is your favorite saint?

Who (living person) has influenced your spiritual life?

Who was the first Pope? Who is the current Pope?

Consider these questions.....

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Scripture
Why are Catholic and Protestant Bibles different?
Where does the Bible come from?
How do we know what's true in the Bible?
Jesus
Why is Jesus' crucifixion the centerpiece of the Gospels?
What does Jesus' second coming mean?
What do we know about Jesus' life?
Is Jesus really present in the Eucharist?
How do we know the Resurrection is true?

Sacraments
How does the Eucharist help us become the Body of Christ?
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation?
Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?
What is a sacrament?
How many sacraments are there and what are they?
What happens when we are baptized?
Why are babies baptized? Aren't they too young to accept Jesus?
What's the difference between Confession and Reconciliation?
What does the Sacrament of Marriage reveal to us about God?
If lay people are now called to minister, why do we need an ordained priesthood?
When should someone receive the Anointing of the Sick?

Morality
Isn't abortion basically a question of personal freedom?

Doctrine
Why do we speak of God as Father, Son and Spirit?
How is God's love expressed?
What is Mary's relationship to Catholics living today?
What does the Holy Spirit do?

Catholic Moral Teaching

2010-03-06T13:24:00.000-08:00

Catholics are called to live out their faith in daily life. As a consequence, our beliefs are more than just an intellectual construct for our lives, they are the rules by which we behave in everyday life. God sent His Son to free us from sin--meaning making us free not to choose whatever we want, but to choose the good for which we are created. This is critical to Catholic moral thinking: freedom means the freedom from things that would hinder our "yes" to God.

From a Catholic perspective, every human action has a moral dimension, and there are moral absolutes, real and revealed standards of right and wrong. When deciding the morality of our actions, we must consider what we do, why we do it and the consequences for ourselves and others. The starting point of moral thinking is that every act is a decision that brings us either closer to God, or farther away. Few of the things we do leave us where we are.

Some actions are ALWAYS wrong, no matter the reason: intentional killing of the innocent (note the qualifiers), torture, rape, sex outside of marriage. These actions are disordered in and of themselves, and will always draw us away from God. Keep in mind that there is no motive or consequence that makes an inherently disordered action acceptable. This is why the Church prohibits abortion: it is the intentional taking of an innocent life. Contrast that position with legislation that limits abortion: nearly all provide exception in the case of rape, incest or for the health for the mother.

Actions that are good can still be morally evil if we do them for the wrong reasons. Thus, an improper motivation can "spoil" an otherwise good act, and a good intention can never "cure" an intrinsically evil one.

In addition, there is an order to moral values. Take a look at the USCCB statement on Forming Conscience for Citizenship. It notes that the basis for all other rights is life, and that Catholic support for life from conception to natural death is something on which Catholics should not compromise. The Bishops have stated clearly that the most important issue of social justice for Catholics remains the issue of life.

More often than not, there are several moral issues involved in any given decision, It then becomes important to order the principles, and to assess not only motivations but outcomes to make a moral decision. This can all sound pretty complicated, but it's really what we do every day. The Church calls on us to do it with a well formed Catholic conscience--meaning a conscience that is educated in Church teaching and values.

One of the principles of moral reasoning you're likely to hear about is the principle of the double effect. Read "Muddled Moral Reasoning" for a detailed explanation, but the short version goes like this: if an act in itself is not intrinsically evil, it can still be permissible (though it is not required) even when the outcome of the action is negative, if the motivation for the action is morally acceptable. For example, it is morally permissible to attempt surgery on a baby in the womb, even though the procedure carries a risk of losing the pregnancy. The action (surgery) is not intrinsically evil, the motivation is proper (to save a life). Thus, in such a situation a pregnant woman could decide to go ahead with the procedure, but she would not be obligated to.

It is by such reasoning that the Church develops her answers to moral problems that arise over time, and when you understand the logic, the continuity of the Church's teaching becomes clear. If you are interested, check out the following link for questions and answers on Church teaching and moral reasoning.

http://forums.catholic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4

A final note: Judging the morality of actions is necessary for us to direct our own lives to God and His will for us. It should not be confused with judging the state of the soul of anyone else. This we are not permitted to do; that sort of judgment is for God alone (remember "judge not lest you be judged?") Even when an action is morally wrong, the culpability of the individual depends not just on the action but on the individual himself. Personal and external circumstances can mean that an individual is less culpable for a morally impermissible act that it would otherwise appear. Bottom line: be prepared to understand Catholic moral principles in order to direct your own life choices and to instruct, assist and confirm those around you--don't fall into the trap of using those principles to criticize and condemn. With God's grace, strive to live the truth in love.

Final Impenitence

2010-03-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Msgr. Charles Pope always have interesting, thoughtful and challenging posts on his blog. The most recent one posted on links is a meditation on the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. Take time to read it; I think you will find it worth your while. Among other things, he discusses final impenitence, and how repentance and being ordered to God and His will are linked. It gave me some very new insights on a familiar story, and it might be worth taking time to discuss n class.

I Goofed!

2010-03-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

Confession is March 25 5:30-6:30 at OLM and * at St. Gerard's. Given that I have managed to confuse this, check the Sunday Bulletin to make sure I got it right!

March 1

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Next week we will continue the discussion of confession. Please read the linked material and try to listen to Fr. Larry's video. It's long but well worth it.

March 14, I will be out of town and Corinne Hennen will cover. The topic will be Catholic Moral Teaching. Please take a look at the links posted (and check again before class to see if there are new ones). We'll start with a discussion of the formation of a Catholic conscience and then move on to how moral reasoning works in the Catholic faith. Feel free to bring questions for discussion!

Confession at OLM is 5 to 6 on Wednesday, March 24. Fr. Lyness and Fr. Coyne will be there as will Msgr. Herbert. The three of them will also be at St. Gerard's in Ft. Oglethorpe from 6-7 the same evening.

Stations of the Cross are 6 PM on Fridays at OLM. This is a wonderful Lenten devotion, please try to come at least once during Lent.

If you have not called Msgr. Herbert to touch base about Easter Vigil, please do so. If you do not have your baptismal certificate, please let me know. Practice for Easter Vigil will be April 3 at 11 am. It lasts about an hour.

Last but not least, I am hoping to have a reception after the Easter Vigil at my home. Stay tuned for details.

Saints' Names

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Check out the links to the side for suggestions about confirmations saints. Remember--this is your chance to undo all the psychic damage your parents did by saddling you with a name you don't like! :-)

Folks choose their patrons for various reasons--and for nor particular reason. Prayerfully consider what you want to do, and your saint will probably find you.

February 28

2010-02-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Next week we will discuss the four Marian dogmas: Mary, the Mother of God, the Immaculate conception, Mary's perpetual virginity, and the Assumption. Keep an eye out on the blog for additional postings and links to read. In the Catechism, pp 251-254 are a good place to start. Keep in mind that Mary always points us to Jesus and the Marian dogmas all point to an essential truth of Christ. More later!

If I do not already have your Baptismal certificates, please get them to me. Also let me know your sponsor and saint name, when you have decided. Please also make sure you have touched base with Msgr Herbert to ensure that all your bases are covered.

Last but not least, check out the link tot he right: Undercover Boss. It is a great homily to keep in mind as we go through our Lenten journeys together.

All the best--BHG

Check out Msgr. Pope on Confession!

2010-02-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Msgr. Charles Pope has an awesome post on confession. Check it out! See link to the side!

February 21: Last Things

2010-02-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Today's readings focus on salvation and on temptation. Please take time to read all four of the readings before class, and think about their meaning in your life. In class we will discuss salvation, justification, faith, works, purgatory and indulgences (whew!) Big chunk of material but it all relates. Take a look at some of the links I have posted. Remember you can find the readins on the USCCB site (www.usccb.org).

Sunday February 14

2010-02-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

It's Valentine's Day! And the love letter from Christ to His people is found in the readings. Jesus teaches, in the Sermon on the Mount, the essence of the Christian faith. Todays reading is centered on the beatitudes: the virtues of Christian faith. Take time to read the whole of the Sermon on the Mount this week, and take a look at some of the readings I have posted. Sunday's class will be focused on the beatitudes. Readings can be found at the USCCB site (www.usccb.org)

PARTY!!!!

2010-02-02T03:33:00.000-08:00

We will be meeting this Friday February 5, at my house, 6:30 for fellowship, dinner and "Ask the Msgr" time. E-mail me at toadehall@me.com if you need directions, and please let me know whether you are coming so I can plan for food. Thanks! BHG

Ask Corinne

2010-01-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

First, please bring Bibles and Catechisms to class Sunday.

I am trying to arrange the dinner for Feb 5, my place, 6:30. Ask Corinne if she knows whether it is a go. If not, check the blog on Monday!

Do try to listen to the podcast by Fr. Larry in the links to the side before class on Sunday if you possibly can.

All the best! BHG

January 31 Confession

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Take a look at the links to the side on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and on examinations of conscience. The Adult Catechism covers this in Chapter 18, please read that as well.

I would suggest you also read the following passages of scripture: Luke 5:17-26, 7: 36-50 and 15:11-32;; also Jn 20:21-23, 1 Jn 5:15-17.

Consider the following questions:

Why might is be in our best interests to confess to another human person (aside from the fact Jesus arranged it that way)?
Who actually forgives sin in Confession?
What sins must a Catholic confess to a priest? How often should a Catholic go to confession?
What is penance? What is the seal of the Confessional?
How does preparing for confession prepare us for our own individual judgment by God?
What is perfect contrition? Imperfect contrition? Does it matter which I have for my sins?
What is a near occasion of sin?
What is the sin of presumption? Of despair?
How can I confess (and be forgiven for) a sin I am likely to commit again?
How does confession help us to grow in holiness?

Part of the sacrament requires an act of contrition. There are many (just Google it and see what turns up!). Here's the one I like best:

O, My God, I am sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins, not only because I fear the fires of Hell, but because I have offended you Whom I should love above all things. WIth Thy help, I resolve to do penance for my sins, to sin no more and to avid the near occasion of sin. Your Son , Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. In His name, My God, have mercy.

I am still working on the RCIA dinner at my house, still tentatively for February 5. Check the blog for details next week.

Class on February 7 will be Seasons of the Church year, and we will focus on Lent. More to come on the blog, so keep an eye out for it!

January 17: The Eucharist

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We will be taking a look at the Eucharist in class this Sunday. The relevant sections in the Green Catechism are: found on pp-334-357. In the Catechism for adults, see Ch. 17. I have also provided links for you to the side.

Unlike Protestant worship, which centers on preaching, Catholic worship centers on the sacrifice of the Mass: the Eucharist. Catholics believe that the consecrated bread and wine, while they remain the outward appearance of bread and wine, are truly transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is a central doctrine of Catholic faith, that Christ is really present, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus is our Paschal lamb (see John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-29), and understanding His sacrifice, and the Eucharist, depends in part on understanding the significance, and ritual, of Passover. Read Exodus 12:8 and 12:46. What does this tell us about how the paschal lamb fit into the Passover meal?

Further, the basis for the Real Presence in the Eucharist can be found in Matthew 26:26ff, Mark 14:24ff and Luke 22:17ff. Also take a look at 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:23-29 for further support of the Real Presence.

A few questions to consider as you read:

Why can't non-Catholics receive communion in the Catholic Church?
Why can't Catholics take communion in Protestant churches?
Why do Catholics take communion so often?
How should a Catholic prepare for communion?
When should a Catholic refrain from receiving communion?
What is the difference between Mass and a communion service?
Why is Mary also called Mother of the Eucharist?

Last but not least, take a look at the prayers I previously posted. Think about one that you might being to use as part of your devotion (my personal favorite is the Anima Christi, which happens to be on the back of the missalette).

December-January Schedule

2009-12-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry for being lax in posting, but the clouds have cleared! Thanks for your patience. Here's our schedule for the next few weeks:

December 13-Baptism
December 20-Eucharist
Dec 27 and Jan 3-No class
Jan 10-Archbishop Gregory's visit We will still meet and discuss Holy Orders
Jan 17 Confirmation
Jan 24-Marriage
Jan 31-Penance/Reconciliation/Anointing of the Sick

Please read on these subjects beforehand in your Catechism and come with questions! I will make more detailed posts for each s we move closer to the subject so stay tuned to the blog!

Also note that December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception). Please make arrangements to attend mass that day, or the vigil the evening before.

RCIA FELLOWSHIP DINNER

2009-11-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

We will have a dinner at my home on Friday November 13. starting at 6:30 PM. Families are invited, just please either e-mail me or call to give me a head count so I have enough to eat and drink. Let me know, too, if you have any dietary idiosyncrasies I need to know about. This won't be fancy, probably just lasagna (meat and veggie), salad, and dessert. Directions below will get you to my house from Trenton. If you can reach OLM on Lookout the last part of the directions will work from there. If you need more detailed directions from somewhere else, let me know.

Looking forward to seeing you!

FROM Trenton:

Take 136 up the side of Lookout Mountain

At 157 intersection, turn Left (this will eventually become 157/189)

Stay on 189 until you pass Our Lady of the Mount (on your right)

Take the first left onto Ft. Stephenson Drive (at top of hill) just before 30 mph sign. (There are actually two roads here: Woods Hollow and Ft. Stephenson Drive. Woods Hollow is the dead end that is the lower of the two roads. Keep to the uphill road!)
Bear next left onto Ft. Stephenson Trail (this is a Y-intersection)
Bear next left onto Ft. Stephenson Oval (it looks like going straight ahead) and is not well marked.
Go downhill and look for 1219 on the left. Driveway is just past mailbox. I
CALL AT 423-298-7903 if you have problems! BHG

Creed of the People of God

2009-10-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

This was written by by Pope Paul VI and promulgated on June 30, 1968. It's a long creed, so it isn't much used in liturgy, but it is a beautiful creed for personal devotions. Read the introduction by Pope Paul VI below for an understanding of the social and religious forces that broiught this creed into being.

WITH THIS SOLEMN LITURGY we end the celebration of the nineteenth centenary of the martyrdom of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and thus close the Year of Faith. We dedicated it to the commemoration of the holy apostles in order that we might give witness to our steadfast will to be faithful to the deposit of the faith which they transmitted to us, and that we might strengthen our desire to live by it in the historical circumstances in which the Church finds herself in her pilgrimage in the midst of the world.

We feel it our duty to give public thanks to all who responded to our invitation by bestowing on the Year of Faith a splendid completeness through the deepening of their personal adhesion to the word of God, through the renewal in various communities of the profession of faith, and through the testimony of a Christian life. To our brothers in the episcopate especially, and to all the faithful of the holy Catholic Church, we express our appreciation and we grant our blessing.

Likewise, we deem that we must fulfill the mandate entrusted by Christ to Peter, whose successor we are, the last in merit; namely, to confirm our brothers in the faith. With the awareness, certainly, of our human weakness, yet with all the strength impressed on our spirit by such a command, we shall accordingly make a profession of faith, pronounce a creed which, without being strictly speaking a dogmatic definition, repeats in substance, with some developments called for by the spiritual condition of our time, the creed of Nicea, the creed of the immortal tradition of the holy Church of God.

In making this profession, we are aware of the disquiet which agitates certain modern quarters with regard to the faith. They do not escape the influence of a world being profoundly changed, in which so many certainties are being disputed or discussed. We see even Catholics allowing themselves to be seized by a kind of passion for change and novelty. The Church, most assuredly, has always the duty to carry on the effort to study more deeply and to present, in a manner ever better adapted to successive generations, the unfathomable mysteries of God, rich for all in fruits of salvation. But at the same time the greatest care must be taken, while fulfilling the indispensable duty of research, to do no injury to the teachings of Christian doctrine. For that would be to give rise, as is unfortunately seen in these days, to disturbance and perplexity in many faithful souls.

It is important in this respect to recall that, beyond scientifically verified phenomena, the intellect which God has given us reaches that which is, and not merely the subjective expression of the structures and development of consciousness; and, on the other hand, that the task of interpretation--of hermeneutics--is to try to understand and extricate, while respecting the word expressed, the sense conveyed by a text, and not to recreate, in some fashion, this sense in accordance with arbitrary hypotheses.

Put above all, we place our unshakable confidence in the Holy Spirit, the soul of the Church, and in theological faith upon which rests the life of the Mystical Body. We know that souls await the word of the Vicar of Christ, and we respond to that expectation with the instructions which we regularly give. But today we are given an opportunity to make a more solemn utterance.

On this day which is chosen to close the Year of Faith, on this feast of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, we have wished to offer to the living God the homage of a profession of faith. And as once at Caesarea Philippi the apostle Peter spoke on behalf of the twelve to make a true confession, beyond human opinions, of Christ as Son of the living God, so today his humble successor, pastor of the Universal Church, raises his voice to give, on behalf of all the People of God, a firm witness to the divine Truth entrusted to the Church to be announced to all nations.

We have wished our profession of faith to be to a high degree complete and explicit, in order that it may respond in a fitting way to the need of light felt by so many faithful souls, and by all those in the world, to whatever spiritual family they belong, who are in search of the Truth.

To the glory of God most holy and of our Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in the aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, for the profit and edification of the Church, in the name of all the pastors and all the faithful, we now pronounce this profession of faith, in full spiritual communion with you all, beloved brothers and sons.

THE CREDO

WE BELIEVE in one only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, creator of things visible such as this world in which our transient life passes, of things invisible such as the pure spirits which are also called angels, and creator in each man of his spiritual and immortal soul.

We believe that this only God is absolutely one in His infinitely holy essence as also in all His perfections, in His omnipotence, His infinite knowledge, His providence, His will and His love. He is He who is, as He revealed to Moses, and He is love, as the apostle John teaches us so that these two names, being and love, express ineffably the same divine reality of Him who has wished to make Himself known to us, and who, "dwelling in light inaccessible" is in Himself above every name, above every thing and above every created intellect. God alone can give us right and full knowledge of this reality by revealing Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in whose eternal life we are by grace called to share, here below in the obscurity of faith and after death in eternal light. The mutual bonds which eternally constitute the Three Persons, who are each one and the same divine being, are the blessed inmost life of God thrice holy, infinitely beyond all that we can conceive in human measure. We give thanks, however, to the divine goodness that very many believers can testify with us before men to the unity of God, even though they know not the mystery of the most holy Trinity.

We believe then in the Father who eternally begets the Son, in the Son, the Word of God, who is eternally begotten; in the Holy Spirit, the uncreated Person who proceeds from the Father and the Son as their eternal love. Thus in the Three Divine Persons, coaeternae sibi et coaequales, the life and beatitude of God perfectly one superabound and are consummated in the supreme excellence and glory proper to uncreated being, and always "there should be venerated unity in the Trinity and Trinity in the unity.

We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. He is the Eternal Word, born of the Father before time began, and one in substance with the Father, homoousios to Patri, and through Him all things were made. He was incarnate of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was made man: equal therefore to the Father according to His divinity, and inferior to the Father according to His humanity;] and Himself one, not by some impossible confusion of His natures, but by the unity of His person.

He dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. He proclaimed and established the Kingdom of God and made us know in Himself the Father. He gave us His new commandment to love one another as He loved us. He taught us the way of the beatitudes of the Gospel: poverty in spirit, meekness, suffering borne with patience, thirst after justice, mercy, purity of heart, will for peace, persecution suffered for justice sake. Under Pontius Pilate He suffered --the Lamb of God bearing on Himself the sins of the world, and He died for us on the cross, saving us by His redeeming blood. He was buried, and, of His own power, rose on the third day, raising us by His resurrection to that sharing in the divine life which is the life of grace. He ascended to heaven, and He will come again, this time in glory, to judge the living and the dead: each according to his merits--those who have responded to the love and piety of God going to eternal life, those who have refused them to the end going to the fire that is not extinguished.

And His Kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is Lord, and Giver of life, who is adored and glorified together with the Father and the Son. He spoke to us by the prophets; He was sent by Christ after His resurrection and His ascension to the Father; He illuminates, vivifies, protects and guides the Church; He purifies the Church's members if they do not shun His grace. His action, which penetrates to the inmost of the soul, enables man to respond to the call of Jesus: Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Mt. 5:48).

We believe that Mary is the Mother, who remained ever a Virgin, of the Incarnate Word, our God and Savior Jesus Christ,and that by reason of this singular election, she was, in consideration of the merits of her Son, redeemed in a more eminent manner, preserved from all stain of original sin and filled with the gift of grace more than all other creatures.

Joined by a close and indissoluble bond to the Mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption,the Blessed Virgin, the Immaculate, was at the end of her earthly life raised body and soul to heavenly glory[ and likened to her risen Son in anticipation of the future lot of all the just; and we believe that the Blessed Mother of God, the New Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven her maternal role with regard to Christ's members, cooperating with the birth and growth of divine life in the souls of the redeemed.

We believe that in Adam all have sinned, which means that the original offense committed by him caused human nature, common to all men, to fall to a state in which it bears the consequences of that offense, and which is not the state in which it was at first in our first parents--established as they were in holiness and justice, and in which man knew neither evil nor death. It is human nature so fallen stripped of the grace that clothed it, injured in its own natural powers and subjected to the dominion of death, that is transmitted to all men, and it is in this sense that every man is born in sin. We therefore hold, with the Council of Trent, that original sin, is transmitted with human nature, "not by imitation, but by propagation" and that it is thus "proper to everyone."

We believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ, by the sacrifice of the cross redeemed us from original sin and all the personal sins committed by each one of us, so that, in accordance with the word of the apostle, "where sin abounded grace did more abound."

We believe in one Baptism instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Baptism should be administered even to little children who have not yet been able to be guilty of any personal sin, in order that, though born deprived of supernatural grace, they may be reborn "of water and the Holy Spirit" to the divine life in Christ Jesus.

We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church built by Jesus Christ on that rock which is Peter. She is the Mystical Body of Christ; at the same time a visible society instituted with hierarchical organs, and a spiritual community; the Church on earth, the pilgrim People of God here below, and the Church filled with heavenly blessings; the germ and the first fruits of the Kingdom of God, through which the work and the sufferings of Redemption are continued throughout human history, and which looks for its perfect accomplishment beyond time in glory. In the course of time, the Lord Jesus forms His Church by means of the sacraments emanating from His plenitude. By these she makes her members participants in the Mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Christ, in the grace of the Holy Spirit who gives her life and movement. She is therefore holy, though she has sinners in her bosom, because she herself has no other life but that of grace: it is by living by her life that her members are sanctified; it is by removing themselves from her life that they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity. This is why she suffers and does penance for these offenses, of which she has the power to heal her children through the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Heiress of the divine promises and daughter of Abraham according to the Spirit, through that Israel whose scriptures she lovingly guards, and whose patriarchs and prophets she venerates; founded upon the apostles and handing on from century to century their ever-living word and their powers as pastors in the successor of Peter and the bishops in communion with him; perpetually assisted by the Holy Spirit, she has the charge of guarding, teaching, explaining and spreading the Truth which God revealed in a then veiled manner by the prophets, and fully by the Lord Jesus. We believe all that is contained in the word of God written or handed down, and that the Church proposes for belief as divinely revealed, whether by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal magisterium. We believe in the infallibility enjoyed by the successor of Peter when he teaches ex cathedra as pastor and teacher of all the faithful, and which is assured also to the episcopal body when it exercises with him the supreme magisterium.

We believe that the Church founded by Jesus Christ and for which He prayed is indefectibly one in faith, worship and the bond of hierarchical communion. In the bosom of this Church, the rich variety of liturgical rites and the legitimate diversity of theological and spiritual heritages and special disciplines, far from injuring her unity, make it more manifest.

Recognizing also the existence, outside the organism of the Church of Christ of numerous elements of truth and sanctification which belong to her as her own and tend to Catholic unity, and believing in the action of the Holy Spirit who stirs up in the heart of the disciples of Christ love of this unity, we entertain the hope that the Christians who are not yet in the full communion of the one only Church will one day be reunited in one flock with one only shepherd.

We believe that the Church is necessary for salvation, because Christ, who is the sole mediator and way of salvation, renders Himself present for us in His body which is the Church But the divine design of salvation embraces all men, and those who without fault on their part do not know the Gospel of Christ and His Church, but seek God sincerely, and under the influence of grace endeavor to do His will as recognized through the promptings of their conscience, they, in a number known only to God, can obtain salvation.

We believe that the Mass, celebrated by the priest representing the person of Christ by virtue of the power received through the Sacrament of Orders, and offered by him in the name of Christ and the members of His Mystical Body, is the sacrifice of Calvary rendered sacramentally present on our altars. We believe that as the bread and wine consecrated by the Lord at the Last Supper were changed into His body and His blood which were to be offered for us on the cross, likewise the bread and wine consecrated by the priest are changed into the body and blood of Christ enthroned gloriously in heaven, and we believe that the mysterious presence of the Lord, under what continues to appear to our senses as before, is a true, real and substantial presence.

Christ cannot be thus present in this sacrament except by the change into His body of the reality itself of the bread and the change into His blood of the reality itself of the wine, leaving unchanged only the properties of the bread and wine which our senses perceive. This mysterious change is very appropriately called by the Church transubstantiation. Every theological explanation which seeks some understanding of this mystery must, in order to be in accord with Catholic faith, maintain that in the reality itself, independently of our mind, the bread and wine have ceased to exist after the Consecration, so that it is the adorable body and blood of the Lord Jesus that from then on are really before us under the sacramental species of bread and wine, as the Lord willed it, in order to give Himself to us as food and to associate us with the unity of His Mystical Body.

The unique and indivisible existence of the Lord glorious in heaven is not multiplied, but is rendered present by the sacrament in the many places on earth where Mass is celebrated. And this existence remains present, after the sacrifice, in the Blessed Sacrament which is, in the tabernacle, the living heart of each of our churches. And it is our very sweet duty to honor and adore in the blessed Host which our eyes see, the Incarnate Word whom they cannot see, and who, without leaving heaven, is made present before us.

We confess that the Kingdom of God begun here below in the Church of Christ is not of this world whose form is passing, and that its proper growth cannot be confounded with the progress of civilization, of science or of human technology, but that it consists in an ever more profound knowledge of the unfathomable riches of Christ, an ever stronger hope in eternal blessings, an ever more ardent response to the love of God, and an ever more generous bestowal of grace and holiness among men. But it is this same love which induces the Church to concern herself constantly about the true temporal welfare of men. Without ceasing to recall to her children that they have not here a lasting dwelling, she also urges them to contribute, each according to his vocation and his means, to the welfare of their earthly city, to promote justice, peace and brotherhood among men, to give their aid freely to their brothers, especially to the poorest and most unfortunate. The deep solicitude of the Church, the Spouse of Christ, for the needs of men, for their joys and hopes, their griefs and efforts, is therefore nothing other than her great desire to be present to them, in order to illuminate them with the light of Christ and to gather them all in Him, their only Savior. This solicitude can never mean that the Church conform herself to the things of this world, or that she lessen the ardor of her expectation of her Lord and of the eternal Kingdom.

We believe in the life eternal. We believe that the souls of all those who die in the grace of Christ--whether they must still be purified in purgatory, or whether from the moment they leave their bodies Jesus takes them to paradise as He did for the Good Thief--are the People of God in the eternity beyond death, which will be finally conquered on the day of the Resurrection when these souls will be reunited with their bodies.

We believe that the multitude of those gathered around Jesus and Mary in paradise forms the Church of Heaven, where in eternal beatitude they see God as He is, and where they also, in different degrees, are associated with the holy angels in the divine rule exercised by Christ in glory, interceding for us and helping our weakness by their brotherly care.

We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are attaining their purification, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion the merciful love of God and His saints is ever listening to our prayers, as Jesus told us: Ask and you will receive. Thus it is with faith and in hope that we look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Blessed be God Thrice Holy. Amen.

The Athanasian Creed

2009-10-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Eternal and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting Salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the substance of His mother, born into the world. Perfect God and Perfect Man, of a reasonable Soul and human Flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but One Christ. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into Flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by Unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one Man, so God and Man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into Hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

A Primer on Heresies

2009-10-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

Creeds were formulated to restate the beliefs of the Church in response to disagreements about what the Church teaches. Heresy is the rejection of a portions of church teaching, and heresies abounded in the early church as they do today. Discussing the Catholic faith and the creeds might be a little easier if you understand some of the heresies against which the Church was fighting, and against which her creeds boldly declared the truth.

Most of these heresies are alive and well today!

Sabellianism (modalism) holds that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, as perceived by the believer, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself (the Trinity, which the Church professes).

Arianism is the theological teaching that god the Father and God the Son are not of one being and substance.

Eutyches taught that the human nature of Christ was infused with the Divine nature, and that Christ's human nature was not like ours, denying that Christ was fully God and fully man.

Nestorianism held that, although God and man were joined in Christ, it was a parallel union, not a true joining. Hence, they could argue that only the human nature of Christ suffered, not God Himself.

The Gnostics believed that secret, saving knowledge would be imparted to believers, and they additionally believed that the material world was essentially evil and to be shunned. As a result, they rejected the notion that God would use the material world to communicate graces, as the Catholic Church does.

Church Councils ans the Creeds that came from them were often a response to these heresies. The creeds were a way for the church to reaffirm (not create from new cloth) the essentials of the faith she had always taught.

The Apostle's Creed

2009-10-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Apostle's Creed received its name at the Council of Milan, reportedly from St. Ambrose, but it is described as the creed from the Apostles. We use it most for Baptism and in devotionals such as the rosary.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting.
Amen.

November 1

2009-10-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

We will start our study of the creed on November 1. I will be posting several creeds either in posts (for the shorter ones) or in links (for the longer ones). Please take a look at them before class, and stay tuned to the blogsite for more information and posts! And thanks to Randal Davidson for taking class on October 25.

Prayer After Receiving

2009-10-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

After receiving, and before dismissal, it is good to get in the habit of thanking God for His gift of Christ in the Eucharist. These are some well known prayers to help you on your way--feel free to construct your own. But do remember to give thanks--after all, that is what Eucharist means in Greek: THANKSGIVING!

PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, you have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the one true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you.

And I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANIMA CHRISTI

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

PRAYER OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY

I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally....My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.

PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX

My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you, asking you most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself: they have pierced my hands and my feet, they have counted all my bones!

PRAYER OF POPE CLEMENT VI

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.I trust in you: strengthen my trust.

I love you: let me love you more and more.I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,I long for you as my last end,

I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me: in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world,a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Amen.

PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN MARY

Mary, holy Virgin Mother, I have received your Son, Jesus Christ. With love you became his mother, gave birth to him, nursed him, and helped him grow to manhood.

With love I return him to you, to hold once more, to love with all your heart, and to offer to the Holy Trinity as our supreme act of worship for your honor and for the good of all your pilgrim brothers and sisters.

Mother, ask God to forgive my sins and to help me serve him more faithfully. Keep me true to Christ until death, and let me come to praise him with you forever and ever. Amen.

Statement of Intention for Mass

2009-10-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Some people find it helpful to meditate on why they are present at Mass, and to direct their thoughts and prayers to a particular purpose. Below is a general intention; it can help focus your thoughts as Mass begins Feel free to add other intentions (prayer requests or dedications of your presence at Mass to a particular purpose).

Statement of Intention

My purpose is to celebrate Mass and to make present the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the rite of the holy Roman Church to the praise of our all-powerful God and all his assembly in the glory of heaven, for my good and the good of all his pilgrim Church on earth, and for all who have asked me to pray for them in general and in particular, and for the good of the holy Roman Church.

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us joy and peace, amendment of life, room for true repentance, the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and perseverance in good works. Amen.

Prayer in Preparation for Mass

2009-10-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

Everyone prepares for Mass in a different way. Here are a couple of prayers that you might consider using as you prepare yourself for worship at Mass:

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

Almighty and ever-living God, I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness, wash away my defilement, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. May I receive the bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with humble reverence, with the purity and faith, the repentance and love, and the determined purpose that will help to bring me to salvation. May I receive the sacrament of the Lord’s body and blood, and its reality and power.

Kind God, may I receive the body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, born from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and so be received into his mystical body and numbered among his members.

Loving Father, as on my earthly pilgrimage I now receive your beloved Son under the veil of a sacrament, may I one day see him face to face in glory, who lives and reigns with you forever. Amen.

Prayer to the Virgin Mary

Mother of mercy and love, blessed Virgin Mary, I am a poor and unworthy sinner, and I turn to you in confidence and love. You stood by your Son as he hung dying on the cross. Stand also by me, a poor sinner, and by all the priests who are offering Mass today here and throughout the entire Church. Help us to offer a perfect and acceptable sacrifice in the sight of the holy and undivided Trinity, our most high God. Amen.

Next Week: October 25 Mass Appeal

2009-10-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Mass is the source and summit of Catholic worship. It is a form of worship that can "feel" very different from Protestant services. and is indeed very different in form.

For next week, please read the links on the Mass. While you are at it, read the link on Original Sin, too. We won't be getting to that for a while, but this is a powerful post!

As you read about the Mass, keep in mind several things:

(1) We come to Mass to worship God. He is central in the Mass; we are not. Not to put too fine a point on it: It's not about us. It's not about the music, or the preaching or the people sitting next to us. It's about worshipping God in the manner that He prescribed at the Last Supper and in the way that the Apostolic Church has worshipped from the beginning. It is about preparing ourselves to serve Him by asking for and receiving His grace.

If we keep that perspective, we receive more than we could ever imagine from the Mass. When we enter into the Mass as one long prayer and act of worship, we are fed at a banquet that surpasses or expectations and meets our every need. But perspective is important! Preparing yourself for Mass is an important part of being ready to receive what it has to offer.

(2) Worshipping at Mass is obligatory for every Catholic, every Sunday, except in cases of illness or great hardship. Remember, at Mass, we are truly present at Calvary, we truly receive Christ Himself, body and blood, soul and divinity. What more do we need, and what on earth should keep us away?

(3) In Mass, we hear God's word both in the readings and in the liturgy, but we also receive His Incarnate Word, Christ, in the Eucharist.

We receive Christ at Mass to take Him forth in the world and share Him, through our lives and ministry, with others. We receive Him so that we enter into His life, and He can enter into ours. The grace received from the Eucharist helps strengthen and confirm our faith in very real ways.

The Catholic faith is Incarnational in theology and in liturgy, and this can be a very confusing perspective for Protestants who are accustomed to seeing communion and other rites of the church as merely symbolic. The Incarnation refers to God becoming truly man, and entering into the physical world.

Just as God chose matter (a human body) to bring Himself to Earth and to bring grace to humankind in the person of Jesus, He continues to use matter, in the liturgy of the Church, to impart grace to us for our spiritual journeys. The water of Baptism confers regenerative grace by the act of Baptism. The laying on of hands in Confirmation transmits the grace of the Holy Spirit. And the Eucharist, the Precious Body and Blood of Christ, communicate grace to us to strengthen us in our faith and in our lives.

Lost in Translation

2009-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Catholics read the Bible differently from other Christians. Protestants often claim that the plain meaning of scripture is clear to the Christian who reads the Bible aided by the Holy Spirit. Catholics believe that the Bible must be read in conjunction with Sacred Tradition and the Teaching Authority of the Church (the Magesterium). The teachings of the Magesterium are contained primarily in the Catechism, which sets down the doctrines and dogmas of the Church. These doctrines and dogmas are, in effect, the Church's interpretation of Scripture set out by the Pope and Bishops. Magesterial teaching, Sacred Tradition and Scripture are part of one seamless whole: the gift of Apostolic faith inherited from the first Apostles.

It seems pretty obvious that the Bible is not clear in its meaning on its face. If it were, there would not be in excess of 30,000 Protestant denominations, all teaching something slightly different from each other and sometimes very different from Catholic teaching. It's hard to find agreement even on essentials.

Some Protestants believe that acceptance of Christ as Savior is all that is essential for salvation and that Baptism is merely a recognition of that statement of faith. Others teach that Baptism is itself regenerative, not merely symbolic. Some baptize infants, others do not. Most--but not all-- hold that the Eucharist is merely symbolic, and does not in itself convey grace to the recipient. Some--not all-- hold that salvation, once gained cannot be lost. And in the Episcopal denomination, one branch holds that the Eucharist is symbolic (a position taken by the 39 Articles of Faith) while another contends that Christ is truly present in a way that is much like the Catholic position. And they all base their positions on Scripture. It raises the question of how the Holy Spirit could lead different groups to such different--and totally incompatible--conclusions.

It is not difficult to find passages in Scripture that are susceptible to different interpretations. Consider the Last Supper, where Christ tells the Apostles "This is my body...this is my blood." Is that to be taken literally? Most Protestants say no, arguing that Christ also called Himself a door when He is a man, clearly using a metaphor. How then, does the Catholic Church come to the conclusion that Christ is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist? More on that later--but the answer is, at least in part, Apostolic Tradition. It's clear from Church history and from reading early Church fathers that this was a belief universally accepted by the Apostles and in the early Church. For the record, two early Reformers, Luther and Zwingli, squared off on this topic--Luther believed in in the Real Presence and Zwingli did not, both men shoring up their arguments from Scripture.

Take a look at Mark 9:40,where Jesus says that whoever is not against Him is for Him. Then look at Matthew 12:30, where He states that whoever is not for Him is against Him. The two passages can be reconciled, but not on their face. An appeal to something outside Scripture is required. There are many examples of this kind of apparent contradiction, especially in verses that refer to the things necessary for salvation. To make things even more complicated on that front, depending on what verse you read, one is saved, is being saved or will be saved---raising some real issues of interpretation on the subject of what salvation itself exactly means. If this is confusing, remember that Jesus very often had to instruct His disciples in the meaning of Old Testament Scripture, with which they were very familiar, because the meaning (then and now) is not obvious.

Remember that Christians were first described as followers of The Way (Acts 22:4), and that Paul exhorts his readers to "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." (2Thess 2:15) Remember, too that John said that Jesus taught a great deal that was not written down--but which clearly lived in the memory of His followers. People for many, many years learned their Christian faith not from a book, but from other Christians who were reliable teachers. And the Catholic Church preserved this oral teaching in its Sacred Tradition, and continued it in the Magesterial teaching. It taught Scripture to the faithful through its extensive use in the liturgy, at a time when most people could not read and books were too expensive for any but the most extravagantly wealthy to own.

It was more than 300 years before the Church affirmed the contents of a canon of the New Testament (and this itself was a result of Sacred Tradition operating within the Teaching Authority of the Church). Christians followed the ways taught them by their bishops, who learned them from their bishops, who learned them from the Apostles. The Epistles and Gospels were written in this context--not as an exhaustive constitution and bylaws for the Church, but as a reflection of a Way that was already well established in the Church. And we still rely on this, for our priests and Bishops can trace their ordination all the way back to St. Peter (Apostolic Succession).

So--how do Catholics read the Bible? Ideally, often and thoroughly. But Catholics have the assistance of the Church in understanding what the Bible teaches about the Christian faith. Christ gave the Church the task of teaching the Faith to the faithful, and promised the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the Church as she does so. And so Catholics read the Bible in concert with what Sacred Tradition and the Magesterium teach. One cannot contradict another, but any one without the other two is incomplete. Catholics have the advantage of authoritative teaching and interpretation of Scripture to guide them even as they are free to dig deeply into the Written Word and find they ways in which it applies to their own lives.

Cathoic Trivia: More or Less

2009-10-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

How did the Catholic Bible end up with more books than the Protestant one? The issue of what constitutes the canon, or list of books recognized as scripture, is a complex one.

The short answer is that the Reformers eliminated books that had been accepted by the faithful until the time of the Reformation. Both Catholics and Protestants accept 27 books of the New Testament (though some of the reformers, notably Luther, wanted to eliminate some of those).

The longer answer goes like this: Protestants reverted to a shorter Old Testament Canon (The Jerusalem canon, used by the Pharisees) that excluded 7 books (the deutrocanonical books, or the Apocrypha) that were used by the Jews in the Diaspora, but were not used universally by other Jewish sects. The 7 books (which were included in the Septuagent or Alexandrian canon) had been included in the Catholic canon as a result of a number of synods (regional meetings of Bishops) dating back to the 2nd Century. The Catholic faithful used the books as a result of the Sacred Tradition passed on from the Apostles, through the Bishops, to the faithful.

Modern scholars found the 7 disputed books among the fragments of the dead sea scrolls, underscoring their early use. They also now note that of 360 references to the Old Testament in the New, 300 are from the Septuagent version of scriptures, indicating that the Apostles used the Septuagent. In addition, Christ’s reference in Luke 12:31-21 of the foolish rich man parallels a story from the book of Tobit, and the mocking language of the crowds at the Crucifixion recorded in the Gospels parallels language in Wisdom. It seems clear from scholarship, as well as Sacred Tradition, that the Apostles used the Septuagent. The Catholic Church is Apostolic, and so we use the canon that the Apostles used, and have no authority to change it.

It is often claimed that Constantine forced the Canon on the Church; in fact, the canon had been well established prior to his rule. He did authorize the creating of additional copies, which were very expensive.

It is also claimed that the Catholic canon was not established until the Council of Trent. This ignores the history and pronouncements of councils and synods which had considered the issue before the Reformation as well as ignoring both the practice of the church and Sacred Tradition which had included these books from early times. The Council of Trent did consider the issue of canon, but only because the Reformers had called into question what really constituted scripture. The Council merely re-affirmed the Church’s historic position and practice to reassert it against the challenges of the Reformation.

Interestingly, the German Reformers elected to remove the 7 deuterocanonical books, but the English reformers did not. The first edition of the King James Bible contained them, and the Episcopal church still uses these books in its lectionary.

Catholic Trivia: Translations of the Bible

2009-10-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's commonly said that the first translations of the Bible into the language of the laity was done either by Wycliffe (14th Century) or Tyndale (16th Century).

In fact, portions of the Bible were translated into German in the 8th Century and by the time Tyndale got around to making his famous translation, more than 198 translations into the various languages of the laity had been made under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Translation into English was not a great priority before the 16th Century in part because of the relative size of the population in England and in part because the English had less influence globally than they later would develop. Translation into English also had to wait for a stable English language to develop out of the predominant, mixed languages of the Angles, Saxons, Danes, and Normans. Until it did, literate people in those areas read Latin. St. Jerome had embarked on the first translation of the Bible into Latin in the 4th Century. His opinion of scripture? Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.

The first Bible printed on a press was printed by a Catholic (Guttenberg) and was in Latin.

The Catholic Church protected the Bible from destruction (because monks copied and kept manuscripts) and from poor translations (by requiring that translations be authorized before they could be published). To point out just how important this is, Luther's original translation eliminated 4 books that are contained in the Protestant New Testament because he felt they were not canonical: Hebrews, Jude, James, and Revelation, which he added as an appendix. Although these books were eventually retained by Protestant denominations, seven books of the Old Testament were eventually excluded by the Reformers, with the result that Catholic Bibles have more books than Protestant ones.

Underscoring the Catholic belief in the protection of infallibility (the Pope cannot teach error) is the interesting story of Pope Sixtus V. He translated the Bible into Latin, and did a poor job of it. He had already issued the Bull (notification of his intent to publish and to make the translation binding on the faithful) on his new translation despite opposition from the Bishops who opposed it for its mistakes and omissions. Pope Sixtus V died the night before the translation was to be issued, apparently of natural causes, despite the fact that he was relatively young and in good health. The erroneous translation was not issued. St. Bellarmine corrected the translation, allowing the new translation to be issued with approval under the auspices of the next Pope.

October 18: The Church and the Bible

2009-10-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

For this class, we will be looking at the origins of the Bible, and how the Catholic Church views scripture. Please take a look at some of the links provided on the subject.

We'll be discussing:

*Where did the Bible come from?

*Does (Did) the Church discourage Bible reading?

*What is the relationship of Scripture and Sacred Tradition?

*What is the Analogy of the Faith?

*How to Catholics view and use the Bible?

*How can I use the Bible in my own journey of faith?

Please come with questions!

October 11 Introduction to RCIA

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So what is RCIA anyway? The initials stand for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It's a way to explore the Catholic faith. It is preparation for joining the Church on the Easter Vigil (Saturday evening before Easter Sunday), but keep in mind that not everyone who goes through RCIA decides to join the Catholic Church. Anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith is welcome.

This is a time to explore your own faith journey, to ask questions, to discuss. I suggest that you keep a journal to write down questions that occur to you as you read and prepare. Part of every class will be devoted to answering the questions you bring.

It's also a good idea to get in the habit of setting aside regular time for prayer and study. RCIA isn't like an academic class--there will be no "final exam"---but you will be exploring new ideas and a new approach to faith. It really does take time and effort.

The reading for class is relatively limited. You my find that you want to explore topics more deeply than we do in class. If so, let me know and I can make some recommendations for you.

There's a wealth of information on the Internet--Catholic websites and blogs that can enrich your journey. Explore them and enjoy them.

Welcome!

2009-10-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

I hope that you are as excited as I am about making the journey together to explore the Catholic faith. I want to use this blog to keep in touch about our weekly meetings, and to explore and exchange idea through posts and comments.

First, a few details:

*We'll meet weekly at 10 a.m at St. Katherine Drexel Parish. We'll finish by 11 so that those who are interested can pray the rosary.

*Please attend mass regularly. The Mass is the source, center and summit of Catholic worship, so your faithful attendance is very, very important

*Check in on this blog to see what's going on in class as well as in the wider Catholic community. I'll post class topics as well as information and links that you will find useful in your preparations for class and studies. Feel free to post comments, especially questions. The blog can serve as another way of communicating with each other and another forum for discussion.

*Here are the October topics

October 11: Introduction to RCIA

October 18: The Bible and the Catholic Church

I will be out of town on October 24. I'll let you know what arrangements are made for that day.