Addendum--Religious Orders

      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?

      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

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

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

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

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....

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...

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!

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

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

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......

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......

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.....

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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