Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Novena, Day 5
It's funny, but by Day 5, a lot of people drop out of the Christmas Novena. At least that is what my YouTube stats indicate! Day 1 has (as of this writing) 3,580 hits; Day 2 has had an accumulated 2,048... but the Day 5 video has had in its entire history only 292 views! This year it doesn't help that Day 5 is on a Sunday. At least being the 4th Sunday of Advent, the Advent candle will help promote the prayer that the Novena is intended to do: an intensified prayer of longing. "Come, Lord Jesus!"
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Starting Small
As if one Baby wasn't enough for Christmas, today's liturgy presents us with two more. According to one of the Bible's favorite story lines, these are babies who, under the usual circumstances, should never have been born. In both cases, "the woman" (in the first story, the poor lady never even gets a name) is called "barren." (Given the rudimentary understanding of biology in those days, it was assumed that any failure to conceive had to be on the woman's side.) In the Gospel, as if to up the ante, the couple is said to be "advanced in years."
Then comes the Angel of the Lord, announcing new life: "It's a boy!"
Both babies, Samson and John, are themselves "announcements" that God is beginning a surprising new intervention for his people's rescue.
The One whose coming we are preparing to celebrate (in anticipation of his definitive coming) told us, "Unless you accept the Kingdom of God like a little child, you will not enter into it." God likes to start small.
Zechariah, whose angelic visitation couldn't possibly have been more dramatic (in the Temple of Jerusalem, at the Hour of Incense, with the crowd of people praying outside) held back his belief. He couldn't say a "be it done" (doesn't that make him the truly "barren" one in today's liturgy?). But even Zechariah would eventually see, and then like the women, proclaim the great deeds of God.
Then comes the Angel of the Lord, announcing new life: "It's a boy!"
Both babies, Samson and John, are themselves "announcements" that God is beginning a surprising new intervention for his people's rescue.
The One whose coming we are preparing to celebrate (in anticipation of his definitive coming) told us, "Unless you accept the Kingdom of God like a little child, you will not enter into it." God likes to start small.
Zechariah, whose angelic visitation couldn't possibly have been more dramatic (in the Temple of Jerusalem, at the Hour of Incense, with the crowd of people praying outside) held back his belief. He couldn't say a "be it done" (doesn't that make him the truly "barren" one in today's liturgy?). But even Zechariah would eventually see, and then like the women, proclaim the great deeds of God.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Novena, Day 2
Today we begin the Messianic prophecies, connected with their fulfillment in Jesus. The first prophecy is (appropriately enough) from the first book of the Bible: Genesis. It is the so-called "Blessing of Jacob" of his son Judah. Jacob, who himself was never really big on the rights of the first-born (remember Esau, his older brother?), does not assign his own first-born son first place, but singles out son #4, Judah, for praise. (Judah's name even means "praise.") This reading is the source of the title "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" which is assigned to Jesus in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. The Lion is also a King, and will be King of the World ("The scepter shall never depart from Judah...while he receives the homage of the nations").
Scholars say that the first books of the Bible, though having ancient roots, were set in writing and edited during the reign of King Solomon, the glory days of Israel. For the people of that time, "Judah" "King" and "Lion" were so many code-words for "David." And the Gospel picks up on that. King David's name and role become the key for unlocking the mysteries of the genealogy of Jesus. And the Alleluia verse is another way of acclaiming God's unfathomable Wisdom, working all these strands together into one unified plan of universal salvation.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saints go marching...
Got this from my friend (and fellow New Orleanian) Father Fred. I'm not a big football fan, but I may end up watching the Super Bowl this year (and not just for the commercials!)!
And the song is a lot of fun, even if it may need updating.
And the song is a lot of fun, even if it may need updating.
Christmas Countdown
In one way, it begins today (with the Christmas novena); liturgically, the Christmas countdown starts tomorrow. (I suppose the liturgy just counts novenas differently.) Beginning December 17, the Church brings out Advent's "big guns": at Mass, we'll start to hear the most dramatic Messianic prophecies, linked with matching passages from the Gospels (mostly the "infancy narratives" of Matthew and Luke). The Liturgy of the Hours shifts, too. No more generic Advent antiphons and Scripture verses, but carefully set texts that (in some cases) have been prayed on that date for over a thousand years. Foremost of these are the "O Antiphons," a liturgical acrostic that, by Christmas Eve, will have spelled out (in Latin, of course) the cryptic message "Ero cras" ("Tomorrow I shall be").
It's a blessing to have a somewhat full Advent season so that the fourth candle on the wreath gets a bit exercised, too, don't you think?
It's a blessing to have a somewhat full Advent season so that the fourth candle on the wreath gets a bit exercised, too, don't you think?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Home Sweet Home
Granted, I have been "home" almost all through these weeks of travel, because most of the time we stayed in Pauline convents, and since Thursday I have been at the home of them all, our motherhouse in Boston. Still. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed (my back is so grateful for that). But there's more to it than that. As I opened the Liturgy of the Hours, I felt grateful not to be using just a borrowed copy, but the one that has all my favorite psalms marked with my own annotations. My prayerbook, not a "chapel copy," but the one that has people's names listed on the pages of the prayers proper to their needs. (Like Clayton, my cousin's son, and Ted, my sister's father-in-law, on the page with the Prayer to the Holy Spirit for Good Health.)
Although I am spending today playing the perennial game of catch-up, it was good to be back to a somewhat familiar schedule, too.
And there are Christmas cookies and gifts of fresh fruit and nuts in the refectory, too.
It's good to be home.
Although I am spending today playing the perennial game of catch-up, it was good to be back to a somewhat familiar schedule, too.
And there are Christmas cookies and gifts of fresh fruit and nuts in the refectory, too.
It's good to be home.
Christmas Novena, Day 1 (Dec. 16)
This is the third Christmas I am posting this simple video novena. Every year I make the resolution to do something a bit nicer... Next year!
Monday, December 14, 2009
A Question of Authority
Today's Advent readings ask us to do some critical thinking: what is the real foundation of our convictions? Or, as the Pharisees challenged Jesus, "On what authority do you do (or teach, or proclaim) the things you do?"
I've been noticing lately (and this may be an American thing) that people ultimately trust their gut more than any other authority, even when it comes to things that are fairly distant from the gut's usual areas of expertise. Over the weekend, USA Today reported that 20% of Catholics believe in reincarnation. Not resurrection: reincarnation.
On what authority?
Not the teaching authority referred to in the Gospels: "All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." That authority tells us that "it is given to human beings to die once, and after that be judged"; that Jesus is the "firstborn of the dead," and that our destiny is to "be conformed to the pattern of his glorious body" when he comes again at the end of time. (That is the "Advent" we are really celebrating this time of year!)
Those 20% of self-identified Catholics rely more on the authority of their own personal gut. Which means that there are as many authoritative guts as there are people with strongly held personal convictions. Which means, ultimately, that for them, at least, there is no actual authority outside of themselves.
Needless to say, reincarnation is only one example of guts trumping theology, tradition and the united testimony of the Churches of East and West.
After this two week tour, which took us to eight cities in seven states, I am more convinced than ever that God gave the Church real authority, and that many, many Catholics stand in serious need of conversion to that authority. It makes no sense to claim to be a Catholic but reserve to oneself all judgment about matters of faith and morals (or even of Church order, like those protest groups that are occupying closed parish churches and advertising for a disobedient priest to pastor them, as if sacraments celebrated apart from the communion of the bishop were genuine expressions of Catholic life). Clearly, they don't know what it means to be Catholic, no matter what their gut may tell them.
Sometimes the authority of the Church seems very much like Balaam's donkey, braying loudly and resisting the clear direction set by the "rulers of this age." What if, like the prophet's donkey, she sees something that guts alone cannot discern?
I've been noticing lately (and this may be an American thing) that people ultimately trust their gut more than any other authority, even when it comes to things that are fairly distant from the gut's usual areas of expertise. Over the weekend, USA Today reported that 20% of Catholics believe in reincarnation. Not resurrection: reincarnation.
On what authority?
Not the teaching authority referred to in the Gospels: "All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." That authority tells us that "it is given to human beings to die once, and after that be judged"; that Jesus is the "firstborn of the dead," and that our destiny is to "be conformed to the pattern of his glorious body" when he comes again at the end of time. (That is the "Advent" we are really celebrating this time of year!)
Those 20% of self-identified Catholics rely more on the authority of their own personal gut. Which means that there are as many authoritative guts as there are people with strongly held personal convictions. Which means, ultimately, that for them, at least, there is no actual authority outside of themselves.
Needless to say, reincarnation is only one example of guts trumping theology, tradition and the united testimony of the Churches of East and West.
After this two week tour, which took us to eight cities in seven states, I am more convinced than ever that God gave the Church real authority, and that many, many Catholics stand in serious need of conversion to that authority. It makes no sense to claim to be a Catholic but reserve to oneself all judgment about matters of faith and morals (or even of Church order, like those protest groups that are occupying closed parish churches and advertising for a disobedient priest to pastor them, as if sacraments celebrated apart from the communion of the bishop were genuine expressions of Catholic life). Clearly, they don't know what it means to be Catholic, no matter what their gut may tell them.
Sometimes the authority of the Church seems very much like Balaam's donkey, braying loudly and resisting the clear direction set by the "rulers of this age." What if, like the prophet's donkey, she sees something that guts alone cannot discern?
Friday, December 11, 2009
TV shoot
So today we were at Catholic TV. They have a fabulous set-up in a former convent. The convent chapel still serves as a real chapel as well as the set for the TV Mass. The basement level has several large studios and a control room that had us all, well, drooling. We crammed ourselves onto narrow risers to record a half-hour Christmas program for the network (which will be re-christened "ChristmasTV" for the 72 hours of nonstop Christmas programming). It was a great morning, even though I think we all would have appreciated a little more sleep...
Now we are heading to Attleboro, MA. Two years in a row, our concerts at the La Salette Shrine had to be canceled at the last minute: one year because of a blizzard, and the next year because of a power failure. We're hoping that the third time will truly be the charm!
Did you visit the Tribune site to comment on the bubble zone article? Especially if you have had experiences like those of the Chicago team, your testimony could be helpful.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tribune posted my piece
You'll find my "Bubble Trouble" reflection about the "bubble zones" around the Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago on the Tribune's "Seeker" blog. Please comment there, and not on this blog, especially if you have had any experience as a pro-life counselor or prayer warrior.
Here I Am (sort of)
We have really been on the road for these two weeks (except when things were "up in the air" to and from Cleveland). Last night we sang at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria. They have the most incredibly beautiful, yet highly contemporary Church I have ever seen. Sr Julia took a million pictures, to the pride and joy of the pastor. (I'm sure she'll post them on Facebook as soon as she finds a cable or adapter for the camera!) Many of our sisters' relatives were in the audience--as was my brother-in-law, who took an ample amount of photos (and a video) for my Mom. (Earning "good son-in-law" points for years to come.)
Before Alexandria, we were in Philadelphia, and before that, Cleveland, where the local bishop is our former motherhouse chaplain.
In all, a pretty packed week.
Today all we did was drive to Boston. Along the way, we took a rest stop at a fast food restaurant and picked up a little something. We were just picking up a few napkins when one of the kitchen staff appeared beside us, silently and quickly slipped a piece of paper in front of my hand and disappeared. The piece of receipt paper was headed "Prayer Needed" and included a brief list of names. Needless to say, we offered a special prayer together in the car; I will put the slip of paper in my prayerbook for a daily remembrance.
I thought of that mother in the Gospel who ran to Jesus for her daughter's healing, and of the woman with the hemhorrage who slipped through the crowd to touch his cloak. The way this woman moved so quickly to ask for spiritual help as soon as an opportunity appeared really impressed me. I think it impressed all of us with the pastoral importance of the religious habit. For this one woman, working behind the scenes in a fast-food place off of the highway, the habit seems to have stirred up her hope. I pray that God, who gave her the gift of faith, will himself answer her prayer of faith.
Before Alexandria, we were in Philadelphia, and before that, Cleveland, where the local bishop is our former motherhouse chaplain.
In all, a pretty packed week.
Today all we did was drive to Boston. Along the way, we took a rest stop at a fast food restaurant and picked up a little something. We were just picking up a few napkins when one of the kitchen staff appeared beside us, silently and quickly slipped a piece of paper in front of my hand and disappeared. The piece of receipt paper was headed "Prayer Needed" and included a brief list of names. Needless to say, we offered a special prayer together in the car; I will put the slip of paper in my prayerbook for a daily remembrance.
I thought of that mother in the Gospel who ran to Jesus for her daughter's healing, and of the woman with the hemhorrage who slipped through the crowd to touch his cloak. The way this woman moved so quickly to ask for spiritual help as soon as an opportunity appeared really impressed me. I think it impressed all of us with the pastoral importance of the religious habit. For this one woman, working behind the scenes in a fast-food place off of the highway, the habit seems to have stirred up her hope. I pray that God, who gave her the gift of faith, will himself answer her prayer of faith.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
O Christmas Tree!
The custom may have pagan roots, but it fits perfectly with what the Scriptures say in the Psalm we hear at Christmas: "The trees of the wood will shout for joy before the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth. He will rule the world with justice."
In community we usually set up our Christmas Tree on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. That is, we aim for December 8. It always depends on what else is going on...usually a lot. Maybe we will set up the Chicago community tree when Sr. Helena and I return from the concerts.
What are your Christmas Tree customs?
In community we usually set up our Christmas Tree on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. That is, we aim for December 8. It always depends on what else is going on...usually a lot. Maybe we will set up the Chicago community tree when Sr. Helena and I return from the concerts.
What are your Christmas Tree customs?
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