Sr. Tracey on Spanish children's books

Sr. Tracey, a fellow Louisianian (more Cajun than I), has taken a page from the YouTube book and created a short video review of several Spanish-language kids books. Please spread the word especially to parishes with large Spanish-speaking communities, and to Catholic and Christian bookstore owners.

As always, adding a link to your e-mails, especially if you are in the Hispanic community, is a way of sharing the Pauline mission: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InhLUtVg0ng.

Angels on Wings

It's our family air-travel prayer: "Angels on Wings." Today I (finally!) return to my community in Chicago. Back to "normal." Well, as normal as it gets in an apostolic community! Prayers, please.

 

And Jesus said "No."

Today's Gospel relates a story that is bizarre on more than one level. In it, Jesus goes to the land of the "Gerasenes"--pagan territory. He is immediately faced by a deranged man, a danger to himself and to others, and when Jesus addresses the evil spirit who is behind it all, numerous spirits respond. Jesus orders them to leave the man, they take over a herd of pigs which run suicidally over the cliff and into the sea. The man is restored to himself, and the townspeople beg Jesus to leave before their whole economic system collapses.

Then comes the really strange part. The healed man begs, pleads and prays that Jesus will let him become his follower.

Jesus says, "No."

On one level, we can say, "Well, Jesus had thousands of now-and-again followers. The man could have followed Jesus anytime he wanted." But that is not what the man was evidently asking. He wanted to be among those whom the Lord had chosen "to be with him and that he might send them." Among the Twelve, in other words. And that role, to be the foundation-stones of the Church, belonged to the People of Israel. In this, Jesus was continuing God's faithfulness to the Covenant.

But there is more than this, especially as relates to this man's life.

Jesus told him "Go home to your family and make known to them how much the Lord in his mercy has done for you."

Jesus was restoring the man to the family that had lost him so painfully, so long before. And he sent the man with a mission, to make known among the pagans of his own family and town the goodness and mercy of the God of Israel. He was sharing in the mission the apostles would one day have (Jesus chose them "to be with him and that he might send them"), but the "being with him" part would be less evident. The presence of Jesus would be there in the renewed wholeness of this unnamed man's life.

 

 

Retreat Sunday

Religious are expected to make a monthly day of recollection or retreat. In the Pauline Family, the first Sunday of the month was chosen for this; it was the Founder's way of connecting adoration of the Trinity, Jesus, the Risen Master and our own discipleship. Well, we generally keep to that tradition. But our February retreat will be tomorrow. Because...the first Sunday of February just happens to be... Super Bowl Sunday. And you can't be making chili and other such comestibles while watching the pre-game show. (We have some serious Bears fans in our community!) (And I'm still in Boston! What will it be like in Chicago?) So tomorrow is our retreat, and on Super Bowl Sunday, we will be free for... well, for me it's more for the "fellowship", the food and the commercials, which are a semester of Media Literacy Studies in one night.

Do you do anything particular while the Super Bowl is going on? Any family traditions? Food specialties?

Best Catholic Books for Lent

Sr. Julia's back with her book pics for Lent!

Share the Pauline mission! Add these links to your e-mail:

Best Catholic Books for Lent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiBj2XlTF74 Don't have much time? There's a two-minute version: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2535165461305184750.

In the same boat

Today's readings correlate fabulously. The first reading is the powerful section of Hebrews describing faith ("the evidence of things not seen") and the faithful (Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph...). The Gospel is the story of the calming of the sea, where Jesus, roused from sleep during a violent storm, cooly quells the wind and waves with a word and then asks his disciples, "Where is your faith?"

Indeed.

Faith that, as Psalm 117 in Morning Prayer tells us, "Strong is God's love for us; he is faithful forever." Faith in the faithfulness of God. Faith that Jesus really is Life, so that Julian of Norwich tells us, if we were at the bottom of the sea (where the disciples in today's Gospel fully expected to end up), if we were there with Jesus, "all would be well."

 

Feast of St. Paul

This is my favorite picture of Paul, even though it may not seem quite the image for the feast of his Conversion! (Almost looks like he needs to be converted...) The lovely lady is the virgin-martyr St. Praxedes, and the mosaic (9th century) is from the Church of St. Praxedes, right by St. Mary Major in Rome and just down the street from the house church of Praxedes' senator-father whose name escapes me at the moment. (Her Dad was a disciple of St. Peter.) Whenever I have the chance to go to Rome, I try to visit St. Praxedes to enjoy the marvelous mosaics, with the best pictures of Paul to reach us from that far-off era.

Our morning Mass here in Boston was a full hour, and it did not really end yet (we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all day on Thursday). But to my great dismay, we did not (yet) sing my favorite (if musically tacky) hymn for this feast day, "We Sing the Glorious Conquest." I hold out hope that we will sing this dramatic song at Evening Prayer!

Vigil of Paul's Conversion

Here we are on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, a feast significant to Paulines for three things: Francis is the patron saint of the Catholic Press and of Catholic journalists; today is the day the Vatican officially releases the theme for the coming World Day of Communication (7th Sunday of Easter) (it is unofficially released earlier to give journalists time to prepare material for publication in May); and finally, it is the Vigil of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (the only conversion in history to have its own feast day).

From our community morning prayer, a lovely prayer by Pope John Paul II, dating to 1980:

Blessed are you, Paul of Tarsus,

the apostle of the Gentiles;

the converted persecutor;

the admirable lover and witness of the crucified and Risen Christ!

Blessed are you, steward of the mysteries of God, for whom "to live is Christ"; you who desire so much and so exclusively to be called the minister of Christ...so that your and our Master speaks in you."

A St. Paul triduum

I intended to post a little thought about St. Paul for each day of the novena before the Feast of the Conversion. Then, missing the novena, I said to myself, "Okay, then, a triduum." Well, that would have been yesterday. That leaves a little two-day preparation for this feast, which is "the" feast of St. Paul for the Paulist Community founded by Fr. Isaac Hecker, but a "lesser" feast for the Pauline Family founded by James Alberione. (Our "big" feast is celebrated the day after the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.) The thought I'd like to post for today is a simple one, because I don't have anything prepared and I didn't want to just wait and offer something on the vigil of the day itself. Besides, I was reminded of it yesterday when I did a simultaneous translation for our novices of a DVD of the Founder's beatification. During the audience the day after the beatification, Pope John Paul said that, as Paul had the heart of Christ (I think he was quoting John Chrysostom), Alberione had the heart of Paul. Remember that Paul said "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." The feast of the Conversion offers us a first moment of that life, of that heart, to imitate.

purple vestments

The purple vestments were a liturgically graphic reminder that today is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and of the utter need for penance and reparation for the crimes against humanity perpetrated in this country (and then marketed to the rest of the world) since the floodgates of abortion on demand were opened. We are called upon by the bishops of the United States to observe this anniversary as a day of penance. My thought is to take that penance and offer it on the one hand in reparation for the most recently committed outrage against human dignity, and on the other hand as an intercessory prayer for the person who is about to commit the next one, so that some additional actual grace might influence them to make a more enlightened decision, and even move toward a new appreciation of the gravity of the matter.

Obviously, this isn't just about abortion anymore.

I was reading an article just the other day by a researcher who completely poo-pood the idea that embryonic stem cells offer solid hopes for any kind of benefit. And then yesterday's Boston Globe quoted another researcher making the usual dramatic claims about cures for juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's. According to the first writer, embryonic stem cell cultures inevitably produces signal tumors, especially teratomas (those hideous clumps of differentiated tissue: bones, muscle, hair, sinews, fully formed teeth...). Teratomas and other tumors are so characteristic of embryonic stem cell work that they are considered proof that a project is actually using an embryonic line, whether animal or (God help us) human. Something like 98% of cloned embryos cannot even survive to birth, because they are killed by tumors. Doesn't exactly bespeak the promise of cures. And none of the embryonic stem cell cheerleaders seem to admit that, given the state of things now, even though thousands of experiments have been recorded, there may be some risk that a "cure" developed from embryonic stem cells may bring along an even worse complication.

When I was 23, I wrote a rosary booklet called "Praying the Rosary Pro-Life." It was my first published work, and by the time I asked that it be taken out of print (it was out of date, due to even newer attacks against human dignity), we had printed and diffused over 200,000 copies. I want to write the second edition, but I still need inspiration for it. Please pray that I might be able to take up this project again, in a prayerful and hopeful response to the threats we human are under from our own kind.

Many parts, one Body

Today's second reading is the one that gave St. Therese such consolation, revealing her place as "love in the heart of the Church." As I reflected on it, and on the various members and organs that make up the Body, I wondered what my "place" was. I don't have the certainty and exultation of St. Therese, and no real confirmation, either, but I think I may be an enzyme...

Geaux, Saints!

Ordinarily, I am completely unaware of football. Teams, players, scores, championships: they all pass right by me. I'd rather have my nose in a book or my fingers on a keyboard.  This weekend, it's a bit different. I'm in Boston. The Patriots are contending for the top spot of whatever their conference is. I live in Chicago, and the Bears are contending with...my very own New Orleans Saints. So guess what? This weekend, I kind of care who wins. And it's not the Bears. (Sorry, Chicago!)

BTW, I am told that the NFL and Fedex have a kind of vote-your-favorite-player promotion happening, and that a Saints quarterback is one of the nominees. If he wins (and I haven't verified this), the word is that he will make a substantial contribution (I guess it's Fedex's contribution) to the New Orleans Children's Hospital. I don't think any of the other players can top that. They may be donating to fine causes, but no city is as in dire straits as New Orleans right now, especially when it comes to health care. So please go to the NFL site and vote for Drew Bree (or whatever his name is). You have to vote for someone in the other column, too, but since I don't know who they are, I leave that up to you.

apologetics

When we were postulants, we had a course in Apologetics. It had already fallen into disfavor by then, so we were a bit out of the mainstream, but now it is coming back into its own. Not the art of "apologizing," but the ability to "explain the hope within us." And that is a good thing. Last year, Cardinal George had dinner with our community, and he expressed the hope that the renewal of apologetics would help strengthen Catholics in their appreciation of the faith. Here in Boston, I had a bit of time yesterday to look over a recent issue of a magazine of Catholic apologetics. It is not something I would subscribe to myself (a bit too elementary), but could be helpful for people who were catechized in the 70's and have not received any further instruction. There is only one thing that bothered me from what I read. It was a letter to the Q&A column, but it was not about a matter of apologetics at all. It was from someone who asking about a liturgical "no-no" -- basically checking to see if this matter was something that ought to be reported. And it was a teensy matter in which the priest was, basically, too fervent. Orthodox, but inappropriately expressive.

Checking up on things like this is not apologetics. It is liturgical policing. It may have a place when such liberties are taken that the integrity of the liturgy is at stake, but when it gets to the point of nit-picking, it keeps us from actually doing apologetics (or evangelizing, for that matter). I wish the very balanced columnist who answered the letter had intimated as much.

 

Catholic Alphabet meme (cont.)

[J is for Jesus - When did you first meet Him?]: In my crib.  Mom taught me to say "Good Morning" to Jesus first thing upon waking up. Which I did, even though I could not say "morning" or "Jesus" correctly.

[K is for Kindness - Which saint or person has most inspired you by their kindness?]: St. John Vianney

[L is for liturgical year - your favorite time in the liturgical cycle?]: the Pentecost novena

[M is for Mary, the Mother of God - Your favorite term of endearment for her]: Blessed Mother

[N is for New Testament - Your favorite passage]:   Jn. 1:3

[O is for Old Testament - Your favorite Book here]: Psalms

 

Catholic Alphabet Meme (cont.)

[P is for Psalms - your favorite]: Since this can be interpreted as more than one favorite... 138, 16, 111, 139, 103, 92

[Q is for quote - saint quote]:  For starters, Teresa of Avila: "Those who live carefully ordered lives are apt to be shocked at everything and we might well learn very important lessons from the persons who shock us…. There is no reason why we should expect everyone else to travel by our own road."

[R is for rosary - your favorite mysteries]: Luminous

[S is for Saint - the one you turn to in time of need - not including the Blessed Virgin Mary]: It depends on the need. Bl. James Alberione gets many calls for help from this direction when it is a matter of my community and its mission.

[T is for Tradition - your favorite Catholic tradition]: May Crowning

Sr. Rose at the game show again

If you're a game show fan, tune in for "1 vs. 100" on February 3 and see if you can spot Sr. Rose amidst the "100"! It's on NBC, and the scheduled time is 8:00, which I assume is Eastern Time.

I only spotted her once in a very quick shot during the very first show. She stayed on for 3 shows and then lost her seat on a question about Pacman! (She knows movies and TV, but not computer games...)

Catholic meme

Karen tagged me with a Catholic meme, and I don't think it's the first time! But it's a slightly different flavor meme than I remember... But I will be answering it in segments, beginning backwards in the alphabet. I hereby also tag Sr. Lorraine, Lisa and the Seeker. Yes, for the whole thing. You can go to Karen's to see what the other letters call for.

[U is for university - Which Catholic University have you attended or are currently attending?]: Loyola (New Orleans). 

[V is for Virtue - the one you wish you had]: Magnanimity

[W is for Way of the Cross - Which station can you most relate to?]: Jesus Falls the Third Time (beneath the same cross)

[X is for Xaverian Brothers - Do you know who they are?]:  I've even met one!

[Y is for your favorite Catholic musician]: Michael Card (especially his old stuff; he is doing more books and evangelism than music now, it seems).

[Z is for Zeal for the faith]: Yes.

Into the Conclave...

Well, it's not as solemn as a conclave, but we will be effectively incommunicado for a week, since the schedule is full and the retreat house has only one (dial-up) modem line!

We continue to need and request your prayers, so I ask you to visit this post daily to offer this little intercessory oration:

Heavenly Father,

You invite your people to look at your beloved Son and to listen to him. Grant that the Daughters of St. Paul, gathered in chapter this week, might truly set their eyes on Jesus and understand the direction the Spirit is leading them for their life as disciples and apostles of communications. Dispel any resistance or blindness so that only your Word is made manifest to them and through them, through the same Word, Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen. 

The almost-Twelfth day

January 6 will be the 12th day of Christmas (and the start of King Cake Season for us New Orleanians!). Thank goodness, the Christmas tree is still up in Daley Plaza. It's still Christmastime in this city! Tomorrow I will be heading to Boston for our Provincial Chapter. (Sr. Lorraine will be participating in it, too.) This is preparatory for the General (worldwide) Chapter in August, held every six years to elect our "General" government. I earnestly seek your prayers for both of these events in particular, since we need to be especially alert and docile to the Holy Spirit not just in electing delegates to the General Chapter (one of the tasks of the Provincial meeting), but in discussing all the aspects of our community life, spirituality and mission with a view to ongoing improvement.
A little note about language in religious communities: Some people assume that the word "general," especially when used of the "Superior General," is adapted from the military. Nope. It's just a Latinism, meaning "overall." ("General Electric" doesn't wear five stars, either.) This goes for the Jesuits, as well. The shortcut term "General" is not a throwback to St. Ignatius' short-lived military experience!

St. Andrew returns

We have dear St. Andrew in the Gospel again, and something new struck me. The story is from the very beginning of John's Gospel. Andrew and another disciple were with John the Baptist. Jesus passed by, and John pointed him out as the Lamb of God. Andrew and the other one begin following Jesus, who eventually notices them, asks them what they are looking for, and when they say "Where do you stay, Master?" invites them to stay (remain, abide) with him. And they do.

Then the Gospel says, "But first, Andrew found his brother Simon..."

You can almost picture Jesus with the two disciples, approaching the little hut where Jesus was staying for the feast of booths. And suddenly Andrew turns and starts running off, yelling over his shoulder, "I'll be right back!"

And yet the Gospel explicitly says, right before this, that they went and stayed with him. So Andrew was "abiding" with Jesus even as he ran away from where Jesus was staying, in order to bring his brother on board. That is because it was no longer Andrew who lived, but Jesus who lived in Andrew. Andrew still lived his human life, but it was a life of faith in the Son of God... (to use St. Paul's expression in Gal. 2: 19-20).

It is a picture of the mysticism of mission.

And we have another dimension of that same mysticism in today's saint, Elizabeth Seton. I am especially impressed today with how she entered the Catholic Church at a time when prejudice was such that she knew that by following this interior call, she would not only be ostracized herself, she was even putting her children's material well-being at risk. A widow without resources, she would find it hard to get work that would provide adequately for them. All because she was a Catholic. She made her profession of faith in the Catholic Church despite this.  I suspect that there are many people today who would find fault with that.

My favorite Cappadocian

Ah, the feast of Basil and Gregory (Nanzianzen). For some reason, Basil's brother Gregory (of Nyssa, also a "Cappadocian Father") does not get honored today, too. We owe these three great theologians a lot for preserving the faith in the divinity and humanity (both! whole and entire! at the same time!) of Jesus at the time of the Arian heresy. Basil the Great wrote a wonderful treatise on the Blessed Trinity, one which I really found helpful in prayer, once someone helped me understand what on earth he was doing in a section that seemed to be more about mathematics than religion. For some things, you really need a teacher. At any rate, it's that book that makes Basil (and not his lifelong friend Gregory, and not even his outstanding brother Gregory) my favorite Cappadocian.