Let's see... Green/Brown? Girl/Boy? Think again. It was "Glass Break." As in, the alarm that went off at 3:45 this morning (which two of the sisters slept through without a clue!). The message on the alarm panel was "1st Fl Foyer GB." Not knowing what the situation was in the book center (that's the first floor), we waited for the police.
Then Sr. Irene noticed that there was a power-washing truck outside, with men hard at work scrubbing our gritty sidewalks (presumably in preparation for the visit of the International Olympic Committee's site inspection team). The pressure of the water had tripped our alarm. We were safe and secure.
And wide awake.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Death penalty
As I read today's Scriptures (5th week of Lent means we are starting to zero in on Good Friday even in our readings), I noticed for the first time in 30+ years of encountering this set of readings that both of them address issues surrounding the death penalty.
The first reading, from the book of Daniel, is built around the story of the condemnation of an innocent person through intrigue. At the last minute, and only through the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the truth is revealed (and the truly guilty meet the fate they had plotted for Susanna). But the Gospel offers almost the contrary: the woman who is dragged before Jesus by the men who "caught her in the act of adultery" (how did they do that?) really is guilty. According to the Law of Moses, she is to be stoned to death, lest the contagion of this disruptive sin spread through the community. Jesus issues his famous "Let the one who has not sinned cast the first stone." And then he, the one who has not sinned, ignored the whole scene and ran his fingers not through stones, but through the sand at their feet. When all had disbursed, the divine Judge sent the guilty party home with the simple command not to sin again. Rehabilitation!
Of course, this being Lent, the stories are not about social conditions or about two women in trouble who were rescued at the last moment. It is about us. And for us, the Gospel offers the pivotal lesson, whether at the moment we are ready to cast a stone or shield ourselves from an onslaught of them. Jesus "did not come to condemn but to save." And he will do that by "bearing the sins of many" and "taking away the sin of the world" in his own body.
Today might be a good day to place ourselves in the position of Susanna or that nameless Gospel woman, and make their prayer our own. How would they pray, so soon after "all things worked together for the good"?
The first reading, from the book of Daniel, is built around the story of the condemnation of an innocent person through intrigue. At the last minute, and only through the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the truth is revealed (and the truly guilty meet the fate they had plotted for Susanna). But the Gospel offers almost the contrary: the woman who is dragged before Jesus by the men who "caught her in the act of adultery" (how did they do that?) really is guilty. According to the Law of Moses, she is to be stoned to death, lest the contagion of this disruptive sin spread through the community. Jesus issues his famous "Let the one who has not sinned cast the first stone." And then he, the one who has not sinned, ignored the whole scene and ran his fingers not through stones, but through the sand at their feet. When all had disbursed, the divine Judge sent the guilty party home with the simple command not to sin again. Rehabilitation!
Of course, this being Lent, the stories are not about social conditions or about two women in trouble who were rescued at the last moment. It is about us. And for us, the Gospel offers the pivotal lesson, whether at the moment we are ready to cast a stone or shield ourselves from an onslaught of them. Jesus "did not come to condemn but to save." And he will do that by "bearing the sins of many" and "taking away the sin of the world" in his own body.
Today might be a good day to place ourselves in the position of Susanna or that nameless Gospel woman, and make their prayer our own. How would they pray, so soon after "all things worked together for the good"?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sandwich(es)
No, not the food--although we did have soup and sandwiches and super-blue-ribbon-awarded Scandinavian cookies at today's parish retreat in SANDWICH, IL. Turns out to be a little place surrounded by farms. Never did see the actual town. But the people who came for the Saturday morning retreat were lovely. And the cookies deserved the extra-special grand blue ribbon prize at the Sandwich Fair, too. The secret? Almost as much butter as flour; vanilla sugar; ammonia baking powder. (I think that's what she said: ammonia baking powder; you can only get it through Scandanavian specialty shops.) I might die all the sooner for having ingested something like that (but don't the Scandanavians outlive us anyway?), but boy was that a cookie to remember. And we brought some leftover sandwiches home from Sandwich.
Sr. Irene and I made the drive after the 7:30 Mass downtown. Since we don't have a GPS, we still have to rely somewhat on the dying art of map reading (with a little help from Mapquest and Google). We knew we were really not in Chicago anymore when we made one turn (at the intersection of four fallow cornfields) and saw the sign, "Little Rock Rd. Stage Coach Trail." We don't have too many stage coach trails left in the Big City. Little Rock was near Big Rock, but we didn't see even ONE rock. Just fields and farmhouses. (Interestingly, many of the barns and outbuildings of the farms were painted not that traditional brick red, but white, and in one case, cream color!) Painted on one was the American flag and the words: America Bless God. That's a good one.
The willow trees made their declaration that it is officially spring: they are all that off-shade of yellow. Soon there will be leaves! Am I sounding desperate or what? But the fields haven't been planted yet, or even plowed. They are mostly filled with eight-inch high corn stubble. Good thing, because they are predicting six inches of snow out there tonight.
But the willow trees (and the robins!) promise me that spring is really, really coming. Maybe after Easter?
Sr. Irene and I made the drive after the 7:30 Mass downtown. Since we don't have a GPS, we still have to rely somewhat on the dying art of map reading (with a little help from Mapquest and Google). We knew we were really not in Chicago anymore when we made one turn (at the intersection of four fallow cornfields) and saw the sign, "Little Rock Rd. Stage Coach Trail." We don't have too many stage coach trails left in the Big City. Little Rock was near Big Rock, but we didn't see even ONE rock. Just fields and farmhouses. (Interestingly, many of the barns and outbuildings of the farms were painted not that traditional brick red, but white, and in one case, cream color!) Painted on one was the American flag and the words: America Bless God. That's a good one.
The willow trees made their declaration that it is officially spring: they are all that off-shade of yellow. Soon there will be leaves! Am I sounding desperate or what? But the fields haven't been planted yet, or even plowed. They are mostly filled with eight-inch high corn stubble. Good thing, because they are predicting six inches of snow out there tonight.
But the willow trees (and the robins!) promise me that spring is really, really coming. Maybe after Easter?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Morning Report
This morning we were all out of the house at the insane hour of 5:30: five of us and six boxes of books in our beat-up but ever dependable van, heading for the Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast (just down the street at the Hilton). Since I still can't handle the boxes, I was the driver. I dropped off my fellow-sisters (is that an oxymoron?) and the books and left to park the car (down the street at Old St Mary's where it is free).
The event began at 6:15 with the Rosary (led by Sr. Helena and Sr. Irene); Cardinal George was the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass. He spoke on the reading from the book of Wisdom, in which the "just one," for all his genuine goodness, seems only to nettle the hearts of his hearers. The cardinal then applied this to the situation in the Church, in which some who tend toward "the left" reject Church teaching and vilify the bishops, and some who tend to "the right" glory in self-righteous orthodoxy, but vilify bishops who do not do things the way they themselves would do. This reminded me of a peculiar new (old*) heresy that I just learned about this week. It seems that there are some who consider themselves extremely faithful Catholics (by that language, you know that they lean to the "right"), but they are more Catholic than the Holy Spirit, in that they look suspiciously at any Catholic who would read the Old Testament, or even parts of the New Testament (specifically, the Gospel of Mark). One of our sisters told of the whispered advice one of those "faithful Catholics" had given her, to avoid the Old Testament and that particular Gospel. Talk about an "alternative Magisterium"! No matter how "faithful" you think you are, you can go weirdly astray.
The breakfast itself was a wonderful opportunity for networking among over 500 active Catholics. Thankfully, the fellowship was great, because the breakfast was forgettable. (My sister Mary had been at the Hilton for a breakfast last week and warned me that they haven't figured out how to scramble an egg yet. A week later, and they still haven't. But the danish were great... And it's Lent, besides!)
Bishop Morlino of Madison, WI gave the principal talk. I liked that he constantly expressed the concept of "natural law" (which can easily be misunderstood) to "the common law of human reason." Then he spoke of four key principles drawn from this "common law" accessible to "human reason," showing that when Catholics are engaged in public debate, we are in no way imposing our "beliefs" or religious convictions on other citizens, but sharing a deep wisdom that is available to anyone who uses his or her mind responsibly. (This paralleled something the Cardinal had also said in his homily: that Catholics offer the world not a sectarian vision, but a universal vision, because the Catholic Church is not composed of people from one single group in society, or one single geographic region or area of common interest, but has members in every single nation on earth. When we offer our Catholic vision, it is in the service of the common good, and it comes from a vast store of experience.) I am not at all doing the Cardinal justice in reporting his words (I wasn't taking notes; it was Mass!); I really regret not being able to do a better job, because the insights were excellent.
There were about a dozen exhibitors (including us): the Catholic paper; the vocations office; various Newman centers, etc... Naturally, we recognized many faces! One of the main sponsors of the event was Father Robert Barron's "Word on Fire" ministry, so we got a four-minute trailer about Fr. Barron's latest project: a ten-part TV-DVD project on Catholicism (especially in terms of its history, geography and beauty). Naturally, the project needs funding. (Heck, in our community meeting yesterday we were scrambling for ideas about how to fund our tiny presence on Relevant Radio here in the Midwest, never mind a 10-part HD video program filmed all over the globe!) As wonderful as Fr. Barron's project looks, I found myself chatting with the lawyer next to me about the Theology of the Body. We agreed that plain old word of mouth about the Theology of the Body could actually do more good for the Church, society, and the world than all the high-definition video that technology and the brilliant mind of a tech-savvy, culturally literate theologian could produce.
Now we're home, and the books are back on the shelves. I have an hour of prayer now, and tomorrow, a trip with Sr. Irene to a small parish (St. Paul's) in Sandwich, IL for a St. Paul retreat day. And so ends another week!
*This is an "old" heresy because you can find it back in the 2nd century. Marcionism. Marcion was a bishop who reduced the Christian scriptures to, basically, the Gospel of Luke and some of the letters of Paul. But where do these 21st Century American Catholics get the same notion?
The event began at 6:15 with the Rosary (led by Sr. Helena and Sr. Irene); Cardinal George was the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass. He spoke on the reading from the book of Wisdom, in which the "just one," for all his genuine goodness, seems only to nettle the hearts of his hearers. The cardinal then applied this to the situation in the Church, in which some who tend toward "the left" reject Church teaching and vilify the bishops, and some who tend to "the right" glory in self-righteous orthodoxy, but vilify bishops who do not do things the way they themselves would do. This reminded me of a peculiar new (old*) heresy that I just learned about this week. It seems that there are some who consider themselves extremely faithful Catholics (by that language, you know that they lean to the "right"), but they are more Catholic than the Holy Spirit, in that they look suspiciously at any Catholic who would read the Old Testament, or even parts of the New Testament (specifically, the Gospel of Mark). One of our sisters told of the whispered advice one of those "faithful Catholics" had given her, to avoid the Old Testament and that particular Gospel. Talk about an "alternative Magisterium"! No matter how "faithful" you think you are, you can go weirdly astray.
The breakfast itself was a wonderful opportunity for networking among over 500 active Catholics. Thankfully, the fellowship was great, because the breakfast was forgettable. (My sister Mary had been at the Hilton for a breakfast last week and warned me that they haven't figured out how to scramble an egg yet. A week later, and they still haven't. But the danish were great... And it's Lent, besides!)
Bishop Morlino of Madison, WI gave the principal talk. I liked that he constantly expressed the concept of "natural law" (which can easily be misunderstood) to "the common law of human reason." Then he spoke of four key principles drawn from this "common law" accessible to "human reason," showing that when Catholics are engaged in public debate, we are in no way imposing our "beliefs" or religious convictions on other citizens, but sharing a deep wisdom that is available to anyone who uses his or her mind responsibly. (This paralleled something the Cardinal had also said in his homily: that Catholics offer the world not a sectarian vision, but a universal vision, because the Catholic Church is not composed of people from one single group in society, or one single geographic region or area of common interest, but has members in every single nation on earth. When we offer our Catholic vision, it is in the service of the common good, and it comes from a vast store of experience.) I am not at all doing the Cardinal justice in reporting his words (I wasn't taking notes; it was Mass!); I really regret not being able to do a better job, because the insights were excellent.
There were about a dozen exhibitors (including us): the Catholic paper; the vocations office; various Newman centers, etc... Naturally, we recognized many faces! One of the main sponsors of the event was Father Robert Barron's "Word on Fire" ministry, so we got a four-minute trailer about Fr. Barron's latest project: a ten-part TV-DVD project on Catholicism (especially in terms of its history, geography and beauty). Naturally, the project needs funding. (Heck, in our community meeting yesterday we were scrambling for ideas about how to fund our tiny presence on Relevant Radio here in the Midwest, never mind a 10-part HD video program filmed all over the globe!) As wonderful as Fr. Barron's project looks, I found myself chatting with the lawyer next to me about the Theology of the Body. We agreed that plain old word of mouth about the Theology of the Body could actually do more good for the Church, society, and the world than all the high-definition video that technology and the brilliant mind of a tech-savvy, culturally literate theologian could produce.
Now we're home, and the books are back on the shelves. I have an hour of prayer now, and tomorrow, a trip with Sr. Irene to a small parish (St. Paul's) in Sandwich, IL for a St. Paul retreat day. And so ends another week!
*This is an "old" heresy because you can find it back in the 2nd century. Marcionism. Marcion was a bishop who reduced the Christian scriptures to, basically, the Gospel of Luke and some of the letters of Paul. But where do these 21st Century American Catholics get the same notion?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"The enemies of human life and religious freedom...are well funded"
Cardinal George (Archbishop of Chicago) released a hard-hitting letter on a bill currently before the Illinois legislature.
The "Reproductive Health and Access Act" (HB 2354) establishes abortion as so inalienable a human right that anyone who attempts to restrict it "should be legally punished." The bill, according to Cardinal George, "removes freedom of conscientious decision-making for health care workers as a condition of their employment."
If you are in Illinois, please contact your legislator* about this "threat to our freedom to practice our religion in our State"; if you are outside of this state, read the Cardinal's letter in order to be informed about this "well funded" effort. (Your state's turn is surely coming.)
Meanwhile, from the other side, here is a little something from a group that is advocating for the bill... and here's a list of supporters and of the results they hope for.
*From the Archdiocese of Chicago website:
Please call your Illinois State Representative with this message:
The "Reproductive Health and Access Act" (HB 2354) establishes abortion as so inalienable a human right that anyone who attempts to restrict it "should be legally punished." The bill, according to Cardinal George, "removes freedom of conscientious decision-making for health care workers as a condition of their employment."
If you are in Illinois, please contact your legislator* about this "threat to our freedom to practice our religion in our State"; if you are outside of this state, read the Cardinal's letter in order to be informed about this "well funded" effort. (Your state's turn is surely coming.)
Meanwhile, from the other side, here is a little something from a group that is advocating for the bill... and here's a list of supporters and of the results they hope for.
*From the Archdiocese of Chicago website:
Please call your Illinois State Representative with this message:
“Vote NO on HB 2354. The bill is extreme. It declares abortion to be a fundamental right and it invalidates a health care professional’s right of conscience.”
The bill also seeks to :
* Make abortion a fundamental right, preventing any common-sense regulation such as parental notification
* Expand public funding of abortion through Medicaid at a time when the State cannot even meet its current fiscal obligations
* Invalidate the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act protecting health care professionals and employers
* Mandate comprehensive sex education for all children in public schools
* Establish a liability shield for abortion providers who harm pregnant women
Visit the Illinois General Assembly's web site at www.ilga.gov to find your Legislator. If you encounter any difficulties, please call the Catholic Conference of Illinois at 312-368-1066.
Crowning Glory
The responsorial psalm today has a comic twist; it's a kind of prayerful meditation on Israel's history, specifically, the incident with the golden calf. The psalmist notes wryly, "They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock." That just sounds like a poetic exaggeration ("their glory"?) until you realize that in the Scriptures, the "glory of Israel" was God himself.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Feast of the Angelus
Today's Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (that's the real name) is a great day to promote the prayer of the Angelus. To make this easier for you, I have prepared a kind of holy card that you can download and print with business card paper (I formatted it to Avery 5371, but you can fiddle with it to see if it will work with other pre-cut cards). You may have to work a bit to back them up correctly; it's a two-sided card (so download both front and back).Angelus card front
Angelus card reverse
Keep a few for yourself in handy spots to help you remember to pray the Angelus morning, noon and evening--or on your commute to work, at lunch and on the commute home.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Good thing we left early...
Reckoning with Humanae Vitae
According to the polls, the overwhelming majority of self-identified Catholics don't reckon at all with Humanae Vitae, the 1968 encyclical "on the regulation of human births" that insisted on reverence for human fertility. But on April 15, the Theology of the Body online study group will reckon with Humanae Vitae as part of its ongoing study of Pope John Paul's "theological time bomb."
Was Pope Paul a prophet or a party-pooper? Be sure to join us live on April 15 at 7:30 EDST (New York time); 6:30 here in Chicago.
You can send your questions ahead for Fr. Loya (just put them in the comment box).
Was Pope Paul a prophet or a party-pooper? Be sure to join us live on April 15 at 7:30 EDST (New York time); 6:30 here in Chicago.
You can send your questions ahead for Fr. Loya (just put them in the comment box).
Blame Game
When I was preparing for this morning's meditation and I saw that the Gospel for the day was John 5, my heart sank. This passage introduces one of the most unattractive personalities in the whole Bible, the whiny man at the pool of Bethzatha. Waiting by the healing waters for 38 years, when Jesus asks "Do you want to be well?" he never gives a straight answer. Instead, he complains about his helplessness, and speaks resentfully about the others who, for 38 years, have always gotten in ahead of him. Jesus, knowing that people with long-term illnesses may indeed succumb to some degree of self-pity, gives him a full and complete healing on the spot: "Take up your mat and walk." Cured, the man got up and left. (Not so much as a word of thanks!) Then, when he was challenged over carrying his mat on the Sabbath day, instead of testifying to the miracle, he retreated into his habitual resentment and pointed a blaming finger at Jesus, who was nowhere to be found. Instead, not long after, Jesus found him. Concerned to complete the healing of the "whole" person (some translations even phrase his question, "Do you want to be made whole?"), Jesus told him to avoid sin "so that nothing worse may happen to you." Brimming with resentment now against the one who had cured him, the man went to the authorities and reported on Jesus. Something "worse" had befallen him, because of his resentment: he rejected the opportunity for a life of joyful communion with Jesus, and instead handed him over to persecution, eager to be rid of him, and willing to be less than whole.
I think this story gives me the willies because it remind me how remarkably resistant we can be to transformation. It takes more than a miracle to change us; we have to be receptive.
I think this story gives me the willies because it remind me how remarkably resistant we can be to transformation. It takes more than a miracle to change us; we have to be receptive.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I'm "back"
Well, I'm "back," in a "two steps forward, one step back" kind of way (with my back, I mean). The pain is distracting me, more than anything. But this week I have been getting so many prayer intentions, and so many more have been just showing up unannounced as life goes on, that I am halfway glad to have something physical and "real" to offer as a form of intercession, "filling up in my own body what is 'lacking' in the sufferings of Christ," as St. Paul was known to say. The most recent special intention came to me through Sr. Helena, when she came back from giving a Confirmation retreat in Michigan. Seems that one of the parishioners had read the whole 800-page "stimulus package," and found a lot of abortion provisions "packaged" in those stimulating pages. That serves as a great stimulus to me for prayer and reparation. There seem to be so many of these incremental "gains" in favor of specious progress. The changes are so subtle that to bring attention to them is to invite the label "fanatic," but the cumulative effect can still be drastic.
I've been reading Fr. Rutler's latest book (A Crisis of Saints), along with de Lubac's "Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism (1940-1944). Both books speak, I think to our present situation (although I wish Fr. Rutler's book had more unity to it; it's really just a collection of essays).
I've been reading Fr. Rutler's latest book (A Crisis of Saints), along with de Lubac's "Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism (1940-1944). Both books speak, I think to our present situation (although I wish Fr. Rutler's book had more unity to it; it's really just a collection of essays).
Saturday, March 21, 2009
St. Paul on Stage
We tried, but we couldn't do it... That was the jingle for Lays Potato Chips some decades ago... at least, I think that's the product. In any case, what we tried, but couldn't do in this Year of St. Paul, the Little Sisters of the Poor were able to do, and that is get sponsorship for a Chicago performance of "The Journey of St. Paul" by the Theater of the Word. See Paul and companions next Sunday, March 29, at St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago. 2:30 in the afternoon. Tickets are $20. Contact the Little Sisters of the Poor (2325 N Lakewood Ave, Chicago 606014) for your advance tickets. And say "Hi" to Sr. Helena when you attend; she'll be there representing us...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Vocations: Time for the Good News!
People considering religious life used to peruse the back pages of Catholic Digest (the vocation ads section) and then write a carefully phrased letter of inquiry to communities with an appealing charism. Now, of course, they peruse those same communities' web sites (or members' blogs!). For many, the next step is the Vision network site, which offers a "matchmaker" service of sorts, helping discerners more quickly sift through the communities to find those with a compatible spirituality and mission. And that creates a lot of interesting data.
For example:
Sixty-two percent jump in inquiries into Catholic religious life
Thirty percent increase in number of people in first stages of formation
A higher percentage of men compared to women (68 to 61) ranked wearing a religious habit as important or essential to what attracts them to a religious community. This preference has flipped from a year ago when women outranked men in their interest in wearing religious garb.
Learn more (or fill out the "Vocation match" survey yourself) at http://www.vocation-network.org
Are you a discerning lurker? Which blogs do you regularly read as part of your discernment?
For example:
Sixty-two percent jump in inquiries into Catholic religious life
Thirty percent increase in number of people in first stages of formation
A higher percentage of men compared to women (68 to 61) ranked wearing a religious habit as important or essential to what attracts them to a religious community. This preference has flipped from a year ago when women outranked men in their interest in wearing religious garb.
Learn more (or fill out the "Vocation match" survey yourself) at http://www.vocation-network.org
Are you a discerning lurker? Which blogs do you regularly read as part of your discernment?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Media Literacy events
If you're not a regular reader of Sr. Rose's blog, but would like to grow in your understanding of media literacy, she has just announced two events:
- Advanced Certificate Course in Media Literacy July 19 - July 25, 2009
- 10th Annual National Film Retreat Friday July 31, 2009 - Sunday August 2, 2009 (The theme is:St. Paul Goes to the Movies: Great themes of Paul explored in contemporary film.)
Ite ad Joseph
Today is our "community day," which means that we have Mass in our convent chapel, a community meeting, 
lunch together and a guided Hour of Adoration. Being the feast of St. Joseph, I suppose our lunch (largely consisting of leftovers donated after a conference over the weekend) was even an unofficial "St. Joseph table." And the Paulist priest who celebrated Mass for us told a wonderful story of a St. Joseph table put on at an Italian restaurant in Minneapolis. The matriarch of the place was simply known as "Mamma D" (di Giovanni). Mamma D and sons were parishioners Father Bob met some thirty years ago when assigned to the Twin Cities. Part of his ministry involved the nearby University, and that was part of Mamma's ministry too: feeding undernourished students, all year round. But when St. Joseph's Day came around, everything was free for all comers. Mamma D and a son or two simply came to church and carried the statue of St. Joseph off with them. He presided over the restaurant all day. Then a new priest came. No one thought to tell him about Mamma D and St. Joseph. When he saw the statue being carried down the street, he ran out and demanded, demanded! that they put him back where he belonged. Mamma simply harrumphed at that and continued on her mission. She knew where St. Joseph belonged on March 19. Father Bob learned this morning that Mamma D died just a few days ago. May she rest in peace!
lunch together and a guided Hour of Adoration. Being the feast of St. Joseph, I suppose our lunch (largely consisting of leftovers donated after a conference over the weekend) was even an unofficial "St. Joseph table." And the Paulist priest who celebrated Mass for us told a wonderful story of a St. Joseph table put on at an Italian restaurant in Minneapolis. The matriarch of the place was simply known as "Mamma D" (di Giovanni). Mamma D and sons were parishioners Father Bob met some thirty years ago when assigned to the Twin Cities. Part of his ministry involved the nearby University, and that was part of Mamma's ministry too: feeding undernourished students, all year round. But when St. Joseph's Day came around, everything was free for all comers. Mamma D and a son or two simply came to church and carried the statue of St. Joseph off with them. He presided over the restaurant all day. Then a new priest came. No one thought to tell him about Mamma D and St. Joseph. When he saw the statue being carried down the street, he ran out and demanded, demanded! that they put him back where he belonged. Mamma simply harrumphed at that and continued on her mission. She knew where St. Joseph belonged on March 19. Father Bob learned this morning that Mamma D died just a few days ago. May she rest in peace!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Deadline
It's a deadline in more ways than one. We have until April 9 (ironically, Holy Thursday) to respond to the President's intention to rescind the recent (needed) protection of medical personnel consciences in matters related to human life.
Health care workers have already suffered discrimination on the basis of their refusal to participate in procedures like abortion; the President's action will make them even more vulnerable, and deprive the general public of just what we need: conscientious and ethical doctors and nurses! (The proposed action would also affect Catholic hospitals. Is this an incremental way to enact the controversial FOCA?)
See the USCCB for more info, plus a chance to register your reaction.
Health care workers have already suffered discrimination on the basis of their refusal to participate in procedures like abortion; the President's action will make them even more vulnerable, and deprive the general public of just what we need: conscientious and ethical doctors and nurses! (The proposed action would also affect Catholic hospitals. Is this an incremental way to enact the controversial FOCA?)
See the USCCB for more info, plus a chance to register your reaction.
Lenten Listening
You'd think with all the possibilities of social networking that I would be able to keep up really well with opportunities and projects in the world of Catholic new media. I guess I've been too busy dealing with St. Paul talks (and my ongoing recovery from that fall in St. Paul--Mom wrote a few days ago,
"Beware the Ice of March!"), because I only learned today about these new Lenten projects...
Like the U.S. Bishops' Conference offering daily Lenten meditations. Here's the thought of the day in audio form. There is also a selection of video meditations on the site.
Archbishop Wuerl of Washington, DC, a long-time friend of our community (from the days when he was the dapper young assistant of John Cardinal Wright at the Vatican): he's got a YouTube message for Lent (it's embedded here), calling all Catholics to personally invite their "fallen-away" friends or family members, inviting them to return to a full Catholic life of Mass and the sacraments. The Archdiocese is even printing 50,000 invitations (available at all the parishes in the Washington DC diocese) and launched a special website to make it a little easier. Might be nice to forward the video to them, too, in a ... discreet way!
"Beware the Ice of March!"), because I only learned today about these new Lenten projects...
Like the U.S. Bishops' Conference offering daily Lenten meditations. Here's the thought of the day in audio form. There is also a selection of video meditations on the site.
Archbishop Wuerl of Washington, DC, a long-time friend of our community (from the days when he was the dapper young assistant of John Cardinal Wright at the Vatican): he's got a YouTube message for Lent (it's embedded here), calling all Catholics to personally invite their "fallen-away" friends or family members, inviting them to return to a full Catholic life of Mass and the sacraments. The Archdiocese is even printing 50,000 invitations (available at all the parishes in the Washington DC diocese) and launched a special website to make it a little easier. Might be nice to forward the video to them, too, in a ... discreet way!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Great Expectations
I have to say, I didn't know this morning whether to continue reflecting on yesterday's Gospel of the woman at the well or move on to today's liturgy with that wonderful character, Naaman the Syrian. I kind of did both, but kept going back to Naaman. First of all, he kept coming back to me because I have heard his named pronounced any number of ways. Is it NAY-man or is it NAH-man or even NA-A-man? I go with the first option (rhymes with Caanan, a biblical enough parallel).
I like the guy. And he must have been a remarkable character: how else to explain that he was allowed to maintain his military position and his household while he suffered leprosy? It's also impressive for his servants and even the little Jewish slave-girl to have been looking out for his best interests the way they did. And Naaman was up front about his expectations. Probably all the way to the prophet's house, he was imagining the miraculous healing he hoped for: the prophet would come through the door in dramatic attire, maybe waving incense and chanting incantations. Surely there would be an elaborate ritual as he called upon the God of Israel, trying to wrest the miracle from the Deity. And then, would there be supernatural phenomena? Would he hear trumpets, or see the angel touch his wretched skin? It had to be something amazing and worthy of a God...
But no. "Go to the Jordan seven times." That's all?
Naaman almost lost his miracle, because it took such an unassuming approach. His great expectations prevented him from recognizing the way God intended to act on his behalf!
That brings me back to yesterday's woman at the well. God certainly took an unexpected approach toward her! Instead of sending her to the Jordan, Jesus met her at the well. In that brief conversation, he gently awakened her to the truth about her mysteriously unhappy love life. She didn't run away or get defensive. She recognized that whoevere this stranger was, he was a prophet. And that was enough for Jesus. He led her thoughts from "prophet" to "Messiah," and then when she made that act of faith that indeed a Messiah was coming, he revealed to her what he refused to say outright to anyone else in the whole New Testament: "I who speak to you am he." He, the tired, thirsty stranger who couldn't even get himself a drink from the stagnant well of Sychar! And she believed him. She ran off, filled with unexplainable life and conviction, and mobilized the whole town. She left her water jar at the feet of Jesus. She suddenly had a "fountain of living water" springing up to quench her deepest thirst: that thirst that had previously led her from one man to another. She would never be thirsty like that again.
So between the two liturgies, we have two strong, appealing characters, two encounters with a God who doesn't always make a grab for our attention, and two healings involving the most basic element of all, water.
Do you identify more with Naaman or with the Samaritan at the well?
I like the guy. And he must have been a remarkable character: how else to explain that he was allowed to maintain his military position and his household while he suffered leprosy? It's also impressive for his servants and even the little Jewish slave-girl to have been looking out for his best interests the way they did. And Naaman was up front about his expectations. Probably all the way to the prophet's house, he was imagining the miraculous healing he hoped for: the prophet would come through the door in dramatic attire, maybe waving incense and chanting incantations. Surely there would be an elaborate ritual as he called upon the God of Israel, trying to wrest the miracle from the Deity. And then, would there be supernatural phenomena? Would he hear trumpets, or see the angel touch his wretched skin? It had to be something amazing and worthy of a God...
But no. "Go to the Jordan seven times." That's all?
Naaman almost lost his miracle, because it took such an unassuming approach. His great expectations prevented him from recognizing the way God intended to act on his behalf!
That brings me back to yesterday's woman at the well. God certainly took an unexpected approach toward her! Instead of sending her to the Jordan, Jesus met her at the well. In that brief conversation, he gently awakened her to the truth about her mysteriously unhappy love life. She didn't run away or get defensive. She recognized that whoevere this stranger was, he was a prophet. And that was enough for Jesus. He led her thoughts from "prophet" to "Messiah," and then when she made that act of faith that indeed a Messiah was coming, he revealed to her what he refused to say outright to anyone else in the whole New Testament: "I who speak to you am he." He, the tired, thirsty stranger who couldn't even get himself a drink from the stagnant well of Sychar! And she believed him. She ran off, filled with unexplainable life and conviction, and mobilized the whole town. She left her water jar at the feet of Jesus. She suddenly had a "fountain of living water" springing up to quench her deepest thirst: that thirst that had previously led her from one man to another. She would never be thirsty like that again.
So between the two liturgies, we have two strong, appealing characters, two encounters with a God who doesn't always make a grab for our attention, and two healings involving the most basic element of all, water.
Do you identify more with Naaman or with the Samaritan at the well?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
in case you were wondering...
I'm still pretty hobbled by the effects of that seemingly uneventful slip on the ice in Saint Paul (Saint Paul, of all cities!) last week. I'm getting around using crutches as ski poles to take some of the pressure off my back, praying on the living room floor with an ice pack on my back and generally avoiding anything that involves sitting. Like using a computer. (Believe me, this little spate is going to end really soon.) And I keep trying to "offer it up," as often as I think of it! Meanwhile, my sisters, Mary and Lea Ann, are enjoying the city, sometimes with me, sometimes...with me still on the ice pack while they take on the Magnificent Mile and the Great Green River.
Hope to be MUCH better by Monday.
Hope to be MUCH better by Monday.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Offer it up!
Last week in St. Paul, I spoke on "Paul, Joy and the Cross," and quoted my mother's famous line, "Offer it up!" The evening before, I slipped on a patch of black ice and slammed my back against the step of our van. I thought I had miraculously come home unscathed, but early this morning my back went into total spasm mode...right on time to coincide with my sisters' visit! ("Offer it up!")
While my sister Lea is off shopping for bargains, I read Pope Benedict's extraordinarily forthright answer to the "huge uproar" that resulted from the Vatican's lifting of the excommunications from those traditionalist bishops. The Holy Father is almost shockingly blunt in responding to the controversies that arose, and hints that he found more openness and understanding from the Jewish parties (who were understandably upset by one reality-challenged bishop's Holocaust-denying) than from many within the Church itself. There's no tip-toeing in this Papal letter. He admits that it was inadmissible for the Vatican not to have at least done some research on the Internet to see what the traditionalist bishops were teaching or doing on a wider scale than their formal meetings with Rome: "I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news." The responsible Vatican commission has been placed under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to make sure that further stages of the process (the hope is eventually healing the split, the division in the Body of Christ that this schism caused) will be undertaken with better information all around. He admits, "I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility." And the Pope even protests, "At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them – in this case the Pope – he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint."
I don't believe there has ever been a Papal letter that was so frank in addressing criticism, and equally frank in insisting that the Pope has to work for the unity of the Church, even in reaching out to a group that continues to manifest "arrogance and presumptuousness, an obsession with one-sided positions, etc." The mission of the Church demands it, and so does pastoral care for the "491 priests, 215 seminarians, 6 seminaries, 88 schools, 2 university-level institutes, 117 religious brothers, 164 religious sisters and thousands of lay faithful" that belong to the traditionalist Society.
While my sister Lea is off shopping for bargains, I read Pope Benedict's extraordinarily forthright answer to the "huge uproar" that resulted from the Vatican's lifting of the excommunications from those traditionalist bishops. The Holy Father is almost shockingly blunt in responding to the controversies that arose, and hints that he found more openness and understanding from the Jewish parties (who were understandably upset by one reality-challenged bishop's Holocaust-denying) than from many within the Church itself. There's no tip-toeing in this Papal letter. He admits that it was inadmissible for the Vatican not to have at least done some research on the Internet to see what the traditionalist bishops were teaching or doing on a wider scale than their formal meetings with Rome: "I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news." The responsible Vatican commission has been placed under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to make sure that further stages of the process (the hope is eventually healing the split, the division in the Body of Christ that this schism caused) will be undertaken with better information all around. He admits, "I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility." And the Pope even protests, "At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them – in this case the Pope – he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint."
I don't believe there has ever been a Papal letter that was so frank in addressing criticism, and equally frank in insisting that the Pope has to work for the unity of the Church, even in reaching out to a group that continues to manifest "arrogance and presumptuousness, an obsession with one-sided positions, etc." The mission of the Church demands it, and so does pastoral care for the "491 priests, 215 seminarians, 6 seminaries, 88 schools, 2 university-level institutes, 117 religious brothers, 164 religious sisters and thousands of lay faithful" that belong to the traditionalist Society.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
No "TOB Tonight"
Our usual Theology of the Body online study with Fr. Loya has to be postponed this month and next; I'll let you know when it's rescheduled! Meanwhile, catch up with the classes we managed to record.
Sr. Julia's (new) Favorites
I'm a little late putting this video together: it was recorded in January when I was in New Orleans. Among other things, I have lost, deleted or irretrievably re-named my video "closer." Not that it matters too much: I used my sister's camcorder and it was set to 16:9 proportions, so my opener doesn't match anyway. But enough about my technical woes: Sr. Julia talks about her current favorites!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
What God wants for Lent
This year I have been giving particular attention to the Responsorial Psalm in the day's liturgy (after 30 years of focusing on the Gospel of the day). Today's Psalm isn't on my list of favorites, but it really spoke to me this time. In Psalm 50, God is telling his people (to use the words of St. Paul), "I don't want what you have; I want you." Surprise, surprise: God is not interested in bullocks and goats. He complains that the people are very careful about offering all the right sacrifices and following all the liturgical rules for worship, but they are withholding their hearts. "He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me." The Communion Antiphon (when's the last time you even noticed there was one?) underlines the same theme: "I will tell of all your marvelous works; I will rejoice and be glad and sing to your name, O Most High."
I remember reading a passage from a book written (at our Founder's request) almost a hundred years ago, which said, "God has so constituted man that he finds his greatest happiness in giving praise to God." Lent really aims to free us from the impediments to this praise and happiness. Do we live it that way?
I remember reading a passage from a book written (at our Founder's request) almost a hundred years ago, which said, "God has so constituted man that he finds his greatest happiness in giving praise to God." Lent really aims to free us from the impediments to this praise and happiness. Do we live it that way?
Monday, March 09, 2009
Measure for Measure
Today's Gospel has that lovely promise about "full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" that is ours to be had, according to our own generosity (especially in forgiveness). This afternoon, I just opened the Letters of St. Paul to do some spiritual reading and my eyes fell precisely where St. Paul was reflecting the Gospel with his teaching, "The one who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and the one who sows abundantly will reap abundantly."
I am late blogging because I was abundantly ... catching up on many things left undone while I was in Minnesota. And amazingly, there are still many things undone! But my sisters are coming for a visit this week (sister #3, who is actually #6 in the family, is coming from Texas Wednesday; sister #1, right after me in birth order, will arrive on Saturday), so... I may not get all that much done anyway...
I am late blogging because I was abundantly ... catching up on many things left undone while I was in Minnesota. And amazingly, there are still many things undone! But my sisters are coming for a visit this week (sister #3, who is actually #6 in the family, is coming from Texas Wednesday; sister #1, right after me in birth order, will arrive on Saturday), so... I may not get all that much done anyway...
Friday, March 06, 2009
Mankato
We arrived in Mankato a bit ahead of schedule yesterday. (Sr. Helena was at the wheel for the most part.) My talk was at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, one of the oldest churches in Minnesota, a real gem--especially since it was renovated in the 90's, restoring some of the gold stenciling on the vaulted ceiling. The parish was in the hands of the Jesuits for 139 years, so the parish was celebrating a novena in honor of St. Francis Xavier. This being the year of St. Paul, though, the novena talks were all focused on St. Paul in one way or another. It was a bit awkward in terms of technology: the first part of the evening was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers, Scripture and Benediction. Then came my talk. So after Benediction, there was something of a scramble to get the screen set up on the top step, align the projector, computer and mike and then get going, but it worked out rather smoothly. Sr. Helena and I have been enjoying the gracious hospitality of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who have a spectactular place here in town. Their foundation dates to 1912, so many of the buildings are classic old-style boarding school, now fixed up for their large community. Many of the sisters are in assisted living, in a beautifully appointed facility. There was no "nursing home" gloom, and any of the sisters who are able to are still involved in teaching or other works: there is a learning center, ESL tutoring, arts (one sister does pheneomenal woodwork), even a ceramic studio with three kilns! Can you tell how impressed I am? I hope I can get our provincial to visit, because the sisters here have shown such marvelous imagination in the way they have provided for the care of their elderly sisters, while still allowing the sisters to contribute as fully as they can to the needs of the community.
In about an hour, we'll leave the good sisters and head to Saint Paul for tomorrow's retreat. Prayers!
In about an hour, we'll leave the good sisters and head to Saint Paul for tomorrow's retreat. Prayers!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Human Beings, 101
Sr. Helena is going to go where angels fear to tread, offering a presentation as part of our Saturday Bible study program. Here's what she hopes to offer:
Call the bookstore and leave a message for Sr. Helena for details or to reserve a spot 312 346 4228.
"Pre-Theology of the Body" (Human Beings 101)
Saturday, March 14, 1-2pm @ Pauline Books & Media--Chicago (FREE)
--Who did Cain and Abel marry?
--What about Evolution?
--How the heck did we get here and when? What does science say? What does religion say?
--How the heck did we get here and when? What does science say? What does religion say?
--Are humans primates?
--Are Neanderthals human?
--What's the difference between spirit and soul?
--Do animals have souls?
Call the bookstore and leave a message for Sr. Helena for details or to reserve a spot 312 346 4228.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Lent
Someone asked me if I'm giving anything up for Lent. Not really. But today (it's late, but it's still only the first week of Lent!) I decided I could try to "put up" with something for Lent. As in, winter. Because this is Chicago and winter is, well, you know, still in its prime, so to speak. I suppose I was inspired by the first reading, with its reminder, "Just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth...so shall my Word be."
What about you? Are you "putting up" or "giving up" for Lent?
What about you? Are you "putting up" or "giving up" for Lent?
Monday, March 02, 2009
Present to the Presence
Used to be, retreat directors would begin a sermon with the solemn injunction, "Let us place ourselves in the presence of God..." Of course, we are always in God's presence, but not always "present" to the presence. And so we can often do things, make choices, think thoughts, that reflect that lack of awareness. This is what today's magnificent first reading (from the book of Leviticus) addresses.
"Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." St. Paul put it this way, "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that you may know what is God's will: what is good, pleasing and perfect."
This becomes the basis for all the Commandments, as the Lord details the kind of life he is talking about; the kind of life he himself desires for us. And after every topic, the refrain comes, "I am the Lord."
"Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." St. Paul put it this way, "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that you may know what is God's will: what is good, pleasing and perfect."
This becomes the basis for all the Commandments, as the Lord details the kind of life he is talking about; the kind of life he himself desires for us. And after every topic, the refrain comes, "I am the Lord."
"....You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.The Gospel takes that last line and changes it to, "You shall love your neighbor as Myself": "Whatsoever you do to the least, you do to me." Saul would discover this on the road to Damascus ("Why are you persecuting Me?") and it would change his life forever.
You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.
You shall not curse the deaf,
or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,
but you shall fear your God.
I am the LORD.
"You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.
Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,
but judge your fellow men justly.
You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;
nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake.
I am the LORD....
....You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
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