Today's feast of St. Andrew is already offering me a lot of insight. When I read the Gospel for this feast (the call of not only Andrew, but Peter, James and John with him), I was especially struck by the phrase "he left his nets" at that unnuanced call of Jesus, "Come, follow Me." Suddenly, an image from one of the parables came to mind: the parable of the man who "finds a treasure in a field, and, rejoicing at his find, goes and sells all he has to buy the field." I don't remember if the Advent liturgy will give us this parable (I don't think it does), but it is very fitting for a time of "joyful hope" for something hidden in plain sight. The ascetical dimension of Advent is supposed to train us to recognize that treasure for all its worth, and equip us to leave our nets, too, to follow Him.
We have our first concert tonight, at St. Ephrem's in Brooklyn. At the midpoint, there is a little skit along the lines of "Sister Act" (there is even a pair of red satin heels for Sr Nancy!); we're going to [spoiler alert!] sing the "I will Follow Him" song from the movie. What a great reminder of today's Gospel!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
So I'm with the choir in New York all week (except for Cleveland on Friday). We're still learning the notes and the ropes for our first concert--which is Tuesday (not Monday, which is what I had in my head all this time--what a relief!).
One of the weird things about the concert tour is that it tends to shortcut Advent for me. After all these years, I am beginning to realize that this is not going to change. Instead, I need to find ways to reinforce the Advent themes and focus for myself. I got a helpful insight into how to do that from yesterday's short reading from Paul and his typical language of "putting on the Lord Jesus." Using our Founder's "Way, Truth and Life" approach, I have a new tool in my Advent toolbox: I want to take the commandments, counsels and examples that the readings offer as ways of "putting on the Lord Jesus" who is our Way to the Father. The instruction and teachings (especially the ones that seem to address misplaced values or priorities in my life) are the Truth that can "transform me by the renewal of my mind"--"putting on the Lord Jesus" in my mind. Putting on the Lord Jesus as Way and Truth means discovering that "in him was Life, Life for the light of humanity." Discovering Jesus where we do not expect to see him is the quintessential Advent grace, isn't it? I hope this little Advent focus will help redeem the season from all the preemptive Christmas language we'll be singing so early on.
Back in Chicago, meanwhile, the big news is that the Sony spotlight is on Danny Hidalgo, one of the Spirit Juice producers who is working on the documentary with Sr. Helena. The Sony site features users of, naturally, Sony equipment--and showcases their work, too. So not only will you meet Danny (which is nice enough; he's a great guy--something I can affirm after we spent ten days in Italy working on the film), two of his projects are also getting exposure right on Sony's site, and one of them is a powerful "choose life" short. Plus there's a mention of our documentary (did you watch the trailer yet?). (Please watch and rate his videos!)
Welcome to the new Nunblog subscribers! Glad to have you join the conversation.
One of the weird things about the concert tour is that it tends to shortcut Advent for me. After all these years, I am beginning to realize that this is not going to change. Instead, I need to find ways to reinforce the Advent themes and focus for myself. I got a helpful insight into how to do that from yesterday's short reading from Paul and his typical language of "putting on the Lord Jesus." Using our Founder's "Way, Truth and Life" approach, I have a new tool in my Advent toolbox: I want to take the commandments, counsels and examples that the readings offer as ways of "putting on the Lord Jesus" who is our Way to the Father. The instruction and teachings (especially the ones that seem to address misplaced values or priorities in my life) are the Truth that can "transform me by the renewal of my mind"--"putting on the Lord Jesus" in my mind. Putting on the Lord Jesus as Way and Truth means discovering that "in him was Life, Life for the light of humanity." Discovering Jesus where we do not expect to see him is the quintessential Advent grace, isn't it? I hope this little Advent focus will help redeem the season from all the preemptive Christmas language we'll be singing so early on.
Back in Chicago, meanwhile, the big news is that the Sony spotlight is on Danny Hidalgo, one of the Spirit Juice producers who is working on the documentary with Sr. Helena. The Sony site features users of, naturally, Sony equipment--and showcases their work, too. So not only will you meet Danny (which is nice enough; he's a great guy--something I can affirm after we spent ten days in Italy working on the film), two of his projects are also getting exposure right on Sony's site, and one of them is a powerful "choose life" short. Plus there's a mention of our documentary (did you watch the trailer yet?). (Please watch and rate his videos!)
Welcome to the new Nunblog subscribers! Glad to have you join the conversation.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Reporting from New York
This being the official feast day of Blessed James Alberione, we had a special Mass this morning (and some of Sr Catherine's cinnamon rolls--hidden from sight on Thanksgiving--at breakfast). Then the cars started heading out. We landed on Staten Island in time to unpack and then run through our music for the first time--enough to get a sense of which songs are going to need the most work before our first concert (Monday night?!).
I had been reviewing my music in the car--it's funny how many words in the English language have become seasonal terms; we really don't use or hear them except in carols and Christmas cards. Not that they've been replaced with more contemporary expressions, either! (I heard recently that spoken English is shrinking as more countries begin to adopt it; with so many people using English as a commercial language or a second language, the vocabulary is focusing more or basic terms, and losing some of the more nuanced verbs and adjectives. But that's got little to do with words like "merry" and "meek" and "lowly" and "mirth" (which we're singing a lot of these days!). We're doing one song in Italian--the one that is usually rendered as "When blossoms flower'd midst the snow," even though the original has nothing to do with snow or Christmas Roses. Italian also seems to have some bygone vocabulary that you only seem to hear at Christmas: pargolo, for example. I only lived in Italy three years, it's true, but I never heard anyone refer to an infant or toddler as a "pargolo" (with the exception of Jesus). But the word could still be "attuale" (current), just not common; I don't know.
There's something charming about these lost words; a reminder that we are entering into another rhythm here, one with roots deep in the past. When we conform to its language, we are admitting that we do not determine the full significance of what we are celebrating; it has been given to us, along with those quaint words in which another era shares its perspective with us.
I had been reviewing my music in the car--it's funny how many words in the English language have become seasonal terms; we really don't use or hear them except in carols and Christmas cards. Not that they've been replaced with more contemporary expressions, either! (I heard recently that spoken English is shrinking as more countries begin to adopt it; with so many people using English as a commercial language or a second language, the vocabulary is focusing more or basic terms, and losing some of the more nuanced verbs and adjectives. But that's got little to do with words like "merry" and "meek" and "lowly" and "mirth" (which we're singing a lot of these days!). We're doing one song in Italian--the one that is usually rendered as "When blossoms flower'd midst the snow," even though the original has nothing to do with snow or Christmas Roses. Italian also seems to have some bygone vocabulary that you only seem to hear at Christmas: pargolo, for example. I only lived in Italy three years, it's true, but I never heard anyone refer to an infant or toddler as a "pargolo" (with the exception of Jesus). But the word could still be "attuale" (current), just not common; I don't know.
There's something charming about these lost words; a reminder that we are entering into another rhythm here, one with roots deep in the past. When we conform to its language, we are admitting that we do not determine the full significance of what we are celebrating; it has been given to us, along with those quaint words in which another era shares its perspective with us.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Title reminder
I begged the Tribune editor for a new title--she's working on it. But she reminded me that she has to assign titles that will Google well, even if the title doesn't do much to help the post's message. Another sign of the times!
My Trib post got a new address
My Trib post got a new address; I'm hoping for a new title, but that's the editor's call.
And here's Fr. Barron's take, God bless him. "Condoms! Condoms! Condoms!"
And here's Fr. Barron's take, God bless him. "Condoms! Condoms! Condoms!"
The Pope Said WHAT? Part 2
So it's still on the front page. This time, we get a second clarification from Vatican spokesman Fr. Lombardi. (Here's the first, which is really quite clear.) The Pope's example of a male prostitute was not meant to be the only possible scenario he envisions. What he said applies just the same to a woman.
It's still not an endorsement of condoms ("not a real or moral solution" to the AIDS crisis in Africa); it's not a change in the Church's teaching on contraception. Nor is it (as some disenchanted Catholics are saying) a sell-out. In defending the Church's stand (that condom use "is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection"), the Pope acknowledged that an HIV-infected person could be showing the first glimmers of genuine human concern by attempting to reduce the risk of passing on that infection to someone else. That concern is something to be encouraged, whatever form it takes at first.
Peter Seewald, the German journalist who asked the question in the first place is now bemoaning what has happened since Saturday when the ineptly-managed Vatican newspaper broke a press embargo on the interview book: "Our book speaks to the survival of [our] planet that is threatened; the Pope appeals to humanity -- our world is in the process of collapse, and half the journalists are only interested in the issue of condoms." The real question the Pope is raising, Seewald says, is "Does sexuality have something to do with love?" To focus so exclusively on condoms is "ridiculous." (Read more here.)
The Chicago Tribune Seeker blog has featured my guest post about the matter (it's a revised version of what I posted here the other day). Please add your comments there.
Here's an article from the Tablet with more perspectives.
It's still not an endorsement of condoms ("not a real or moral solution" to the AIDS crisis in Africa); it's not a change in the Church's teaching on contraception. Nor is it (as some disenchanted Catholics are saying) a sell-out. In defending the Church's stand (that condom use "is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection"), the Pope acknowledged that an HIV-infected person could be showing the first glimmers of genuine human concern by attempting to reduce the risk of passing on that infection to someone else. That concern is something to be encouraged, whatever form it takes at first.
Peter Seewald, the German journalist who asked the question in the first place is now bemoaning what has happened since Saturday when the ineptly-managed Vatican newspaper broke a press embargo on the interview book: "Our book speaks to the survival of [our] planet that is threatened; the Pope appeals to humanity -- our world is in the process of collapse, and half the journalists are only interested in the issue of condoms." The real question the Pope is raising, Seewald says, is "Does sexuality have something to do with love?" To focus so exclusively on condoms is "ridiculous." (Read more here.)
The Chicago Tribune Seeker blog has featured my guest post about the matter (it's a revised version of what I posted here the other day). Please add your comments there.
Here's an article from the Tablet with more perspectives.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
kingdom against Kingdom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_slaveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_slavesToday's Gospel sure matches the headlines about the two Koreas. But it is also profoundly fitting for one of the holy men whose feast day is today. (Make that for all three of them.)
St. Clement, one of the first Popes, may have been a slave* in the Imperial household back at the end of the 1st century. He moved (in secret, no doubt) from Caesar's household to the kingdom of Christ, and died a martyr of that supernatural Kingdom. St. Columba, the indefatigable founder of monasteries (in the process preserving Western Civilization?) planted miniature versions of the Kingdom across the British Isles and into France and Italy. And Blessed Miguel Pro? Facing a firing squad in his native Mexico (not even a century ago), his last words were "Viva Cristo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King!)
Jesus' words still hold true: "Seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness, and all other things will be given you in addition."
*See the list of slaves known to us by name; there are two Popes in the "C" list.
St. Clement, one of the first Popes, may have been a slave* in the Imperial household back at the end of the 1st century. He moved (in secret, no doubt) from Caesar's household to the kingdom of Christ, and died a martyr of that supernatural Kingdom. St. Columba, the indefatigable founder of monasteries (in the process preserving Western Civilization?) planted miniature versions of the Kingdom across the British Isles and into France and Italy. And Blessed Miguel Pro? Facing a firing squad in his native Mexico (not even a century ago), his last words were "Viva Cristo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King!)
Jesus' words still hold true: "Seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness, and all other things will be given you in addition."
*See the list of slaves known to us by name; there are two Popes in the "C" list.
NOLA bound
My provincial superior gave me permission over the summer to come up with something to do in a warm climate as a kind of coping mechanism to break up the Chicago winter into something more manageable. She didn't have to push too hard! So toward the end of January I'll be in New Orleans, offering a few talks at our book center (about the Mass and probably about the new Roman Missal) and doing a little something at Holy Name parish as well. And anything else that comes my way.
In between, I do have other projects that have been on the back burner for quite a while, so it'll be great to actually tackle them. (And, it goes without saying, to see my family, too. (My sister lives a few blocks from the convent; Mom is a half-mile walk, and another sister is two miles from there.)
If your parish is in the Greater New Orleans area and would be interested in a talk on the liturgy (or on new media, or St. Paul), please have someone from the staff contact me. (My Google Voice # is (985) 276-9413.)
In between, I do have other projects that have been on the back burner for quite a while, so it'll be great to actually tackle them. (And, it goes without saying, to see my family, too. (My sister lives a few blocks from the convent; Mom is a half-mile walk, and another sister is two miles from there.)
If your parish is in the Greater New Orleans area and would be interested in a talk on the liturgy (or on new media, or St. Paul), please have someone from the staff contact me. (My Google Voice # is (985) 276-9413.)
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Pope said WHAT?
Continuing with the issue raised by the Pope's comments (cited in the book to be released tomorrow), whenever you see something really, really surprising in a headline, it's always a good idea to go to the source and read it yourself.
Here's the source.
And below are greater lights than myself offering some well-grounded perspective, for the benefit of those who still don't get it. Like that priest in Zimbabwe who was quoted in an AP article, "Now... they can go ahead and do safe sex."
As if. I guess he didn't bother to read more than the headlines, either. (Rev. Peter Makome, you are now on my prayer list.)
John Allen, Vaticanista par excellence
Jimmy Akin (cites Janet Smith) in the National Catholic Register (Akin also points out that L'Osservatore Romano is at fault for violating the publishing embargo on the book's contents).
Courage Man is a brave voice crying out in this wilderness about an issue that affects him on a very personal level.
Dr. Janet Smith (more from Dr. Smith in an interview here)
George Weigel (John Paul II biographer) citing the Pope at length, as well as Dr. Smith.
The Curt Jester (and here where he is at his sardonic best in invoking the Far Side).
And, in damage control mode, the Vatican Press Office clarifies the Pope's remarks and their context.
Here's the source.
And below are greater lights than myself offering some well-grounded perspective, for the benefit of those who still don't get it. Like that priest in Zimbabwe who was quoted in an AP article, "Now... they can go ahead and do safe sex."
As if. I guess he didn't bother to read more than the headlines, either. (Rev. Peter Makome, you are now on my prayer list.)
John Allen, Vaticanista par excellence
Jimmy Akin (cites Janet Smith) in the National Catholic Register (Akin also points out that L'Osservatore Romano is at fault for violating the publishing embargo on the book's contents).
Courage Man is a brave voice crying out in this wilderness about an issue that affects him on a very personal level.
Dr. Janet Smith (more from Dr. Smith in an interview here)
George Weigel (John Paul II biographer) citing the Pope at length, as well as Dr. Smith.
The Curt Jester (and here where he is at his sardonic best in invoking the Far Side).
And, in damage control mode, the Vatican Press Office clarifies the Pope's remarks and their context.
Pauline Potpourri
Mom's going to like this: Carlos Torres, the Catechist in the Corner (@CatechistCorner) was at the "geek table" Friday for the workshop Sr. Helena and I offered. Beltway News: Our sisters in Alexandria, VA are looking forward to a benefit concert of instrumental music (Chopin, Faure, Rachmaninov and Schubert) to be held at St. Mary's Lyceum on December 6.
On the viola, Erin Nolin (formerly of the English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; also played with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project). On the piano, Donna Stoering (Grammy award nominee, student of Sir Georg Solti, founder/director of Listen for Life).
December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Holy Family Auditorium (second floor)
313 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA
Free-will contributions benefit the work of the Daughters of St. Paul.
Hint, Hint: Just updated my Amazon "wish list". Sister Helena's a long-time subscriber to "Books & Culture" (and sometimes remembers to share). The issue she left in the community room featured two books that interest me intensely. One is on Paul: a reading of Paul by a classics scholar, who addresses some of the biggest modern misinterpretations of Paul. Overall, the author says, Paul is absolutely remarkable as a writer in antiquity. Then there's a book about the first thousand years of history of Christian music. (Too bad I can't read that one before our concert series begins next week! I'd really have a broad historical context for what we are doing!)Sunday, November 21, 2010
Chopin, Faure, Rachm
Chopin, Faure, Rachmaninov and Schubert Dec. 6, 7:30 pm 313 Duke Street (second floor), Alexandria VA. Free will offering for the benefit of the Daughters of St. Paul. Erin Nolin (formerly of English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Royal Philarmonic, Silk Road Project); Donna Stoering (Grammy nominee, founder of "Listen for Life"), piano.
What a weekend!
Just last week Pope Benedict issued an extremely important (and long-awaited) document on the Bible, the first such document in over forty years. Aside from a few perfunctory mentions, the worldwide press hit the "snooze" button.
They're wide awake now.
In case you saw headlines to the contrary, let me just clarify what the Pope did not say in his informal interview with German journalist Peter Seewald. Benedict did not say that condoms were "OK" for male prostitutes or even "acceptable." What he said in no way constitutes an "historic change" (sorry, Tribune). He especially does not say that condom use would be "justified" in certain cases, though some papers put that on Page 1.
What he did do (in response to a specific question about the Church and AIDs in Africa) was propose the very hypothetical and deliberately extreme example of a male prostitute coming to an initial realization that he could be infecting customers with the HIV virus. If such a person began using condoms to minimize (certainly not eradicate) that risk, this would be an example, the Pope said, of a person making a first step toward awareness of the other as a person. In other words, the Pope wasn't talking about condoms as much as he was about people and their relationships (and the "banalization" of sexuality that causes so much heartbreak).
Benedict seems to have gone out of his way to propose a scenario that would explicitly not involve a contraceptive intention: there is no way to interpret his example as even a grudging toleration of contraception. Instead, the focus is on the interior act of the person who, in a flawed and incomplete way, demonstrates concern. Even when everything else is out of sync, acting with a view to someone else's good is commendable.
They're wide awake now.
In case you saw headlines to the contrary, let me just clarify what the Pope did not say in his informal interview with German journalist Peter Seewald. Benedict did not say that condoms were "OK" for male prostitutes or even "acceptable." What he said in no way constitutes an "historic change" (sorry, Tribune). He especially does not say that condom use would be "justified" in certain cases, though some papers put that on Page 1.
What he did do (in response to a specific question about the Church and AIDs in Africa) was propose the very hypothetical and deliberately extreme example of a male prostitute coming to an initial realization that he could be infecting customers with the HIV virus. If such a person began using condoms to minimize (certainly not eradicate) that risk, this would be an example, the Pope said, of a person making a first step toward awareness of the other as a person. In other words, the Pope wasn't talking about condoms as much as he was about people and their relationships (and the "banalization" of sexuality that causes so much heartbreak).
Benedict seems to have gone out of his way to propose a scenario that would explicitly not involve a contraceptive intention: there is no way to interpret his example as even a grudging toleration of contraception. Instead, the focus is on the interior act of the person who, in a flawed and incomplete way, demonstrates concern. Even when everything else is out of sync, acting with a view to someone else's good is commendable.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
I'm back!!
Wow, this has been intense! Now things are getting back to "normal." Sort of. I'm in Boston, about to begin preparing in earnest for our Christmas concert series (begins a week from Monday). So I hope my schedule leaves me enough space to resume my daily liturgy haiku and reflect enough to have a little something to share here. (That didn't happen today, but "hope springs eternal in the human heart.")
Back home in Chicago, our sister is home from her unexpected visit to the hospital, happy with the four units of blood that brought her back from the brink. (She still has some tests to undergo to discover what led her to that brink in the first place.) Naturally, the whole community was struck by the gift of life that was made through those four blood donors (we all want to reciprocate to the extent possible).
Also back in Chicago, our front window has been attracting some attention. (How long has it been since you passed a complete nativity seen in a show window?) Read about it on our bookcenter blog--and come on by, if you're in downtown Chicago this season!
Back home in Chicago, our sister is home from her unexpected visit to the hospital, happy with the four units of blood that brought her back from the brink. (She still has some tests to undergo to discover what led her to that brink in the first place.) Naturally, the whole community was struck by the gift of life that was made through those four blood donors (we all want to reciprocate to the extent possible).
Also back in Chicago, our front window has been attracting some attention. (How long has it been since you passed a complete nativity seen in a show window?) Read about it on our bookcenter blog--and come on by, if you're in downtown Chicago this season!
Monday, November 15, 2010
A challenging week got more challenging today; I spent the day seeing that a sister got admitted to the hospital. (She's getting some good, red O+ right now.) Tomorrow I hope to make some progress on the workshop for the Boston catechists (that's for Friday); we're getting some extra nun-power from the East Coast to help keep the mission going in Chicago with so many sisters out (for one reason or other).
I may not be able to share any reflections this week; at least you know what is causing the silence!
I may not be able to share any reflections this week; at least you know what is causing the silence!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Feast Day
I had planned on going to the Cathedral for Mass, but when my morning commitments resolved themselves sooner than I expected, I headed to Assumption Church for its 7:30 Mass. What an inspired decision! Today was the feast of a former parishioner, St. Frances Cabrini. And Fr. Joe had a few interesting anecdotes from the parish annals to share in his homily (fittingly, the Gospel was the parable of the persistent widow). For instance, it was Mother Cabrini who started the parish school (no longer in existence in this neighborhood that for decades was largely industrial/commercial and is only now becoming residential). When she died, Mother Cabrini was making Christmas packages for Assumption's students. At her canonization, the parish ordered one of the first statues of the first American citizen saint. The pastor even went to Italy to pick it up. And there was a solemn blessing for its installation in the Church.
But the people in the parish who actually remembered Mother Cabrini objected strongly to the depiction. The sweet, youthful features didn't resemble the strong, stern Northern Italian woman they had known in her old age. The statue had to be packed up and a new, more lifelike one installed. That's the statue you'll find in the church today.
Since I have a family connection to Mother Cabrini (my great-grandfather sold his French Quarter house to her), I was delighted to learn more about this saint who lived and served Chicago 100 years ago. And I pray to her for the people who follow in her steps today: her own Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, of course, but in a special way those who, like her, put themselves on the line for the sake of people that society shoves aside or forgets. (Mother Cabrini can probably teach them a thing or two about working the system, too!)
But the people in the parish who actually remembered Mother Cabrini objected strongly to the depiction. The sweet, youthful features didn't resemble the strong, stern Northern Italian woman they had known in her old age. The statue had to be packed up and a new, more lifelike one installed. That's the statue you'll find in the church today.
Since I have a family connection to Mother Cabrini (my great-grandfather sold his French Quarter house to her), I was delighted to learn more about this saint who lived and served Chicago 100 years ago. And I pray to her for the people who follow in her steps today: her own Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, of course, but in a special way those who, like her, put themselves on the line for the sake of people that society shoves aside or forgets. (Mother Cabrini can probably teach them a thing or two about working the system, too!)
Friday, November 12, 2010
Here we go again...
Just got the first breaths of the latest holiday tradition. You know what I mean: the billboards from our agnostic and unbelieving brethren. Not that they're offering good wishes of "peace on earth, good will to men." No, it's not that transcendent, usually. The campaigns are typically pouty, petulant and even snarky. Defensive to the point of being offensive, sometimes.
Truth to tell, what I think really bothers me is that the Christianity these ads attack (and they quite often are "attack" ads) is just your stereotypical fundamentalism, which sees the whole world (and everyone in it) as unredeemed, apart from any explicit confession of Christ.
Since fundamentalism is barely 100 years old, this allows the ad sponsors to claim the entire intellectual history of Western Civilization (Christian civilization in the west) as their own while conveniently ignoring its Christian sources. The generations of monks who pursued ultimate wisdom, preserving and studying ancient texts, founding the first universities, fostering technological inventions and science as we know it? Replaced by a single bible quote taken out of context. Honestly, the intellectual dishonesty is a bit much to swallow. Especially from a group that is claiming the intellectual high ground.
As someone who has (on more than one occasion) been buttonholed by an earnest evangelist ("Are you saved?"), I suppose I can identify with the defensiveness that is so apparent in some of the ad slogans. I can even understand that they might come to believe that Christians' primary motivation in life has to do with judgment and guilt (although...might that be projection?). Maybe the sponsors of the ads don't know enough to realize that a Catholic worldview is something quite different. (Would it hurt them to do a little homework?)
Well, I for one would like to take the occasion to invite our secular humanists brothers and sisters to a celebration of God's humanism. We call it "Christmas." The focal point is a child, as human a value as they come. And his motto is "Peace on earth, good will to men."
Is that really something to pout about?
I'm thinking of submitting this post to the Chicago Tribune for its spirituality blog; am I coming across in too hostile or snarky a manner myself? Help me revise!
Truth to tell, what I think really bothers me is that the Christianity these ads attack (and they quite often are "attack" ads) is just your stereotypical fundamentalism, which sees the whole world (and everyone in it) as unredeemed, apart from any explicit confession of Christ.
Since fundamentalism is barely 100 years old, this allows the ad sponsors to claim the entire intellectual history of Western Civilization (Christian civilization in the west) as their own while conveniently ignoring its Christian sources. The generations of monks who pursued ultimate wisdom, preserving and studying ancient texts, founding the first universities, fostering technological inventions and science as we know it? Replaced by a single bible quote taken out of context. Honestly, the intellectual dishonesty is a bit much to swallow. Especially from a group that is claiming the intellectual high ground.
As someone who has (on more than one occasion) been buttonholed by an earnest evangelist ("Are you saved?"), I suppose I can identify with the defensiveness that is so apparent in some of the ad slogans. I can even understand that they might come to believe that Christians' primary motivation in life has to do with judgment and guilt (although...might that be projection?). Maybe the sponsors of the ads don't know enough to realize that a Catholic worldview is something quite different. (Would it hurt them to do a little homework?)
Well, I for one would like to take the occasion to invite our secular humanists brothers and sisters to a celebration of God's humanism. We call it "Christmas." The focal point is a child, as human a value as they come. And his motto is "Peace on earth, good will to men."
Is that really something to pout about?
I'm thinking of submitting this post to the Chicago Tribune for its spirituality blog; am I coming across in too hostile or snarky a manner myself? Help me revise!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
In the midst of the Kingdom
Today's Gospel was that ever-pertinent passage telling us that the "Kingdom of God" is not "here," "there" or "anywhere", but that we ourselves are surrounded by God's presence and power. All we really have to do is learn to pay attention.
Of course, sometimes God acts in ways that make you just sit up with attention. That's what happened in my family four years ago today.... When my sister, whom Hurricane Katrina had flooded out of her home, and who had to live in a trailer while her house was gutted and repaired, and who endured repeated problems with the trailer...
married the trailer repairman.
Happy Anniversary, Jane and Jim!
Of course, sometimes God acts in ways that make you just sit up with attention. That's what happened in my family four years ago today.... When my sister, whom Hurricane Katrina had flooded out of her home, and who had to live in a trailer while her house was gutted and repaired, and who endured repeated problems with the trailer...married the trailer repairman.
Happy Anniversary, Jane and Jim!
| From nunblog |
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Home again!
It took all day, but I'm back in Chicago now, and the weather is almost worthy of Texas! (Let's hear it for Indian Summer!)
In Texas, I was doing the social-networking-as-ministry thing for the priests of the archdiocese of San Antonio. It was kind of poignant, because just we had been in San Antonio for over 50 years, but left not quite two years ago. We just couldn't keep our book center going, between the changes in the world of publishing (and that was before the Kindle!) and the unending construction that cut all access to our little building on the Plaza by the Cathedral. So many of the priests asked about the sisters they remembered from the book center and from parish book fairs. (Sr. Lupe, Sr. Beatriz, Sr. Kathleen, Sr. Susan and Sr. Thecla, you all got special call-outs!)
Sr Helena and I now have a week before we go to Boston together to offer an in-service for the catechists of that archdiocese--and I'll stay on in Boston through Thanksgiving, learning the music for our Christmas concert series which begins the week after that. (Two new parishes!) Busy times ahead.
If you are in the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia-Ohio-Boston area, I hope you can make it to one! (That's me in the middle, bidding you welcome!)
Secure Online Registration for Philadelphia and Boston
In Texas, I was doing the social-networking-as-ministry thing for the priests of the archdiocese of San Antonio. It was kind of poignant, because just we had been in San Antonio for over 50 years, but left not quite two years ago. We just couldn't keep our book center going, between the changes in the world of publishing (and that was before the Kindle!) and the unending construction that cut all access to our little building on the Plaza by the Cathedral. So many of the priests asked about the sisters they remembered from the book center and from parish book fairs. (Sr. Lupe, Sr. Beatriz, Sr. Kathleen, Sr. Susan and Sr. Thecla, you all got special call-outs!)
Sr Helena and I now have a week before we go to Boston together to offer an in-service for the catechists of that archdiocese--and I'll stay on in Boston through Thanksgiving, learning the music for our Christmas concert series which begins the week after that. (Two new parishes!) Busy times ahead.
If you are in the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia-Ohio-Boston area, I hope you can make it to one! (That's me in the middle, bidding you welcome!)
Secure Online Registration for Philadelphia and Boston
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Getting ready to fly (again)
I'm almost packed and my talks are almost finished (sort of). But I couldn't let today's readings go without a comment! Besides, the liturgy responded so well to my needs at this point, it practically held a megaphone to my ears. And on top of that, the priest used the prayers in honor of Mary, "Mother of Divine Providence." Which just about sums it all up.
Paul is thanking his beloved Philippians for the supply package (and helper!) they sent. (If you were in a Roman prison, food was not included with accommodations!) But Paul says that he is happier for the Philippians' sake than for his own. As for himself, he has learned "the secret": it is that Jesus is really all he needs.
So you don't see Paul worrying about himself. He does worry, but it's "anxiety for the Churches" and for his "children." In his own regard, Paul fully lives the attitude Jesus enjoined on us in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not worry about food or clothing; Your Father in heaven knows all you need. Seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all the rest will be given you in addition."
This is the very passage our Founder used as the basis of a very substantial prayer that he composed in about 1919. I think it is significant that our Founder used a very Pauline term for the prayer: he called it the "Secret of Success." It is the same secret Paul shared with the Philippians. And just as Paul is certain that his own deepest needs will be amply met by God's generosity--right up to the greatest, most foundational need ("the surpassing good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"), Paul assures the Philippians (and, today, me), "My God will fully supply your needs, in accord with his great generosity in Christ Jesus."
It's not a secret; it's a promise!
Paul is thanking his beloved Philippians for the supply package (and helper!) they sent. (If you were in a Roman prison, food was not included with accommodations!) But Paul says that he is happier for the Philippians' sake than for his own. As for himself, he has learned "the secret": it is that Jesus is really all he needs.
So you don't see Paul worrying about himself. He does worry, but it's "anxiety for the Churches" and for his "children." In his own regard, Paul fully lives the attitude Jesus enjoined on us in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not worry about food or clothing; Your Father in heaven knows all you need. Seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all the rest will be given you in addition."
This is the very passage our Founder used as the basis of a very substantial prayer that he composed in about 1919. I think it is significant that our Founder used a very Pauline term for the prayer: he called it the "Secret of Success." It is the same secret Paul shared with the Philippians. And just as Paul is certain that his own deepest needs will be amply met by God's generosity--right up to the greatest, most foundational need ("the surpassing good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"), Paul assures the Philippians (and, today, me), "My God will fully supply your needs, in accord with his great generosity in Christ Jesus."
It's not a secret; it's a promise!
Friday, November 05, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
No time to post!
In lieu of writing (all my writing is going into my talks for next week), I planned to share a few pictures from our Italian adventures. Unfortunately, all I'm getting are server errors... Maybe tomorrow I'll have a chance to try again. Sorry for the sparse content lately (not that it can be helped!)...
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Overbooked!
I'm dashing to create clean copies of my presentations for San Antonio next week--to the detriment of such things as sleep and exercise, I'm afraid--but tomorrow I have to go a bit off topic and give a short talk about Eucharistic adoration to the committed adorers at Holy Name Cathedral. And bring along a box or so of prayer/spirituality resources. I say this is off topic because all week I have been focusing on social media and the new evangelization. I even brought a pound and a half of notes with me to Italy--along with about 8 Church documents on communications (only one of which I even touched the whole time). (I had such good will.)
You know that line in the Psalm, "If the Lord does not build the house...in vain is your earlier rising?" I've been repeating it to myself a lot lately. I hope he "pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber"!
You know that line in the Psalm, "If the Lord does not build the house...in vain is your earlier rising?" I've been repeating it to myself a lot lately. I hope he "pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber"!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
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