The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson is the best movie ever made about the event that changed the world forever. It is a Lenten tradition in my house to re-watch it each year. I can't help but wonder what the folks at the Oscars were thinking when they failed to even nominate James Caviezel who portrayed Jesus of Nazareth in the movie. If there was a better performance that year, I did not see it and I saw the movie that won for best male lead in 2004. No offense to Jamie Foxx but Caviezel's performance is the best I have seen by anyone ever. What the Oscar awards tell us its that the story of Ray Charles was more important than the story of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It brings me to the point about Hollywood and the movie business. Many of the heresies fought throughout the history of the Church are still around. They have merely assumed new forms, as the devil is known to do. I am speaking in this case of Gnosticism-Docetism which involves denying God came in the flesh. I think that the refusal of Hollywood to acknowledge Caviezel's performance was much more about the who than the what. Because Gibson and Caviezel had chosen to create a cinematic masterpiece about Jesus, the easiest thing to do was to ignore it and hope it went away. Of course, we all know that this movie did not go away and became, at the time, one of the top grossing movies of all time. It is still ranked in the top 15 all-time. Do you remember how entire congregations attended the movie as a community? In fact, it was staged at several mega-churches so that people could view it and then discuss it. These were not only Catholic Churches, which somehow left it to individuals to make the trip to the movie-plex, but Full Gospel, Evangelical, Non-denominational congregations as well as  small, mainline Protestant churches.Gnostic ideas found a Jewish variation in the mystical study of Kabbalah. The Kabbalists took many core Gnostic ideas and used them to dramatically reinterpret earlier Jewish sources according to this new influence.While Kabbalah shares several themes with Gnosticism, such as a multiplicity of heavenly levels and archetypes and the importance of mystical knowledge of these, it does not reflect the distinctive Gnostic belief that the material world and the Hebrew Bible are the work of an inferior and malevolent deity. Rather than describing Kabbalah as a form of Gnosticism, it would be more accurate to describe both Kabbalah and Gnosticism as members of a family of Neoplatonic/Neopythagorean Oriental mystical traditions.A heretical doctrine  of Christianity, Docetism is the belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was His crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality He was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die. This belief treats the sentence "the Word was made Flesh" (John 1:14) as merely figurative. Modern day Docetism has taken over Hollywood and infiltrated the movie industry. How can it be changed? Simply by using the tools that Docetists love most, money. We as Christians have shown that we will support a movie about Jesus. We need to continue to press Hollywood to make the types of movies we want. Along with the generic, fluffy "comedies" they are making, we need to demand that movies of substance be made about the themes we value: life, morals, values and Jesus. As we approach the holiest time of the year for the Church, let us also think about all of our choices. The things we "purchase" are sending a clear symbol to the Gnostics of today. Are you "voting" for God?

A recent poll conducted by Marist College and funded by the Knights of Columbus should raise the eyebrows of any parent who is seriously concerned about raising a Catholic child in the current environment. In addition, if you are sending your child to a Catholic school, which requires a huge sacrifice on your part, you should be even more concerned. One of the most shocking points I found is that Catholic Millenials (18-29 years old) feel that plagiarism is worse than abortion. Some 58% of the Catholic participants indicated that abortion is morally wrong. But 87% found that copying someone else's work and claiming it as your own was morally wrong. How can this be in an age when folks steal music off of the Internet every minute? But it just gets more interesting as you delve into the survey. The survey found that 82% of Catholic Millenials believe that morals are relative and that there is no definite right or wrong for everyone. Is that what Jesus taught us while on earth? Is that what He continue to teach us through the Bible and the Church? I don't think so. I think that Humanists have done a really great job of getting their message out. Most of it has been facilitated by the for-profit media disguising itself as a free press. We must be vigilant and honest with our children if we want them to carry on the belief system of our faith. Will we allow the Church that Jesus created to be used to facilitate heresy? Abortion is the taking of a human life. We know that human life begins at conception. If you do nothing from that point on, a baby arrives in around 40 weeks. This human being has a beating heart and fingernails very early on. To merely dismiss this tiny infant as a fetus is morally reprehensible. I encourage you to talk to your children (even if they are now adults) about the murder that takes place everyday in abortion clinics across our country. I know that Our Lady is weeping every time a baby is killed. Apparently we are not showing vigilance in this matter. I do not want to end on a sad note. There is hope out there and we must search for it and put it under the light. A recent poll in France found that 83% of women believe that abortion does lasting psychological damage, and 61% believe that there are too many abortions in France. That is proof that our prayers do not go unanswered.

I recently noticed that my church has a picture of St. Faustina. It caused me to explore her life and find out if she has some sort of connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In fact, she is linked very closely to the Sacred Heart. Her visions and conversations with Jesus give us the beautiful image of Jesus with the two beams extending from his heart, one white and one red. The two beams, of course, represent the water and the blood that St. John described poured out of Jesus at his crucifixion when he was speared with the lance. But what else does the devotion to the Sacred Heart represent to us? Pope John Paul II tells us that the Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified, "My daughter, say that I am love and mercy personified" Jesus told St. Faustina. Christ pours out this mercy on humanity through the sending of the Spirit who, in the Trinity, is the Person-Love. And is not mercy love's "second name, understood in it deepest and most tender aspect, in its ability to take upon itself the burden of any need and, especially, in its immense capacity for forgiveness? Jesus told St. Faustina, "Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy." I see so many people seeking peace in their lives. I know I am as well. I am looking for a simpler life that does not concern itself with the worldly things but instead wants to forge a closer relationship with the Holy Trinity. We also have the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy devotion because of St. Faustina. She teaches us through her life and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that even in times of deep trouble, we need to praise and lift up our Lord and Savior so that all will know his mercy and love.

One of the themes for Lent each year is reconciliation. Here in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Bishop has instituted a special program called "The Light is on for You." Numerous churches across the Diocese are holding special reconcilation hours on each Wednesday during Lent. I can testify that this is a beautiful sacrament but one that is often overlooked. Many people feel that they are in conversation with God and therefore can ask Him to forgive their sins. But the Catechism explains simply the benefits of the sacrament and why it is important to receive absolution from a priest in paragraph 1496, " The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace; reconciliation with the Church; remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins; remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin; peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation; an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle." Why would we avoid something that can bring us such comfort? I think we often walk around burdened with guilt and sadness and all of that could be removed by going to reconciliation. The Catechism also tells us in paragraph 2042 that "we shall confess our sins at least once a year to ensure preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness." Recently I was blessed to hear a great talk about contrition. I learned that there are indeed degrees of contrition. A perfect contrition is pursued by us because we love God and are truly sorry that we have damaged our relationship with Him. An imperfect contrition is usually made becasue we are afraid of going to Hell. Both are good reasons to make a confession but isn't it obvious which of these choices is more beneficial for us? I hope that the light is on for you and that you choose to go to reconciliation. I know that you will feel pardon and peace and certainly the love of God.

James Arrington publishes a wonderful Catholic blog called Lead, Kindly Light! He was kind enough to respond to the Seven Question Survey and I am posting his answers today. If you would like to share your thoughts, feel free to send me an email at fellmananthony@gmail.com. Pope Benedict has called all Catholics to use technology to evangelize. Please join me in bringing people to the Church so that they can develop a fuller, deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far?

Sadly, in this modern world and the culture we live in, I find my faith challenged daily. But I have to say the greatest single challenge is my own sinfulness. We have to daily pick up our cross and follow Jesus, and some days I find that very hard to do. I am getting a little better one day at a time, but I always have to do battle with my own flesh.

2. What scripture do you find yourself turning to most often?

There are so many that I love that it is very hard to choose one ! But over my desk I have a quote from Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future." It reminds me that God has a destiny for me, no matter how tough the road may seem sometimes -- and the destiny is all about His love for me and His desire to be in relationship with me.

3. How do you think God is revealing his presence to us in the world today?

God reveals Himself in innumerable ways, but for me He reveals Himself most powerfully in the Church and her sacraments. Regular confession and daily Mass are the two best ways for me to keep my connection to God honest and real.

4. Do you have a book that you would recommend to people trying to develop their spirituality?

Again, many possibilities ! One little book on prayer that I've found helpful is Peter Kreeft's
Prayer for Beginners. For a good understanding of the faith, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is a must for anyone who hasn't read it yet. Actually, anything by either of these authors is excellent.

5. Why do you think bad things happen to good people?

If we could answer that question with complete certainty, we could convert half the agnostics in the world. That really is THE question, isn't it ? All I can say is, if we are in a right relationship to God, we have nothing to ultimately fear. There is nothing that can truly harm us in the end. But pain is an important part of growth, because we never learn anything of value without it. I believe that sometimes God allows us to suffer through bad things to get our attention and call us back to Himself, or teach us something we cannot learn otherwise. Sometimes our pain is just a result of the cause-and-effect Universe we live in. And sometimes we have no answer at all except "Thy will be done."

6. What have you found is the most effective way to introduce the word of God to a nonbeliever?

I think this is a tricky business. The most important thing we can do is to model the life and heart of Jesus in our own lives to the best of our ability; to do right and not apologize for speaking the truth, while not beating people over the head. And we have to be educated about the faith and stand ready to give a reason for our hope.

7. Do you have a favorite saint and if so, why?
I have many saints on whose constant intercession I rely for help. My confirmation saint is Maximilian Kolbe, and I chose him because I felt even then the call to priesthood and saw him as such an exemplar of the selfless priestly life. St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us !

How many of us arose today and designed what we were wearing around the color green? Of course it is St. Patrick's Day which is celebrated as a secular holiday in the U.S. but is observed with great solemnity in Ireland, where he is regarded as the patron saint of the entire country. St. Patrick came from a religious family, his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Catholic Church. This was in a time period before celibacy was required for men to become Catholic priests. His early life was not markedly Catholic but he did find God eventually and when he did, it was incredible.About the year 442, tradition tells us, Patrick went to Rome and met Pope Leo the Great, who, it seemed, took special interest in the Irish Church. The time had now come for a definite organization according to the annals of Ulster, the cathedral church of Armagh was founded as the primatial see of Ireland on Patrick's return. He brought back with him valuable relics. Latin was established as the language of the Irish Church. There is mention of a synod held by Patrick, probably at Armagh. The rules then adopted are still preserved, with, possibly, some later interpolations. It is believed that this synod was called near the close of Patrick's labors on earth. The story of his forty-day fast on Croagh Patrick and the privileges he won from God by his prayers is also associated with the end of his life. Tirechan tells it thus: "Patrick went forth to the summit of Mount Agli, and remained there for forty days and forty nights, and the birds were a trouble to him, and he could not see the face of the heavens, the earth, or the sea, on account of them; for God told all the saints of Erin, past, present, and future, to come to the mountain summit-that mountain which overlooks all others, and is higher than all the mountains of the West-to bless the tribes of Erin, so that Patrick might see the fruit of his labors, for all the choir of the saints came to visit him there, who was the father of them all."Patrick died about 461, and was buried near the fortress of Saul, in the vicinity of the future cathedral town of Down. He was intensely spiritual, a magnetic personality with great gifts for action and organization. He brought Ireland into much closer contact with Europe, especially with the Holy See. The building up of the weak Christian communities which he found on arrival and planting the faith in new regions give him his place as the patron of Ireland. His feast day is one of festivity, and widely observed. Patrick's emblems are a serpent, demons, cross, shamrock, harp, and baptismal font. Now you know why you are wearing green today. Hopefully you did it to honor one of God's great servants. As Catholics we should attempt to remind everyone of the great man that Patrick became because he trusted the Lord. His example is not honored by green beer and drunken stupidity but by emulating his example of trying to bring all people to Christ.

The Torah of the Messiah, as Pope Benedict describes, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, brings us freedom. Jesus preaches that the laws of man put us in bondage and control our freedom. By adopting the laws of the Torah of the Messiah, we are released from the earthly laws and are placed in this new state of freedom. But, Jesus quickly reminds us that this freedom needs to be led by the Spirit of God. How we use our freedom becomes the new focus and that is when the Torah of the Messiah comes into play. If you reread the beatitudes in the context of our earthly world with our human values, the commandments may seem unusual and perhaps ridiculous. It is this type of thinking that places us at great risk to be attacked by the dark spirits. Our mind is so cluttered, literally encapsulated, by the worldly wants and desires that we lose sight of God. We fail to see the face of Jesus in our brothers and sisters. We quickly dismiss the Torah of the Messiah as something that is unreachable, unattainable and therefore, we can not possibly spend our time pursuing the excellence of Jesus' words. That is the beauty of Lent. It is a time to be called to silence and meditation. It is a time to be in prayerful conversation with God. The Lenten season allows us to shed some of the distractions so that we can begin to focus on the beatitudes. I pray that you continue to have a productive Lent as you prepare for the miracle of Easter.

If you are Catholic, how often have you heard the statement that the early Church and its leadership forbid or discouraged Catholics from reading the Bible? I have heard this statement frequently and I must admit with embarrassment, always assumed it was truthful. This blog has allowed me to sift through declarations like that and search for the truth. What I have found in this instance is that statement is false. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The Church “forcefully and specially exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ’ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures…. Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.'" The Catechism should always be the first stop for Catholics looking for the truth about the Church. My search also turned up some material that Catholic apologist Stephen Ray posted on his blog. Ray insists that the Church has consistently urged all Catholics to read the Bible. I think what may still be a stumbling block is going it alone. We feel ill equipped to tackle the Bible on our own. That is an interesting stance since we are Bible people. Each and every Sunday, we hear scripture from the Bible and then the presider speaks about it in depth. If you go to daily Mass, a Catholic wedding or funeral, or just about any event at a Catholic school, you are going to hear scripture from the Bible. In fact, within a three year period of attending weekly Mass, we hear the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Some of the text is omitted but most often that is the less important parts from the Old Testament that talk about sacrifice and ritual instructions. Test yourself and see how much of the Bible you can recite in various situations. I think what many of us feel is since we are unable to quote the verse literally or don't know the book or verse number, we do not know the Bible. What I have found in my friends that are able to do that is they usually have a standard 4-8 phrases they have memorized and they know the book and verse number. They then use these same quotes over and over again making sure to fit it into the situation. This is not bad. In fact, our Bible study group has been trying to memorize scripture including the reference point so that we can use it in our daily life. I very frequently have encouraged people who like a certain passage to then return to the Bible and memorize where it is written. I want to return to what the Catechism urges us in the passage above. Being in prayer while reading the Bible is very important. When we pray, most often we are asking God for help. The Bible, as the Catechism points out, is one of the ways God responds to us. You know this if you have spent time reading the bible. The passages speak to your current situation. God is responding to your questions and concerns through the inspired work of the Bible. During this Lenten season, I hope that you are reading the Bible more. Take this time to reclaim your rightful place as a Biblical people. Read the Word of God to know more about the Word, Jesus.

During Sandra Bullock's Oscar acceptance speech, she said that all children are special and deserve a chance. Her words have been interpreted by many as being very pro-life in nature. If you have seen the movie The Blind Side, it does have a pro-life message. The movie speaks to our soul about the difficulties that people encounter in this world. It also points out how someone can have a huge impact. By choosing to help a kid in need, the character that Ms. Bullocks portrayed certainly heeded the call of Jesus Christ. She, like the Good Samaritan, saw someone who was damaged and hurt and decided to take that person into her home and family. Again, if you saw the movie, her motives were questioned and she even questioned herself. But in the end, the beauty of her Christian outreach shone through. It is an inspirational film and sends a positive message. That is unusual in this day when so very often movies go for shock and awe. Another movie that received a lot of attention and won a few awards was Precious. Although very different in tone and certainly not for the faint of heart or children under 17, the movie did have a solid pro-life message as well. Precious was raped by her father twice but did not abort either child. The first child had developmental issues, probably due to the incest, yet Precious still loved her child and did the best she could towards raising both of them. The hand she was dealt was terrifying and toxic, yet through the kindness and love of her own Good Samaritan's, she survived. Finally, I want to mention that I recently watched Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. The movie in an unflinching look at a specific time in Maya history. Most anthropologists have noted that the movie is authentic but with all Hollywood productions, it does take some poetic liberties. What I found so engrossing about the movie was its focus on family. Jaguar Paw, the movie's main character, places his family above everything else including his own life. His wife, Seven, also shows a deep devotion to her children. Although the movie is violent, the message that emerged for me was of love and devotion to family. As we continue on our Lenten journey, I hope you are spending time preparing for the Easter miracle. It has become a tradition of mine to watch the Passion of the Christ during Holy Week. It is a powerful reminder of what our Lord and Savior was willing to do for us. The message is so powerful, it forces you to confront your relationship with Jesus. I encourage you to watch it again.

A cord of three strands is not easily torn apart. This quote from Ecclesiastes 4:12 appeared on my wedding invitation many years ago. It is something that my wife and I have clung to over the many years of our marriage. It comforts us because we know we are not alone and God will not forsake us. It reassures us because we have chosen to build our house on the rock of God. The entire passage from Chapter 4 of Ecclesiastes is pertinent to marriage in general. It makes the argument for two instead of one. If you have another you will be warmer, and labor less. If you should fall, there is someone there to pick you up. But woven throughout the passage is the call to always maintain your relationship with God our Father. It also predicts the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The last line tells us, "Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Let your approach be obedience, rather than the fools' offering of sacrifice; for they know not how to keep from doing evil." Obedience is a really tough pill to swallow. I think it may be harder for Americans. We are so used to coming to the rescue of others. Is there anything as a nation that we think we cannot accomplish? It is in our spirit to discover a solution to life's toughest puzzles. But God calls us to obedience. In that obedience, He promises to carry us through life. It sounds so simple yet we are constantly torn by this idea. I am trying to approach God in obedience this Lent in the hopes that it will become my habit even after we celebrate the resurrection of the sacrificial Lamb on Easter Sunday.

Are we in the end times? The Bible gives many examples of signs that warn us of the coming end of the age. Six such signs are given by Jesus Christ, two characteristics are given by Paul, and eleven other occurrences are given by the prophets to occur prior to or soon after the end of the age. We are also told we will not know the time of the end. I, like many of you, have read the Left Behind series of books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Both men are well recognized evangelical Christians. I found myself intrigued by the concept of the end time because of the books. Each one built the anticipation of the next in the series and I must say I eagerly anticipated the next book. Most of the material in the book is based on concepts of the Bible and I found that, overall, the series was mildly critical of the Catholic Church. In fact, it was critical at times of all organized religion which can be a good thing if it is driven by Godly thinking. As with any fictitious account, LaHaye and Jenkins are filling in the gaps with their thoughts and ideas. It is clearly not meant to be a factual account. What it pushed me to do was to read the Bible more closely. I was not looking for end times signs but was intrigued by many of the ideas mentioned in the book referencing the Bible. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in section 675 tells us that “before Christ's second coming, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.” God is in control. He will not forsake us and He knows the proper time for everything. Why worry about the end time? If we are walking our journey with the Lord, we are ready. We should not worry about it nor be anxious. It is not in our "to do" box. What we are charged with is far more important than predicting a date or being concerned with the end time (unless you have not accepted the Lord as your Savior). The general judgment is something that is in our lists of tasks. All the texts in Bible which talks about the Second Coming seem to imply clearly enough that the general judgment will take place on the earth. The Catechism tells us it is probable that no words will be spoken in the judgment, but that in one instant, through a Divine illumination, each creature will thoroughly understand his own moral condition and that of every fellow creature (Romans 2:15). We should then be focused on bringing everyone to the Word. We must be vigilant like Paul, Timothy, Apollos, Peter, and the other disciples and never rest. You know how you felt when you discovered the love and comfort of our Lord and Savior. Let's make sure everyone has the opportunity to experience that all consuming love, that the general judgment will allow us a final repentance, and the end time will come when God is ready for it.

The low feeling I had this morning was curtailed by the powerful voice of the Christian musical group Kutlass singing "That's What Faith Can Do." Just when I was about to let the devil have a sliver of hope, God sent me an angel with a clear message. Every word in that song was what I needed to hear. My God is an awesome God. He is ever present and I am so glad that I have an ongoing, growing, loving relationship with Him. Back to the message from God's angels. Kutlass sings "Anyone can feel the ache. You think it’s more than you can take but you are stronger, stronger than you know. Don’t you give up now." Okay, so maybe this speaks to everyone but that is just the point. This morning I felt alone and was thinking why is this happening to me? Kutlass continues, "I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn’t ever end, even when the sky is falling." The very essence of faith is what they are talking about here. Do you really think that God can move that mountain? Do you have an everlasting hope even when there are earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and massive snow storms? Back to the music, "I’ve seen miracles just happen. Silent prayers get answered. Broken hearts become brand new. That’s what faith can do." Indeed! How often have you muttered a prayer under your breath? Did you even realize when it was answered? Did you thank God? I frequently find myself celebrating the answer and then suddenly remember where it came from. God doesn't need to be thanked or even expect it but we are called to be a grateful people. Again, it is a realization that God is active in every aspect of our lives. Kutlass sings a little later in the song, "Overcome the odds, you don't have a chance. When the world says you can’t, it’ll tell you that you can!" That is the most comforting sound we can ever hope to hear. God's voice, in whatever form, telling us that we can do it. He will be there to help us. His hand is upon us. Even when the economy has crashed, folks are losing their jobs, their retirement accounts are gone and they are about to lose their house, faith can change all of that. A miracle can happen. Are you asking for one right now? Are you giving it to God unconditionally? I struggle with this just as you do. We have to train our spiritual self to trust and have faith. Like the saints before us, we need to believe that our prayers will be answered. I am praying right now for a miracle. I hope you get yours too.