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Showing posts from April, 2012
An Illinois bishop's mention of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin in an April 14 homily calling Catholics to "heroic Catholicism, not casual Catholicism" in the face of current threats to religious liberty in the United States has stirred widespread controversy. After listing several governments throughout history that "have tried to force Christians to huddle and hide only within the confines of their churches," Peoria Bishop Daniel R. Jenky said President Barack Obama "now seems intent on following a similar path." He warned that Catholic schools, hospitals and Newman Centers "could easily be shut down" rather than comply with the government's mandate that most health plans cover the cost of contraception, sterilization and some drugs that can induce abortion. In the ensuing days, many have strongly objected to Bishop Jenky's linking of Obama's political actions to those of figures with genocidal policies such as Hitler and Stalin. ...
Heeding the call to evangelize issued by our priest on Easter Sunday has proved to be invigorating and frustrating. Many people are definitely looking for help. Many of them have simply forgotten that Jesus is waiting for them with open arms. They have become so lost and misguided that they have even forgot how to pray. So I would suggest that you simply offer to pray with and for someone if you are at a loss for how to begin to evangelize for the Church. The frustrating part comes from folks who want to personalize the Church. By that I mean they want the Church to reflect their personal views on everything. I recently read a terrific op-ed piece by Samuel Gregg on this very topic. His broader topic was on the effective work of Pope Benedict but here is part of what he had to say about folks who long to have the Church become more like them. "A similar method is at work in Benedict’s approach to internal Church issues. Take, for instance, Benedict’s recent polite but pointed crit...
If you don't believe that the devil is working overtime to harm the Church, take a look at this recent article. About 20,000 atheists gathered within shouting distance of the Washington Monument recently for a Reason Rally hell-bent on damning religion and mocking beliefs. A full pantheon of demigods of unbelief -- British scientist and full-time atheism rabble-rouser Richard Dawkins was the headliner -- kept a crowd of all ages on their feet for more than six hours. Dawkins called on the crowd not only to challenge religious people but to "ridicule and show contempt" for their doctrines and sacraments, including the Eucharist, which Catholics believe becomes the body of Christ during Mass. That was a step further than Craig Lowery, a Dawkins fan, said he's willing to go. Lowery, of Washington, D.C., applauded but admitted he's not a confrontational atheist, saying: "I might make fun of them in my head but I wouldn't say it. Most people, religious or othe...
Plenty of well-known recording artists have been the subject of tribute albums recorded by all-star casts of performers doing cover versions of their songs. The tribute subjects have ranged from Bruce Springsteen to the Eagles to Sonny Bono to Woody Guthrie. Now, a new tribute subject has been unveiled: the Medical Mission Sisters. Those who came of age after the Second Vatican Council are probably familiar with the sisters' first album, "Joy Is Like the Rain," released in 1966. It was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies -- unheard-of at the time for Catholic religious music, and possibly the only gold record for the genre until the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo do Silos' 1994 CD "Chant" went triple platinum for sales of 3 million. The sisters were prolific, recording 15 albums in the studio -- more than Madonna, the Eagles, and scores of other pop, rock and soul stars -- before their songwriter, Sister Miriam Therese Winter, switched her writing...
"In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle; we sing a hymn to the Lord's glory with all the warriors of the heavenly army; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ, until He, our life, shall appear and we too will appear with Him in glory." This is a passage from the Second Vatican document Sacrosanctum Concilium which was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1963. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II, it is a good time to revisit the documents as so much of what they say has been distorted over the years. I found this passage to be so beautiful and inspiring. It is also aspirational. It makes you want to see each Eucharistic celebration in the way...