Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Essence of Holiness  

Just picked up The Practice of the Presence of God off the coffee table the other day, and I opened to the following:
We must believe with certainty that it is both pleasing to God and good for us to sacrifice ourselves for Him. Without this complete submission of our hearts and minds to His will, He cannot work in us to make us perfect.
It struck me as the very essence of the call to holiness. Holy people, saints, understand that it is pleasing to God to serve Him. They love God so much because He has loved them so much that they willingly give everything to Him. They also know that it is good for themselves.

Often we think that our sacrifices for God might be pleasing to Him. Then we wonder just how excited can He get about my choosing to do good and not evil, to be kind and not cruel, or even to do something, rather than nothing. To make an effort toward holiness.

Then there is the business about it being good for me. That can seem very hard to swallow when the sacrifice is great. I suppose that the greatest sacrifice is actually our person, especially all that pride which hides itself under so many forms.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1)

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Our Lady of All Nations  

Three years ago today, Bishop Punt of Haarlem/Amsterdam declared that the apparitions of Ida Peerdeman of Amsterdam were of a supernatural origin:
In Response to Inquiries Concerning the Lady of All Nations Apparitions

As Bishop of Haarlem/Amsterdam, I have been requested to make a statement regarding the authenticity of the apparitions of Mary as the Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam during the years of 1945 -1959. Many members of the faithful and bishops have emphasized the urgency for clarification. I also have been personally aware that this development of devotion, which has spanned over 50 years, call for this.

As it is known, my predecessor, Msgr. H. Bomers and myself had previously given permission for public veneration in 1996. As to the supernatural character of the apparitions and contents of the messages, we did not give our judgment, but declared that "everyone is free to make a judgment for himself or herself according to their conscience." Having had a generally positive attitude towards authenticity, we decided to await further development and to "discern the spirit" further (cf. 1 Thes 5:19-21).

Over the period of six subsequent years, I observed that the devotion had taken its place in the spiritual life of millions all over the world, and that it possesses the support of many bishops. Many experiences of conversion and reconciliation, as well as healings and special protection also have been reported to me. In full recognition of the responsibility of the Holy See, it is primarily the task of the local bishop to speak out in conscience regarding the authenticity of private revelations that take place or have taken place within his diocese.

Therefore I have asked once again for the advice of theologians and psychologists concerning outcomes of previous investigations, and the questions and objections deriving from them. Their recommendations state that no theological or psychological impediments for a declaration of supernatural authenticity can be found therein. I have also requested the judgment of a number of brother bishops concerning the fruits and development of the devotion, who within their own dioceses have experienced a strong devotion of Mary as the Mother and Lady of All Nations. In light and virtue of all these recommendations, testimonies, and developments, and in pondering all this in prayer and theological reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the apparitions of the Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam consist of a supernatural origin.

Naturally, the influence of the human element still exists. Authentic images and visions are always transmitted to us, in the words of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, "through the filter of our senses, which carry out a work of translation..." and "...are influenced by the potentialities and limitations of the perceiving subject" (Cardinal Ratzinger, Theological Commentary In Preparation for the Release of the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima, L 'Osservatore Romano, June 28, 2000).

Unlike Holy Scripture, private revelations are never binding upon the conscience of the faithful. They are a help in understanding the signs of the times and to help live more fully the Gospel (cf. Lk 12:56, Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 67). And the signs of our times are dramatic. The devotion to the Lady of All Nations can help us, in my sincere conviction, in guiding us on the right path during the present serious drama of our times, the path to a new and special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Who alone can heal the great wounds of our times.

To follow the further development of this devotion and to come to an even deeper insight into its meaning, I have installed a commission whose task it will be to continue to document all initiatives, experiences, and testimonies stemming from the devotion in order to help insure and preserve a correct ecclesial and theological progress of devotion.

I hope this has provided sufficient information and clarification.
Note, how the future Benedict XVI' s theological reflections were referenced by the bishop. Perhaps a sign of his role in the proclamation of a new Marian dogma?

For more information, on the Lady of All Nations apparitions and devotion, click on the link.

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Monday, May 30, 2005
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Another excerpt from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are numerous. Some have been explicitly approved and frequently recommended by the Apostolic See. Among these, mention should be made of the following:

· personal consecration, described by Pius XI as "undoubtedly the principal devotional practice used in relation to the Sacred Heart"(185);

· family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the family, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony already participating in the mystery of the unity and love of Christ for the Church, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members(186);

· the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, approved for the whole Church in 1891, which is evidently biblical in character and to which many indulgences have been attached;

· the act of reparation, a prayer with which the faithful, mindful of the infinite goodness of Christ, implore mercy for the offences committed in so many ways against his Sacred Heart(187);

· the pious practice of the first Fridays of the month which derives from the "great promises" made by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary. At a time when sacramental communion was very rare among the faithful, the first Friday devotion contributed significantly to a renewed use of the Sacraments of Penance and of the Holy Eucharist. In our own times, the devotion to the first Fridays, even if practised correctly, may not always lead to the desired spiritual fruits. Hence, the faithful require constant instruction so that any reduction of the practice to mere credulity, is avoided and an active faith encouraged so that the faithful may undertake their commitment to the Gospel correctly in their lives. They should also be reminded of the absolute preeminence of Sunday, the "primordial feast"(188), which should be marked by the full participation of the faithful at the celebration of the Holy Mass.
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 171

As the late Fr. John Hardon, S.J. pointed out, there is a direct connection between the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Eucharist and the abiding real presence of Christ means that Jesus is truly present body, blood, soul, and divinity after the words of consecration. It is no longer bread and wine. It is our Lord underappearancerence of bread and wine. Consequently, it is the historical Jesus because in the Incarnation He took on specific human flesh. (For all of those who are trying to find the historical Jesus, He can be found in every tabernacle in the world.) Our Lord is present in the Eucharist as the same person who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried.
It is His glorified body because of His resurrection, but it His body with His Sacred Heart. Thus, in the Eucharist, we also have Christ's Sacred Heart. This is truly His human heart as part of His body, but it is, of course, the symbolic heart which represents His infinite love for us. By receiving Him in Holy Communion and praying before Him in the Eucharist, we are able to unite our hearts with His Sacred Heart, with His infinite love. In this uniting, we are caught up with Him and given the ability to love in ways that we cannot without His divine assistance. Through His Sacred Heart present in the Eucharist, we can be joined to Him in order to love Him and to love others with His love.

Posted by David at 7:15 AM  |  Comments (0)  | Link

Crisis for Christians in Israel  

As many know, the Christians in Israel have been in a bad way for some time. Aid to the Church in Need has issued a report on the plight of the approximately 150,000 Christians who remain in the Holy Land.
THE future of Christianity in the Holy Land hangs in the balance as a combination of poverty, religious discrimination and even violence blights Catholic communities. Away from the headline-grabbing political struggle over the future of Israel and clashes between radical Jews and Muslims, a little-known crisis threatens the Christian community. The Christian presence in Israeli society is on the verge of disappearing into obscurity and could be at risk of disappearing altogether. Reduced in number to about 150,000, Christians face oppression and discrimination at school, in the workplace and in the community--be it because of their religion, their social class or because of their ethnic origin--most of them are Palestinian Arabs. Tension frequently spills over into violence, when Christian communities are hit by sporadic shootings, arson, verbal abuse and hate mail. Some are forcibly removed from their property and suffer anti-Christian propaganda in the media. The crisis is heightened at a time when the cost of living is soaring--especially in Palestinian areas--and when unemployment is widespread. Worse still, opportunities for Christians to speak out are being drowned out as in the space of 40 years, the proportion of faithful in the country has fallen from 20 percent to less than two percent.
Part one and two of the report give more detailed information about the harsh realities that Palestiniannean Christians face. For example, the new wall which is being built by the Israelis to deal with problems in the West Bank, is threatening the very existence of the Christians in Bethlehem which is just several miles from Jerusalem. The wall may cut off the city in several ways including choking off its revenue from pilgrims and tourists who will forego the 7 mile journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem because with the 8 meter wall it has become a 3 hour ordeal of checkpoints and security checks.

In order to help, Aid to the Church in Need has provided funding for families in Bethlehem who are making olive wood rosaries for World Youth Day. This assistance has helped some Bethlehem families who are facing poverty because the number of visitors to their city has sharply dropped.

Originally noted in Zenit.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005
Summer Institute Update  

Christendom College has added the Summer Institute registration form (as a PDF) to its web site. (Click on the link at the end of this post to get to the main Summer Institute page.) The Summer Institute is schedule to take place all day on Saturday, July 16. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my wife and I have had the opportunity to attend in the past, and we have very much enjoyed the speakers, the devotion, the banquet, the masses, and just the overall atmosphere of this wonderful college.

The college has again arranged for a tremendous group of speakers. This year's speakers include Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., the college's president Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Fr. Anthony Mastroeni, and Fr. William Saunders. As I wrote before, if you are able to be in the Front Royal, Virginia area at this time, I would recommend that you come.

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Unless You Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man  

For the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Gospel reading is a section from Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life which is recorded in St. John's Gospel (6:51-58). In this passage, Jesus states the most amazing thing. He says,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."(53-58)

This is His response to the Jews who after listening to Him and quarreling among themselves, ask, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

I remember sitting in my class on the Gospel of John at the Protestant Evangelical college I attended when this passage was discussed. The professor who had a very reformed theological bent got excited at this passage, because, as he noted with childlike enthusiasm, Jesus' response simply turned up the heat on the audience. Jesus was not backing down or softening his answer. Little did I know how much Jesus was really turning up the heat on His audience which now included me. The scales on my eyes prevented me at that time from seeing that this was not some symbolic reference. Jesus was talking about His real flesh and blood. The same flesh and blood that He said He would offer up on the cross: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. (51)"

Over the ensuing years, I began to learn that Catholics were the true Biblical literalists because they took Jesus' words literally while the vast majority of separated brethren switched from literal to symbolic in John 6. I kept being faced with this idea that Jesus was not talking about a mere symbol through books that I read, including the Catechism, and programs on EWTN. However, it was not until I read David Currie's book Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic that I received the grace to shake my interpretative perspective and begin to see what the Church has proclaimed since the beginning. The key was verse 51. The flesh that Jesus was to offer up for the life of the world could not be symbolic; otherwise the Gnostics were right that Jesus flesh was not real flesh. Instead, Jesus must be talking about His flesh which He took on at the Incarnation.

In order to suddenly find that Jesus was only speaking symbols in the verses following verse 51, you have to violate basic exegetical ideas, not to mention common sense. Beside, Jesus is answering their question. He does answer their question by clearing up any confusion that might exist with the idea that He is actually speaking about His flesh and blood. Instead, He simply underscores what He had already said about His being the Bread of Life which has come down from Heaven and which must be eaten in order to obtain eternal life.

The background of this discourse is based on our Lord having miraculously fed the multitude bread (John 6:1-13). The next day the same folks follow Him to where He has relocated because they are looking for more food (6:26). Jesus does not tell them to stop working for food. He tries to redirect their efforts to work for food that does not perish. Thus, begins the dialog and Jesus' discourse that culminates in His declaration that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life. That is really quite unbelievable. Except by grace.

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Saturday, May 28, 2005
Be Who You are Called to Be: Devotion to the Sacred Heart  

In this second installment on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I again include a quote from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy
In the modern period devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus underwent new developments. At a time when Jansenism proclaimed the rigours of divine justice, the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus served as a useful antidote and aroused in the faithful a love for Our Lord and a trust in his infinite mercy symbolized by his Heart. St. Francis de Sales (+ 1622) adopted humility, gentleness (cf. Mt 11, 29) and tender loving mercy, all aspects of the Sacred Heart, as a model for his life and apostolate. The Lord frequently manifested the abundant mercy of his Heart to St. Margaret Mary (+ 1690); St. John Eudes (+ 1680) promoted the liturgical cult of the Sacred Heart, while St. Claude de la Colombere (+ 1682) and St. John Bosco (+ 1888) and other saints were avid promoters of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 170

It is easy to see the direct connection between devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the devotion to Divine Mercy which was revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska in Poland in the early decades of the last century. Both proclaim the infinite love that our Lord has for us and His desire to shower us with mercy because God does not desire the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live. (Ez. 33:11)

Although today there is no equivalent to Jansenism, there is a need to understand true mercy. Often the problem is not harsh judgment, but a complete ignoring of the situation. God does not ignore our sins. If He did, then the cross does not make any sense. Instead, He takes our sins so seriously that He sent His Son to die for the expiation of our sins. This shows the magnitude of His mercy. It is infinite in that He, the Infinite God, became man and laid down His life in order that we might be forgiven our sins.

God's mercy is not letting us do what we want. His mercy enables us to be who we are called to be. If a judge shows mercy to a defendant, it is because the judge wants the defendant to be who is called to be--a integral, productive member of society rather than a person alienated from his community and himself because of crimes against others.

His mercy longs for us to return to Him. When we return to Him, we find what we really desire--the love of our Creator. Through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we can begin to understand His heart which loves us and the essence of true mercy.

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Free Catholic News from Zenit  

The following is a commercial, but there is nothing to buy--the service is free and it is well worth it.

Do you subscribe to Zenit News? If not, you should consider signing up for a free subscription. Every day, Zenit News provides an email that is filled with interesting articles about news that is related to or about the Catholic Church. The news stories range from news generated by our Holy Father Benedict XVI, including a summary of his Wednesday Audiences and Sunday Angelus, to interviews with theologians and prelates about matters of the faith and the integration of faith and daily living.

If this sounds like a testimonial, I suppose it is, because I have really appreciated the information which Zenit provides. I have subscribed for some time, but I was struck the other day when reading one of the daily emails with just how much interesting and, yes, useful information was included in the one daily dispatch. I often find that the email spurs me to pray (and act) in order to respond to various situations around the world like the recent report on Palestinian Arab Christians, who are living in the Holy Land.

If interested, click here to sign up for a free subscription.

If you are already a subscriber, consider providing a donation to help Zenit keep providing their news service. You can click here to give via check or credit card.

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Friday, May 27, 2005
Papst Benedikt XVI, der Weltjugendtag, und die Bundesliga  

Von Zenit:

Alle Fußballspiele der ersten und zweiten deutschen Bundesliga, die ursprünglich am 20. und 21. August ausgetragen werden sollten, werden gemäß einer Mitteilung des Deutschen Fußball-Bundes (DFB) aufgrund des Kommens von Papst Benedikt XVI. um eine Woche verschoben. In Köln wird der Heilige Vater am Weltjugendtag teilnehmen.
(Click here for the English version.)

Fußball macht Spass, aber der Heilige Vater ist wichtiger als Fußball.

Good to see sport making way for the Holy Father and World Youth Day.

The real question is whether the Holy Father is a Bayern fan.

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Sacred Heart Devotion: Being with a Saint  

During this novena to the Sacred Heart, I have decided to post paragraphs from the Directory on Popular Piety about devotion to our Lord's Sacred Heart. The first paragraphs lists a number of saints who helped foster devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was particularly strong during the middle ages. Many renowned for the learning and holiness developed and encouraged the devotion, among them St. Bernard (+1153), St. Bonaventure (+ 1274), the mystic St. Lutgarda (+1246), St Mathilda of Marburg (+ 1282), the sainted sisters Mathilda (+ 1299) and Gertrude (+ 1302) of the monastery of Helfta, and Ludolf of Saxony (+1380). These perceived in the Sacred Heart a "refuge" in which to recover, the seat of mercy, the encounter with him who is the source of the Lord's infinite love, the fount from which flows the Holy Spirit, the promised land, and true paradise.
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 169

As a child, St. Bonaventure was healed from a disease by prayers from St. Francis of Assisi. At age 22, he joined the Franciscans. And at age 35, he became the General of the Franciscans. Later he was made a cardinal. He was a friend of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Louis the King of France who was himself a third order Franciscan. He was known for his learning and eloquence. His writings include a life of St. Francis. He was canonized in 1482. He was also named a Doctor of the Church.

The relationships which St. Bonaventure had with St. Francis, St. Thomas, and St. Louis indicate to me the importance of being in contact with holy people. There are countless examples of the influence that a holy person has on another person which inspires them to be holy. In other words, to some degree, saints beget saints and saints assist saints to become saints.

In theory, I would say that I would like to be around a saint. For instance, I might have said that I would like to have spent time with Blessed Mother Theresa. I certainly hope so. However, what if it had gotten uncomfortable because she suggested that what I was doing or how I was acting needed to change? Would I be willing to accept a saint's criticisms more than someone else who I do not consider to be so holy? What about our Lord? Do I accept what He says because of who He is? It seems that the problem is me and not the ones who the Lord uses to reach me. Remember the tenants of the vineyard did not respect the king's son, but had him killed in order to get the inheritance.

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Thursday, May 26, 2005
Mary, Our Mother  

When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold thy son." Then He said to the disciple, "Behold thy mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (Jn. 19:26-27)

Our Lord, on the cross, in the midst of His tremendous suffering, takes the time to speak to His mother and St. John, who is the only disciple who did not run away. In these words, He gives to all of us His mother in order that she should be our mother, "Jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom He indeed came to save" (CCC 501).

This spiritual motherhood is grounded in her union with Christ. Of course, as Jesus' mother she is united to Him, but even more so, she is united to Him as His disciple par excellance:

Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with His sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple, with these words: "Woman, behold your son." (Lumen Gentium, 69>

Because she is the mother of our Lord, she gives us Christ. And Christ, gives us His mother and invites us to welcome her into our home, even as St. John did. As the premier disciple of Christ, she can teach us how to follow Christ even unto the cross where we might, as she did, be able to unite ourselves to Him and His suffering through our suffering.

Finally, we can learn from her how to give our fiat to His will. As she did at the Annuciation, she does at the Crucifixion. Mary says "Yes" to the Lord's will. She accepts the Divine Plan for her son to die on the cross for her salvation and the salvation of all. What more intense pain could a mother endure than to see her only son die such a horrible, cruel death? Yet, because of her love for Jesus and her complete trust in Him, she accepts even this knowing that through this greatest act of evil, the greatest good will come.

Such a mother is a mother who can understand all of the trials and tribulations which we encounter in this valley of tears. Jesus knows we need Mary, and He gave her to us during His Hour in order that we might turn to her to help us through our hour of need.


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Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Sacred Heart Novena  

Today begins the novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which culminates in the Feast of the Sacred Heart on June 3. I have included a prayer for an intention on the right panel. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a particular devotion to our Lord. All Christians, and even some non-Christians, have devotion to Jesus. It is the essence of Christianity to express devotion to Jesus Christ the God-man.

By focusing on His heart we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Incarnation of the second Person of the Trinity. He became man. Thus, He has a human heart. Second, devotion to His Sacred Heart focuses on Christ's love for us. The heart as a symbol of love should be of special devotion because He is God; He has an infinite love for each one of us. It is a heart which desires the absolute best for us, and it is a heart which is capable of assisting us in receiving His love and sharing our love with Him and others.

Finally, the Sacred Heart is the heart which shed blood to blot out sins. It was pierced by the soldier's lance. Blood and water poured fourth from our Lord's heart (Jn. 19:34). The blood from His Heart is the blood of the New Covenant which is being shed for many for the forgiveness of sins (Mt. 26:28). And it is in the Eucharist that our Lord's Holy Sacrifice is re-presented. In this gift to us, He gives Himself completely. He gives us His Sacred Heart. And by His grace, we are able to receive Him and ease the wound of His Sacred Heart for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Mary as the Second Eve  

This is an excellent survey of the teaching on Mary by early Church Fathers (A good book to read for this Marian month of May):

As early as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus in the second century, the teaching on Mary as the second Eve begins to be developed. Irenaeus in Adversus haereses notes the parallels between Eve and Mary. For example, although both had husbands, both were virgins. In terms of the economy of salvation, the bishop of Lyons writes that what Eve had done to put the human race under a sentence of death, Mary undoes to bring about the hope of life.

Through Eve's disobedience, death entered the world. However, by Mary's obedience Life entered the world. Eve was visited by an angel who deceived her and led her into sin. Mary was visited by an angel who proclaimed the Good News and led her into perfect obedience to God. Then Irenaeus adds what will become a popular image for the Fathers, namely, that through her obedience Mary has undone the knot which Eve tied with her disobedience.

In the passage in St. John's Gospel (2:1-11) which records our Lord's changing water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, we can find an example from Scripture of the Eve-Mary parallel. In this passage, our Lady urges Jesus who is the new Adam to begin His mission in earnest. This encouragement by the Virgin Mary is in direct opposition to Eve's urging Adam in Genesis 3 to sin by partaking of the fruit which the Lord had made clear they should not eat.

Through this understanding, it is easier to understand Christ's response to His mother when she comments that the wine has run out. His hour which is normally a reference to His historical Passion might be understood as a reference to the liturgical commemoration of His Passion. In that liturgical sense, Jesus will provide an abundance of the best wine because it will be His blood shed for the remission of sins. In other words, the hour in which He will provide His blood in an abundance through the liturgical re-presentation of His Passion has not yet come. However, the movement to this hour is begun with His performing the miracle. Both Jesus and Mary know this, but unlike Adam and Eve, both are obedient even in the face of knowing to what their obedience will lead.


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Monday, May 23, 2005
Omnes ad Iesum per Mariam  

Omnes ad Iesum per Mariam

All to Jesus through Mary. An entry on Catholic Analysis started me thinking about the necessity of our Blessed Mother. Although you can have a relationship with Christ without ever really thinking about Mary, with the occasional exception at Christmastime, eventually you have to ask yourself if that is indeed the fullness of Christianity. Would Jesus have you ignore His mother or simply be indifferent to her?

Soon after reading the entry, I came across the Latin phrase listed at the top of this entry. Most Christians would agree with the sentiment of all to Jesus. After all, everyone should come to Jesus. The problem for many Christians is this idea of "through Mary". What does it mean to come to Jesus through Mary? Do we need another mediator between God and man?

The second chapter of the Gospel of St. John (2:1-11) helps us to better understand the role which God has given to our Blessed Mother. In this well-known passage which records our Lord's miracle of transforming water into wine, Mary plays a crucial role as the one who intercedes with humility and boldness.

Our Lady recognizes that the couple, perhaps because of their poverty, have run out of wine and are unable to get more. She knows that it would be an embarrassment for the couple to not have wine for their guests. Her response is to bring the problem to her son confident that He will assist the newlyweds. Note, too, the beauty of the relationship between Mary and Jesus. With only a simple sentence Mary is able to convey all that is in her heart because she knows that His heart understands her heart completely.

Much has been written about Jesus' reply to His mother. The context, however, makes it clear that our Lord answers her by performing a miracle. Her confidence is manifested in her comment to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." In other words, this passage shows us the powerful intercessor that we have in our Lady. She knows the heart of our Lord Jesus unlike any other creature. She is able to speak directly to Him unlike anyone else because of her deep humility--she, better than anyone else, understands that she is a creature before an infinite God. She also has a boldness that enables her to trust that He will hear her and answer her.

We, too, can go to Jesus through Mary. Can we go directly to Jesus? Certainly. But this passage makes it clear that we can also turn to our Lady because she is so close to our Lord. She know the heart of her son. Even as we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we can ask the mother of our Lord to pray for us. We can reach out to Jesus through His mother who knowing who her son is brings prayers from the heart to His Sacred Heart knowing how to best speak to Him with her beautiful simplicity and understanding of Him.


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Sunday, May 22, 2005
Graduation  

My friend, as well as co-worker, Mike graduates today. After fifteen, yes fifteen, years he has completed his Ph.D. in history. I have to hand it to him. I cannot imagine working that long for a doctorate. We are planning on attending the ceremony this afternoon. It will be good to see him receive the degree for which he has exerted so much effort.

I understand that we need to arrive early because, in a bit of an odd setup, the reception with food is prior to the actual ceremony. The whole ceremony should not be very long because it is only for the graduate history students. However, with an eight-month-old, we might have to leave early. Fortunately, if they go by alphabetic order Mike will probably be the first person to receive his degree.

His thesis in the area of history of science and more particularly some aspects of nutrition is considered to be quite good. Mike is being urged by his advisor to have his thesis published. No doubt his advisor means published as a large book because I believe the thesis runs some 800 plus pages. He is not certain whether he will do that or not. At the same time, he wants to look into the academic opportunities that exist for him. He knows that he can fall back on his computer programming experience. However, it would seem a shame for him to not use his Ph.D. to work as a professor. He is a good teacher. If anyone knows any inside academic openings information, I would be happy to pass it on to him, and I am sure he would appreciate it.

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Drives Me Crazy  

This is a bit of descent into the mundane.

It is a wonder that the United States is a superpower because it would seem incumbent in the twenty-first century that the most powerful country on the earth be populated with people who know how to drive. However, as far as I can tell, the majority of Americans do not know how to get their vehicles around from point A to point B.

Now my wife would tell you that I am no one to talk about poor driving. It is true that she has experiential knowledge that points to my own driving problems. But that does not prevent me from commenting on driving theory. The whole genesis for my renewed concern about driving was my having to travel about 60 miles back and forth along one of our nation's highways. In each direction the interstate has two lanes.

In my understanding of how to drive the left lane is primarily used for passing other cars. It is not the lane you pull your car into to hang out for a good 40 mile stretch. Yet this is precisely what I experienced. Car after car would get into the left lane and just drive along, maybe passing a car or two, but taking a leisurely minute or two to get around the car on the right. After passing the car, would the driver move into the right lane? Are you kidding! This behavior had me really bothered, and it occupied far too much of my thinking as I drove down the road. I recalled how I have seen this behavior on many roads in the South and the Eastern Seaboard. I wondered if it occurred elsewhere in the country where I had not driven.

I do not know if it is a law in the state of Virginia, but, if not, it ought to be a law that you use the left lane primarily for passing. It really is simple. Drive in the right lane. When you approach a car to pass, put on your turn signal, move your car into the left lane. Quickly pass the car. Put on your turn signal, and move back into the right lane.

Lest you think that this is just a pet peeve without justification, I will illustrate the problem with left lane driving. As I drove along today, a couple of state troopers came flying on to the highway only to be slowed down by a series of left lane drivers who could not possibly move to the right lane because they were in the midst of their lazy-paced passing of cars in the right lane.

Back to the law. As the campaigns for statewide offices heat up, I am compelled to add my driving concern to the list of hot button issues. I want an attorney general who will make changing driving behavior a priority. After the candidate's position on life issues, this comes next. Without knowing any of the possible candidates' positions on highway driving, I believe that the conservative candidate would have the advantage. He could tout that he will promote a "Drive Right" program while his opponent consistently stays on the left causing frustration and risking harm to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Enough complaining. For now.

Posted by David at 12:01 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Saturday, May 21, 2005
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding  

Once again there are efforts afoot to obtain taxpayer money to pay for embryonic stem cell research. As reported in Zenit, the bill is being opposed by the U.S. bishops:

The U.S. bishops are urging Congress to reject a bill that would federally fund stem-cell research on new embryos from fertility clinics.

If passed, the bill would invalidate the Bush administration's policy of funding only research on embryonic stem-cell lines already in existence.

[William Cardinal Keeler] argued that "researchers increasingly acknowledge that the apparent initial 'promise' of ESCs was exaggerated," and that alternative methods, such as using adult stems cells, have shown more promise in research to treat juvenile diabetes, corneal damage, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, sickle-cell anemia, cardiac damage and many other conditions.
It is good to see shepherds come out to oppose any government funding for this phony science. It is clearly a work of evil that so much emphasis has been placed on embryonic stems cells when all of the success has been with adult stem cells. When scientists are honest, they admit that any anticipated breakthroughs from embryonic stem cell research are unlikely and certainly many years down the road. In the meantime, adult stem cells are already making a difference.

It is unfortunate that in August 2001, the President even allowed funding for the existing lines of embryonic stem cells. Back then he had the opportunity to really make a pro-life decision, but instead he made a very political one which allowed for taxpayer money to continue to support this immoral work. By continuing the funding support, he, in part, gave credence to the research. However, it is good to see that he has threatened to veto this bill if it passes both chambers.

It is unclear whether the legislation will pass or not, or if it does pass, would it pass with a veto-proof majority. Urge your member of congress to oppose HB 810 which is anticipated to come to the floor for a vote next week.

Additional Information:

Pontifical Academy for Life information on embryonic stem cell research

Text of the House Bill

Current Co-sponsors of the House Bill

Posted by David at 12:37 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Friday, May 20, 2005
Teach us to pray  

I feel compelled to write something about prayer. I can say this much about prayer: I struggle with it every single day. There are many prayers that I enjoy, and I am very grateful for the Catholic Church and tradition which has given us so many beautiful prayers. My Protestant background did not provide me with any formal prayers other than the Our Father (Lord's Prayer). Consequently, before my journey to the Catholic Church, prayer was whatever I wanted it to be. That sounds very freeing, but the truth of the matter is that you end up saying a lot of the same things over and over. You meditate on the same concepts. And you maintain the same mental images.

The real problem is that left to our own devices, we do not have the necessary structure in which we can begin to pray. The formal prayers provide sound, theological means to communicate with our Lord that prepares our minds to enter into less formal prayer. Of course, the mass is the primary prayer of the Church and the members of the Church. With Sunday mass, we provide a framework for our entire week. It is the day of the Lord on which we may receive our Lord, opening our hearts to receive the grace He longs to pour into us. This grace will assist us throughout the week, if we cooperate with it.

This is where I struggle--in the mundane prayer of daily life. I often find myself frustrated that I forgot the Lord for such a long period of time during the day. In the middle of the time, I banged my head against the wall without remembering the Lord who desired to help me in my time of need. Or I forget to thank Him, and the moment to give the most appropriate expression of my gratefulness has passed. Instead, I allow myself to thank Him with a belated prayer similar to thanking someone a day after you should have expressed your appreciation.

I have learned one thing about prayer and that is you simply have to do it. When I miss my time of prayer or fail to catch up on it when I can grab some time, I miss out and I know the difference. I am wont to pray five decades of the Rosary every day. Preferably, I pray the Rosary in the morning. If I do not, I can assure that things will not go as well that day. I will have an even shorter temper and simply less energy. It is not magic. It is allowing the Lord to change me in such small and subtle ways that they are imperceptible in the short term and only recognized over a season of my life.

The Rosary is the means that God seems to use in my life. I really do like the Rosary very much. Not just because it is so very Catholic, but because it seems to be God's special gift to me through which He communicates His love. I did grow up learning Bible stories in Sunday School. And that same attractiveness of the familiar stories of Christ's life which are the mysteries of the Rosary feel comfortable. Finally, I must say I appreciate the Rosary because it is very Marian. I love our Lady even more because I did not "know" her for so many years of my life. Now that I can know her as my mother, I want to get to know her better. I, too, want to follow this path which leads to Christ through His mother. Yes, I want to live Totus Tuus.

Posted by David at 1:18 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Thursday, May 19, 2005
Gallup Poll Results: Three-Fourths of Americans Choose Euthanasia  

As noted on Blogs for Terri from Editor & Publisher, according to a recent Gallup poll, three-fourths of Americans support euthanasia. This is a 6% increase form 2004. Although I have some difficulty with the question as it was posed,
When a person has a disease that cannot be cured, do you think doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient's life by some painless means if the patient and his family request it?
the overall gist of the question is somewhat clear. With a 75% approval, it is not surprising that majorities of demographic groups who would be considered opponents of euthanasia actually supported it: Evangelicals (61%), Weekly Churchgoers (51%), and self-described conservatives (63%).

I am not actually surprised at these numbers. During the last weeks of Terri Schiavo's life it was clear that there was a lack of interest in defending the life of Ms. Schiavo. The euthanasia movement has slowly made inroads into the legal, social, and religious areas over the past decades such that many people do not consider euthanasia (especially when it is not termed as such) to be morally wrong. Many Christians simply do not see a problem with directly ending the life of a person in order to eliminate that person's (and often the caregivers') pain.

Dare I say that for some Christians there is even a theological mindset that makes euthanasia quite acceptable. For those who believe that salvation is simply a one-time event which cannot "be lost", there is an understanding that it is okay to help this person destined for Heaven by speeding the person's journey with a quicker death. Even for some Christians, the lack of a sufficient theological understanding of suffering lends to the acceptance of the mentality that suffering is to be avoided at all costs, even the cost of a person's life. The depth of such thinking might help to explain the other disturbing percentage that indicated that a full 59% of respondents would be willing to take their own lives to eliminate severe pain. It would seem, as Blogs for Terri notes, that those who are willing to take their own lives are more likely to be willing to take the life of someone else.

Posted by David at 2:27 AM  |  Comments (1)  | 

Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Schindlers meet with Pope Benedict XVI: "I know, I know about Terri"  

From Zenit:

Benedict XVI greeted the parents of Terri Schiavo, the American woman who died as a result of a court decision to remove her feeding tube.

At the end of today's general audience, held in St. Peter's square, the Holy Father greeted Bob and Mary Schindler, who showed him a photograph of their daughter.

The Schindlers, who were among the 25,000 pilgrims attending the audience, arrived in Rome with members of the recently created association "Missionaries of the Gospel of Life," founded by Father Frank Pavone.


From Reuters:

Terri Schiavo's parents on Wednesday thanked Pope Benedict for Vatican backing in their failed campaign to keep their brain-damaged daughter alive and gave him a framed picture of her.

"I can't even tell you how I felt," Terri's mother, Mary, told Reuters in an interview with other family members in St. Peter's Square just minutes after meeting the Pope.

"When I gave it to him he said: 'I know, I know about Terri' to me. I couldn't imagine the Holy Father saying to me 'I know, I know about Terri'. It was the most I could have ever, ever hoped for," she said.

Bob and Mary Schindler, their son Bobby and their daughter Suzanne, were in the front row at Benedict's general audience.

"When he said 'Terri' he held his hand to his heart like he was very sad," her father added.


"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:29) We know that our Shepherd knows Terri (and us), but what joy to know that His vicar on earth also knows His sheep and he loves and cares for them as Christ's representative on earth.

Posted by David at 11:37 PM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Terri Schiavo's Parents Thank Cardinal Martino  

From the VIS:

The parents of Terri Schiavo met with Renato Cardinal Martino who is president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Bob and Mary Schindler met with the cardinal to express their appreciation for his efforts to help save their daughter who was dehydrated to death in March of this year.

According to a statement released regarding the meeting, the cardinal made reference to Pope Benedict XVI's recent statement that "to kill is not a true freedom, but rather a tyranny that reduces man to slavery". The cardinal added that the Holy Father's statement "not only regards abortion and euthanasia, but also the death penalty, war, terrorism, the destruction or manipulation of human embryos, and extermination through hunger or devastation of the natural environment."

The parents of Ms. Schiavo have once again shown amazing grace in the midst of what must continue to be a devastating time. Their personal thanks to Cardinal Martino illustrates the Christian virtue of love in the midst of sorrow and loss. They have lost their daughter and could well take time off to grieve as surely they have, but they make the effort to thank those who stood by them and worked to save Ms. Schiavo's life. Who is not greatly impressed by this family? If you saw the way that they conducted themselves throughout the final weeks of Ms. Schiavo's life, you cannot fail to be impressed by their grace under tremendous pressure. They are true Christians. Their witness speaks volumes of love overcoming the culture of death. Euthanasia will not be defeated by laws and better judges. Death is destroyed by love, especially love shown in the most difficult situations in which it can be asked of us to give it.

Posted by David at 10:39 PM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Christendom College Summer Institute  

My wife and I have enjoyed attending the Christendom College Summer Institute in past years. The college pulls in top-notch speakers and combines their teaching with mass, benediction, and a sumptuous dinner. It is a very refreshing experience, set in the beautiful surroundings of the upper portion of the Shenandoah Valley. From our location in central Virginia, it is an absolutely wonderful drive to the campus.

If you are able to make it to Front Royal, Virginia on July 16th, you will not be disappointed. Fr. Groeschel and Fr. Pacwa join Dr. Timothy O'Donnell, who is president of the school, as the main speakers. In addition, the web page lists Fr. Anthony Mastroeni and Fr. William Saunders. The title for the Summer Institute is very appropriately selected for this year to be, "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church".

Posted by David at 12:56 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Allow Natural Death  

I caught a piece on NPR in which a hospital chaplin tells how she convinced a cancer patient to de facto sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order by noting to the patient how some hospitals refer to the order as Allow Natural Death (AND). Obviously, in principal, the idea of allowing a natural death is appropriate and moral. However, in the wake of the euthanasia movement's celebrated murder of Ms. Terri Schiavo, it is clear that an AND, if it is not already, will become a vehicle for putting people to death in the name of respecting the person's wishes. The piece made me sick because, the chaplin was called in to get the man to sign the paper after other hospital personnel had failed. It seems that they were just trying to wear the man down. She was successful because she gave the reality another name. This is very much the echoes of the Schiavo case where somehow thousands, if not millions of people, became convinced that dehydrating someone to death was respecting the wishes of someone who allegedly would not like to live as she did. Fr. Pavone put it very clearly when he indicated that Ms. Schiavo was murdered.

Posted by David at 1:09 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

MRI  

Our daughter's MRI went fine. The initial report, as we very much were confident, indicates that all is well with her head. The concern over her head which is at a higher percentile in growth than the rest of her body can be chalked up to her simply having a large head. As a co-worker of mine noted regarding a niece of his, she had a higher percentile growth in her head until she turned three when everything "caught up" so to speak. The more detailed report is forthcoming, but I do not believe that anything will appear.

I need to look into these MRIs a little more. After talking to a second pediatrician, I began to wonder if MRIs are becoming "standard" similar to an X-ray. He indicated that he advises parents to have MRIs to the amount of hundreds per year for children he sees. That type of frequency concerns me.

The whole MRI process was an ordeal. Our eight-month old daughter had to stop eating, with the exception of clear liquids, six hours before the appointment was even scheduled. Then she had to stop having clear liquids two hours before we were scheduled to bring her to the hospital. This needs to be mentioned that my wife who prepared everything for this received numerous different schedules from different health care personnel for when food should be stopped. One nurse even told her that she go without food for 12 hours beforehand. Can you imagine not feeding your baby for 12 hours? For the schedule we accepted, we had prepared for this with her by practicing this schedule over the past several days.

After paperwork and information about the risks, we prepared for the administration of the sedative. As my wife noted, it was good that she had called in advance and asked dozens of questions. Otherwise, we would be learning the risks minutes before the procedure was to take place. Many people might not call because they trust the medical staff.

Of course, the administration of the sedative was difficult because it had to be administered orally. Then our daughter quickly fell asleep. She was taken to the room with the MRI tube. Fortunately, the whole thing only lasted about 40 minutes. I remained in the room, praying and checking that I could see that she continued to breathe. It was a little much for my wife so she remained outside the room. After all of the awful noise was over, our daughter woke up. It had been indicated that she might remain sedated for up to three hours after getting the sedative which would have meant remaining longer in the small recovery room at the hospital. I suspect that my daughter woke up as soon as she could because like us, she was ready to get out of there as soon as possible. Since returning home she has appeared as normal. The anxiety of her being sedated has been replaced with the relief that all is well. Thanks for your prayers.

Posted by David at 12:47 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Monday, May 16, 2005
Carrying the Cross  

Recently, I was talking with the wife of a generous couple who have adopted several children. A few years ago, they made the decision to move about 40 miles west to the other side of the mountain from where they used to live. They did this for a number of good reasons, but they put at the top of their justification list the need to be close to a good, orthodox parish in which they believed they could raise their children. God has blessed their decision in many ways. For instance, despite the policy of the diocese which normally moves priests around every six years or so, the priest of the parish has been the pastor for over 16 years. It is only this year that he is finally be transferred to another parish in the diocese. During his time, the parish has grown tremendously. RCIA has always been a wonderful experience that shephered many souls into the Catholic Church. I should know, my wife and I once went through the program. Just in numbers, the parish has grown. Many apostolates have been started and others revitalized. The library contains many very good books and videos to help parishoners grow. The grounds of the parish underwent a significant refurbishment which included the addition of very nice parish hall. Not least at all, the parish boasts Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a diocese that scarcely seems to know what Eucharistic devotion is.

Someone who was critical of this family's move and especially of their primary reason, suggested that they should "bear the cross" of remaining in their former parish which maintained many heterdox practices. When the wife related this to me, I replied that it is certainly one thing for an adult to carry a cross, but it is a little much for us to expect our children to bear such a burden. The critic would have this family suffer with lack of true food all in the name of "bearing a cross" during the children's most tender ages of formation.

Today, my wife and I are taking our eight-month old daughter to the hospital for an MRI. There is a concern that her head has grown at a rate which is significantly higher than the rest of her body. I have to say her head does not look that big compared to the rest of her body. What a cross this is! The whole process is difficult. First, she has to stop eating anything but clear liquids six hours before the appointment time. Then she must stop eating clear liquids two hours before she is schedule to arrive at the hospital. This for a child who is used to eating quite regularly throughout the day. Finally, she will have to be sedated. This is the scary part. It will be very difficult to watch her sedated. Of course, there are possible complications with the sedation: vomiting, aspiration, excessive drowsiness. Needless to say, my wife and I are concerned and prayerful. This really is a cross that seems too much to bear. She is so small, yet she has to undergo sedation and a thirty minute MRI. Oh yes, I should say that I am fully convinced that there is nothing wrong with her head; she just has a big head right now. The rest of her body will catch up as she gets older.

We would appreciate your prayers.

Jesus, I trust in You!

Posted by David at 5:47 AM  |  Comments (0)  | 

Sunday, May 15, 2005
Return  

It has been some time since I have added an entry to this site. I think that I have returned to add a few ideas on a more regular basis. I modified the overall look, and I will continue to update the template. More importantly I am trying to make a commitment to write a few sentences each day.

Much has happened since June of last year when I stopped writing (although I added a couple of entries related to Ms. Terri Schiavo's murder since last June). In my own life, our daughter was born, and she is now eight months old. She is truly the joy of our life, as well as providing us with plenty of activity.

Of course, also during this time, John Paul II passed away. This was truly a very sad time for me. Although my life includes the pontificates of his previous two predecessors, John Paul II was "my pope". God used him in a very significant way to help draw me into the Catholic Church. The impact that his writings especially Crossing the Threshold of Hope had upon the early stirrings in my heart to enter the Church cannot be overestimated. I always knew that I could trust him implicitly. He was a faithful shepherd of Christ's flock. And truly as eventually will be formally declared he is the saint John Paul the Great.

Now we have the happy election of Benedict XVI. What a joy that we have such a truly humble man to follow the greatest pope in centuries. He will do many great things, and we should pray that he too will be considered great.

Posted by David at 12:49 AM  |  Comments (0)  |