'Tis the season

The holiday season has always been my favorite time of the year.  Yet, my emotions tend to run high and low.  This year, I was able to shed a few annual responsibilities that previously occupied much of my time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Slowing down has been good as it has allowed me more time to reflect on my current spiritual and corporal well-being.  Health-wise, it has been a pretty good year for a man approaching the completion of seven decades on the earth.  Some friends and relatives have not been so fortunate.  I pray daily that their suffering and that of their family members be soothed. 

Family tragedies seem to escalate in number right before Christmas.  Maybe we are just more aware of them this time of year.  Police officers losing their lives in the line of duty, car accidents, shootings – all these things bring to mind people who are suffering greatly while the rest of celebrate the joyous season.  Locally, a man was shot and killed in his home at Thanksgiving dinner.  That family will forever be haunted by that awful memory. 

For me personally, the holidays bring a sadness that someone I love will once again not be joining us to celebrate.  My wife and daughter often ask me what I want for Christmas.  My silent answer is something they cannot give me.  I try not to let this depression overtake me.  Brooding over something I cannot change is not healthy for me or my family. 

Our parish is taking care of twenty-eight families this year who cannot afford presents for their children.  This may not sound like much to some of you, but we are a very small parish in a town that is struggling.  I have been in charge of this project for the past ten years or so.  Our people tend to be generous, so organizing the giveaway is easy and uplifting. 

I am still one of those old traditionalists who insists on a real Christmas tree.  My favorite has become the Frasier fir.  The short soft needles stay fresh and the fragrance is amazing.  In fact, the aroma seems to get stronger as the tree dries out.  When the season is over, I leave the discarded tree near the garden in back of the house.  Even in the summer time when the needles are brown, the fir smell still whiffs through the air. 

As we get older, the number of Christmas cards we write and receive decreases.  The older folks are gone and younger people send their greetings in other ways now.  We still get an annual Christmas form letter from my cousin, a retired Catholic priest.  He is eighty-two years old now and in poor health.  This year, he writes of two concerns that weigh upon his mind.  The first that he says hurts him deeply is the “blind and close-minded” authority that won’t allow women to be priests.  The second is climate change. 

I love my cousin and am thankful for his life devoted to Christ, but with all due respect, the male priesthood “has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium 25:2)”  It cannot and should not be changed or even questioned, especially by a priest.  As for climate change, yes, the climate is changing.  The climate has always changed.  When disregarding God, man tends to presume more power than he actually has.  I believe much of the hubbub on climate change is politically motivated.  While we have a responsibility to care for and protect the environment, we do not control it. 

Looking ahead to 2020, our Diocese of Gary will have a new Bishop in February.  Msgr. Robert J. McClory has been appointed to replace Bishop Donald Hying who was named Bishop of Madison Wisconsin earlier this year.  It seems our small diocese may be a stepping stone or training ground for new bishops.  We were blessed to have Bishop Hying here for several years, but I always felt he was destined for bigger and better things.  I would not be surprised if he were Cardinal Hying someday.  I hope to predict the same for our new bishop in the future.

My wish for society in 2020 is a return to sanity.  Stop the polarizing political nonsense, the constant playing of the victim card, the how can I be offended attitude, and all the other craziness that we see every day.  We must have it pretty good if these are the trivialities that come to the forefront.  An Italian “artist” duct-taped a banana to a wall, called it art, and purportedly sold it to a French art collector for $120,000.  Then a so-called “performance artist” ate the banana.  I can’t decide who is crazier, those who consider a taped banana art or those who think eating a banana is art.  My vote goes to the guy who paid $120,000 for it.  Maybe that is what we get for legalizing marijuana.  God help us!

Biden time

The Catholic Church made the news again recently when a South Carolina priest, Father Robert Morey, refused to give Holy Communion to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden because of Biden’s public support for abortion.  To Catholics concerned that few bishops have enforced such sanctions of pro-abortion politicians, the priest’s firm stand was praised.  Others thought denying anyone Communion was a bad idea. 

In an article published by America,The Jesuit Review, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, says he would not have denied Joe Biden Communion.  “We also remember Pope Francis: ‘I personally can never judge the state of a person's soul.’ So, it’s difficult, that’s what I’m saying. I’m not there as a tribunal, as a judge in distributing Holy Communion,” the Cardinal said.

A Jesuit priest and commentator, Father James Martin tweeted, "Denying Communion to politicians, Democrat or Republican, is a bad idea. If you deny the sacrament to those who support abortion, then you must also deny it to those who support the death penalty. How about those who don't help the poor? How about 'Laudato Si'? Where does it end?" 

As a side note, the Jesuits sometime carry the reputation of being somewhat liberal with their theological thought, perhaps perpetuated by Pope Francis, a Jesuit himself.  I was recently told of an elderly Jesuit priest who was subbing at a parish where he took a few liberties with the liturgy.  When told of the liturgical oddities that had taken place in his church, the pastor said, “Well, they told us in seminary, ‘Everything is changed at a Jesuit Mass, except the bread and the wine.’”  I thought the quip was funny so I had to throw it in here.

A Catholic News Agency article points to a 2004 joint decree by the Bishops of Charleston, Charlotte, and Atlanta that says, “Catholics serving in public life espousing positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, especially those running for or elected to public office, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion within our jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Charleston and Charlotte.”  Therefore, Father Morey was following Diocesan policy.  Whether that decree is prudent appears to be a point of theological debate. 

I was also interested in how the media reported on this story.  A Fox News article attempted to explain “Why Biden being denied Communion is a big deal for people of faith.”  For a secular source, I thought the article was fair although it should probably have been titled as a big deal for Catholics rather than just people of faith.  Reading some of the comments from non-Catholic Christians shows the disconnect from our understanding of the Real Presence.

The article quotes Canon lawyer Father Gerald Murray who refers to Canon Law when he says, "I applaud the priest who did this ... because he himself took seriously his obligation in Canon Law and also in the sight of God."

For the record:

Canon 915: Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Canon 916: A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

The Fox News article also quotes Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blaise Cupich who defended giving Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians, saying “I think it would be counterproductive to impose sanctions, simply because they don’t change anybody’s minds.” 

In fairness, the statement was taken slightly out of context; however, his stance clearly diminishes the seriousness of the sin. The Cardinal’s permissive position is a cause for scandal.

If Cardinal Cupich says it’s okay for a pro-abortion politician to approach the Eucharist, then it must be okay for anybody. 

Also quoted is Christopher Hale, a Catholic former faith advisor to President Obama who says Pope Francis himself invited Biden and Nancy Pelosi to receive Communion at his installation as Bishop of Rome.  “Look, Pope Francis says it so beautifully.  The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but medicine for the sick.”

Here is the problem I have with that statement.  Medicine is something we take when we are already sick.  A person with mortal sin on his soul has already separated himself from the Divine Physician.  The medicine he needs for that ailment is the Sacrament of Confession.  A better Eucharistic analogy might be a vitamin that provides grace we need to maintain our spiritual health.

Actually, the medical analogy does the Eucharist a great injustice.  The Eucharist is so much more than a vitamin we casually consume every Sunday at Mass.  We are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, God incarnate.  That is not something to be taken lightly.  We need to be properly disposed and humbled with reverence.  The Fox News article concludes by saying, “While Christians have disagreed on whether or not this meal is a symbol of Jesus’ body or the transformation of the bread into his actual flesh, they do agree it’s the cornerstone of the faith and essential to being a believer and follower of Christ.  But after that, Jesus is silent on who should or should not receive it.” 

Regarding the last sentence, I disagree.  Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul said to the Corinthians, “²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

Denying the Eucharist to someone who is publicly complicit in serious sin is done out of love and concern for the salvation of that person’s soul.  To receive Communion is a state of mortal sin profanes the sacrament and is itself another mortal sin.  The person is not being judged by the Church.  That is up to God.  The person’s behavior needs to be corrected, and the Church has an obligation to make that clear.  Final judgment will come later.

Peace be with me

Philippians 4:6-7   ⁶ Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. ⁷ Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Being well acquainted with anxiety, this passage caught my eye on the back cover of a prayer booklet I was reading during Eucharistic Adoration last Sunday.  That evening, I went to my computer and copied the passage from the Bible Gateway source and pasted it above.  The next morning, I checked my social media and found the same passage cited on a friend’s posting.  Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

Having enough faith to put complete trust in God is not easy for us worriers.  Some of our brains are wired in such a way to overreact to stressful situations.  That feeling of panic with a pounding heart, upset stomach, chest tightness, and the compounding reactions to the reaction only serve to exacerbate the anxiety. 

I have written on this topic before because of the impact it has had on my life, and the realization that there are likely many people, especially young people, who are experiencing similar feelings every day. Unchecked anxiety can make the most mundane situation seem like an insurmountable obstacle for some. 

One of my current anxieties comes from the realization that I passed this tendency on to my children, all three of which have been affected.  While a genetic component contributes to this affliction, my anxiety-affected behavior undoubtedly influenced them as they grew up.  Observing a parent who appears overly cautious in avoiding certain situations is bound to crimp a child’s self-confidence.  I so regret that one of my sons still suffers greatly.

Today, much help is available that did not exist when I was young.   Awareness of the problem among healthcare professionals, counselors, and the general population have reduced the stigma attached to seeking help for mental illnesses.  Just knowing that others experience these feelings, and understanding the causes can bring some comfort.  By all means, anyone whose daily life is constricted by anxiety and panic should be encouraged to seek treatment.

That being said, we should be comforted by the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians.  If we place our complete trust in God by prayer and petition, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will bring us comfort in Christ Jesus.  Ask God for help.  That help may come in the form of increased faith and self-confidence, or by obtaining the strength and courage needed to face those fears, seeking professional help when necessary. Don’t be afraid!

Who's Waldo?

I have become a skeptic.  Between politicians, social media and fake news, I have come to believe that every bit of information I encounter must be viewed with a critical eye regardless of its significance.  Where at one time I wondered whether the person passing the information had an agenda, I now assume everyone has an agenda, and therefore exhibits a bias.  Sometimes that bias is evident, and other times not easily seen, but it’s always there.  From trivial banter to dire warning, from neighborhood gossip to official decree, the person passing the information is compelled to do so for a reason of significant importance to person himself.  Words and wording may be intended to inform, impress, mislead, offend, deflate, or evoke any number of responses from the intended target.

Nowhere is this bias more apparent than in the news media.  Pick a major story and see how it is reported by the various pundits.  I sometimes wonder if they all witnessed the same event.  I am especially suspicious of reports of a new study.  Who paid for the study?  What is their background?  How do they benefit from the results?  What prompted them to conduct the study in the first place?  The same criticism can be applied to polls also.  Were the questions worded in such a way to solicit a certain response?  How were the respondents selected?  Since we are often not privy to the answers, I tend to write most of them off as meaningless.

In fairness to being a true skeptic, I need to be aware of my own bias.  Am I always fair in my assessment of the opinions of others?  I may try to see the other person’s point of view, but that can be difficult.  We all think our own point of view is superior to that of others. 

I have never been a good student of history.  I’m not proud of that.  My brain doesn’t seem to work that way very well.  I was more of a math and science guy with a short attention span.   History and literature were difficult subjects for me to retain when I was young.  Now that I am older and more introspective, my skepticism tends to interfere with my study.  I wonder how the bias of the historian affects the way we see the past. 

Last week I was listening to a local Protestant preacher on the radio while on my way to Eucharistic Adoration.  He was lauding the accomplishments of Peter Waldo who started the Waldensian movement in the Middle ages.  I wasn’t familiar with Waldo, but this preacher held him in high esteem for translating the bible from Latin into the vernacular despite being suppressed by the Catholic Church.  I immediately assumed there were two sides to this story and wanted to learn more. I know enough to realize when the Church strongly opposes someone or a particular movement, it is because some heresy needs to be squashed. 

Doing a google search, I found that most information on Waldo came from Protestant sources that painted him in a favorable light.  I did find one article in the Catholic Encyclopedia on the Waldenses (the movement attributed to Waldo) that supported my suspicion that their teaching strayed into heresy.  When confronted with conflicting portraits like this, I naturally tend to favor the Catholic view.  In all fairness, however, I need to be able to justify my reason for doing so.  After all, if I am going to be true to my skeptical self, I should view all sources with a critical eye. 

In this particular case, the biographical information is similar in the few sources I checked, but the events and ramifications come from two different points of view.  The Protestant sources highlight Waldo’s belief in voluntary poverty and religious simplicity while his problems with the Church are attributed to his strict biblical teaching that upset the Church hierarchy.  To a Protestant, he might be viewed as a hero.  Looking from a Catholic perspective, the problem was not his biblical teaching, but that he was teaching error.  If the Church is to be the pillar and bulwark of truth as the bible says, she must be able to enforce her authority to protect people from heretical teaching.  In effect, the Waldenses were early Protestants.

Today when history is written and rewritten by sources often unknown, we do need to keep a critical eye open.  The old saying don’t believe everything you read has never been more relevant than today.  Also, don’t react to everything you read on social media.  Step back.  Take a breath.  What are they saying?  Who is saying it?  Why are they saying it?  Should they be saying it?  Are they qualified to say it?  Is it constructive or destructive?  If you can’t find the answers, it is probably best to ignore.

While a certain amount of skepticism is prudent in today’s world, we must be careful not to let it affect us spiritually.  While the truth may be difficult to uncover at times, God’s truth is immutable and must be protected.  We cannot allow questionable sources to lead us into questioning our faith.  Despite dubious information casting doubts on our sensibilities, the tendency to question even God’s absolute truth as protected by the Church must be avoided. 

Something to think about

My son called me from his home in Kansas excited to tell about an encounter he had with three non-denominational Christians who rang his doorbell Saturday afternoon.  King James Bible in hand, they used scripture quotes to explain how he needed to be saved.  This began a thirty-minute conversation on the front porch.  One of them was a former Catholic who my son engaged in some charitable Catholic apologetics. 

He asked them how they knew what they read in their bible was correct.  He asked them who assembled the early writings into one volume, and how they account for the disagreement of interpretation among various denominations.  He talked about the sacraments, the necessity of confession, and gift of the Holy Eucharist, hoping to connect with the woman who had left the Catholic Church.  In short, he gave them a short history lesson, hoping to inspire them to investigate further.

They need to realize that their Christian ancestors were likely Catholic at one time, and at some point, one or more of them decided to abandoned the mothership.  Maybe they didn’t like the captain, or somebody said something to offend them.  In any case, they hopped into a lifeboat to seek a different route.   Some eventually didn’t like what was happening in the lifeboat and departed in a dingy.  Others left the dingy for a raft or canoe.  Some are now bobbing around on water wings.  That’s not to say they won’t eventually navigate to their destination, but they are sure to encounter some stormy seas. 

Those ancestors who left the Church must bear some responsibility for their descendants who may now live with invincible ignorance.  That is, they no longer know the true Church through no fault of their own.  As for the former Catholic on the doorstep who left the Church on her own accord, she should consider the plight of her own descendants who may never learn the truth of the Catholic Church.  Her own ignorance may be vincible if she was formed in the faith, and yet chose another path.  If this seems a little confusing, allow me to cite Jimmy Akin's explanation of the terms:

"Ignorance is invincible if it a person could not remove it by applying reasonable diligence in determining the answer. Ignorance is vincible if a person could remove it by applying reasonable diligence. Reasonable diligence, in turn, is that diligence that a conscientious person would display in seeking the correct answer to a question given (a) the gravity of the question and (b) his particular resources."

Determining where one will spend eternity is a serious question.  So, if a person was raised in a practicing Catholic family, and leaves the faith without applying due diligence to grow in the faith, that person may be responsible for his or her own ignorance, and therefore, could be putting salvation in jeopardy.  Of course, only God can judge the person’s soul, but out of love, we charitably try to share the faith, and draw the person closer to the Church Our Lord established. 

Reaching out to a former Catholic is not easy.  Think of it as tossing out a life preserver to someone who has jumped ship. The polarization in our society today makes it difficult to get our message across without resistance or backlash.  Many people do not want to hear about religion or morality.  Our only recourse may be prayer and leading by example.  Or, do as my son did when the opportunity arises, and calmly ask them questions that will make them rethink their faith.

That being said, I completely understand how some people better connect with the non-denominational Christian life.  Understanding Catholicism takes some effort, indoctrination one might say, to know what actually takes place in the Mass.  To the casual observer, the Mass may seem strange or incomprehensible.  Conversely, first-timers at a protestant service might have a very emotional experience.  I recently came across the story singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson told of his encounter that led to him to Jesus.  (Go here to see the video.)

You can’t discount the personal experience some protestants have.  They may never know the sacraments as we Catholics do, but that void comes through no fault of their own.  A merciful God will not hold them responsible for something to which they were never exposed. And I wonder sometimes, if they won’t be in heaven long before we are. 

Minimizing aggression for maximum results

I get frequent (seems like daily) emails from pro-life activist Randall Terry.  The latest shared a link to a video where he shows many of the pro-life ads that have run during various political campaigns over the years, including some that aired during Super Bowls in several cities.  Most of the ads displayed graphic photos of aborted babies.  They are shocking and meant to be so.  Several targeted Barrack Obama during his presidential run, calling him a baby murderer and accusing all those who voted for him of having blood on their hands.  He doesn’t mince words.  The language is direct and the images graphic.

Most recently, Terry was in the news for protesting at a rally for a current presidential candidate who happens to be homosexual.  Terry himself had a strained relationship with an adopted homosexual son who was killed in a car accident several years ago.  While I respect him for his convictions, I question effectiveness of his methods.

Of the political pro-life ads I watched, I don’t believe any of the candidates were victorious.  I know Obama still won the presidential election, and the other candidates were not familiar to me.  While the horrors of abortion cannot be downplayed, I wonder if these in your face approaches may only serve to anger and embolden those on the other side.  The same goes for disruptive protests at campaign rallies.  The best time to reason with people is not when they are emotionally charged. 

So, what is the answer?  We can’t remain silent, of course.  We Catholics could stop legal abortion if we all voted in accordance with our faith.  There is nothing wrong with Randall Terry’s message per se, just the manner in which it is perceived.  The reproductive rights crowd will write him off as an anti-woman adversary.  While a few may be shocked to their senses, most will not be swayed by bloody photos and harsh rhetoric.

Women themselves hold the key to ending abortion.  The pro-life message can be a tough sell coming from a man, especially when the man is loud and confrontational.  Instead, we must try to understand the predicament a woman or young girl finds herself in with an unplanned pregnancy.  At the same time, she needs to understand that a new life has been created and deserves protection.

Catholic Answers Live radio often does shows where the listeners are asked, “Why are you pro-choice?”  Trent Horn is usually the guest who very charitably and calmly presents the Catholic pro-life point of view.  He has written several books on the topic including “Persuasive Pro-Life.” Rather than attacking the pro-choice callers, he challenges them by asking questions that cause them to rethink their position. 

Often the calls revolve around when human life actually begins or at what stage of development does the embryo become a human being.  Trent always presents a good philosophical argument for the callers, but there is one scientific argument that has always been convincing to me.  I read it in a 1999 article titled “When do human beings (normally) begin” by Dianne N. Irving.  I won’t go into detail here, but rather link to the article so you can read it yourself.  Basically, Dr. Irving explains what takes place in the characteristic number of chromosomes at fertilization that defines a human being. If you don’t think that little embryo is a human being, please give the article a read!

Summer Potpourri

We are now in those lazy, hazy days of summer.  Time to sit back, relax by the pool and see what thoughts may cross the mind.  Our festival days were a bit rainy over Father’s Day weekend, making our evangelization efforts somewhat limited outside on the church lawn.  We made a couple of contacts and had a few conversations.  The parish did have a float in the parade this year, so we were at least visible. 

Saw a story in USA today about a woman who was jailed in Florida for disturbing a turtle’s nest.  She didn’t damage any eggs, but tampering with certain nests is still a crime.  I always think of legalized abortion when I see such stories.  I totally understand why endangered species need to be protected, but the contrast in logic baffles me.  The pro-abortion people will say the fertilized embryo or fetus is not a human person, and therefore has no right to life.  Yet, a turtle egg must be protected because it could develop into a turtle.  The inconsistency makes no sense.

Another recent story about a local dairy farm whose employees were supposedly maltreating animals caused several large retailers to quit carrying their products.  This particular farm was always open to the public for tours and took pride in the care they provided for their livestock.  I saw the undercover video footage of the abuse.  While it involved only a few workers, it should not be tolerated, and was addressed by management even before the release of the video.  The whistleblower also rebuked the farm for separating young calves from their mothers.  Why is there more outrage when a baby animal is involved than when a human baby is not only separated from its mother but killed in the process?

While some Republican states are passing laws to limit or even eliminate abortion, our neighboring state of Illinois just signed into law the Reproductive Health Act.  The Illinois law essentially says pregnant women have the fundamental right to have an abortion, and a baby in the womb has no independent rights.  In response, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, publicly declared that all Illinois Catholic lawmakers who voted for the state’s new Reproductive Health Act, or for an earlier 2017 bill that legalized taxpayer funding of abortions, should not present themselves to receive Holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield “without first being reconciled to Christ and the Church.”  I applaud Bishop Paprocki for taking a firm stand.  Maybe this will make these lawmakers understand the gravity of their actions.

In Mark 10:18, Jesus says, “No one is good but God alone.”  I remember Mother Angelica referring to that passage saying that the further we separate ourselves from God, the further we separate ourselves from goodness.  Illinois legislators are among those who have eliminated God from their leadership, and that leads to no good.  

Our Bishop, Donald Hying, is leaving us this week to become the Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin.  We were blessed to have him lead the Gary Diocese for the past few years.  I remember thinking early on that he would eventually move up the ladder.  Madison will likely not be his last stop either. I would not be surprised for His Excellency to be Cardinal Hying some day. 

Another Road Trip

My wife and I made the 500 mile drive to attend our oldest granddaughter’s First Communion the last weekend of April. She was among 123 second graders in their little suits and white dresses, receiving Our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for the first time.  The class was so large, they had to divide them in half with one Mass in the late morning and the other in the early afternoon.  Otherwise, the church could not hold all the parents, friends and relatives who wished to attend.  This is in a church that holds almost a thousand people, and was nearly full for each Mass. 

We had one entire pew reserved for our group which included siblings, aunts and uncles, godparents, their children, us grandparents, and Mom.  Dad was the organist and choir director for both Masses.  Some of the children did the readings and petitions.  They were obviously well-rehearsed as all spoke clearly with sufficient volume to be heard throughout the church. 

The following week, we were back home where our parish traditionally holds First Communion the first Sunday in May.  To prepare the music, I contacted the CCD instructor to see how many would be receiving their First Communion here.  To my chagrin, she said none.  I believe this is the first year in the nearly 140 years of our parish, that we had no one receiving First Holy Communion.  Our numbers have shrunk so drastically that our parish appears to be on life support.  I have addressed the reasons for this in previous posts.  Our town has no industry to keep young people of child-bearing age here.  We have lost parishioners to other nearby parishes where they feel more comfortable.  And families just aren’t having as many children as they did years ago.  Combine this with Catholics who no longer attend Mass for a variety of excuses, and you have many empty pews. 

Our wonderful bishop of the past five years has recently been transferred to another diocese.  With the shortage of priests and the uncertainty of what our next bishop will decide, we may not have a resident priest here much longer.  In fact, I sometimes wonder if we will have a new bishop.  Once upon a time, we were part of a neighboring diocese.  Our diocese was created some 60 years ago when this area had a thriving commerce with railroads, steel mills, and productive farmland.  The farmland remains, but the family farms are gone.  Many railroads have been abandoned, and much of steel is imported.  Times have changed and rural areas have suffered.

Are we doomed?  I hope not.  Oh, the Church will go on, if not in our home parish, somewhere else.  All we can do is look to the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance.  It’s all a part of God’s plan.  Thy will be done.

Growing the Flock

I enjoy listening to a local Protestant preacher on the radio while on my way to Sunday Mass each week.  His sermons are better than my priest’s, and he sounds very Catholic.  In fact, he should be Catholic, but then again, so should everyone!  I prayed a Rosary for his conversion this morning at adoration.  Maybe someday, who knows?

Today, he was lamenting the realization his attempt to expand his congregation to another nearby city had failed.  His Christian community has a number of churches in area towns that are very successful in attracting congregants.  It occurred to me that he was not accustomed to having an evangelization effort fail, while we Catholics are not accustomed to success.  Why are some of these Protestant pastors so much better at attracting new members than we are?

For one thing, these small non-denominational communities do not need to answer to a higher authority.  They can go wherever they want to set up shop.  There is always room for one more church.  Non-denominational Protestants, by their nature, can church hop.  They can go wherever they like the pastor and the message.  For some, selecting a place to worship is much like picking a restaurant.    

For us Catholics, our territory is much more limiting.  Chances are the neighboring community already has a Catholic Church, and if it does not, we can’t just move in and start one.  After all, we need a priest, and they tend to be in short supply.  So, we are pretty much limited to attracting new members from our own community where people already know us or we have a reputation.  Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."  (Matt 13:57)

So, we Catholics may start from a disadvantage in our evangelization efforts.  The negative publicity the Catholic Church often gets in the media, and the fact that we cannot choose our pastors based on likability, makes our efforts more difficult than those of our Protestant brothers and sisters.  Nonetheless, we have the truth, the saints, the Fathers, the Sacraments, the Pope, the Bishops, and two thousand years of history on our side.  A tough sell in these secular times?  Yes, but all we really need to do is live our faith to the fullest and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Lenten Musings

Now that we are into the season of Lent, I wonder how many of us Catholics really take it seriously.  Most of us observe the Lenten requirements, no meat on Friday, and fasting Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and many of us give up something, but is that enough?  Are we missing the true meaning and cheating ourselves of the graces we could be obtaining?

I admit I am guilty.  Yes, I do my annual abstinence from chocolate routine.  Chocolate is one of my daily cravings, but I can do without it.  I find substitutes for my cravings so I don’t really miss them.  The tough stuff, the beverage I really like, well I’m not willing to sacrifice.  Okay, I go to Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings, and attend Lenten soup suppers with a guest speaker for some spiritual enhancement, but all of these things seem of little benefit. 

Lots of times, we Catholics can fall into a pattern of just going through the motions.  Even our prayer before meals can be rattled off without giving it much thought.  In fact, our minds are probably on locating the catsup more than asking God to bless our meal.  Repetition can make any task mundane and automatic.  Lent is a good time to slow down and give some thought to what we are doing, or not doing. 

Maybe one little thing could make a big difference in what Lent means to us.  Why not do something nice and unexpected for a friend or acquaintance?  Better yet, do something nice for a complete stranger.  Maybe pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant, or send some money anonymously to a family in need.  Use your imagination to make the world a little better.  It can’t be that difficult in our polarized society to show some kindness.  Even a friendly smile or a compliment can be life-changing for someone who is down.  Let’s give it a try.

Our Real American Horror Story

In his book The First Society: The Sacrament of Matrimony and the Restoration of the Social Order, Scott Hahn said, “All human societies eventually take on the form and structure of the families that comprise them. A disintegrating culture of marriage will lead to a disintegrating society. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Just look around.” 

We do not have to look far. The disintegration of marriage and the culture of death are closely related.  Particularly disturbing was the recent photo op of a smiling New York Governor Cuomo signing a bill that allows third trimester abortions.  The law for the first time allows abortions after the 24-week mark to protect the mother’s health (subject to a wide interpretation).  Previously, abortions after that point were permitted only to preserve a mother’s life.  The legislation also removes abortion from the criminal code and clarifies that a range of medical professionals, not just licensed physicians, can perform the procedure.

If Cuomo and his supporters really want to publicly celebrate signing the bill before the cameras, why not roll out a pregnant mother about to give birth and take turns assisting in an abortion?  Would he be uncomfortable doing that or are public executions against the law?  No legislator should be able to vote for a pro-abortion bill if they would be unwilling to witness in one firsthand. How sad that people can disconnect themselves from the horrors they promote.

I am certainly not a canon lawyer, but I thought the purpose of excommunication was not to punish, but rather to send a strong signal that one’s soul was in jeopardy, and in need of repentance.  I don’t understand why Cuomo, a supposed Catholic, has not been excommunicated as public statement expressing the ramifications of his position.  I wonder what one has to do or not do today to be excommunicated.  To give him a pass is scandalous.

Credit President Trump for speaking against abortion in his State of the Union Speech.  America will never be great again as long as we kill babies in the womb. Being wrong on abortion reveals a moral imperfection that calls into question all other judgments.  For me, it is a valid litmus test for anyone seeking to hold public office.  If a person does not respect human life, how can he be trusted?  Such a person is a flawed product of a broken society where marriage and family have been undermined. 

Road Trip

One of the best things about being Catholic is that you can attend Sunday Mass at any parish in the world and follow along.  The language may be different, but the liturgy is the same, the readings are the same, and the Eucharist is the same.  We are truly united in Christ.  That said, the experience can be different. 

My son, his wife and our four grandchildren live some 460 miles from us.  Several times a year, we make the long drive to visit and attend Mass at their parish where my son is Director of Liturgy and Music.   Same Mass, same liturgy, different experience.  I made a list of comparisons between the two.

Our Local Parish                                   Parish we visited

1910 building                                                Modern building

Capacity 200                                                  Capacity 1233

Prayer to St. Michael before Mass                  Prayer for Vocations before Mass

Tabernacle in center                                       Tabernacle off center to right

Traditional seating                                         Semi-circular configuration

Pipe Organ                                                      Electronic Organ and piano

Pews nearly empty                                          Pews nearly full

Older congregation                                         Average age 29

No school                                                        School (pre to grade 8)

I would consider myself a rather conservative Catholic.  In the past, I have been critical of some of the post Vatican II reforms.  Yet, I find the Mass at my son’s parish to be much more enjoyable, for lack of a better word.  The things I would generally find distracting, the tabernacle off center, facing other parishioners the way pews are configured, seemed insignificant.  Accustomed to worshipping with about sixty people in our mostly empty church, how wonderful to be in the presence of a thousand parishioners where ushers need to assist latecomers to find a seat.

Like it or not, the celebrant has a huge impact on one’s experience at Mass.  The two homilies we heard during our last visit, by two different priests, were nothing spectacular, but they were delivered thoughtfully and to the point.  Homilies at our local parish are often repeated, drawn out unnecessarily, and somewhat condescending at times, probably the main reason our local attendance is so low. 

The point of all this is that the spiritual temperature of a parish is not dependent on the form of the liturgy, the configuration of the church or its size.  The Mass is the Mass regardless of peripherals.  What can make a difference is how the Mass is celebrated.  For me, the experience of being at Mass with a thousand other souls, praying and singing together was refreshing.

I liked the prayer for vocations before Mass, and apparently it is effective.  After Sunday Mass, our family went to a small restaurant for lunch.  As we waited for our food, in walked five young men, at least one of them a priest, and the others possibly seminarians judging by their youthful appearance.  All wore collars and cassocks.  I grew up in a parish where our pastor wore a cassock most of the time.  That was many years ago, and I haven’t seen a priest wear one in our little parish since then.  It is interesting that many of the young men entering the seminaries these days are going back to the more traditional garb.  You can be contemporary and still be conservative.  I think it bodes well for the future of the Church.