Happy 250th

When I was going to Catholic school in the 1950’s, the nuns made us memorize the Baltimore Catechism, word for word.  I still remember much of it today.  That was how we were taught our Catholic faith.  The problem is that we didn’t really understand what we were memorizing.  We simply parroted the responses to each of the questions.

Years later, many of my former classmates no longer practicing Catholics.  Those of us who remain in the Church were generally formed in the faith later in life.  I firmly believe that anyone who truly knows their Catholic faith would never leave it. 

At some point in my early education, I was also required to learn the Declaration of Independence.  Like the catechism, I did not fully grasp the significance of the words I was saying at the time.  My motivation was to successfully pass the test and get the grade.

The celebration of the Birthday of our great nation this month has brought the Declaration of Independence to the forefront again.  Two hundred fifty years later, these words are more relevant than ever.  In a world where God is often denied or dismissed, the Declaration of Independence is predicated on the belief that our rights come from God and not from the government.  

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  

These words mean much more to me now than they did when I first learned them. Our rights come from God and the role of the government is to secure these rights.  When rights come from the desires of men, they become malleable.  They are anything but secure.  We are a nation built on Christian principles.  Without God, our foundation is shaky.  Thomas Jefferson understood this and expressed it so eloquently.  I did not understand as a child.  Many adults do not understand today.  

Intelligence questions

Pope Leo XIV just published his first encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity) on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.  The pope believes technology could reduce our human dignity.  By replacing people with machines, the value of work would be diminished causing us to lose our sense of purpose.  

The encyclical is quite lengthy.  As a good Catholic, I wanted to read it, but I lack sufficient intelligence of my own to grasp some of his concerns.  As a society, we seem to be in fear of artificial intelligence without fully understanding what it is or how it will affect our lives.  The encyclical is apparently intended to make us aware of the dangers.

In our area, people are fighting against the construction of data centers that are apparently needed to support artificial intelligence.  These are huge buildings containing servers that hold data, I assume.  Considering the tremendous computing power and storage contained in my little iPhone, I cannot even imagine what all these data centers can do.  They also consume huge quantities of water for cooling purposes which some people believe will compromise our water supplies.  To determine the validity of these concerns, I can go online to find answers, but they will likely be generated by artificial intelligence which may be a bit biased.  To be honest, I lack sufficient intelligence to ask an intelligent question about artificial intelligence..  

Instead of worrying about all of the bad things Pope Leo is concerned about, what about the possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) doing good things?  To what extent Is artificial intelligence able to reason?  If AI is truly intelligent, would it not always seek the truth? Suppose AI learns all of the ancient languages of the world, the definition of each word, how that word was used over the centuries in different contexts, and how those words were assembled in various ages to express ideas.  Suppose AI becomes capable of reconstructing the past with enough precision to eliminate debate over meanings and interpretations of history.

What if AI learns to filter out the bias that taints every opinion of imperfect men?  What if AI can instantly distinguish fact from fiction?  What if AI finds solutions to every conflict, and cures for every disease?  What if AI analyzes and verifies the Summa Theologica work of Thomas Aquinas?  What if AI learns the benefit of being oriented to the good and thereby steers mankind toward God?  What if AI learns to seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit?  What if AI settles all debate of the interpretation of Scripture, clearly showing the Catholic Church to be divinely instituted by Jesus Christ, true God and true man?  What if AI leads the whole world to Jesus and His Church?  Would the entire world convert?  Probably not, but Imagine the possibilities!

Age of Reason

My youngest grandson made his First Holy Communion on Mother’s Day along with two other boys in our small parish.  He is eight years old, and according to the church norm, has reached the age of reason.  Generally speaking, the age of reason is when a child is old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong.  I am not sure what behavioral signs to look for when determining whether a child has reached this level of maturity.  Just two days prior, we had to apply ice to his lip because he accidentally hit himself in the face with a stick.  

The Code of Canon Law (CIC 11) says, “Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.”  This simply means children under the age of seven are not bound by church law.  It does not mean when a child reaches age seven, he or she is automatically able to reason.  And it certainly does not mean a child of seven is necessarily ready to receive first Holy Communion.  The age of reason is different from the age of comprehension.  

Discerning the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is difficult for many adults, let alone a seven year-old.  I believe my grandson is above average intelligence for his age.  I sometimes watch him during Mass and think he is not really dialed in.  He fidgets, looks around at his siblings, and appears to be distracted.  I often think what the nuns would have done had I behaved that way in Catholic school.  That little smack on the back of the head always got my attention.  

A seven year-old may not be ready to receive Our Lord, but in Luke 18:16, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”  With that in mind, I should stop worrying about my grandson’s preparedness when receiving the Holy Eucharist, and rather worry about my own.  Jesus wants the children to come to Him even if they do not fully understand what happens at the Consecration.  Guide them as best we can, but let us not stand in their way.

Small talk

I was a teenager when Neil Armstrong did the first moonwalk.  Having been fascinated by the space race during my youth in the 1960’s, I have been following the Artemis II moon fly-by this month. The photos of the moon’s surface are interesting, but somewhat monotonous.  Aside from size and shape, craters pretty much all look alike.  More thought-provoking to me are the photos of our planet earth.  

How beautifully peaceful the world looks from a few hundred thousand miles away.  One would never imagine what goes on down here on the surface.  Wars, fighting, political turmoil, bullying, hate and all kinds of violence are shrouded in the marbled beauty visible from far away.  

While the moon may seem distant to us, our entire solar system appears microscopic in the immensity of the universe.  Imagine our sun being viewed by aliens a few lightyears away.  It might appear as a dimly lit star with our earth imperceptible.  They might view us earthlings as we view bacteria.  How insignificant might our lives seem in comparison.  

If our civilization learned to appreciate how tiny and fragile we are, would the turmoil of this world cease?  The desire for power and domination seems pointless considering the brief time we have to spend here.  What is this power so many people crave?  Worldly power is short-lived and meaningless.

Most of us Americans are blessed to live our brief lives in peace and comfort.  Rather than appreciate what we have, we often choose to wallow in self-pity.  I have been following the YouTube adventures of two sisters who survived a harrowing escape from their hellish lives in North Korea by crossing the Tumen River into China.  They settled in South Korea and are now touring the United States experiencing freedom previously unknown to them under the Kim regime.  How fortunate we are to live in this country despite its many flaws.  We should all spend less time complaining and humbly thank God for what we have. 

A change is gonna come

One year ago, our bishop began preparing us for inevitable changes that would be taking place due to the shortage of Catholic priests.  Committees were formed and meetings held to inform parishioners about the process.  The diocese consists of four counties in Northwest Indiana, currently with fifty-seven parishes.  Our rural county has four of those parishes and a mission. .  By 2030, projections show only thirty diocesan priests will be available for parish assignments.  

On February 28, a letter from our bishop was delivered to area parishes to be affecting by pending changes.  When all transitions are completed in the next couple of years, our county will be left with one parish.  Our present parish which has existed since 1881, will be merged with another parish some fourteen miles away.  It appears we will still exist as a “worship site”, but without a resident pastor.  Prior to this arrangement, our sister parish seven miles to the west, will merge with us.  We already share a pastor with them and their parish will eventually close.  They are the only parish in the county with a parishioner in the seminary.  Closing the parish is a bitter pill to swallow.  

Anticipating how Catholics will be affected by these changes is difficult.  When your parish is merged with one seven miles away, and that parish is then merged with one fourteen miles farther away, some parishioners will find themselves driving over twenty miles one way to attend Mass.  Also to be considered is the financial obligations of merged parishes.  Will those coming from a closed parish be willing to support the parish to which they have been merged?  Will the merged parish be responsible for maintaining the soon to be closed neighboring campus?  What will happen to religious education programs?  How many souls will be lost?  Good Catholics will always find a way to get to Mass, but we all know there are marginal Catholics who can always find an excuse to leave.  

Obviously, the biggest problem is a lack of vocations, but we are losing parishes in our rural location because our numbers are low.  I am impressed by the huge number of converts reportedly coming into the Church all over the world this Easter, especially on college campuses.  There are wonderful apologetic apostolates on social media making the case for Catholicism every day.  Why are we not seeing more converts here in our area?

I am reminded of Alex Jones, the Pentecostal preacher from Detroit who converted to Catholicism and brought some members of his congregation with him.  We have so many active non-denominational communities in our county.  Surely some of their pastors have been exposed to solid Catholic apologetics on YouTube and social media.  Just one of them crossing the Tiber could make a huge difference in the Catholic community locally.  We should all be praying that they come to the realization the Catholic Church is the Church Christ established, and they may find the courage to come home.

They have to know, right?

How many Protestant ministers stand before their congregations preaching every week knowing deep in their hearts the Catholic Church is the one true Church?  How many of them knowingly avoid the truth at all costs hoping to maintain their comfortable position?  How many come to know they are outside the authoritative body established by Jesus Christ but choose to turn a blind eye?  How many fool themselves into thinking they are okay where they are?

With all of the good Catholic apologetic materials available today on youtube and social media, anyone who spends much time on the internet is bound to come in contact.  Those open to spiritual enhancement online are bound to have encountered Scott Hahn, Trent Horn, Tim Staples, Dr. John Bergsma or any one of the dozens of former Protestants who have crossed the Tiber.  Bishop Robert Barron and Father Mike Schmitz are frequent contributors of solid Catholic commentary even on secular outlets.  

Yes, there are many anti-Catholic arguments on social media, but they are all being rebutted with solid Catholic answers.  That is why we see so many people coming into the Church this year, especially on college campuses.  Anyone who reads the Church fathers can see the early Christians were Catholic.  C’mon Protestants!  What are you still protesting?  You know where you need to be.  

I realize there are anti-Catholic preachers who will never acknowledge papal authority no matter what evidence they may be shown.  Others may come to view the Catholic Church as the one true Church established by Jesus Christ, but cannot find the courage to disrupt the lives of their friends, families and congregations by converting.  For them we must continue to pray.  Ask the Holy Spirit to shower our separated brothers and sisters with His seven gifts in order to lead them home. 

Why Protestants think we worship Mary

In working with OCIA classes at our parish, I often have to explain that we Catholics honor Mary, but we do not worship her.  Yes, we pray to her as an intercessor, but worship is reserved for God alone.  It always seemed like a simple distinction to me, but our Protestant friends never seemed to understand.  

A few weeks ago, I came across an explanation that I had not previously considered.  I would love to give credit to the source, but I don’t remember where I saw it.  Protestants believe we worship Mary because we treat her the same way they treat God.  In their services, they preach, sing praise, and give glory to God, much the same way we honor Mary with our prayers, sing songs to her, and ask for her help.  Protestants call that worship.  In Catholic eyes, true worship requires sacrifice, the Sacrifice of the Mass.  

In other words, we “worship” Mary the same way Protestants “worship” God, but that isn’t worship.  The differing understanding of the term makes evangelization challenging.  It is easy to see why Protestants view our veneration of Mary as worship.  And it is difficult to convince them of what true worship really is when they do not have the real presence of Jesus to worship.  They cannot relate.  In their eyes, we are worshipping Mary no matter what we say.  They do not see the distinction.

Recognizing the Real Presence of Jesus on the altar is essential to understanding how Catholics actually worship God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  True adoration is done in God’s actual presence.  The ability to worship God in His incarnate presence is unique to Catholics.  No other Christian community has that opportunity.  They have no reason to genuflect when they enter their spaces.  

We honor Mary as our Blessed Mother who bore Jesus in her womb, but not in a way that defines divine worship.  She is our intercessor, not to be confused with the one mediator, Jesus Christ.  We ask for her help because Jesus listens to her.  When confirmed apparitions occur, it is usually Mary who appears.  

So often, our attempts to evangelize Protestants stall when words are understood in differing ways.  When Catholics say we pray to Mary, Protestants see that prayer as worship.  By strict definition, the word pray means to request.  Catholics are asking Mary and the saints to intercede on our behalf.  In that sense, we are not worshipping, we are asking for help.

And so it was

The end of the year is always a time for reflection especially at my advanced age.  I made the three-quarters of a century mark in September.  By three years, I have outlived my father who was born one-hundred-twenty-two years ago today as I write this.  Christmas has always been my favorite time of year and God only knows whether this will be my last one.  Even with that thought in mind, the excitement of the season is not like it once was.

We all seem to long for the way things used to be.  Movies like A Christmas Story remind me of my childhood.  The Christmas scenes depicted in the movie are just as I remember in this small town where I still live.  We loved going from store to store buying presents for our parents.  Multi-colored lights with real evergreen garland strung across the streets and Christmas music brought smiles to everyone.  It’s just not the same today. 

I still love the big C7 or C9 colored lamps on real Christmas trees.  The all-white lights look nice, but I like color.  What I do not care for are the programmed color-changing LED motion lights that seem to be popular now.  I also have a disdain for the inflatable figures people place in their yards.  Call me old-fashioned because I am.  

So many things seem to be better in the past.  Maybe that is just a product of growing old.  I want some things to stay the way they were, but that is not how life works.  I have been a baseball fan my whole life, but watching MLB games is not as enjoyable as it once was.  Greed is slowly ruining sports.  So much money is involved that the integrity of the game becomes compromised.  Pete Rose was banned for gambling, but sports betting is part of the major league business model now.  Free agency, sabermetrics and rule changes detract from the game we knew years ago.  Team loyalty is a thing of the past.  I could go on.

I grew up listening to music on AM radio.  We collected our favorite records and played them over and over.  Music is different today, as is the way we listen.  Pure talent is overshadowed by auto-tune. I like to hold the media in my hands where I can read the liner notes.  Vinyl, tapes, and CDs became part of my personal collection, much of which I still have.  Streaming makes me feel like I am paying for the privilege to listen, but I don’t own the collection.  I just rent it for a time.  

Some of us Catholics long for the return of the traditional Latin Mass.  I am not necessarily one of them.  I loved it growing up and agree some of the reverence is lost today.  We do need to bring back the beauty and reverence for the Holy Eucharist, but we can do it in the vernacular.  There is however a certain sense of unity when the entire Church speaks in one language. 

In our parish, the long tradition of Christmas Midnight Mass is ending this year.  Old age has caught up with our pastor and many of us.  Instead of 12 AM, our Midnight Mass will begin at 10 PM.  In these winter months, 10 PM does feel like the middle of the night, so I guess we can still call it Midnight Mass!

Despite my longing for the old days, I realize times change.  Things come into existence and go out of existence.  That is how God’s creation works.  Today’s children will have their own nostalgic memories someday.  At least, I hope so.  However, I do wonder if the best times peaked during my lifetime and we are in a gradual decline now.  The traditions that meant so much to my generation may seem mundane to young people today.  Kids who sit isolated in front of the computer for hours every day may lose appreciation for personal relationships and family traditions.  Perversion of ethical principles is just a click away.

Are there reasons for optimism?  I’m encouraged by recent reports of large numbers of college students entering the Catholic Church.  Modern society often portrays the Church as being old-fashioned and out of touch.  Maybe young people are beginning to recognize the need for moral direction and that bodes well for the Catholic Church.  Give some credit to Charlie Kirk.  May he rest in peace. 

John 6:53

I had high hopes for our OCIA class this year.  More inquirers expressed an interest than we have ever had in the past.  Keep in mind we are a small parish so even four is a big number for us.  A young man with a large family approached me a few weeks ago after a weekday Mass.  He had been reading the Church fathers and Scott Hahn’s conversion story.  He told me he was drawn to the Catholic Church.  He seemed so excited.  The only issue was his Protestant wife who stood in the way.  Just before our first meeting, he contacted me and said he had decided not to attend.  I told him that I would love the opportunity to address any theological concerns he may have.  I suspect he did not want to cause conflict in his marriage.  He has not replied, but I hope someday to see him again. 

A young woman who was baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil two years ago has a mother who has expressed interest.  Yet when time came for our class to start, “family issues“ prevented her from coming.  It seems some people know the right thing to do, but can’t find the courage to take the first step.  Another young couple attended their first Mass on a Sunday in July.  They talked to our priest afterwards, but he failed to get their names or contact information.  We never saw them again.  

So, now we have only two attending OCIA.  One of them, an older woman with a Baptist background, had never been in a Catholic Church before.  The other is a man with young children, married to a Catholic that does not attend Mass regularly.  To complicate matters, the woman still goes to her family’s church some sixty-five miles away on Sundays, so she wants to meet on Wednesday evenings.  The man’s wife works on Wednesday evenings, so he wants to come while his children are in CCD on Sunday mornings.  Consequently, we are doing OCIA twice a week with one person in each session.  That’s okay.  I would meet every day of the week if necessary to help someone enter the Catholic Church.  

There are so many faith-filled Protestants in this country.  Why is it so difficult to bring them into the one true Church?  I keep coming back to one particular Bible verse, John 6:53.  53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”  How do you get past this verse without realizing you are missing something important in your relationship with Our Lord?  You can sing beautiful praise songs, hear wonderful sermons, and be slain in the spirit, but without the Eucharist, you have no life in you.  To fully participate in the Lamb sacrificed for our sins, the Lamp must be consumed.  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Happy are those who are called to His supper. 

You said what?

When I was in Catholic school some seventy years ago, our teacher would occasionally have to be out of the room for a while.  We did not have substitutes.  Rather the nuns would send one of the eighth-grade girls down to monitor while they were away.  Their instructions were to write the names of any pupils who misbehaved on the blackboard.  When the sister returned, the troublemaker would face the consequences.  

One afternoon, a girl named Diane was to watch over us first and second graders for an hour or so.  Diane was a nice responsible girl, but she happened to have a rather large nose.  Kids that age can be cruel and I was no exception.  I whispered a comment about Diane’s appearance to one of my friends who giggled out loud.  Now, my observation was not intended to be shared with anyone else.  I certainly would not have made my remark to Diane.

A short time later, the principal stopped in to check on our behavior.  Debbie, our class tattletale, stood up and in front of Diane said, “Richard said she has a nose like a banana.”  In my defense, that is not even close to what I said, not that my actual comment was any more flattering.  The principal made me come up in front of the class where she stared me down.  Through weepy eyes, I denied the accusation.  Sister looked me in the eye for a few seconds without saying a word.  Then she told me to go sit down, and told Debbie she needed to keep her mouth shut.  

I can look back on things I said to others during my early years that were hurtful, and deeply regret those words today.  Discretion comes with maturity, or at least it should.   Maturity means keeping all those immature thoughts to oneself.  They will still happen.  Our minds are constantly forming opinions.  As responsible adults, we should know when to speak up and when to be quiet.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case especially when it comes to social media. 

We base our opinions on facts that we believe to be true, or want to believe are true.  But we seldom have all the facts, and when we don’t, we fill the gaps with assumptions that may or may not be factual.  Keeping that in mind, we must acknowledge that our opinions may need adjustment from time to time, and would be wise to keep most of them to ourselves.  The anonymity of the internet has made voicing opinions a preoccupation for many, especially those lacking the wisdom to be quiet.  

Before the internet and social media, people generally had to take responsibility for their own words.  Anonymous letters were tossed in the waste basket.  Newspapers would not print unsigned letters on the editorial page.  Occasionally names would be withheld, but the publisher still required a signature.  Messages from those hiding their identity were generally disregarded with the possible exception of ransom notes.  

Today, anyone can create a username and say anything they want to the whole world. They call it free speech, but it should come with accountability.  Hiding one’s identity to avoid backlash from unpopular comments is cowardly.  The advent of artificial intelligence further complicates the matter.  Much social media commentary today does not have a human author to take responsibility.  

Seems to me that people should be required to stand behind any comments they make publicly.  Just as editorial boards once required signatures before publishing a letter, people who post on internet public forums should be named.  Any posting generated by artificial intelligence should be labelled as such with the instigator identifiable.  Postings that are monetized should be designated as such.  Say what you want, but show your face. 

Some Mass Confusion

When new converts come into the church, I always encourage them to get involved.  It seems that people who are active in the parish are more likely to stay connected.  But that got me to wondering how many would remain good Catholics if there was no social interaction at all.  What if you came to Mass every Sunday and everyone ignored you?  What if you were the only one present besides the priest?  Would you still come to Mass?  If the only thing keeping us coming to Mass is our horizontal relationships, are we coming for the wrong reasons?

Most of the excuses people use to avoid attending Mass are indefensible.  Sunday Mass attendance should not take a backseat to anything.  We should be there to worship God and receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  Nothing else should matter.  Bad homilies, lousy music, even bad liturgy should not keep us away.  Maybe one might want to find a different parish, but as long as we have access to a valid Eucharist, nothing else should get in our way. 

A friend from our parish told me of a woman who was received into the Catholic Church at another parish last Easter.  Since then, she has changed parishes twice because she feels other parishioners were unfriendly toward her at the first parish, and rude to her at the second.  This coming weekend, she is planning to attend our parish on a trial basis.  I know nothing of her background before becoming Catholic, but I wonder if she was accustomed to non-denominational communities where social interaction is the norm.  

I should think that independent churches where people choose to attend because they like the preacher or the services would have more camaraderie among members.  It makes sense because they attend there because of similar interests and beliefs.  They are more likely to see the same faces each week and would be quick to notice any new faces coming for the first time.

Catholic churches are different.  Catholics can go to any Catholic church on Sunday and receive the same Eucharist, hear the same readings, and see some unfamiliar faces.  We think nothing of it because travelers or visitors commonly stop in for Mass.  Before Mass, we are focused on the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle and preparing ourselves in prayer.  One might enter the pew a few feet away from a parishioner friend and not even acknowledge that person.  There should be no conversation that would distract others who might be praying.  It is typically a quiet time that non-Catholics might mistake for being ignored or rudely treated.  

OCIA leaders should address these differences for those who may be accustomed to a more social experience so they understand what to expect upon entering a Catholic church for the first time.  They also need to realize they are encountering the real presence of Jesus in the tabernacle when they enter, and that He should have their undivided attention. 

Too often we see Catholics drift away from the Church.  Maybe they miss one weekend when on vacation or when a conflict arises.  They start by skipping occasionally at first, and then more frequently.  They think they are doing just fine without going to Mass and eventually stop going altogether.  This is what happens when people lose their focus on the Real Presence of Jesus when they enter the church.  They become indifferent.  Once a person walks away, it makes it even harder to go back.  

When I was going to Catholic school eons ago, the nuns told us it was a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  They said if we skip Mass to go fishing and get killed in an accident on the way home, we would go to hell.  Were the nuns just trying to scare us?  Not necessarily.  If we die in a state of unforgiven willful mortal sin, we have severed our relationship with God and our salvation is jeopardized.  Today we seem to be reluctant to make such a blunt statement.  Would God really send us to hell for skipping Mass one Sunday?  God doesn’t send us to hell; we send ourselves there by our disobedience.  Yes, we can go to hell for committing a mortal sin.

The caveat here is the three conditions that must be present for a sin to be mortal.  It must be grave matter, we must know it is grave matter, and we must do it deliberately.  Does everyone who blows off Sunday Mass realize they are committing a mortal sin?  They should.  If not, whose fault is it?  Is it their own fault for not taking Church teaching seriously, or is it the fault of those who were responsible for their faith formation?  Did all my Catholic school classmates heed the nuns warning?  No.  Many of them drifted away later in life.  Will they end up in hell?  God will ultimately decide their culpability. 

Soul searching

A few Sundays ago, our Society of Saint Vincent DePaul conference held our annual pork chop dinner fundraiser.  It has become a popular event in our town and is well attended.  We season the meat and grill the chops ourselves in the church parking lot.  I am usually in charge of baking potatoes and running the drive-thru pick up area. 

Just before our 11 AM Mass, a car pulled up and parked by the drive-thru which is behind the church in the alley.  A young couple with a baby got out, said it was their first time here, and asked how to get into the church.  It happened at one of our busier moments, but I welcomed them and directed them to the front of the church.  

I watched for them when Mass was over, hoping to exchange pleasantries.  The pork chop line was busy but I started to walk toward them as they were putting the baby in the car seat.  Before I could approach, they hastily got into the car without making eye contact and drove off.  

Later that evening, our priest called me and said he met a couple with a baby for our OCIA class.  They expressed interest in becoming Catholic.  He was surprised to learn I had already encountered them briefly that morning.  He told me he gave them a parish registration form, told them to fill it out, and bring it back the following Sunday.  He did not get their names or contact information. 

Now three weeks later, they have yet to return.  As the OCIA leader, I would have contacted them if I knew who they were.  The form our priest handed them was not for the OCIA class.  The form is for new parishioners.  It asks for information about what sacraments have been received, what name to appear on offering envelopes, and what organizations they may be interested in joining.  If the couple had never attended a Catholic mass before, they may have been overwhelmed.

That initial contact with anyone considering the Catholic faith is so important, whether it be in person or in a phone call.  This is especially true if they are walking into a Catholic church for the first time not knowing what to expect.  If their only experience has been at some non-denominational community, they are encountering something quite different.  They may feel that they are being ignored.  They see people kneeling, standing, and responding in unison.  My fear is that this couple may have been intimidated and frightened off.  

As Catholics, we are accustomed to seeing strangers at Mass.  Catholics can attend Mass anyplace they happen to be.  We also tend to focus on the Eucharistic presence in church more than the people around us.  We remain quiet as to not disturb others who are praying.  Unfamiliar faces may get a nod or a wave.  Ideally. we should have greeters equipped to direct new inquirers if they appear at the door.

I have exhausted all my ideas in trying to locate the couple.  I am giving it to the Holy Spirit hoping that he can lead them back to us.  In the meantime, we need to do better, from our pastor on down, to make sure we are a welcoming parish.  Who knows how many souls could be lost because we missed one opportunity to share our faith?

Feeling Foolish

I don’t pretend to understand modern technology.  Today for the first time, I had to sign in at my doctor’s office on a computer terminal rather than speaking to the receptionist.  I figured out how to enter my name and birthday.  Then up popped a series of yes or no questions.  One asked if I had “multiple births?”.  I’ve been asked if I was born again, but I don’t think that is what they were asking.  I just checked no.   

I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago when I attempted to order a pizza at a gas station convenience store.  Another older woman walked in the same time I did and we both stood by the pizza counter expecting the server to take our order.  After standing there for about five minutes looking like a couple of idiots, the guy at the cash register asked if we were waiting for an order.  The woman said no. We want to place an order.  He pointed us to a little screen where we could enter an order, despite the fact that the pizza lady behind the counter could have much easier listened to us tell her what we wanted on our pizzas instead of us fumbling with the touch screen.

The other customer, who I had never met before, helped me enter my order and then I helped her enter hers.  The options offered on the menu did not provide exactly what I wanted, but I got something close.  Having been humiliated enough, we both went outside to our cars to wait for the pizzas to be done.  I never saw her again after that, but when I went back in to collect my pizza, they gave me mine and hers too.  The pizza lady was surprised that we did not know each other.  Anyway, we got it sorted out and I left with my pizza sort of like I wanted.  

It seems to be that we are relying on computers much more than necessary or desirable.  Especially concerning to me is artificial intelligence.  I have heard fears expressed about AI taking over in ways that are troubling although I do not fully understand all the implications.  I always thought computers could never be smarter than the person who programs them.  But I am becoming very aware of information fabricated by artificial means that is completely fictional.

So many stories that show up on Facebook or Youtube appearing to be factual are not.  We often hear the expression “fake news” where a writer purposely distorts the facts for political gain, but I suspect many postings in social media are now generated by computers via algorithms sourced from no individual human mind.  As these capabilities grow and improve over time, how long before we can no longer discern truth from fiction?  I am already skeptical of much I see on the internet.  Stories that seem ordinarily plausible may or may not be based in actuality.  Even photos are concocted.  With uncertainty comes distrust and that isn’t healthy when misplaced.  Our society, especially young people, are often confused and led astray.  Where are we headed?

I see well-meaning friends sharing articles that I know are not true.  Often the accompanying text is obviously constructed in a tone that seems incompatible with the subject manner.  The author does not speak like a human and probably isn’t.  The language sounds embellished.  A pattern I have noticed lately is postings about celebrities or famous athletes donating huge amounts of money to certain causes or recent tragedies.  Trying to corroborate many of these stories is impossible.  I can only imagine the reason these messages are generated.  There must be a monetary benefit in collecting hits.  I can block clickbait sites that post manufactured stories, but detecting them is becoming more difficult.  It now takes more than common sense to avoid gullibility. 

The internet is a wonderful tool, but it is being muddied by people (and now machines) that misuse it.  I would not want to go back to the days when my World Book Encyclopedia was my go-to source for information, but at least I could be fairly certain that some teenaged hacker sitting in his bedroom didn’t insert a fabricated paragraph.  I want to cite sources I know I can trust and verify.   And just so you know, I am not a robot.

Sow and tell

Our town’s annual festival was this past weekend.  It takes place on the streets by our parish and we take the opportunity to offer tours of our church.  People love to see our beautiful stained-glass windows that were commissioned by the G.C. Riordan company in 1911.  For us, it is a chance to also share our faith with people who would not normally enter a Catholic Church.  We explain the Biblical events depicted in the windows, give short biographies of the statued Saints, and talk about the tenets of the Catholic faith, especially the Eucharist.

I was one of the tour guides.  Most of the people I took through the church were not Catholic.  Several told me they had never been in a Catholic church before.  Others said they had ancestors or relatives who were Catholic or raised Catholic which I assumed meant they no longer practiced the faith.  For some, I was able to engage them in conversation about their spiritual life.  My hope was to plant seeds that might bear fruit someday.  

One woman who came alone spoke of being Catholic but not attending Mass.  She said she could not believe a just God would send someone to hell for missing Mass on Sunday.  She was a spiritual person who prayed and felt confident that God loved her.  She seemed comfortable talking to me and I sensed that maybe she was looking for affirmation that she was in God’s good graces.  I wanted to respond to her in such a way that might cause her to realize she was missing something important without discouraging her or driving her away.  When these opportunities arise, I usually end up kicking myself later for not coming up with the right words to make a positive impression.  I told her I could tell she loved God and God loves her, but she is missing the Eucharist when she does not go to Mass.  

Thinking to myself the three things necessary for a sin to be mortal, I told her missing Mass might not be mortal for her salvation if her conscience truly tells her otherwise, but I suspected her conscience might be bothering her since she brought up the topic.  I wish I had placed more emphasis on the importance of forming our consciences properly.  I did tell her that missing Mass on Sunday would be a mortal sin for me because that is what I believe.  She said she appreciated me being open minded.  I don’t think I am very opened minded, but okay.  

Making an impact is difficult when you have just met a person for the first time, will likely never see them again, and only have a few minutes to interact.  As we parted, I told her to go home and read John, chapter six.  I thought maybe the Bread of Life discourse would open her eyes.  She said she would, and I believe she will.

Habemus Papam

Thursday was going to be a busy one.  Got up early to chauffeur my wife to the hospital for a routine medical procedure. Drove an hour each way through thunderstorms hoping to get home in time to take an early lunch.  I needed to get an early start on some afternoon errands to get back for a two o’clock commitment to move donated furniture from a house to our Saint Vincent DePaul storage building.  Everything was going according to plan.  We got home from the hospital earlier than expected and even had time to turn on the television before going out for lunch.

As we were about the leave for lunch, a news bulletin popped up.  White smoke was scene at the Sistine Chapel.  A new Pope has been selected.   Bells were ringing, crowds of people at the Vatican were cheering and it was all being covered on live television.  I have been alive for the selection of five popes, but I have never had the opportunity to watch the announcement on live tv.  The anticipation was exciting, but some of my errands had to be done today and before my two o'clock appointment.  My wife and I anxiously awaited the appearance of the new Pope, at the same time watching the clock.  

We waited as long as we could and then my wife said we have to go.  I found a radio station that was covering the conclave so we could listen in the car.  As no announcement seemed eminent, they went on to other topics.  We decided to stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant.  My wife laid her cell phone on the table while we waited for our food.  Suddenly, she gasped!  It’s an American from Chicago!  My eyes widened.  All I could think of was CUPICH?  No.  She showed me her phone.  Robert Prevost.  I had never heard of him.  Pope Leo XIV.

At sixty-nine years old, Pope Leo is younger than I am.  Chances are I may never get to watch a new pope introduced for the first time live, and that’s okay.  Now we will be subjected to all of the speculation about what kind of Pope he will be.  He will be praised and criticized depending on perspective of the commentator.  Let us trust in the Holy Spirit and allow Pope Leo to lead us as God sees fit.  

Day 2 thoughts:         (edit)

Will having a Pope from Chicago make him seem a little more human and therefore somewhat less authoritative to us Americans?  Within a couple hours of his introduction, we learned he is a White Sox fan, plays Wordle, and likes cars.  He seems just like one of us, but is that a good thing?  Yes, he is human, but he isn’t just like one of us.  He is the Pope, the Vicar of Christ, the Supreme Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father, the Successor of Saint Peter.  I am wondering if American Catholics will view him differently than any previous Pope when it comes to respecting his authority.

I just saw a very awkward moment on television when one of his brothers returned a call to the Pope in the presence of local news media with cameras rolling.  The Pope answered and went silent when his brother told him he was being recorded live.  It is obvious that his own family has been caught off guard by all of the attention. 

For whom the bell trolls

An ill wind blew on Laetare Sunday!  Our little town was struck by severe storms that caused some damage to our parish rectory and grounds.  A section of shingles took flight along with some siding from one of the dormers.  A large spruce tree in the parking lot was uprooted.  The church itself sustained no damage other than a gutter downspout that was blown off.  Power was knocked out but that caused no harm at the time because all Sunday Masses were over by then.  The big problem occurred some nine hours later when the power came back on!

It was nearly midnight when electricity was restored to part of the town where the church is located.  For some strange reason that only God can explain, the church bell started to ring.  A power surge?  Lightning?  Who knows?  All we know is that the bell rang, and rang, and rang.  Normally a problem like this would be easily remedied.  Our pastor would hear the bell ringing just a short distance from his rectory bedroom window.  But he does not stay in the rectory on Sunday nights.  Monday is his “day off” and he spends Sunday nights at a house he owns about thirty minutes away.  

The only people close enough to hear the bell ringing were some very angry neighbors who were trying to sleep.  Some of them called the police.  Our little town had one police officer on duty that night.  He attempted to rouse someone at the church, but there was no one there.  He actually gained access to the church by pulling on the front door which someone had failed to lock properly.  Wandering into the basement, he found a breaker panel, but none of them powered the bell.  He started to climb the bell tower but decided that was above his pay grade.  In the meantime, the bell continued to peal.  

In desperation, he awakened the owner of the mortuary that was located behind the church to see whether he knew who to contact.  He gave him my phone number.  Normally, I would be the person to handle any problem with the bell at the church as I am probably most familiar with its inner workings.  But, I managed to sleep through three phone calls.  We still had no power at our house and my phone had not been charging as it normally would overnight.  I later learned that I also slept through the police officer banging on our front door.   

Eventually, the police officer along with the mortician went to the home of another parishioner and were able to wake her and her husband.  Imagine being awakened at three o’clock in the morning to find a police officer and mortician at your front door.  This would put a scare into any normal human being.  In this particular case, the woman had a similar experience years ago when her youngest son was killed in a car accident.  I can only imagine what went through her mind.  She did get them into the church where the breaker panel for the bell was located and they were able to silence the bell.

I still do not know how exactly long the bell rang during the night.  Estimates range from three to seven hours depending on which nasty Facebook comment one reads.  I woke up about 5 AM to find the missed calls and voice messages on my phone.  I immediately got up and went to the church, but the bell had stopped by then, so I would suppose it rang for some three or four hours.  In a later conversation with the poor police officer, he said the county dispatcher received fifteen calls, including three complaints to 911.  

The police have requested that we supply them with a list of keyholders in the unlikely case this ever happens again.  This may be the only time the bell has gone rogue during the night in its 115 year history.  Nevertheless, we have given a list of phone numbers to the sheriff’s office, something we probably should have done years ago.  There could be other emergencies at the church where access was needed. 

We believe that God can bring good from even the worst circumstances.  On this particular Lenten night, some people laid awake thinking about the Catholic Church who otherwise might have just fallen asleep.  Perhaps their thoughts were not the kind that typically inspire converts, but sometimes the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. 

Parish, the thought

Our Bishop has ordered all pastors in the diocese to select three “key leaders” from each parish who, along with the pastor, will meet to discuss the current ministerial landscape and explore future strategies for an effective Catholic presence in the area.  This effort is prompted by the challenge we are facing to maintain and staff parishes in our diocese.  As the Bishop points out, numerous priests are going to be retiring in the next few years with a shortage of seminarians to take their place.  Many churches are old and difficult to maintain with reduced revenues and increasing costs.  

He recognizes the need to be proactive and develop a plan to meet these challenges.  Furthermore, I think he wants to get the parishioners involved in making recommendations because many parishes are going to be faced with difficult decisions, reduction in staffing and possible closings. It’s a reality we are facing.  Having parishioners involved in the process helps them accept tough outcomes rather than feeling like they were blindsided.

According to our pastor, prior bishops in our diocese kept parishes open as long as they were financially viable, but this may no longer be an option.  Many pastors now serve more than one parish.  At some point, priests may become so sparse that Sunday Mass might not be available in some churches.  Even financially stable parishes may find themselves facing closure. 

I counted sixty-three Catholic Churches in our diocese spread over four counties.  Our county is the smallest of the four with only four churches and one mission.  Presently, there are three priests serving in the county.  Two of them are beyond retirement age.  I would hope we could support at least two priests in the county for the foreseeable future.  That would still present a challenge in keeping all five sites afloat.  The mission is near the county line and could possibly be staffed part time from the adjacent county.  One parish already shares a pastor with our parish.  One of the other parishes is small and would need to share a pastor if it stays open.  All of this is conjecture at this point.  

The diocese ordained two priests last year and has two more who will be ordained this year.  They are far outnumbered by the priests who will be retiring soon.  The last priest to come from our parish is long retired.  Our sister parish has one young man in the seminary now.  He will be ordained in about three years.  I completely understand why our Bishop is preparing us for some painful decisions coming in the not too distant future.   Please keep praying for vocations.

Precept 5

The fifth precept (“You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability. (CCC 2042-2043)

At the beginning of each new year, our parishioners are given boxes of printed envelopes to use for their weekly offerings.  I assume most parishes do this.  Ours have our names printed on each envelope with the date of the Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation.  It seems a good way to remind everyone to contribute each week. 

When I was a youngster in Catholic grade school, we children also got envelopes.  Sadly, we don’t do this anymore.  What better way to teach them responsibility than to require a small part of their allowance to go to God each week?  At the end of the year, the church would publish the names of all parishioners, including the children, and list each one’s total contribution.  We don’t do that anymore either!  I guess it was a good way to shame people into giving more generously!

Being involved in OCIA, I always look to see whether those we brought into the Church last Easter were given envelopes this year.  I make sure they get registered as new parishioners and I want them to feel like they are an integral part of the parish.  For whatever reason, none of them received a box of envelopes this year.  I blame the secretary for that oversight.  At least, they won’t get the idea we just want their money!

Keeping a parish afloat is expensive, especially small parishes like ours.  Utilities alone take a huge chunk of the budget.  Century-old buildings with high ceilings and virtually no insulation are difficult to heat and cool.  Staffing, maintenance, repairs and insurance costs add up quickly.  

The church bell stopped working a week ago.  Having worked on the bell myself in the past, our pastor asked me to call the bell company to see whether our maintenance contract was still current.  Unfortunately, it was not.  To have them come out would cost $655 plus $150/hour labor.  I had a pretty good idea what was wrong.  A motor control relay fails every few years.  I changed it once before, but I do not like to climb the tower anymore at my age.  Nevertheless, I ordered the part, recruited a helper and made the repair.  Probably saved the parish about a thousand dollars.  

In small parishes like ours, people often come forward to help when needed, whether it be financially or in-kind services.  Our parish priest rarely if ever talks about money from the pulpit.  That is a good thing really.  The Holy Spirit seems to take care of us as the need arises.  As far as I know, we are doing okay.  We live within our means.  If it is unaffordable, we just do without.  It is one way we learn to sacrifice.

 

Oh Fudge!

Every Christmas my wife makes fudge to give away to friends and family.  Fudge is her specialty.  She has perfected a recipe that I got at my workplace some forty years ago.  For the uninitiated, the Fannie May Candy Company dates back to 1920 in Chicago.  In the 60’s and 70’s, their Buttercreams, Mint Meltaways, and Pixies were among the most popular confections available.  One of my co-workers claimed to have the recipe for Fannie May Fudge.  During a break in a class one day, he wrote out the recipe on a piece of notebook paper and made copies for anyone who wanted it.  

My wife still has that same copy in her recipe file.  Over the years, she has perfected the process.  The ingredients remain the same, but her technique has developed to insure the creaminess and appearance.  Some folks have their Christmas time specialties.  For my late mother-in-law, it was fruitcake.  My sister makes crockpot candy.  For my wife, it is fudge.  

The secret is in her preparation.  She has a routine that she follows to precision.  The mixture of different chocolates and other ingredients has to be heated to a certain temperature and stirred sufficiently to keep the fudge from becoming grainy.  She stirs and stirs and stirs some more.  When the time is right, she pours it into two pans and places it in our oven to cool.  The reason she puts it in the oven to cool is so the cat can’t get into it.  Now mind you, we haven’t had a cat for about fifteen years, but the fudge still solidifies in the safety of the oven to this day.

A recent hip-replacement surgery slowed her down a little this year.  While some previous years had her making some forty to fifty pounds, this Christmas she limited production to a few batches.  When beginning her first batch during Advent, she realized she didn’t have the oleo margarine she normally uses, so she substituted real butter.  The fudge turned out fine.  It was creamy, tasted great, but she was not happy with it.  The fudge had a dull appearance, not shiny the way she likes it to be.  I could not tell the difference.  It seemed fine to me, but it did not meet her standards.  

One might think using butter in a fudge recipe would be better than using margarine, but my wife claims that fudge made with the cheapest oleo is far superior than fudge made with real butter.  This superiority apparently exists in the appearance rather than the flavor, but as Pope Francis might say, who am I to judge.  In any case, it was off to the grocery store to get more chocolate and some Blue Bonnet margarine.  The Friday before Christmas, she was back in the kitchen to make a proper batch of Fannie May fudge.  

This time the fudge turned out perfectly so I am told.  It was cooling in the oven so I didn’t see it, but my wife was gloating all afternoon about its glossy appearance and perfect creaminess.  This batch would be divided, placed in small tins and given out as Christmas gifts to anyone who stopped by.  The rest we will take to my sister’s house on Christmas Eve.

By Friday evening I was hungry.  As old traditional Catholics, we do not eat meat on Friday, so our go-to Friday supper is frozen cheese pizza.  Our go-to brand of late has been Digiorno’s Rising Crust Four Cheese variety.  For whatever reason, our local grocery has been out of it for several weeks, so we are trying a few other brands.   On this particular day, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees per the instructions.  When it was time to put the pizza in, I opened the oven door to find my wife’s fudge bubbling like some kind of volcanic tar pit.  Neither of us had remembered the fudge was still in the oven.  I immediately thought of what Ralphie said in the Christmas Story movie when he accidentally scattered the lug nuts while helping the old man change the flat tire.  

My wife was ready to send the entire batch down the garbage disposal.  I told her to let it cool and maybe it would be alright.  We waited a couple of hours and I tried a piece.  It had crunchy gobs of burnt sugar that tasted like chocolate gravel.  We sent it down the garbage disposal.  

When we reach our mid-seventies, we can be forgetful.  Stuff happens and we just have to shake our heads and move on.  We made another unscheduled trip to the store, picked up more fudge ingredients and she made another batch.  It turned out fine.  Yes, she let it cool in the oven so our non-existent cat wouldn’t get it, and it made for a good story to tell our family on Christmas Eve. 

Bias time again

We were eating lunch one day with my son and his family when the conversation turned to plans for Thanksgiving.  My fifth-grade grandson remarked that Thanksgiving was a made-up holiday.  Is that what they teach you in school, I asked.  He said yes.  My wife, who happens to be on the school board said, “Did your teacher say that?”  My grandson replied in the affirmative.  He appeared to be learning a negative view of the colonization of America. 

A week or so later, my grandson was doing his Social Studies homework at our house.  When he was finished, I asked to look at the textbooks titled Indiana Social Studies, The United States: Making a New Nation. (Harcourt School Publishers).  I went to the index and looked for Catholic Church.  On page 133, I found a section on Missionaries to America.  Below is a transcript of five paragraphs from the textbook with my thoughts inserted in brackets and a few links added for contrasting viewpoints:

    “While the conquistadors were exploring the Americas, many changes were taking place in Europe.  Some people began to question the power [authority?] of the Catholic Church.  At the time, the Church forced [?] people [Catholics] to follow its rules [not teach heresy] and to pay taxes [?].  It even had its own courts [still do]. The courts could punish [admonish] people [Catholics] for disagreeing [teaching heresy] with Church laws [dogma].”

    “In 1517, A German priest named Martin Luther began to call openly for reforms, or changes, in the Catholic Church.  This period of reforms is called the Reformation.  Luther was forced out [excommunicated] of the Church, but he gained many supporters.  Those who protested the actions of Catholic leaders [magisterial authority] became known at Protestants.  They began new churches, including the Lutheran Church [and eventually many others].”

    “As a result, the Catholic Church made some changes.  It also tried to keep its power [maintain unity] through efforts now called the Counter-Reformation.  The Church banned books that went [promoted heresy] against its teachings.  People [Heretics] who protested Catholic laws were punished [admonished] in Church courts [or Councils].”

    “During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church worked on spreading its power [Christianity] to the Americas.  Church leaders wanted to gain new followers [converts].  They also wanted to share in the wealth [prosperity?] of the lands claimed by European countries.  To do this, the Church sent religious teachers, or missionaries, to convert Native Americans to the Catholic Church.  Soon after coming to the Americas, missionaries held ceremonies [Baptisms?] to make [share the gospel with] Native Americans they met Catholic.”

    “It was not until later [?] that the missionaries actually started [continued] teaching them about Catholic beliefs.  Some missionaries forced [?] Native Americans to become Catholic and also enslaved them [No. See articles linked below].  Many Native Americans fought to hold on to their beliefs, but others were forced [chose] to change how they lived and worshipped.”

I’m no historian, but I know Protestant bias when I see it.  The textbook author paints the Church in a negative light whether intentional or not.  When human beings are involved, abuses are bound to take place, but this was not by decree of the Church.  The Spanish conquistadors encountered Aztec ritual human sacrifices and fought to stop the practice.  As I write this today on December 12, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe who by her miraculous appearance in Mexico brought about the conversion of some nine million Aztecs to the Catholic faith.  Of course, you will not learn this in a secular history textbook.