A great journal, with an online presence–Mars Hil…

A great journal, with an online presence–Mars Hill Review. Dr. Peter Kreeft says about it–”I find the fiction and literary criticism in Mars Hill Review to be especially valuable… I know of no published Christian equivalent.”

America Magazine has devoted an issue to Liturgy (…

America Magazine has devoted an issue to Liturgy (May 6th edition). Among other articles is one on Renewal and Renovation: The Politics and Principles of Liturgical Design. An interesting paragraph in this is the following:

Any attempt to design implies an interpretation of these principles. But the texts can be misused and manipulated to justify almost any design based on personal preference and piety. Pastors must guard against people of various interest groups using the texts in this way. Those texts are meant for instruction and guidance, not for weapons for bludgeoning opponents in liturgical warfare.

Since, I perceived that this was the set-up for the renovation that was being guided by a litugical consultant at my parish, I resigned from the committee on Friday after meeting with the Pastor of the parish and sharing my concerns. The consultant no less than four times lied to those on the committee who weren’t knowledgeable enough to question her. I questioned her and each time she backed off of her original claim. But I could see that as far as I was concerned this was going to be nothing but a colossal waste of my time.

Words of Pope John Paul II yesterday, encouraging …

Words of Pope John Paul II yesterday, encouraging the use of the internet to spread the Gospel:

The most recent advancements in communications and information have put the Church in front of previously unheard-of possibilities for evangelization. That is why this year I thought to present a very-current theme: “Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel.”

We must enter into this modern and every more replete communications network with realism and confidence, convinced that, if it is used with competence and conscientious responsibility, it can offer useful opportunities for spreading the Gospel message.

There is no need, therefore, to worry about “putting out to sea” in the vast informational ocean. One can also reach the heart of men and women of the new millennium through the Good News itself.

My wife Amy has linked the parochial vicar (associ…

My wife Amy has linked the parochial vicar (associate pastor) of the Cathedral in Boston who now has his own blog at From the Middle of the Storm. Here is your chance to get all the inside scoop of what is taking place behind the scenes–if he cares to share it with us.

Two new search engines trying to rival Google (whi…

Two new search engines trying to rival Google (which itself was new not so long ago):

Teoma didn’t do anything great when I did several sample searchs. In fact, I was disappointed.

Wisenut has a feature which struck me as an improvement, you can preview the site without actually leaving your search results. This is a definite innovation.

From Fool’s Folly a nice reflection: And whene…

From Fool’s Folly a nice reflection:

And whenever I’m feeling helpless in the wake of Bishops who won’t lead and priests who prey upon little ones, I need to remember that the good that I do, my prayers, my suffering, my daily offerings, does help the Body. Every step I take towards holiness is a gift to the Church. Living my own quiet little life, loving the people around me, I can help in a way more powerful and more real than anything I can imagine.

And further down she writes:

These priests who substitute their own enlightened faith for the Catholic faith are not all evil. A few probably knowingly do the devil’s work, Paul Shanly for instance. Most, however, are decent, kind men who truly believe they are doing God’s work. But no matter how nice these men are, if they refuse to accept and teach what the Church teaches, they have no business remaining in the clergy. Through their arrogance and ignorance they are allowing rot to fester in the Body of Christ. I can understand why these men refuse to leave the priesthood, refuse to give up their personal crusades. But what I cannot even begin to fathom is why Rome does not shut them up. Why do they still wear collars? Why?

I wonder if Emily knows how many “good” priests have left because they could no longer put up with the hypocrisy, of the very priests (and bishops) that she writes about, that exists and just got tired of fighting it?

From a reader of this blog, concerning Cardinal La…

From a reader of this blog, concerning Cardinal Law’s novena:

While, certainly, there are nine psalms that could do vastly more powerful service together as a novena in the face of such devastation of spirit, critiquing the elements of this particular novena seems pharisaical (i.e., “God, I thank thee that I am not like other men,extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector”).

That many bishops are now undergoing the lash is living evidence the Holy Spirit loves his church beyond our capacity to grasp. The power of it we can’t know because ultimately it is a call to holiness the likes of which collectively we’ve never known. Would that we come to know.

But we will all undergo such as this for our sins, whether in this life or the next. We suffer it even now.

Thank you for publishing the Cardinal’s novena.

Day #4 of 9to pray a Cardinal Law’s Novena during…

Day #4 of 9to pray a Cardinal Law’s Novena during this period between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost, I will post the prayer for the next nine days, to make it easier for you to join in:

”Almighty and merciful God, by the power of the Holy Spirit you raised Jesus Christ, your Son, from death and filled him with new and abundant life.

”Then, in accordance with your loving plan, you sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost, that by his mighty gifts they might be joined to the Risen Lord in his Body, the Church.

”By a fresh outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts give new life to the Church in the United States this Pentecost.

”We beg that the Spirit will bring healing to the victims of clergy sexual abuse and their families.

”We pray that the Spirit will warm the hearts of those whose faith has been weakened by this scandal.

”We ask that the Spirit will bestow mercy and repentance on the abusers.

”We earnestly desire that the Spirit will renew and reform the whole Church in the likeness of Christ.

”Fill every member of the Church with holiness so that, working together as the Body of Christ, we might be built up in faith, hope and love in order to proclaim the Gospel with joy.

”We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

This is a continuation of the 73 Steps to Spiritua…

This is a continuation of the 73 Steps to Spiritual Communion with God. The previous posts are below and in the archives to the right. This is the 25th step:

(25) Not to make a false peace.

This may catch us by surprise. We might reason, wouldn’t some semblance of peace be better than war. But, again if we think about the ramifications of someone who we think is at peace with us but really isn’t, we can see how damaging this “show” of peace can be in the long run.

St. Benedict isn’t saying that we shouldn’t be at peace with everyone, he is telling us not to make a “false” peace with anyone.

We are to be honest, as the previous counsel has instructed us. We are to make peace with our brother or sister that is genuine this step counsels us.

But what if we find ourselves incapable of being at peace with someone?

We must bring our warring heart to God.

People, from a distance, often are amazed at how certain groups of the same people can foster hatred toward one another over so many years. Sometimes it is religious belief (in the case of most religions, it is against the very belief that they fight over) that keeps people enemies. Military might is often used, sometimes by a third party to keep the peace. But as history proves time and again such peace is no peace at all. Soon the parties are warring with one another again often with a conflict that has inflamed while it was dormant.

What then?

If we hold peace with each other as a goal, then we must use every means to achieve that goal. Most of the time peace is achieved by simply acknowledging the others right to exist with dignity and to acknowledge their right to believe differently. What this requires for both parties to reach this goal mutually, is for both of their egos to die.

For the follower of Christ this is not an option.

“Love your enemies.” “If they press you to go one mile, go two.” “If they strike you on one cheek, offer the other.” “Forgive seventy times seven.”

Amazing how anyone who follows Christ could ever set out to make anything other than true peace.

Our Lord’s parting words to His disciples was, “My peace I give you, not as the world gives do I give.” He was probably referring to the fact that at the time (and even today in Israel) that people didn’t say “Goodbye” but rather they said “Peace.” The Romans said Pax Vobiscum, the Israelites said Shalom.

But did they mean it? It was a convention and very well often was said with no conviction.

Our Lord’s peace is not a convention, it is true. We should follow His example and make true peace with all we encounter.