Easter Warfare

With the Easter Season in full swing and the tough disciplines of Lent behind us, it is understandable that we are lulled into believing we can simply cruise through this easy time in our faith without much effort. Easter joy can blind us to the reality that Spiritual Warfare is all around us. We must remember that the devil is not on Spring Break and he does not observe an Easter Holiday. Our souls are still under attack as they were throughout Lent – perhaps more so.

This is especially true for those who were newly baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Like spiritual newborns, they are in need of our protection.  An article by Msgr. Charles Pope describes the situation:

“It is sobering for me to consider how many of the people I have baptized quietly slipped away from the Church in the years that followed. A couple of years ago I was looking at my notes from past Easter Vigils and gradually my mouth came open. For as I looked back over those notes going back fifteen years, I saw the names of many I had prepared for baptism and reception. But more than half were gone now. And of only a very few could I say, ‘Ah, they have moved and I know that they are in a parish there.’

“I was, frankly, stunned. Some of them had been intense, joyful and excited to be baptized and received. I remember the joy of those congregations gathered at the vigil as, one by one the catechumens went down into the water. ‘Alleluia!’ went forth the song, as each of them emerged from the font. And joy too was expressed for those received into full communion. And now half of them gone, quite certainly lapsed.

“I cannot find any hard data on line, but, I have talked to RCIA ‘experts’ who do work at a national level and they quietly affirm that, within five years, 50% of those who came through RCIA are no longer practicing the faith in any real way. I cannot show you the hard numbers, but I have personally found this to be true.”

These new converts who abandon the faith need our help. But before we assist them, we must be fully aware of what we are up against, as Msgr. Pope explains:

“[T]hey are likely under some level of spiritual attack. Demon, thy name is lethargy, thy name is boredom, thy name is sorrow and sloth, distraction and forgetfulness. Jesus warned:

Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mk 4:15-19)

“Yes, spiritual attack is real. So is the world and the flesh.

“I think, in the early days of RCIA we figured that those who entered in this way had a great advantage over “cradle Catholics,” for they had come to the faith as adults, and made a mature decision to follow Christ. Yes, they would remain firm. But we are waking up from that notion. We need to be more vigorous and sober in our assessment of what new and returning Catholics face. Satan is sure to make some moves on them…”

There are some who would deny that Christianity has anything to do with “warfare” – this type of imagery is frowned upon by Catholics who like to decorate their churches with pictures of rainbows and butterflies, and dislike talk about sin and hell and final judgment. But Spiritual Warfare is a reality and we are all combatants. Easter does not bring a ceasefire to this war, and the newly baptized are not neutral parties. Indeed they are prime targets for the Enemy. Do not allow your Easter celebration to cloud your spiritual judgment. The battle rages on and our new recruits need our prayers and encouragement.

Discovering a Saint

Pope John Paul II was beatified on May 1 and can now be referred to as Blessed John Paul II.

Blessed John Paul, pray for us!

Presumably the next step will be canonization as a Saint…and so his cause continues. The process undertaken by the Church in the cause for sainthood is fascinating but often misunderstood. (For brief description of the process click here.) But aside from the technical procedures involved - the number of miracles required, the review of the person’s writings, the testimony of friends and family - many non-Catholic Christians wonder how the Church can “make” saints at all. Isn’t that something only God can do? Why does the Church assume such power for itself?

I would like to briefly point out a distinction that is often overlooked. Saints are not “made” by the Church; they are “recognized” by the Church. Another way to look at this is to use an analogy from the realm of science and technology.

New scientific or technological advances are made in two ways: invention and discovery. In our quest for knowledge we may construct a more powerful telescope, a ship that travels to the stars, or a machine that processes information. When we use our skills and resources in this way, to make something that did not exist before, this is called invention. On the other hand, we may also find a planet that we never knew existed, realize a link between a disease and a particular gene in our DNA, or study the behavior of a newfound species. When we expand our knowledge about the world that exists around us this is called discovery.

The process for canonization of Saints is often misunderstood as a process similar to inventing – thus the “making” of saints. But this is not an accurate view. The Church does not have some formula or ritual that bestows sainthood on an individual. John Paul did not become a Saint through the power of the Church. The Church did not muster its resources to bestow sainthood on this man. Rather, God’s grace makes us saints. John Paul II is in heaven only through the power of God’s love and John Paul’s cooperation with that love. What the Church does in her process of canonization is more akin to what we would call discovery. The Church studies the facts, reviews the evidence, examines the clues and comes to a conclusion. The Church’s authority on this matter is bound by God’s will. It is a process of discovery. The Church does not make saints – only God can do that. The Church can only observe and take note what God has willed.

In John Paul II we have discovered a great man, a blessed man, and one day we may announce with surety of faith that we have discovered a true Saint.

This Week's Headlines

As another week comes to an end, this is your chance to top off your glass with a final helping of news, current events, and just plain interesting stuff that may not have made into the mainstream media. A chance to linger for a few more moments before we close the door on the week. Below are some links to articles, blogs, and miscellaneous happenings that caught my eye over the past few days. Sample what you like - I'll serve up more next Friday...

Easter Vigil Homily of Pope Benedict XVI - "We celebrate the definitive victory of the Creator and of his creation. We celebrate this day as the origin and the goal of our existence. We celebrate it because now, thanks to the risen Lord, it is definitively established that reason is stronger than unreason, truth stronger than lies, love stronger than death."

Who Saw Christ Rising from the Dead? - "Neither the guards who were on watch through the entire night, nor the women who came in the morning saw the Resurrection itself."

Making Sense of the Resurrection Accounts - Are There Discrepancies? - "Frankly, one would be surprised if every detail in the account of an astonishing event were exactly the same...But as they are, these accounts have every hallmark of the accounts of people who experienced the events truly, but, due to their ecstatic and disorienting quality, recall the details differently or emphasize different facets." See also this follow-up piece.
 

Jesus Didn't Just 'Die for Our Salvation': Why He Rose from the Dead - "Most people know that Jesus died for their sins. But, as we shall see, according to the New Testament Jesus also rose for our salvation."

The Last Supper, Good Friday, And Transubstantiation - "How does one explain transubstantiation at the Last Supper? If Jesus had not yet sacrificed His human nature, how could he offer his body and blood to the Apostles in the form of bread and wine?"

Transcript of Papal Q&A on Italian TV - "In a papal first, Benedict XVI today went on Italian state TV to respond to seven questions from the general public, chosen from among 3,000 submissions from all around the world."

Official Vatican Website for Beatification of John Paul II

Pope John Paul II's Legacy of Love - "Only a strong man can recognize the way that moral weakness can corrupt the soul and undermine the confidence of others. John Paul II understood the lethal nature of a compassion that refuses to acknowledge an objective order of what is good and what is not."

Revelation: Cardinals Petitioned For John Paul II Sainthood In Conclave - "Influential Italian Cardinal Camillio Ruini says inside the secret Conclave to elect John Paul's successor, he was given a signed petition from his brother Cardinals to push for fast-track sainthood for the recently deceased pontiff."

George Weigel: Remembering Pope John Paul II - "When the Church puts the title “Blessed” or “Saint” on someone, the person so honored often drifts away into a realm of the unapproachably good. We lose the sense that the saints are people just-like-us, who, by the grace of God, lived lives of heroic virtue..." 


Sunday’s beatification will be of a holy pope who began the fightback against the smoke of Satan - "[John Paul's] greatest achievement...was that he did more than any pope of the last century to defend and reassert beyond any doubt the stable and objective character of Catholic teaching."

Civilization Killers – On the Decline of Three Basic Cultural Indicators and What it Means for America - "...there are significant differences between economic classes in this Country that sheds important light on the cultural crisis we are facing. In effect, economic class is a big indicator in moral behavior today."

How to Respond when a Loved One Leaves the Church - "There are thousands of hurting Catholic moms and dads out there, begging God to bring their children back to the Church and dealing with immense feelings of guilt over the possibility that they are responsible for their child’s lack of faith."

Tending the New Catholic Subculture - "Signs of a new Catholic subculture can be seen in things like a handful of proudly orthodox colleges and universities, media ventures like EWTN and Catholic radio, a growing number of websites and periodicals and a few publishing houses, and organizations and movements that work to promote a dynamic Catholic spirituality..."

Ecumenism and the Pope of Christian Unity - "The 'ultimate purpose' of ecumenism, the pope told Vatican doctrinal officials last year, 'consists in the achievement of the full and visible communion of the Lord’s disciples.' By that standard, Pope Benedict XVI is the pope of Christian unity."

Virtues Gone Wild - "...when I first began studying Catholicism...I saw the big picture of human morality, the full articulation of the rules of love written on every human heart."

A Case for Hell - "Doing away with hell, then, is a natural way for pastors and theologians to make their God seem more humane. The problem is that this move also threatens to make human life less fully human."

What? No Easter Greeting? - "By comparison, the White House has released statements recognizing the observance of major Muslim holidays and released statements in 2010 on Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid-ul-Adha."

Newt Gingrich: Why I Became Catholic - "Over the course of a decade, the depth of faith and history contained in the life of the Catholic Church were increasingly apparent to me, and the centrality of the Eucharist in the Catholic Mass became more and more clear."

Is the Antichrist Approaching? - "...we are not experiencing the time of Antichrist, or even his imminent arrival. What we do seem to be experiencing is a minor chastisement that precedes the major chastisement of Antichrist. Between the two chastisements is widely prophesied an age of great peace."

Royalty and Ritual - [I did not follow the wedding of Prince William at all...but this article points out nicely the importance of ceremony/ritual/formality (and liturgy) in our lives.]

This is just too silly, yet it's true: Drive-Thru Jesus

An Old Post to Begin the Easter Season

I still find myself too busy to write as the Easter Season begins, so I thought I would re-post something I wrote a couple of years ago, which was originally written as a reply to an online question from a non-Catholic friend...

Spirit of Truth: The Word of God as Taught by the Magisterium of the Church

All Christians agree that the Bible is the Word of God. Its text is believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit; it is the written source of Revelation from which doctrines are formed, and moral and spiritual guidance is assimilated. Prophets and Apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit to write the words of this ancient text, and these writings were compiled into what is called “Holy Scripture” or the “Bible.” This book has been preserved down through the centuries by faithful Christians. No Christian would dispute the importance of Scripture in the life of the believer in Jesus Christ.

The question then arises: Does the Bible ALONE guarantee the soundness of Christian doctrine? Did God give us ONLY the Bible for the preservation of His Word?

There are many thousands of Christian denominations and sects, which claim that “Scripture Alone” is in fact the sole source for Christian teaching. They reject the authority of any ecclesial  body or hierarchy to interpret Scripture and they reject any other source besides the Bible for Revealed Truth. They claim that the Bible Alone, as read and interpreted by every Christian, is the means by which God preserves His Word. They say that the Spirit guides each individual to discover the Truth of Scripture, and that Scripture’s meaning is plain and literal in every word of every page, so that anyone can grasp its meaning.

And so the next question inevitably follows: Why is it that no two “Bible Only” churches agree on doctrine? How can it be that the Spirit has guided all of these individuals down separate paths to different Truths? Is there not one Truth? Why does the Bible Alone yield a plethora of churches with competing doctrines? As these “Bible churches” quarrel and disintegrate into break-away factions that spawn new churches every year, one might wonder what the Holy Spirit was thinking in leading so many astray. Is this really the way Christ established His Church?

Is this what Christ prayed for when He said: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one…” (John 17:20-22)

Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers, a unity that mirrors His own union with the Father – “so that they may be one, as we are one.” It is clear that the “Bible Alone” does not provide that kind of unity for the Church. Would the Father and the Son disagree on doctrine; would They quarrel, and then decide to go Their separate ways, and form Their own churches? Because that is what “Scripture Alone” has given us. Scripture Alone has given Christ a shattered and broken Body. This cannot be what Christ intended. We know that Jesus prayed for unity in the Church. Jesus’ prayer would surely be answered more effectively than the Bible Alone doctrine has done throughout history.

The Catholic Church counters the weakness of the “Bible Only” doctrine in two ways:

1) The Word of God is found not in Scripture Alone, but rather Scripture AND Tradition.

It must be emphasized that the Catholic Church has always taught that the Bible does contain the Word of God. The Bible is the sacred written record of God’s revelation to mankind. The Catholic Church shares this belief with other Christian denominations. Make no mistake, Catholics love and revere Scripture.

However, if we are to accept the “Bible Alone” as a sound doctrine, then the “Bible Alone” doctrine must be found in Scripture. The problem is the Bible makes no claim for itself to be the ONLY source of God’s Word.  Bible-Only Christians claim that all authentic Christian doctrine should come from the pages of Scripture. But if this is true then we must reject the "Bible Alone" doctrine since it disproves itself.

Nowhere does Scripture say that the Bible is the ONLY source of God’s Word. To the contrary, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states:

“In keeping with the Lord's command, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: - orally 'by the apostles who handed on, by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institutions they established, what they themselves had received - whether from the lips of Christ, from his way of life and his works, or whether they had learned it at the prompting of the Holy Spirit'; - in writing 'by those apostles and other men associated with the apostles who, under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit, committed the message of salvation to writing'." (CCC 76)

And this teaching agrees with Scripture: “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

So we see that the Word of God can be passed on orally as well as in written form. Again we read in Acts: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)

And again, Paul tells us that his own spoken words are truly the Word of God: “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” (1Thessalonians 2:13)

So the Church teaches rightly that God’s Word comes to us in two forms: oral and written. Obviously the written form is called the Bible or Scripture (as we have already established). The oral form is referred to simply as Tradition. This is not to be confused with the various customs and practices adopted by the Church down through the ages. These are not equal to God’s Word, but are merely expressions of faith as the gospel has been lived out from generation to generation. As the Catechism puts it:

“Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned…”CCC 83)

Thus a clear distinction ought to be maintained between Tradition (with a capital “T”) and traditions (lower case “t”). The customs and practices common among Catholics are not to be confused with the Word of God. Much misunderstanding among non-Catholics stems from this unfortunate mistake in terminology. Sacred Tradition would include such things as the papacy (but not specific ceremonies surrounding the pope), the Mass (but not the precise arrangemnt of words or gestures used at the Mass); Tradition, like Scripture, is unchanging (although our understanding of it may grow) – whereas customs and traditions can be altered.

With that in mind, the Catholic Church maintains that Scripture and Tradition are derived from the same source:

"'Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal.' Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own 'always, to the close of the age'." (CCC 80)

In fact, Scripture is itself nothing more than a written form of Tradition that grew out of the early Church:

“The Tradition here in question comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. The first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.” (CCC 83)

Scripture and Tradition are thus inextricably linked. They grew out of the same source – the preaching and example given by the Apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The two must be viewed and interpreted together to achieve sound doctrine and to appreciate the whole Word of God:

"As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, 'does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.'" (CCC 82)

But how can we be certain that our interpretation of God's Word is correct? Even if we accept both forms of the Word of God, how can we be sure that we are not led to false doctrine?

2) The Church’s Magisterium authoritatively interprets the Word of God as found in Scripture and Tradition.

We know that "Scripture Alone" does not work. It brings us only division and a broken church founded on divergent interpretations of the Bible. Sacred Tradition assists us in interpreting Scripture correctly by shedding light on Scripture and clearing up shades of meaning in the text. Scripture and Tradition together give us a fuller view of God's Word. But still, if it were left up to each individual to sort out doctrine on his own, we would again be left with the same confusion that the Bible Alone doctrine has yielded. It cannot be that God has given us His Word in Scripture and Tradition, but then left us in the same mess from which Bible-Only churches suffer, with individual interpretation and competing doctrines.
 
Thankfully, Christ did not leave his followers with such confusion and lack of guidance. To give order to His Church, He first called the Twelve Apostles to a role of leadership and gave them an authority that is recognized both in Heaven and on Earth: "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

He promised this authority to the Twelve, but He spoke similar words to Peter (using the singular word for “you”) and also bestowed on him the "keys" to symbolize Peter’s unique position of authority: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

Obviously the Apostles received a special authority as a group, and individually Peter. This teaching authority was passed on to selected men who would continue as bishops of the Church, as the Catechism tells us:

"'In order that the full and living Gospel might always be preserved in the Church the apostles left bishops as their successors. They gave them their own position of teaching authority.' Indeed, 'the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved in a continuous line of succession until the end of time.'" (CCC 77)

The early Christians (from the first few centuries A.D. bear witness to this line of succession:

"Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier. . . . Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry" (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 42:4–5, 44:1–3 [A.D. 80]).

"It is possible, then, for everyone in every church, who may wish to know the truth, to contemplate the tradition of the apostles which has been made known to us throughout the whole world. And we are in a position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own times, men who neither knew nor taught anything like what these heretics rave about" (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:1 [A.D. 189]).

"Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy who, in succession from the apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians" (Jerome, Letters 14:8 [A.D. 396]).

The authoritative teaching office which has been passed down from the Apostles is called the “Magisterium.” Rather than drawing our certainty about God’s Word from our own individual interpretation, we can instead turn to the Magisterium of the Church, the teaching office established by Christ and maintained down through the generations. This is not to say that the Magesterium has power over God’s Word, but rather the Magisterium is in the service of God’s Word and is bound by it…

"[T]his Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith." (CCC86)

So the division and the in-fighting that is so often found among the “Bible Only” churches is avoided within the Catholic Church where there can be surety of doctrine and unity of belief just as Jesus prayed for his followers. Interpretation is not left up to each Christian, but rather, the Holy Spirit works through the teaching office of the Church. The Apostles appointed bishops for this very task. In fact, the “Bible Only” doctrine is a rebellion against God’s plan of unity within His Church. Holy Scripture should never be isolated from the Tradition from which it came. Nor should God’s Word be misused by those to whom no authority has been given to interpret authoritatively. Rather Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium work together to bring us the Truth of Revelation:

"'The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.' This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (CCC 85)

"It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls." (CCC 95)

By this we can be certain that Christ’s promise is fulfilled: “…when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)

Happy Easter!

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

Triduum: Holy Saturday

The Holy Saturday celebration might be called a sort of “crowning jewel” of the Liturgical Season. Filled with multiple symbols and significance, this night stands out among other Masses as a real point of inspiration (when it is celebrated faithfully and with reverence).

Having already witnessed the Crucifixion on Good Friday and now waiting in anticipation at the tomb, we begin Mass outside (whenever possible) around a fire, in the dark of the evening. The fire is blessed, and a large candle (the Paschal Candle or Easter Candle) is also blessed and lit from the fire. The flame of the Paschal Candle represents Christ “the Light of the World.” The congregation lights smaller candles from the larger Paschal Candle as we all receive our light from Christ.

We process into a darkened church which is soon aglow in the light of the many small candles, as we pass flames from one to another, until the whole congregation is assembled. Then the proclamation of Christ’s Resurrection is read or sung and the lights of the church are turned on. Then the Mass continues.

Among some of the other features of Holy Saturday, those seeking full communion with the Church are baptized and Confirmed and receive their first Communion. After completing many weeks of training in the faith, Holy Saturday is the traditional day of accepting these new Catholics into the fold. For this purpose, holy water is blessed and the chrism (holy oil used for anointing), which was only recently consecrated at the beginning of Holy Week, is used in the ceremony.

Also, the “Alleluia” is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent. Since Lent is a time of penance, a somber reflective season, the grand Alleluia, which is usually sung before the Gospel, has been omitted for forty days. The Alleluia makes a glorious return on Easter Saturday evening. And with that Alleluia, the Gospel is proclaimed that Jesus has risen, and the long wait of Lent is over.

+      +      +

I would strongly urge anyone who is able to participate in all three days of the Triduum if at all possible. It encapsulates the entire Passion of Christ and plays it out in real-time before our eyes in a liturgical setting. In the Triduum the true meaning of Easter is celebrated within the Universal Church, as the whole Body of Christ’s believers await the risen Christ.

This Week's Headlines

As another week comes to an end, this is your chance to top off your glass with a final helping of news, current events, and just plain interesting stuff that may not have made into the mainstream media. A chance to linger for a few more moments before we close the door on the week. Below are some links to articles, blogs, and miscellaneous happenings that caught my eye over the past few days. Sample what you like - I'll serve up more next Friday...

Save Formality, Save the Liturgy - "At the heart of liturgy is the concept of ritual.  Instead of fitting the Liturgy into our lives, it is in the liturgy that we are taken up into something much bigger, the cosmic worship of God. "

It's Not Just the Economy - "The economy doesn’t operate in a vacuum, and the American people are more than the sum of their 401ks. A society that pursues economic prosperity while ignoring the health of its foundational cultural and social institutions will not prosper for long."

Catholic Social Teaching About Unions - "I think one would have quite a task ahead if they were to argue that the unions of which Leo XIII spoke are the same as those of today.  They are not, for multifarious reasons, not the least of which is their support of political positions that contradict other aspects of Catholic social teaching: abortion, homosexuality, contraception, home education, etc."


The Easter Triduum - "The Easter Triduum holds a special place in the liturgical year because it marks the culmination of the yearly celebration in proclaiming the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ."


Pope Benedict on Keeping Vigil this Triduum - "The liturgies of these days invite us to ponder the loving obedience of Christ who, having become like us in all things but sin, resisted temptation and freely surrendered himself to the Father’s will."


Traditional Latin Mass - videos of Latin Mass being celebrated (one is narrated by Fulton Sheen).


Taking the Measure of Relics of the True Cross - "Helena took a portion of the cross back to Rome, where she had it enshrined in the chapel of her palace (now the Basilica of the 'Holy Cross in Jerusalem')."
  
The Crucifixion: Wednesday or Friday? - "In some Protestant churches, especially Fundamentalist ones, every year at Easter time there are sermons explaining that Jesus didn’t really die on a Friday but on a Wednesday."

I Scream, Therefore I Am - "We rage and weep because of suffering because we know deep down that we are destined for something better. Our existential wail in the face of suffering is so deep because we know that we were made for infinite happiness."

"Do We Really Desire Him? Are We Anxious To Meet Him?" - Homily given by Pope Benedict XVI for Holy Thursday Mass [For an interesting analysis of this homily click here.]


Viri Selecti - [Reflections on foot washing for Holy Thursday] "Recall that the event of the Last Supper was also the institution of the priesthood. Christ, who came to serve and not to be served, tells the disciples, as priests, to do unto others as he has done unto them. The ritual of the feet washing is an imparting of the mission of charity and service in the priesthood."

Palm Sunday: an example so perfect that it has the power to transform us - A reformed Ordo for Holy Week was issued in 1955 and took effect on 25 March 1956.   That is when the Sunday of Holy Week came to be called “The Second Sunday in Passiontide, or Palm Sunday”."

Got a minute? Make a cross. - Video showing how to transform blessed palms into a cross...with a link to more creative designs.

On the sixth anniversary of Pope Benedict's election...a few thoughts from Benedict himself on the meaning of the papacy, and a video of that moment in Rome.



What I Learned From A Muslim About Eucharistic Adoration - "If I believed that thing that looks like a little round piece of bread was really Allah Himself, I think I would just faint. I would fall at His feet like a dead man."

Super Pig, Super Pig, Super Pig - "As we introduce the changes to the new translation of the liturgy, we have an ideal opportunity for better catechesis of the faithful. The new translation is not perfect, but it is better than what we have." [Note: You will understand the title of this piece after reading it.]



American Church in Decline - "Instead of wringing our hands about the demise of American Catholicism perhaps we had better look on the bright side. Catholicism is still the largest single Christian grouping in the USA by far. Catholics still have political clout and are arguably, the only Christian group that does."

150 Bloggers, An Additional Rome Blognic and a Guild of Catholic Bloggers - "Apparently 750 or so bloggers applied to receive an invite, and the list of 150 bloggers invited to attend has now been released."

The list of 150 bloggers invited to attend in person the meeting at the Vatican - [Well, I didn't make the cut :) but I do recognize a few names.]

A very modest (and not at all ironic) proposal - "Proposed guiding principles for Catholic Bloggers of America."

 

Catholic Kung Fu? - "...the overall question of whether Martial Arts and Catholicism are compatible depends upon which set of lenses you look through."

Photograph's destruction likely 'what the artist wanted,' charges art historian - "The art installation... “Piss Christ,” had already been subject to weeks of protest by local Catholics. Demonstrations reached such a level on April 17 that some protesters broke into the gallery and attacked it with hammers and screwdrivers."

The Wackiest Holy Week...Evah! - Some outrageous happenings from the atheistic secular mob as they lash out against this holy time for Christians.