Monday Musings

A few random thoughts and ponderings to start the week...

Well, I have no idea who will be the next pope, but I will make one prediction. I am certain we will have a new pontiff by the end of this week. From what I have read, the general consensus is that three days is about how long it will take for the election to conclude. The Cardinals have had some time to get to know one another, and if the process drags out to long it would make the new pope seem weak...like a compromise candidate...and that is not what the Church needs right now. As for who the Cardinals will elect - there are much wiser opinions than mine to consult.

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As talk of the conclave increased this past weekend, a non-Catholic (atheist) friend asked the following question:

Atheist: 

"If all the cardinals are listening to god tell them who the next pope should be, shouldn't it be a unanimous vote the first time, every time? 

My reply:

"No...The Cardinals will not necessarily select a pope on the first vote, because frankly people are imperfect listeners.God may 'speak' to them in subtle ways, and they may do their best to discern the will of God, but they still have free will and can be influenced by other sources. God does not use us as mindless tools to do his work - we must cooperate and sort out His will from our own desires.

Atheist: 

These are the CARDINALS. Shouldn't THEY, of all people, be able to get a name out of god? If they can't manage that simple feat, why does anyone bother praying?"

Reply: 

"I'm impressed that you think so highly of Cardinals...that you think they have a direct line to God. But they are people, just like you and me - flawed. However, I would point out that the Church has lasted for nearly 2000 years. It is the oldest continually operating institution in the world. It has outlasted countless nations, monarchs, governments, and other human institutions...and this despite the flawed character of Cardinals and Popes. God doesn't work the way you seem to imply (working against human will and forcing His way on the Church), He works despite human flaws and uses sinful, flawed individuals who cooperate in His work. That is a messy process. But it has worked for centuries. I have confidence it will work this time too. They don't get it on the first vote because they are not machines taking dictation from God. It is more of a conversation that unfolds over time. That's what prayer is...and that's why we bother doing it."

Atheist:

Where in the bible does it ever say that God mumbled to someone or was not clear in exactly what he wanted?

Reply:

First of all, who says that the Bible is the only source for our understanding of God? God acts and speaks in many ways. But if you are looking for a Biblical reference, I do have at least one in mind:
Kings chapter 19, beginning at verse 11. There we see that God makes Himself known in a still, small voice. It is easy to be confused or distracted by the bigger things of the world. It is easy to be wrapped up in those dramatic events or even confuse them with God. But God is most often found in more subtle ways, difficult to perceive. Or, in other words, sometimes God "mumbles."
See also 1 Samuel chapter 3. There God speaks to Samuel directly, and Samuel confuses the voice of God for someone else. So, according to the Bible, it is not always clear when God is speaking to us...even when the words are plainly spoken.
But like I said above, as Catholics we don't have to rely solely on the Bible for this knowledge.

Atheist:

Hmmm. I'll be damned.

Reply:

Yes... you probably will be. But there's still time to repent. lol ;)

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Remember to keep the Cardinal electors and the whole Church in your prayers as we await the announcement: Habemus Papam!

Almighty and ever living God,

we ask you to bestow your blessings

and wisdom upon our Cardinals

whose task it is to elect a new successor

to the Chair of Peter.

Illumine their minds and hearts

to elect a man who is strong in faith and morals.

A holy man.  A man who has a clear vision

of your Son Jesus Christ.

A man who will not break

under the pressures of the world

or those inside the Church who wish

for a Church that conforms to the world.

A man who with your guidance

will confront the challenges of the world

and those within the Church.

A man who will inspire the world to follow Christ

and who will cleanse the Church

of the filth that has entered it.

A man who will bring about unity among Christians.

Listen to our prayer which we make

in the name of Christ your son.

Amen

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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...

Habemus Datam – Conclave Starts Tuesday - "...late Tuesday afternoon, the electors will gather in the Pauline Chapel, processing from there into the Sistina as the Litany of the Saints is chanted."

The Path Toward the Conclave - "A push from most cardinals for ample discussion time delayed an originally fast-track plan for an early conclave."

Team America Shut Down - "...at a Vatican press briefing, Lombardi explained why the wildly popular press conferences the U.S. cardinals were holding at the North American College were being shut down..." [Obviously this is old news, but it's from George Weigel and he always has something insightful to say.]

Recipe for a Pope: a Christlike Man Who Can Govern and Unite - "Ask any Vatican official or leading Church figure in Rome what one of the most important characteristics of the new pope should be, and, chances are, they’ll say he must have an ability to govern."

The Unique Impossibility of the Papacy - "To be pope is to take on a task that is, by precise theological definition, impossible. Like every other office in the Church, the papacy exists for the sake of holiness. The office, though, is a creature of time and space, and holiness is eternal."

I find the idea of an "American Pope" to be intriguing and increasingly POSSIBLE. And so, here are a couple of article about just that: An American in Rome, Bound for the Chair of Peter, and Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope  ...NOTE: After posting this headline round-up for the week, I found this piece, which fits nicely with these two previous articles: Is an American Pope Possible, or Prudent?

Papal tailors ready no matter what size the new pope is - "Three sizes of cassocks for the future pope are displayed in the window of the Gammarelli clerical tailor shop in Rome March 4. At the request of the Vatican the famous shop has prepared three sizes of clerical wear to be used by the new pope immediately after his election."

A look at the three ballot urns that will be used in the conclave - [Video: Interesting to see...not really my tastes, artistically.]

Little-known Facts about a Papal Conclave - "Much media coverage of a conclave, both secular and Catholic, consists of speculation about who is papabile, what changes the Church must make during the next pontificate, and where the next pope will come from.  More or less well-informed opinion tends to crowd out a faith perspective.  Here are a few little-known facts about a papal conclave that might help to restore it."

On Castel Stroll, Paparazzi Snap Papa Ratzi - [This is kind of a non-story...but the title is funny.]

Benedict XVI Honored by Eastern Orthodox Hierarchs - "Benedict XVI played an important role in modern efforts to heal the schism between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches."

Pope Benedict XVI’s Helicopter Ride Full of Historical Images and Analogies - "Perhaps the helicopter ride of the Holy Father made many of the media’s gatekeepers cringe because those historical landmarks (the Coliseum, the Apian Way) were like many modern secular government’s landmarks, supposedly everlasting."

I Am the Benedict XVI Generation - "I have grown up in Catholicism during the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. The man who appeared on that balcony eight years ago has been a steady factor in my journey as a Catholic. "

Cardinal O'Brien scandal reminds us of corruption before the Protestant Reformation - [In a way this story is somewhat comforting... to remember that the Church has been through darker times.]

Stand By for an Important Announcement - "Normally, the Feast of the Annunciation falls on March 25, nine months before Christmas. This year, however, March 25 is the Monday of Holy Week, and the Church considers Masses for Palm Sunday, any time in Holy Week, or any time from Easter through the Sunday after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) to be so important that even this Marian feast cannot replace one of them."

More Latin Stuff... - "One of the most irritating comments when a traditional hymn or antiphon is suggested is 'Oh, you can't have that... no-one knows it!' Well, no-one will ever know it unless they get to hear it - after all, that's how they got to know the hymns they do know."

This week (March 7, to be precise) was one of the Feast Days for my patron saint, Thomas Aquinas. Here is a piece on this Angelic Doctor of the Church: The Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

Why is Seafood Allowed on Fridays in Lent? St Thomas Aquinas Provides the Theological Answer

March: The Month of Saint Joseph - "...the month of March is associated with a saint whose primary feast falls two days later, on March 19: Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus Christ."

Do Catholics Have Minds and Wills of Their Own? - "The long journey to God and toward personal fulfillment requires conforming our minds to truth and our wills to what is good."

Why so many Protestants do not consider Catholics Christian - "What would seem like a very complicated topic is in fact very simple. It can be broken down into two broad reasons..."

The Stumbling Block of Mary - "Unlike the rest of us lugs, Mary had a clean slate - so that she could serve both as a fitting model for us of the perfect Christian and the most holy of saints, and also so that she could serve as the only fitting mother of the Man Who was God. 

Video: The Precise Moment an Atheist Finally Explains to Piers Morgan What It Means to Be Catholic -[You have got to watch this video. What kills me is that the atheist understands it better than the...eh-hem... "Catholic" does.]

Contraception and Celibacy - "What I am suggesting is that the self giving and service of the celibate priest may start to remind people of the true meaning of marriage. The true meaning of marriage is that it is a sacrament of self sacrifice and service."

In Defense of Marriage - "I believe we need to proclaim the good news about marriage, not just anew, but in a new way."

Ruling on Fetal Pain-Abortion Ban Could Lead to Supreme Court Battle - "An Idaho judge has struck down the law the state of Idaho approved that bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the scientific evidence showing unborn children feel pain."

Top 10 Best Things About Rand Paul's Filibuster - [From VatholicVote...] "Here are my favorite things about the #StandwithRand phenomenon."

Capitalism and the Common Good - "...it seems to me that while some modifications may well be necessary – most of which would consist of eliminating rather than adding government to the mix – there is no better thing one can do for the world’s poor than to promote and defend capitalism, and no worse thing one can do than to attack it or refuse to understand it on its own terms"

Quote of the Week

"We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest value one’s own ego and one’s own desires. The church needs to withstand the tides of trends and the latest novelties. We must become mature in this adult faith, we must guide the flock of Christ to this faith."

- Pope Benedict XVI

Catechism for the Year of Faith

Part of a continuing series.A selected quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in honor of the Year of Faith (October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013)

632 The frequent New Testament affirmations that Jesus was "raised from the dead" presuppose that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of the dead prior to his resurrection. This was the first meaning given in the apostolic preaching to Christ's descent into hell: that Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.

633 Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, "hell" - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek - because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer: which does not mean that their lot is identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus who was received into "Abraham's bosom": "It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Savior in Abraham's bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell." Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him.

634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead." The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

639 The mystery of Christ's resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness. In about A.D. 56 St. Paul could already write to the Corinthians: "I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. . ." The Apostle speaks here of the living tradition of the Resurrection which he had learned after his conversion at the gates of Damascus.

643 Given all these testimonies, Christ's Resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge it as an historical fact. It is clear from the facts that the disciples' faith was drastically put to the test by their master's Passion and death on the cross, which he had foretold. The shock provoked by the Passion was so great that at least some of the disciples did not at once believe in the news of the Resurrection. Far from showing us a community seized by a mystical exaltation, the Gospels present us with disciples demoralized ("looking sad") and frightened. For they had not believed the holy women returning from the tomb and had regarded their words as an "idle tale". When Jesus reveals himself to the Eleven on Easter evening, "he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen."

645 By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his Passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ's humanity can no longer be confined to earth, and belongs henceforth only to the Father's divine realm. For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as he wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith.

648 Christ's Resurrection is an object of faith in that it is a transcendent intervention of God himself in creation and history. In it the three divine persons act together as one, and manifest their own proper characteristics. The Father's power "raised up" Christ his Son and by doing so perfectly introduced his Son's humanity, including his body, into the Trinity. Jesus is conclusively revealed as "Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead". St. Paul insists on the manifestation of God's power through the working of the Spirit who gave life to Jesus' dead humanity and called it to the glorious state of Lordship.

649 As for the Son, he effects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power. Jesus announces that the Son of man will have to suffer much, die, and then rise. Elsewhere he affirms explicitly: "I lay down my life, that I may take it again. . . I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." "We believe that Jesus died and rose again."

651 "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." The Resurrection above all constitutes the confirmation of all Christ's works and teachings. All truths, even those most inaccessible to human reason, find their justification if Christ by his Resurrection has given the definitive proof of his divine authority, which he had promised.

652 Christ's Resurrection is the fulfillment of the promises both of the Old Testament and of Jesus himself during his earthly life. The phrase "in accordance with the Scriptures" indicates that Christ's Resurrection fulfilled these predictions.

654 The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God's grace, "so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ's brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren." We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection.

658 Christ, "the first-born from the dead" (Col 1:18), is the principle of our own resurrection, even now by the justification of our souls (cf. Rom 6:4), and one day by the new life he will impart to our bodies (cf.: Rom 8:11).

659 "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God." Christ's body was glorified at the moment of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus' final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time forward at God's right hand. Only in a wholly exceptional and unique way would Jesus show himself to Paul "as to one untimely born", in a last apparition that established him as an apostle.

663 Henceforth Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father: "By 'the Father's right hand' we understand the glory and honor of divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is seated bodily after he became incarnate and his flesh was glorified."

664 Being seated at the Father's right hand signifies the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom, the fulfillment of the prophet Daniel's vision concerning the Son of man: "To him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." After this event the apostles became witnesses of the "kingdom [that] will have no end".

670 Since the Ascension God's plan has entered into its fulfillment. We are already at "the last hour". "Already the final age of the world is with us, and the renewal of the world is irrevocably under way; it is even now anticipated in a certain real way, for the Church on earth is endowed already with a sanctity that is real but imperfect." Christ's kingdom already manifests its presence through the miraculous signs that attend its proclamation by the Church.

671 Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's return to earth. This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ's Passover. Until everything is subject to him, "until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God." That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ's return by saying to him: Marana tha! "Our Lord, come!"

673 Since the Ascension Christ's coming in glory has been imminent, even though "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.". This eschatological coming could be accomplished at any moment, even if both it and the final trial that will precede it are "delayed".

675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.

678 Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching. Then will the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light. Then will the culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God's grace as nothing be condemned. Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love. On the Last Day Jesus will say: "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

Monday Musings

A few random thoughts and ponderings to start the week...

For my weekly round-up of news headlines that I post every Friday, I have always used an image of Pope Benedict (back when he was Cardinal Ratzinger) holding a beer - the idea being that we can sit back and enjoy reading a few articles as we would a cold beer at the end of the work week. Now that Benedict has stepped down as pope, I have considered changing the image...I don't know why, but the thought crossed my mind. As I have searched for a new image that would convey the same idea, I am leaning more and more toward keeping the Ratzinger pic. It just feels right.

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I was sad to no longer hear Pope Benedict's name mentioned during the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. But the thought occurred to me that perhaps he could still be mentioned as "Benedict, our pope emeritus." I'm not sure if that would be allowed since I am not a trained liturgist, but since it has been 600 years since anything like this has happened and the liturgy has evolved since that time, I wonder if anyone has given this any thought or written about it officially. Just curious.

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I thought I would share this prayer for use during this interregnum period without a pope:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church,

we thank you for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI

and the selfless care with which he has led us

as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church

on the rock of Peter’s faith

and have never left Your flock untended,

look with love upon us now,

and sustain Your Church in faith, hope, and charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us,

a new Pope for Your Church

who will please You by his holiness

and lead us faithfully to You,

who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Amen.

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...

Vatican Website interactive  "Memory Book" of Pope Benedict

Video of Pope Benedict leaving the Vatican on his way to Castel Gandolfo.

Video: Highlights from Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate

"Among Us Is the New Pope... To Whom I Pledge Obedience" - [Pope Benedict's farewell address to the Cardinals.]

Benedict’s Last Papal Audience: What is the Church? - "Here, one can touch what the Church is – not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all."

Pope's Last Angelus: The Bark of the Church, is guided by God - [Video link]

Humble and Holy: Benedict XVI Offers His Final Words From the Chair of Peter - "...complete text of the final words offered by His Holiness, Benedict XVI, to the massive crowd who gathered in St. Peter's square for this extraordinary and historic even on February 27, 2013, the day before he voluntarily lays aside his office as Successor of Peter, Servant of the Servants of God."

Benedict’s New Name: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman Pontiff Emeritus - "The Vatican disclosed that in retirement, the Pope would also wear a simple white cassock but without the mozzetta (elbow-length cape). And instead of red shoes, he will wear brown ones..."

Click here to view a few images from Benedict XVI's final day as pope...including this one:

And here are a few shots of a candlelight vigil beneath Pope Benedict’s window, the night before his final day.

Can (Should) the Pope Influence the Election? - "In theory the pope can influence, even directly, the election of his successor, and it is unjust to claim that it would be “wrong” for him to do so. It is an entirely different question as to whether or not it would be prudent for this pope, Benedict XVI, at this particular point in history, to explicitly tap the next pontiff."

A step toward transparency - "Good news today from the Vatican press office: the powers-that-be have decided to brief reporters during the cardinals' daily pre-conclave meetings, which will probably begin March 4."

The Last of the Giants? - "Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, in reflecting on the (now completed) pontificate, spoke of Benedict as the 'last of the giants', referencing the great ressourcement theologians—de Lubac, von Balthasar, Danielou—who had so much to do with Catholic theology in the twentieth century and in shaping the work of the Council."

Pope Benedict’s legacy: Beware the secular state - "He is leaving us a warning. In the West, and now especially in the U.S., the state is increasingly pushing a secular agenda, and pushing that agenda through means pushing the Church out. The threat to religious liberty is very, very real."

Benedict vs. the Dictatorship of Relativism - "Relativism is a poison. It attacks our most human capacity, the capacity to seek and know the truth, including the moral truth. A dictatorship of relativism imposes by real cultural force (and even by political force) a no-standard standard, a command that all must imbibe this poison."

Benedict's war: What the Pope achieved and what he leaves behind - "The challenge in choosing Benedict's successor will be to find someone who has the strength and ability to deal with the administrative side of the office of the papacy while retaining at least some of the intellectual flair and imagination of Benedict and his predecessor."

Benedict's faith encyclical could appear in different form - "An encyclical on faith was expected sometime in the first six months of this year, to coincide with the Year of Faith. It was to have formed a trilogy of encyclicals on the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity."

Gentle Shepherd Inspires the Nation - "Benedict Encouraged America to Live for ‘Christ, Our Hope.’"

The New Pope Will Inherit a Prepaid Trip to the USA - "His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, announces the official dates for the Eighth World Meeting of Families, which will be celebrated in the United States for the first time in its history. It is expected to draw tens of thousands from around the world to the City of Philadelphia."

Thank You for Your Gift, Benedict XVI - "It is through Benedict XVI's writing that I have come to know, admire and love him. He has fed my mind and heart in a way that no other has, and I will never be able to thank him enough for this wonderful gift he has given me."

The Next Pope Will Be God's Choice...Right? - "We can be confident of the general principle that God guides his Church. This is something we have biblical assurance of. But his guidance does not prevent human free will from operating, and that means there is the potential for humans to abuse their free will."

Why Cardinal Mahony and others are participating in conclave despite scandal - The Church is an ancient institution, with many of its practices being codified during the medieval period of European history. These practices include a tradition of protecting both the Church's reputation and clergy against civil authorities, which have at times been quite hostile to the Church."

Betting on the conclave? - [Is it allowed by Canon Law?]

How Old Will the Next Pope Be? - [Interesting analysis from Jimmy Akin.]

Why Marriage Matters for America and Conservatism - "Marriage predates government. It is the fundamental building block of all human civilization. All Americans, especially conservatives, should respect this crucial institution of civil society." See also: Republicans for Same-Sex Marriage

The Gay Marriage Beauty Pageant - "Conservatives think they are in a boxing match; liberals understand that marriage policy is a beauty pageant."

Government’s idea of women’s freedom harms women - "The White House, Hollywood, Planned Parenthood and other powerful groups are sending the message that women’s freedom almost completely overlaps with sexual expression without procreation, and the government is not accepting dissent from this view..."

Notes from Beneath the Veil - "I wore a chapel veil to church for the first time ever yesterday. It’s something I’d wanted to/felt called to do for years, and I finally committed to doing it during Lent"

No One Goes Away From Jesus Unchanged. A reflection on the fruitfulness of the Sacrments and the Liturgy - "It as time is Catholics to reclaim our birthright that comes to us through faith that Jesus Christ is alive, and ministers powerfully and effectively through the liturgy, the Sacraments and his word."

Purgatory Part 1: Conversion as a Process - "We may still be in this work-in-progress state when we die. We are essentially still converted to Christ, but not yet fully sanctified, still being tempted into sin, still occasionally turning away from God, even if we always turn back to Him."

Fr. Barron comments on "dumbed down" Catholicism - [Great video.]

Catechism for the Year of Faith

Part of a continuing series.
A selected quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in honor of the Year of Faith (October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013)

599 Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: "This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.

601 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of "the righteous one, my Servant" as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin. Citing a confession of faith that he himself had "received", St. Paul professes that "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures." In particular Jesus' redemptive death fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering Servant. Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God's suffering Servant. After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.

603 Jesus did not experience reprobation as if he himself had sinned. But in the redeeming love that always united him to the Father, he assumed us in the state of our waywardness of sin, to the point that he could say in our name from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Having thus established him in solidarity with us sinners, God "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all", so that we might be "reconciled to God by the death of his Son".

604 By giving up his own Son for our sins, God manifests that his plan for us is one of benevolent love, prior to any merit on our part: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins." God "shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

610 Jesus gave the supreme expression of his free offering of himself at the meal shared with the twelve Apostles "on the night he was betrayed". On the eve of his Passion, while still free, Jesus transformed this Last Supper with the apostles into the memorial of his voluntary offering to the Father for the salvation of men: "This is my body which is given for you." "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

611 The Eucharist that Christ institutes at that moment will be the memorial of his sacrifice. Jesus includes the apostles in his own offering and bids them perpetuate it. By doing so, the Lord institutes his apostles as priests of the New Covenant: "For their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."

613 Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world", and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the "blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins".

614 This sacrifice of Christ is unique; it completes and surpasses all other sacrifices. First, it is a gift from God the Father himself, for the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with himself. At the same time it is the offering of the Son of God made man, who in freedom and love offered his life to his Father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience.

618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

624 "By the grace of God" Jesus tasted death "for every one". In his plan of salvation, God ordained that his Son should not only "die for our sins" but should also "taste death", experience the condition of death, the separation of his soul from his body, between the time he expired on the cross and the time he was raised from the dead. The state of the dead Christ is the mystery of the tomb and the descent into hell. It is the mystery of Holy Saturday, when Christ, lying in the tomb, reveals God's great sabbath rest after the fulfillment of man's salvation, which brings peace to the whole universe.

627 Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union which the person of the Son retained with his body, his was not a mortal corpse like others, for "it was not possible for death to hold him" and therefore "divine power preserved Christ's body from corruption." Both of these statements can be said of Christ: "He was cut off out of the land of the living", and "My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let your Holy One see corruption." Jesus' Resurrection "on the third day" was the sign of this, also because bodily decay was held to begin on the fourth day after death.

630 During Christ's period in the tomb, his divine person continued to assume both his soul and his body, although they were separated from each other by death. For this reason the dead Christ's body "saw no corruption" (Acts 13:37).