The Fathers Speak

The Fathers Speak – Confession

          In the past, I have occasionally run a feature called “The Fathers Speak.”  This has included quotes taken in context from the Fathers of the Church that demonstrate Catholic doctrine.  I have compiled these and many more such quotes from the first 500 years of Christianity.  The Fathers of the Church are powerful witnesses to Christianity’s Catholicism right from the start.  I hope it will be a powerful apologetic and ecumenical tool.  The document is available for a donation of any size to Aquinas Academy.  It can be accessed by clicking here, or on the image of St. Athanasius near the top of this blog.

Local synod (council) in Antioch – A.D. 341

All who enter the church of God and hear the Holy Scriptures, but do not communicate with the people in prayers, or who turn away, by reason of some disorder, from the holy partaking of the Eucharist, are to be cast out of the Church, until, after they shall have made confession, and having brought forth the fruits of penance, and made earnest entreaty, they shall have obtained forgiveness

St. Athanasius – Letter dating A.D. 338

Therefore let us, performing our vows to the Lord, and confessing our sins, keep the feast to the Lord, in conversation, moral conduct, and manner of life…

St. Augustine – Letter 185 – A.D. 415

But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England – A.D. 731

Note: Cuthbert died in the previous century

And such was Cuthbert’s skill in speaking, so keen his desire to persuade men of what he taught, such a light shone in his angelic face, that no man present dared to conceal from him the secrets of his heart, but all openly revealed in confession what they had done, thinking doubtless that their guilt could in nowise be hidden from him; and having confessed their sins, they wiped them out by fruits worthy of repentance, as he bade them...

Cyprian of Carthage – A.D. 200-270 – Epistle 2

You see, then, brethren, that you also ought to do the like, so that even those who have fallen may amend their minds by your exhortation; and if they should be seized once more, may confess, and may so make amends for their previous sin…

Cyril of Jerusalem – A.D. 315-386 - Catechetical Lecture 1

Put off, by confession, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit, that ye may put on the new man, which is renewed according to knowledge of Him that created him...

The present is the season of confession: confess what thou hast done in word or in deed, by night or by day; confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation receive the heavenly treasure...

The Didache – circa A.D. 80

…gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that you may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.

St. Jerome – Letter 41 against the Montanists – A.D. 385

Their strictness does not prevent them from themselves committing grave sins, far from it; but there is this difference between us and them, that, whereas they in their self-righteousness blush to confess their faults, we do penance for ours, and so more readily gain pardon for them...

Pope St. Gregory the Great – A.D. 540-604 – Pastoral Rule, Book II (Of the Life of the Pastor)

Yet, when they prepare the patience of their condescension for cleansing the sins of their neighbors in confession, they support, as it were, the laver before the doors of the temple; that whosoever is striving to enter the gate of eternity may shew his temptations to his pastor's heart, and, as it were, wash the hands of his thought and of his deed…

A Simple Phone Call

A Simple Phone Call

It’s that time of year – when people are blindsided by pornography in the grocery store aisle, in the form of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.  Anyone who receives the magazine, by the way, can opt out of receiving the Swimsuit Edition and have their subscription extended by two issues.

This morning I went to the grocery store and saw, in the middle of the main aisle, a stand-alone display of the issue, whose cover can not be called anything but pornography.  I was actually shocked when I came upon it.  I figured I’d at least turn the front issues around backwards, but the back cover was just as bad. 

When I got home, I called the store and spoke to the manager.  I told him that it was bad enough I had to unwillingly see the cover, but as a father of four boys, I wouldn’t be able to bring my family back to the store.  His response both surprised and encouraged me.

He thanked me for calling and told me that the store is contractually obligated to provide the display.  However, once they receive a complaint, they are freed from that responsibility and permitted to put the magazine in a more inconspicuous place, with the cover….covered.  He promised to take care of it as soon as we got off the phone.

This may not be news to many people, but I found it enlightening.  How many store managers need only one phone call to clean up their stores?  Even if they don’t personally agree, as the one I spoke with seemed to, they know that no one will avoid a grocery store for not displaying the such things, but once they realize there are people who will when they do, no reasonable businessman would take the chance.

This is a great opportunity.  With one phone call, we can win back some dignity for the women in the magazine; we can protect the men who struggle with pornography, not to mention our own kids; and we can win one small victory over the devil for whom things like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition can be a powerful weapon.   

The Three Comings of Christ

The Three Comings of Christ

We often speak of three “Comings of Christ” into this world: His coming in history; His coming in mystery; and His coming in majesty.  This holy season of Advent is about all three.

Most obviously it is about Christ’s coming in history.  This refers to the historical fact that 2,000 years ago a Baby was born in Bethlehem, and that Baby was God.  (Actually, His coming really occurred nine months earlier at the Annunciation.)  During this season it is good to meditate on the fact that the world had been waiting for many thousands of years, since the fall of Adam and Eve, for the promised Redeemer.  During this three-to-four weeks of Advent, it is important to reflect on the importance of that event.

God became Man.  Why?  There are many reasons, but primarily, to die.  Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Every man in history, save one, was born to live.  One was born to die.”  Jesus Christ, the God-Man, was born so that He could die for the sake of our salvation, and build an eternal covenant, opening the gates of Heaven for all eternity to all who would choose to enter.

He became so weak that He depended on His own creatures even to eat.  He was vulnerable to their wrath and scorn.  And He was first made known to all but a few on that first blessed Christmas.

It is no coincidence that the readings for the first week of Advent focus on the end of the world.  Advent should also remind us of Christ’s Second Coming, His coming in majesty.  Christ will come again.  We know that.  And when He does, it will not be hidden, as a vulnerable infant in a stable in some no-name town.  He will come riding the clouds with His angels, to separate the sheep from the goats (Mt. 25: 31-46).  John the Baptist hints at this in the Gospel for the second week of Advent.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord, we should also reflect on His Second Coming.  We should be getting ready.  That is one key to the Christian life to begin with – always being ready for Christ.  It should come as no surprise that while the world considers Advent the shopping season, the Church considers it a penitential season.

Finally, this Advent should lead us to deeper contemplation of Christ’s coming in mystery, specifically in the Eucharist.  Jesus told His Apostles, “I will be with you always, even to the consummation of the world” (Mt. 28:20).  This promise has been most beautifully kept in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.  In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ has been with us, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in every age, from the time of the Apostles to the present day, and He will continue to be, until the end of time.

I’d like to share a meditation I had recently.  This is no supernatural vision, simply a meditation.  I was praying the third Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Nativity, and in my imagination I approached the manger.  Mary was sitting there holding the Infant Jesus, and she handed Him to me.  I stood caressing the tender, precious, fragile God of the universe for a few moments and reached out to hand Him back to Our Lady.  She kept still, however, and said, “Take Him with you.”  At that the Infant transfigured into the Eucharist and took rest, shining brightly in my heart.

It was a very profitable meditation and reminded me that the wonder we have over the Baby in the manger should be present at every Eucharist.  He has come to stay.  Eucharistic Adoration would be a very appropriate preparation for Christmas this Advent.

So as we plunge ahead with our shopping, cooking and decorating this season, let us not forget what it is truly about.  And may we help others to remember as well.

Reflections on the Pope's Interview

Reflections on the Pope’s Interview

 

 Image from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EKqEdadrA7YLRl4izCUeAJtI5f2TA5y-qfk3o-fqBpyTa1a-vRNYrYaYJpdzOTik_VDAXPIdWj26qbII3zF3HF1gHBWIpkQ36DAbmzcngpgKzw7GGB7iQh3F_MDL9xYKcCRrntVRJgc/s1600/popefrancis.jpg

There has been quite a firestorm following the interview Pope Francis gave last week.  Initially, the mainstream media, intentionally or not, misrepresented the comments of the pope, suggesting that he was urging Catholics to stop focusing on issues like abortion, homosexual “marriage” and contraception.  Most Catholics by now should have recognized the truth, that the pope is not moving the Church away from her teachings on these issues, especially since the day after the interview Pope Francis made his strongest comments against abortion since his election.

Still, some Catholics have been concerned about the tone the holy father has set and the direction they think he may be taking the Church.  Now it’s true that there is no charism guaranteeing the pope will say everything perfectly eloquently or that every decision he makes will be the best.  However, this is a holy and learned man, who happens to be our chief shepherd, so I do think it’s important that we reflect on what the pope did say.

The issue, I think, is context.  Pope John Paul II coined the phrase “The Culture of Death.”  It was imperative that the Church respond forcefully, consistently and often to the great evils of the day.  It still is.  But perhaps Pope Francis is concerned that the culture has begun defining the terms of our message.

The pope is clearly concerned about the right to life and has spoken as archbishop against homosexual “marriage.”  He made it clear in his interview that he has no intention of moving the Church away from her teachings on these issues.

However, he spoke of the primary necessity of showing the Person of Jesus Christ to the world.  This, he said, is the essential of evangelization.  He called to mind the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and how their encounter with Christ caused their hearts to burn within them.  In this age of the New Evangelization, when many people think Christianity is merely noise that can be dismissed, though the consistent witness against the evils of our time is essential (the pope is not calling on any of us to slow our pro-life work), it is easily ignored.

An encounter with Jesus Christ, however, can not be ignored.  I believe the pope is calling on all of us to remember that our witness begins and ends with Him.  We can not witness to the issues of life and marriage apart from that context.  And the Church needs to offer the world her Lord.  Then hearts will be opened to all else besides.

This is my take on the pope’s interview.  Agree with it or not, I would pray that we all listen to Pope Francis as a father, and at least take his message to prayer, so that we can be truly effective sons and daughters of the Church, and servants of our Lord.

Confronting Spiritual Apathy

Confronting Spiritual Apathy

          Everyone who has worked on an evangelization team has experienced it – apathy.  Whether trying to increase involvement in a parish or develop a Catholic identity at a school, it is a universal problem.  Members of a team brainstorm, come up with brilliant opportunities to engage people, work for countless hours to implement them, and no one seems to care, or even notice.

          The Catholic Church has more to offer people than anything else.  We have Jesus, the great Deposit of Faith that He left us, eternal life, the answers to the questions that have consumed philosophers since the beginning of time.  You’d think it wouldn’t be a hard product to sell.

          And yet, people question the relevance; they decide that the Faith just isn’t worth their time.  I recently asked a youth minister why she thinks it’s so hard to engage people.  “They are already owned by other things,” she said, “work, youth sports, other activities.”  The consensus is that people are just too darn busy.

          I had a boss once that used to say, “Price is only an issue in the absence of value.”  It’s true that being a Christian costs a lot; and for busy people, sometimes the most precious commodity is time.  But that’s only an issue in the absence of value.  The real problem is that they don’t value what we have to offer.

          That may seem unbelievable to those of us who recognize the incredible worth of the Christian life, but let’s face it, the culture is hell-bent on convincing as many people as possible that Christianity is for suckers.  So, millions of people pay lip service to the Faith, but are not willing to invest anything in it.

          What can we do?  Unfortunately, I have yet to hit on the answer.  I have been involved with Lighthouse Catholic Media for a year and a half now, partly because I believe it is the most powerful widespread parish-based ministry for catechesis and evangelization there is.  And part of the appeal is that it is so simple.  People pick up a CD at a kiosk, or sign up for a CD or Download of the Month Club, at virtually no cost; receive a talk form a dynamic Catholic speaker delivered directly to their mailbox or mobile device; and listen to it on the way to work, or while they do housework, or whatever.  It couldn’t be more convenient.  Then, I hoped, as people are exposed to the Truth, they will come to love it, see the value in it, and be willing to invest their lives in it.

          It seems like a wonderful strategy and yet, the result I’ve seen so far, in large part, has been more apathy.  (Note: Many parishes have experienced the opposite – their investment has paid huge dividends.)  But I’ve seen that for some people, it’s not worth the 30 seconds it takes to sign up, or grab materials out of the rack; or maybe there is not one day a month that the sports talk show can be put on hold, so their soul can be fed.  Whatever it is, even super convenience isn’t enough to interest many people.

          Matthew Kelly, who speaks about this problem, has developed his own solution.  Many people who can’t even spare an hour for Sunday Mass will spend two or three weekends in Baptism classes or Confirmation workshops so their children can receive the Sacraments.  Why?  I don’t know, but Kelly calls these “Catholic moments.”  We have people, for at least a short period of time.  And we have something they want bad enough to give us at least their partial attention.  This is the time to engage them, he says.  We have to take advantage of these opportunities to make Catholicism relevant and get them to at least make one more step that they otherwise wouldn’t have made.

          Now I know we can not really make Catholicism relevant.  It objectively is relevant, more relevant than anything else, because of Jesus.  But we are the messengers; we have to help people recognize what’s staring them in the face. 

          Check out Matthew Kelly’s Dynamic Catholic web site to learn about the programs he is developing for capturing people during the “Catholic moments.”  Or email me to bring Lighthouse Catholic Media to your parish, or perhaps sign up for one of the Clubs yourself, and share the materials.  And, as always, most of all, let’s pray. 

          Mother Teresa said that we are called to be faithful, not successful.  Bringing fruits out of our efforts is the domain of the Holy Spirit.  So let’s turn to God for help, and seek to be instruments in His Hand.

If the World Hates You...

If the World Hates You…

Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.  Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.  And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”      (Jn. 15:18-21)

This was the Gospel reading for Saturday’s morning Mass.  I had heard it many times before, but this time it spoke to me very directly.  “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.”

As Catholics, we have always been counter-cultural.  We have always had to fight the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil.  But I think that American Catholics are finding ourselves in a somewhat new situation in our attempt to be “in the world, but not of the world.”

This is certainly not the first time we have found ourselves “hated by the world.”  And that can always be a struggle.  It’s nice to be liked; it’s nice to be accepted; and it’s nice to be affirmed.  This temptation has always been a dangerous threat to our mission of evangelization.

But our culture, in many ways, has become what Isaiah warned about: that which calls good evil, and evil good (Is. 5:20).  And this places us in a new position with respect to “the world.”  We are made to feel bad, morally bad, for following Christ.  In times past, we may have been scorned, we may have suffered prejudice, but the values we stood for were generally recognized as a worthy ideal.

Things have changed.  Now, for following Christ, for living the Gospel, we are ridiculed, and accused of being intolerant, old-fashioned or even bigots.  We are told we are judgmental; that we lack compassion.

This can take a toll.  Not only may we be bullied into silence so we don’t have to suffer the insults; not only may we begin to abandon the Gospel in order to assimilate; we may begin to question whether what “the world” says about us is true.

If the culture feels so strongly that our values are bad, could they possibly be right?  Are we a bigoted and uncharitable people?  Hopefully these questions sound ridiculous, because they are.  But it is human nature, after being beaten with the same stick enough times, to begin to wonder whether we deserve it.

It is important for us to examine our own motives and personal behavior, that’s true.  The values we stand for are secure, but we can sometimes defend them with a spirit that does not reflect our Lord.  We should regularly examine the charity with which we fight this battle.  I like to remind myself of the way Louis Martin, the father of the Little Flower was characterized: a man of uncompromising faith and overflowing charity.  Can that honestly be said about me, not by the world, but by Christ?

After that, though, we need not worry about the hatred of the world.  “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.”  If we are constantly being affirmed, we may not have enough backbone.  We are in a battle; we should have some wounds to show for it.  The accusations of the world are of no consequence; I don’t think it’s a coincidence that satan is called “the accuser.”  If we can truly say that we are people of genuine charity, and humility, with a concern for souls and a love of God, we need not let the persecutions we are sure to encounter trouble our consciences.