Former Aide Defends Santorum

Former Aide Defends Santorum

          Presidential candidate Rick Santorum has faced increased scrutiny since his incredible showing in the Iowa caucuses.  He has also faced the usual character assassination.  Well known for his defense of traditional marriage, Senator Santorum is defended against the false charges of homophobia by a former aide, who happens to be gay, in this video.

For the Sake of Righteousness

For the Sake of Righteousness

          Today (Jan. 9) we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.  It is a beautiful feast, on which we meditate in the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.  It is an interesting question to wonder why Jesus submitted to baptism in the first place.  After all, people came to John the Baptist to be baptized as a sign of repentance for their sins.  Jesus, of course, being sinless, would not need to repent.

          St. John himself seems confused, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”  There are many answers to the question of why Jesus was baptized and I am certainly not qualified to give a theological treatise on it.  However, Jesus’s response to John’s question has led me to some personal reflections.  He said, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

          John, the greatest of the prophets, was preparing the way of the Lord.  And certainly he was a controversial figure.  By submitting to John’s baptism it seems to me that Jesus is endorsing him and giving an example of righteous behavior for others, who were in great need of repentance.

          I am reminded of a friend I knew in college, who I met through the Newman Center, named Joey.  I met him when I was a junior, about 20 years old, and he was a couple of years older than I.  I remember being very impressed at his maturity, not always a common trait on a university campus.  One discussion still resonates with me so many years later.

          Joey related to us how when he went to parties he never drank any alcohol.  Now Joey was over 21 and would occasionally have wine with dinner, in moderation.  He was certainly not the type to get drunk or have any problem with alcohol.  So we wondered why he felt the need to abstain at college parties.  He told us what we already knew – drinking was out of control at parties, anything but moderate, and certainly prevalent among under-age students.  He felt that drinking even in moderation at parties could be misconstrued or even scandalize those who knew him to be a devout Catholic, and that he could give a more powerful witness by abstaining altogether.

          I was impressed by his thinking and saw the wisdom in it at once.  I teach at a Catholic school and we often tell the kids when they play for one of our sports teams to be aware of their behavior because they are representing the school.  As Catholics we are always representing the Church, and for some, we may be the only Face of Christ they see.  The impression we leave them with can be very powerful.  Words are necessary tools for conversion, but if our actions are contradictory, they render our words powerless.

          I am reminded of a story of Mother Teresa and one of the many people she cared for.  This particular man was dying, and the saintly nun picked him off the street, cleaned and clothed him, tended to his needs, and treated him with dignity and love.  Finally she asked him if he would like to hear about Jesus.  He responded, “Is Jesus like you?”  “No,” she answered, “Jesus is not like me.  But I try to be like Him.”  “In that case,” the man said, “I want to become a Christian.”

          On the other hand, our actions have just as much power to keep others away from Christ.  If people see love in us, they will be attracted to the source of that love.  If they see spite they will be repelled from the Faith that supposedly drives us.

          From time to time that may even mean doing things purely for the example we can set, like my friend Joey.  Of course we are not to be virtuous for the sake of being noticed, but it is good to be conscious of the witness we give, “for the sake of righteousness.”

          Of course a caution is not to fall into scrupulosity.  It is possible to get so wrapped up in how we may be interpreted that it becomes damaging.  Being aware does not mean being obsessed.  Certainly if we are sincere in following Our Lord, we will give the proper witness, and I suspect if our motives are pure, God will intervene on our behalf so those we touch will be led to Him.

The Fathers Speak: The Didache

The Fathers Speak: The Didache

          The Didache is an ancient Church document dating to the first or early second century.  Also known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, if it doesn’t quite date back to Apostolic times, it at least comes from the patristic period and is considered an authentic product of the early Christian Church, as opposed to other false gnostic writings from later centuries that have received more attention from the mainstream media.  The insight we receive from The Didache into early Christian belief and practice is wonderful and demonstrates clearly the Catholicity of the Church from the beginning.

Concerning Purgatory:  And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny.

Concerning Baptism:  And concerning first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water.  But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you can not do so in cold water, do so in warm.  But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

Concerning abortion:  Do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant.

Link - Archbishop Dolan's New Year's Suggestions

Link – Archbishop Dolan’s

New Year’s Suggestions

          Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York has some wonderful suggestions of things we can do this new year to deepen our relationship with Christ and His Church at the link below.

http://blog.archny.org/?p=2087

Note:  I am working on solving the technical problems the blog has had the last few days with some of the product links.  If you have had a similar experience or have suggestions, please email me.

Welcoming the New Translation of the Roman Missal

Welcoming the New Translation of the

Roman Missal

          We are at the beginning of a new calendar year, and many people are focusing on their New Year’s resolutions.  At the beginning of the Church year about a month ago, we were all afforded a wonderful opportunity for a resolution – to deepen our experience of the Mass.  I am speaking, of course, of the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal.

          We are not adopting a “new Mass.”  All that has happened is that the Missal, which we have been using for over 40 years, has been newly translated for the English language.  Why was this done?  The translation we adopted after Vatican II was called a dynamic equivalency translation.  In other words, it stayed faithful to the thoughts that are presented in the original Latin, but was lacking in some literal translations.  English was the only major language to use this type of translation, and it was not bad.  The bishops have not decided that the translation we have been using was somehow defective, only that a closer translation to the original Latin would be desirable.

          For one thing, the Mass is saturated with Scripture, and some of those references are brought out much more clearly in the new translation.  Also, there is some imagery that had been lost and is restored with the new translation.  Another important benefit is that it is more precise on certain theological points.

          As we adopt this new translation, we can resolve to enter more deeply into the prayers of the Mass and renew our worship, while enhancing our experience.  Over the next few weeks I will pick a few of the new translations of prayers and responses and give a reflection on them.  I, of course, am not qualified to fully explore them, so I would encourage further study.  Although some of the thoughts will be my own, I will try to be faithful to the intention of the bishops.  Also, I will be drawing heavily from the work of Dr. Edward Sri, which I have found most helpful, and would recommend your checking out some of what he has produced for a more comprehensive reflection than what I will be offering here.  I have included a product link to a book of his and Lighthouse Catholic Media has produced a CD on this very topic.

          At the very beginning of the Mass, when the priest greets us, we now respond not with, “And also with you,” but rather, “And with your spirit.”  Of course this is what we’ve been saying at Latin Masses all along (“et cum spiritu tuo”) but now we say it in English as well.  What does it mean?

          First of all, when the priest says, “The Lord be with you,” he is not wishing us a good morning.  In Scripture when this phrase or variations of it are used, it is a blessing or promise to someone who is about to do something profound (Moses, Joshua, Mary, etc.).  When the priest says it to us, we too are about to do something profound.  We come to Mass to worship God, our highest act as human beings.  He says it again at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when Jesus will become present on the altar and we will receive Him.  And again at the end of Mass when he sends us forth to bring the Lord we have just received to a world that is starving for Him.

          When we respond “And with your spirit,” we are acknowledging something very important.  At this Mass, the priest has a very special role, and it is a spiritual role.  He is going to do something at the Mass that the rest of us can not do.  And he is able to do it by virtue of a spiritual gift he received at his ordination.  Our response is an answer similar to the greeting the priest has given us, but acknowledging the incredible gift he has from which we will all benefit.

          Later in the Mass, after this exchange, the priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” and we now respond with, “It is right and just.”  The notion of justice with regard to God is an important one.  Justice means giving to someone that which he is due.  Sometimes we can develop the mistaken notion that because we come to Mass weekly or even daily, we are doing something extraordinary and that God really owes us a debt of gratitude for our faithfulness.  Faithfulness surely will be rewarded, but we are, as St. Paul says, “unprofitable servants.  We have done no more than we were obliged to do.”  God deserves our worship.  When we come to Mass, we are giving Him His due, nothing more.  It is profitable for us to reflect on the fact that though we receive so much from God at Mass, it is also our solemn obligation and an act of justice toward Him to attend, at least weekly.

          Also at the beginning of Mass we have the Penitential Rite, during which we examine our consciences and express sorrow for our sins in order to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries.  The new translation has brought back the “mea culpas.”  We will beat our chest as we proclaim that we have sinned “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

          Why is this important?  One of the greatest flaws of our age is that by and large we have lost a sense of sin.  Even those of us that acknowledge sin often fail to recognize the gravity of sin.  God has given us everything, benevolently.  We would not have life without Him, let alone the promise of eternal life.  He is pure goodness and yet we often respond to Him with disobedience, perhaps even scorn.  It is important for us to recognize that even venial sins are offenses against Pure Love and we should not dismiss them without at least acknowledging our guilt and offering contrition.  Mortal sins, of course, require sacramental Confession before we receive the Eucharist.

          If I hurt my wife deeply, I mean really hurt her feelings or cause her real pain, I would not just in passing tell her, “Hey, sorry about that.”  It is important for me to acknowledge that I have wronged her, to show her that, and sincerely ask forgiveness.  God may not have the same needs as my wife does, but it is still important that I not dismiss my sins, but truly acknowledge them, sincerely ask forgiveness, and gratefully accept it.

          Over the next few weeks I will be reflecting on some of the other changes in translation.  Many of them are small and grammatical, so I will not touch on everything, but there are many that are soaked with meaning.  May this new year find us meditating more deeply on the profound nature of the Mass so that through it we may come closer to Jesus Christ.

The Voting Begins

The Voting Begins

          Today, January 3, is the Iowa caucuses, the first voting in the upcoming Presidential election.  Believe it or not, I have been asked numerous times who I endorse.  Well, certainly my endorsement doesn’t mean anything, and anyone who decides who to vote for based on the endorsement of any blogger, or celebrity, or newspaper, or politician, probably shouldn’t exercise their right to vote at all.

          That being said, having been asked multiple times, I strongly support Rick Santorum for President.  He best represents Catholic moral principles and has done so consistently in his public and private life.  He also has the experience to deal effectively with both our domestic and foreign affairs.  He is certainly intelligent and substantive enough to successfully debate Obama.  He brings virtually no baggage with him, and has the charisma to engage the vast number of American voters who cast their votes based on style rather than substance.

          I am not publicly supporting him in order to encourage anyone to vote for him based on my recommendation, but I urge everyone to give him a serious look and become knowledgeable about his positions and history.  Also, if you like what you see, consider donating to his campaign.  The main thing keeping him from being the front runner right now, I believe, is that he doesn’t have the financial resources of a Ron Paul, Mitt Romney or Rick Perry.

          Most of all, pray.  The upcoming election is a critical one for our country and the world.  Let us place it in God’s Hands, and trust that no matter what happens, “all things work for the good of those who love God,” and that He will give us the Grace to be faithful and righteous.

Am I Not Your Mother?

Am I Not Your Mother?

          “Am I not your mother?”  These are some of the words spoken to the Aztec Indian Juan Diego by the Blessed Virgin Mary when she appeared to him in the sixteenth century in Mexico.

          Today is January 1, the feast of Mary, the Mother of God.  This title of Mary is one the Church has defended for many centuries.  That Mary is theotokos – God bearer – has been an important teaching throughout the history of Christianity and bears mainly on the Person of Jesus Christ.  Because Christ is a divine Person, He is God, fully and completely.  As the Church defined her dogma about Christ, that He is one Person with two natures, fully God and fully man, it followed that His mother is the mother of God.  Not that she existed eternally before God, nor that she is somehow the source of the Blessed Trinity, but because she is the mother of Jesus, and Jesus is God, the title Mother of God is appropriate and accurate.

          But Christ, on the Cross, said to the beloved disciple, “Behold your mother.”  These words, directed to St. John, have been consistently interpreted by the Church to apply to all of us.  Certainly St. John himself, in the Book of Revelation, makes that clear.

          The twelfth chapter of Revelation begins with John’s vision of a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crown of twelve stars.  It is filled with symbolism, and we should not forget that the last line of Chapter 11 (the chapters, of course, were not designated by John himself, but were added centuries later for the purposes of easy reference) gives a profound hint about what John is seeing.  Immediately before the description of the Woman, John says that he sees the Ark of the Covenant.

          Whatever else the Woman may represent, we can not deny that she is certainly the Ark of the New Covenant, the Blessed Virgin Mary.  John tells us that she gives birth to a son who will rule all nations with an iron rod.  The dragon (satan) tries to devour the son, but he can not.  Then he turns on the woman, but he is unable to harm her as well.  Finally, as verse 17 tells us, the dragon wages war on “the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.”  Us.  We Christians, who are at war with the dragon even now, are the rest of the woman’s offspring.

          “Am I not your mother?”  I suspect it is no mere coincidence that the image on Juan Diego’s tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe bears such a striking resemblance to the image St. John saw nearly fifteen centuries before.

          We should not ignore the words of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego, for she speaks them to us as well.  “Am I not your mother?”  She is.  So what does that mean to us?

          We Catholics are often accused by our Protestant brethren of giving Mary the worship and honor that belongs only to God.  Of course, we do not.  Only God receives the worship due to God.  We must not be self-conscious of our devotion to Mary because of the unwarranted accusations of Protestants.  We may become so fixated on it that we will ignore her, and God Himself has given her to us.

          Do we come to her as a mother?  It is easy to say a Hail Mary without even thinking about it.  When we ask for Our Lady’s intercession, the most powerful of all the Saints’, we ask for her prayers, the prayers of our mother.

          God has blessed me with a wonderful mother here on earth, and I can’t remember one time, at any age, that I came to her in need, and was rebuffed.  She has comforted me, prayed for me, cried with me, and given me strength when I had none.  Do I come to my heavenly mother with the same trust?  Often, I do not.  As with God, sometimes we acknowledge Mary in passing, but do not truly turn to her or foster a relationship with her.

          In the Memorare we say that never was it known that anyone who sought her intercession was left unaided.  Being a child of God makes us part of a family.  And this family has a mother.  On this New Year’s Day, the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, let us resolve to truly take her this year as our mother, in our hearts, and let us never be ashamed to love her.