"For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed." John 6:56 DR.
Catholics hold that at the consecration during celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine are changed into the actual Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. The appearances and properties of the bread and wine remain, but their "substance" -the stuff that made them what they were- no longer exists. What remains is Jesus Himself, actually and bodily present, but hidden under the appearances of bread and wine. There are many reasons why He chose to do this for us, but all the reasons boil down to His love for us and for His Father.
We know that appearances can be deceiving, and never is that more true than in the Eucharist. But why should God wish to deceive us by concealing Himself beneath the appearances of bread and wine?
He certainly doesn't wish to deceive, but rather to reveal the truth to us in the clearest possible way. Jesus is looking for followers who will trust His testimony more than the testimony of their own senses.
"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 DR.
"...God is light, and in him there is no darkness." 1 John 1:5 DR.
Those who believe in Jesus more than they believe their own senses are illuminated by the light that Jesus brings. This light illuminates wonderful truths imperceptible to the senses but knowable by faith.
Today Catholics especially give thanks to Jesus for making Himself present to us in the Eucharist every day all over the world. We can come to Him, receive Him, eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, uniting ourselves to Him spiritually and bodily.
How great a privilege it is to receive the gift of faith which allows one to firmly believe and know this invisible yet stupendous truth: that He is with us... not only spiritually but in the Flesh, His Body and Blood mingled with our own in a daily or weekly renewal of His pledge of everlasting life.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Liturgical music: Table of Jelly Beans
In many of the places where we have attended Mass in suburban America, the music at Mass ranges from the sublime to the insipid, and from the beautiful to the appalling. (I'm not singling out any particular parish, but am commenting generally on what we've experienced over many years -since my childhood in the 1960's- at a number of different parishes in different dioceses.)
We don't want the music to distract us from Mass, nor to turn us into sour complainers, but too frequently we find the music really is intrusive or unseemly. And often it doesn't seem to be the skill or the dedication of the musicians that is lacking, but rather the choice of music that is the problem. Why? I don't know. I don't assume they think we're too stupid or shallow to appreciate anything better, but I really don't know.
Am I alone in this observation? Or perhaps do you too unavoidably observe some of these same patterns when you attend Mass?
Only infrequently do you sing any hymn written more than about 35 years ago, even though Christian music is known to have existed before 1970 ...so I'm told.
Classic traditional hymns, notable for their doctrinal content or musical beauty, are rarely used, as if they might be worn out and rendered extinct.
Hymns in Latin are sung about as often as hymns in Swahili.
Latin responses are not, shall we say, the preferred option, although the Church heartily encourages their use.
Rather than using the beautiful responsorial psalms provided in the missal, overused, saccharine tunes are employed.
The organ is avoided, or else plays second fiddle to the piano, guitar, tambourine, and drums.
Rather than sing any of a number of splendid, reverent "Alleluia!" settings before the Gospel, you are assaulted again and again with that raucous, reggae Halleluiah From Hell: "HAlle, HAlle, HAlle-LOOO-OOOO-YUH!". (Cue the tambourine and drums!) You call upon the mountains to fall on you -not much hope for that here in Illinois- and pray that this ordeal will (surely) abbreviate your visit in Purgatory.
On Pentecost or the Easter Vigil rather than sing (or read) the magnificent sequence of the day, such as, "Veni, Sancte Spiritus", the hymn either is omitted entirely or replaced with a pedestrian, low protein substitute.
During Communion, only on rare occasions are any of the great, classic Eucharistic hymns sung. -Yes, you guessed it... it's Table of Plenty, one more time!
Every attempt is made to pack two hymns into Communion time, in order to avoid any dangerous intervals of prayerful silence. The second hymn is frequently a solo performance.
Mass concludes with a Christian 'pop' song and a round of applause for the performers, which seems to trigger the general pandemonium that immediately erupts within the building.
What is mysterious to me is how many of these symptoms persist even in some parishes where you can find very orthodox, reverent, committed priests who generously pour out their lives for the good of the Church.
But it shouldn't really be necessary for Catholics to remain silent when over a long period of time they witness a pattern of illness take root in the liturgical life of their Church. The musical treasures of the Church are priceless, and form an enormous legacy capable of enriching the Church of today and tomorrow. But these works of art serve little purpose if they are not brought out of the closet and used to adorn the liturgy for the glory of God and the good of His people.
Years after most of today's contemporary hymns have been forgotten, having failed time's test of greatness, the musical pearls of enduring value will remain. Is it too much to ask that we remember that the Church's 2000 year history has bequeathed to us a splendid inheritance of such pearls? It's miserly not to use them for their intended purpose.
Invited to the resplendent banquet of the Lord's Table, we've been content for too long to stuff our faces with jelly beans and Coke while our souls starve for beauty. Let's ask our priests and musicians to please, pass the meat and potatos, the wine and milk and cheese, the bread and fruit and vegetables. Maybe later a little dessert and coffee would be nice. But no, thanks... no more jelly beans for me just now.
We don't want the music to distract us from Mass, nor to turn us into sour complainers, but too frequently we find the music really is intrusive or unseemly. And often it doesn't seem to be the skill or the dedication of the musicians that is lacking, but rather the choice of music that is the problem. Why? I don't know. I don't assume they think we're too stupid or shallow to appreciate anything better, but I really don't know.
Am I alone in this observation? Or perhaps do you too unavoidably observe some of these same patterns when you attend Mass?
What is mysterious to me is how many of these symptoms persist even in some parishes where you can find very orthodox, reverent, committed priests who generously pour out their lives for the good of the Church.
But it shouldn't really be necessary for Catholics to remain silent when over a long period of time they witness a pattern of illness take root in the liturgical life of their Church. The musical treasures of the Church are priceless, and form an enormous legacy capable of enriching the Church of today and tomorrow. But these works of art serve little purpose if they are not brought out of the closet and used to adorn the liturgy for the glory of God and the good of His people.
Years after most of today's contemporary hymns have been forgotten, having failed time's test of greatness, the musical pearls of enduring value will remain. Is it too much to ask that we remember that the Church's 2000 year history has bequeathed to us a splendid inheritance of such pearls? It's miserly not to use them for their intended purpose.
Invited to the resplendent banquet of the Lord's Table, we've been content for too long to stuff our faces with jelly beans and Coke while our souls starve for beauty. Let's ask our priests and musicians to please, pass the meat and potatos, the wine and milk and cheese, the bread and fruit and vegetables. Maybe later a little dessert and coffee would be nice. But no, thanks... no more jelly beans for me just now.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Do young people care about the Pope?
ARCHBISHOP EXPECTS 1 MILLION FOR 2005 YOUTH DAY
COLOGNE
Germany, MAY 13, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Cologne estimates that close to one million young people will participate in the 20th World Youth Day with Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner said to the Spanish newspaper La Razon on Wednesday that there is reason to believe that participation will exceed the official estimate of 800,000.
"I think that now, as we are going to have two Popes -- one in heaven and the other on earth -- I am certain that one million young people will come," he said.
"Close to four million people went to Rome" for John Paul II's burial, "many of them young people." When "Habemus Papam" was announced upon the election of Benedict XVI, 80% of those present were youths, observed the cardinal. "I am convinced we can count on one million young people," he added.
"This day is not a ceremony of the Church in Germany, but a ceremony of the Pope. It is his World Youth Day. This year it is being celebrated under a specific theme -- the three wise men's worship of Jesus Christ," he continued.
"We have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2), the theme of WYD 2005, "is a theme that allows the youths of each continent to cover ideally the itinerary of the wise kings, whose relics are venerated, according to a pious tradition, precisely" in Cologne "and to find, like them, the Messiah of all nations," said John Paul II in his message to young people in preparation for WYD.
We were "in a very difficult situation," said the cardinal, referring to the deteriorating health of John Paul II.
"We didn't know what would happen with the ailing Pope. What program could we offer him? A large program, then a smaller one, and then a very small one."
There has been a return "to the original large program," he said. "Everything is almost ready."
COLOGNE
Germany, MAY 13, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Cologne estimates that close to one million young people will participate in the 20th World Youth Day with Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner said to the Spanish newspaper La Razon on Wednesday that there is reason to believe that participation will exceed the official estimate of 800,000.
"I think that now, as we are going to have two Popes -- one in heaven and the other on earth -- I am certain that one million young people will come," he said.
"Close to four million people went to Rome" for John Paul II's burial, "many of them young people." When "Habemus Papam" was announced upon the election of Benedict XVI, 80% of those present were youths, observed the cardinal. "I am convinced we can count on one million young people," he added.
"This day is not a ceremony of the Church in Germany, but a ceremony of the Pope. It is his World Youth Day. This year it is being celebrated under a specific theme -- the three wise men's worship of Jesus Christ," he continued.
"We have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2), the theme of WYD 2005, "is a theme that allows the youths of each continent to cover ideally the itinerary of the wise kings, whose relics are venerated, according to a pious tradition, precisely" in Cologne "and to find, like them, the Messiah of all nations," said John Paul II in his message to young people in preparation for WYD.
We were "in a very difficult situation," said the cardinal, referring to the deteriorating health of John Paul II.
"We didn't know what would happen with the ailing Pope. What program could we offer him? A large program, then a smaller one, and then a very small one."
There has been a return "to the original large program," he said. "Everything is almost ready."
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56651
...
There must be many millions of youth and young adults who had and still have a deep affection -in many cases love- for Pope John Paul II. Only a small fraction of them managed to visit Rome for the unforgettable events following his death. Yet millions throughout the world, young and old, shared the sense of having lost a second father -or even an only father. As the Vatican Undersecretary of State Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told the world upon the Pope's death, "We all feel like orphans now".
Upon the announcement "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam (I announce to you a great joy; we have a Pope)", many of these same millions felt that they had in a real way regained their father. Nobody thought he was really the same father, yet somehow, their father had nonetheless been restored to them.
God had kept His promise, had sent to them -to us- a gentle man with faith of granite who received from heaven the keys which his successor of happy memory had serenely surrendered with his final "Amen".
In Cologne, the youth of the world will recall their spiritual sonship and daughterhood to John Paul II, whom we saw cross that threshold beyond which only hopeful faith can see. Yet they will ardently embrace their new father in faith with a love and enthusiasm which the world will neither clearly see nor understand. For so many, to be near John Paul was to be near Jesus Christ. Somehow they intuitively know that Benedict likewise will guide them to that same holy place, in which echo the words of Christ's mother: "Do whatever He tells you."
I believe that the name "Cologne" for years will exude the too rare fragrance of hope, exhaled by a huge gathering of grateful Christians: God has greatly blessed His Church in sending us Benedict to shepherd His flock.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Archbishop Flynn says no to exploitation of Eucharist
ARCHBISHOP FLYNN WILL NOT ALLOW COMMUNION TO BECOME ‘BATTLEGROUND’
MINNEAPOLIS, USA, May 9 (CNA) - Minnesota’s Archbishop Harry Flynn has decided to take a stand against what he sees as a protest by a national gay and lesbian organization against Church teaching.
In a letter sent this week to the Rainbow Sash Alliance, the Archbishop said that he would not allow rainbow-sash wearers to receive communion in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, saying that, "It has become apparent to me that the wearing of the sash is more and more perceived as a protest against church teaching.”
The rainbow-sashers have opted to make this Sunday’s Pentecost celebration the center of a demonstration in a number of dioceses across the country.
Archbishop Flynn said in the letter to Brian McNeill, Minneapolis organizer of the Rainbow Sash Alliance that, "I am asking you to remove your sashes before you receive Holy Communion” and “I ask you to observe this sign of respect for the Eucharist not only in the Cathedral but in all our parishes. No one wearing the sash will be permitted to receive the Blessed Sacrament.''
McNeill said he was disappointed but that the group was determined to go up for communion, sashes and all. The group says that they “are publicly calling the Roman Catholic Church to a conversion of heart around the issues of human sexuality.''
The Church teaches that while the orientation to homosexuality is not itself sinful, acting on that orientation, is.
The Archbishop continued in his letter that: “The Vatican has communicated to me that it does indeed consider the wearing of the Rainbow Sash during reception of Communion to be unacceptable, a directive that I believe all Bishops will adhere to. “
"The criterion for reception of the Eucharist is the same for all — recipients must be in a state of Grace and free from Mortal sin. While the decision for that judgment rests with an individual Catholic's conscience, it has never been nor is it now acceptable for a communicant to use the reception of Communion as an act of protest,'' he said.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56500
...
Some homosexual activists are not content merely to engage in homosexual acts, but also are obsessed with gaining the explicit approval of every segment of society. Therefore to them the Catholic Church, which for twenty centuries has denounced homosexual acts as immoral, must change its teachings. It is inconceivable to them that they themselves might change their behavior and embrace the teachings of Christ, or alternatively reject those teachings and honestly regard themselves non-Christians.
No, they self-centeredly prefer to claim center stage and make a show of their defiant dissent during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, a most sacred moment in which only Christ should hold center stage. Rather than make of themselves a sincere gift to Christ, submitting themselves to His mild yoke and lifegiving teachings, they would rather take the altar by force -not to receive but to take Communion- while professing their defiance toward Christ and His Church.
The intolerance which they ascribe to the Church in truth is only their own monumental intolerance toward those who believe what Christians have always believed: that sexual relations are beautiful, magnificent, and holy between -and only between- a husband and his beloved wife.
Congratulations and humble thanks to Archbishop Flynn for seeing through this shameful attempt of a few radicals to debase the Eucharist, and for acting with the fatherly and gentle firmness that is so becoming a bishop of the house of God.
(This commentary appeared in the May 20, 2005, issue of Catholic Explorer.)
MINNEAPOLIS, USA, May 9 (CNA) - Minnesota’s Archbishop Harry Flynn has decided to take a stand against what he sees as a protest by a national gay and lesbian organization against Church teaching.
In a letter sent this week to the Rainbow Sash Alliance, the Archbishop said that he would not allow rainbow-sash wearers to receive communion in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, saying that, "It has become apparent to me that the wearing of the sash is more and more perceived as a protest against church teaching.”
The rainbow-sashers have opted to make this Sunday’s Pentecost celebration the center of a demonstration in a number of dioceses across the country.
Archbishop Flynn said in the letter to Brian McNeill, Minneapolis organizer of the Rainbow Sash Alliance that, "I am asking you to remove your sashes before you receive Holy Communion” and “I ask you to observe this sign of respect for the Eucharist not only in the Cathedral but in all our parishes. No one wearing the sash will be permitted to receive the Blessed Sacrament.''
McNeill said he was disappointed but that the group was determined to go up for communion, sashes and all. The group says that they “are publicly calling the Roman Catholic Church to a conversion of heart around the issues of human sexuality.''
The Church teaches that while the orientation to homosexuality is not itself sinful, acting on that orientation, is.
The Archbishop continued in his letter that: “The Vatican has communicated to me that it does indeed consider the wearing of the Rainbow Sash during reception of Communion to be unacceptable, a directive that I believe all Bishops will adhere to. “
"The criterion for reception of the Eucharist is the same for all — recipients must be in a state of Grace and free from Mortal sin. While the decision for that judgment rests with an individual Catholic's conscience, it has never been nor is it now acceptable for a communicant to use the reception of Communion as an act of protest,'' he said.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56500
...
Some homosexual activists are not content merely to engage in homosexual acts, but also are obsessed with gaining the explicit approval of every segment of society. Therefore to them the Catholic Church, which for twenty centuries has denounced homosexual acts as immoral, must change its teachings. It is inconceivable to them that they themselves might change their behavior and embrace the teachings of Christ, or alternatively reject those teachings and honestly regard themselves non-Christians.
No, they self-centeredly prefer to claim center stage and make a show of their defiant dissent during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, a most sacred moment in which only Christ should hold center stage. Rather than make of themselves a sincere gift to Christ, submitting themselves to His mild yoke and lifegiving teachings, they would rather take the altar by force -not to receive but to take Communion- while professing their defiance toward Christ and His Church.
The intolerance which they ascribe to the Church in truth is only their own monumental intolerance toward those who believe what Christians have always believed: that sexual relations are beautiful, magnificent, and holy between -and only between- a husband and his beloved wife.
Congratulations and humble thanks to Archbishop Flynn for seeing through this shameful attempt of a few radicals to debase the Eucharist, and for acting with the fatherly and gentle firmness that is so becoming a bishop of the house of God.
(This commentary appeared in the May 20, 2005, issue of Catholic Explorer.)
Thursday, May 05, 2005
China releases 7 priests from detention
STAMFORD, Connecticut, MAY 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Chinese authorities have released seven priests of the Diocese of Zhengding who were arrested April 27 while on a spiritual retreat with their bishop, says a U.S.-based watchdog group.
Joseph Kung, president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said that the priests in Hebei province were released from various security bureaus. No other details were given.
The priests belong to the "underground Church" which recognizes the Pope's authority but is not officially approved by Beijing.
They were on retreat in a village near the city of Jinzhou with their "non-official" Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo.
The prelate, a bishop since 1980, has spent some 20 years in prison.
Bishop Jia has been warned previously by the Public Security and religious offices not to engage in any religious activity.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56333
_________________________________
The Chinese government's repression of the Catholic Church, and of Christians in general, is shameful and cowardly. But after seeing what brought about the collapse of communism in Europe in the 1990's, one can hardly be surprised that they can see the handwriting on the wall. People will not tolerate oppression forever. Nor can the light of Christ be concealed forever.
As Tertullian wrote, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."
Joseph Kung, president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said that the priests in Hebei province were released from various security bureaus. No other details were given.
The priests belong to the "underground Church" which recognizes the Pope's authority but is not officially approved by Beijing.
They were on retreat in a village near the city of Jinzhou with their "non-official" Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo.
The prelate, a bishop since 1980, has spent some 20 years in prison.
Bishop Jia has been warned previously by the Public Security and religious offices not to engage in any religious activity.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56333
_________________________________
The Chinese government's repression of the Catholic Church, and of Christians in general, is shameful and cowardly. But after seeing what brought about the collapse of communism in Europe in the 1990's, one can hardly be surprised that they can see the handwriting on the wall. People will not tolerate oppression forever. Nor can the light of Christ be concealed forever.
As Tertullian wrote, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."
College honoring Clinton declared 'no longer Catholic'
NEW YORK, USA, May 2 (CNA) - Marymount Manhattan College, which had ties to the Archdiocese of New York, was formally dropped as a Catholic institution Thursday, because it intended to give Senator Hillary Clinton an honorary doctoral degree.
The college will no longer be listed in "The Official Catholic Directory," which identifies Catholic institutions. "The decision to honor one of Congress's most outspoken and strident advocates of abortion rights was just the latest episode in a long history of secularization at Marymount Manhattan College," said Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society.
Reilly wrote to Edward Cardinal Egan of New York about the college, suggesting "immediate action to prevent scandal in the archdiocese." Reilly said the college's actions defied the "Catholics in Political Life" statement that was approved by the U.S. bishops in 2004.
Fania Tavarez, assistant to the vice-president for institutional advancement at the college, confirmed the ruling from the archdiocese. In a prepared statement, Tavarez defended the school as "an independent, non-sectarian, private liberal arts college.” She said students and staff are “very excited” to hear Clinton at the commencement exercises.
This is the fourth time since Pope John Paul II issued "Ex Corde Ecclesiae," the apostolic constitution on Catholic universities, that a bishop has declared a historically Catholic college or university to be no longer Catholic. The 1990 document gives local bishops the responsibility of determining whether colleges can be called "Catholic."
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., was declared "no longer Catholic" by Egan in 2003, following a similar protest by the Cardinal Newman Society regarding New York’s Attorney General Elliott Spitzer.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56312
________________________________________
Dear Cardinal Egan,
I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation at your recent action clarifying that Marymount Manhattan College is no longer to be considered officially as a Catholic school. The school’s plans to honor Senator Hillary Clinton with an honorary degree are a disgraceful capitulation to a prominent disciple of the culture of death.
Thank you for your courageous yet measured steps to defend Catholic doctrine and prevent scandal.
Your son in Christ,
John Robin.
Brain-damaged firefighter speaks after 10 years
BUFFALO, USA, May 4 (CNA ) - On Saturday, Buffalo firefighter Donald Herbert, who has been in what many might call a persistent vegetative state for nearly ten years, suddenly began to talk.
In December of 1995, Herbert suffered severe brain damage when a roof collapsed on him while fighting a fire. Since then, he has been unable to carry on any meaningful conversation, recognize loved ones or see.
On Saturday, he began asking the nursing home staff where his wife and children were. When asked by a relative how he felt, Herbert replied, “I feel great.”
Advocates of Terri Schiavo, who died of a court-ordered starvation in March, are pointing to the Herbert case as evidence that she should have been given a chance to live.
Yesterday, The Buffalo News cited University of Buffalo professor Dr. Michael A. Meyer who said that although rare, cases like Herbert’s are encouraging.
"After that many years,” he said, “it's unusual to see that dramatic a change, but we do hear about it anecdotally." Family members are thrilled, but cautious while doctors are anxious to follow Herbert’s progress in the coming weeks.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56348
______________________________________
I guess he's lucky his wife didn't decide to kill him before he regained conciousness. After all, 'who would want to live like that?'.
In December of 1995, Herbert suffered severe brain damage when a roof collapsed on him while fighting a fire. Since then, he has been unable to carry on any meaningful conversation, recognize loved ones or see.
On Saturday, he began asking the nursing home staff where his wife and children were. When asked by a relative how he felt, Herbert replied, “I feel great.”
Advocates of Terri Schiavo, who died of a court-ordered starvation in March, are pointing to the Herbert case as evidence that she should have been given a chance to live.
Yesterday, The Buffalo News cited University of Buffalo professor Dr. Michael A. Meyer who said that although rare, cases like Herbert’s are encouraging.
"After that many years,” he said, “it's unusual to see that dramatic a change, but we do hear about it anecdotally." Family members are thrilled, but cautious while doctors are anxious to follow Herbert’s progress in the coming weeks.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=56348
______________________________________
I guess he's lucky his wife didn't decide to kill him before he regained conciousness. After all, 'who would want to live like that?'.
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