Willows Academy Chamber Choir brightens Advent

Baghdad cathedral: priests were killed during Mass, confession; 3-year-old murdered

Baghdad cathedral: priests were killed during Mass, confession; 3-year-old murdered -CatholicCulture.org

"the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church"
-Tertullian, Apologeticus, Chapter 50

"Follow me ...today!"

"You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Matthew 5:4-8

The Lord calls people to follow him without distinction of state, race or condition... Be perfect... he says, and grants us the means and the appropriate graces that will make perfection possible. This is not just advice from the master, but an imperative command...

In the doctrine of Christ there is no invitation to mediocrity, but a clear call to heroism, to love and cheerful sacrifice...

Our Lord is not happy with a lukewarm life and a half-hearted dedication.

"Every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:2)

The plot of earth where Our Lord has planted us is the particular family of which we are part, and not any other... The rich mould we are rooted in is our work, which we must love so that it will sanctify not only us, but also our colleagues, our classmates, our neighbors... It is there, in that environment, in the midst of the world where the Lord says we can and must live all the Christian virtues, developing them with all the demands they make on us and not allowing them to be stunted or to whither. God calls people to holiness in every circumstance: in war and in peace, in sickness and in health, when we think we have triumphed and when we face unexpected defeat, when we have plenty of time and when time is a premium... Our Lord wants us to be saints at all times. Those who do not rely on grace, and habitually see things with a completely human outlook, are saying constantly: 'this now is not the right time for sanctity..., later... perhaps...'

Let us not think that in another place, in another situation we would be ready to follow Our Lord more closely and carry out a more fruitful apostolate... The fruits of sanctity Our Lord expects are those produced in and from the environment in which we find ourselves, here and now: tiredness, sickness, family, the job, one's colleagues, one's fellow students.

"Leave behind false idealisms, fantasies, and what I usually call mystical wishful thinking. If only I hadn't married... If only I hadn't this profession... If only I were healthier... If only I were young... If only I were old...! Instead, turn seriously to the most material and immediate reality, which is where Our Lord is..." (Conversations with Monsignor Escrivá, 116)

This is the environment in which our love of God should grow and develop, using precisely those opportunities we find at hand. Let us not allow them to slip away, for it is in them that Jesus is waiting for us.

-Excerpts from today's meditation, In Conversation with God, Vol. 3, p. 598-600, Francis Fernandez

OK... now this is beautiful!

Catholics Come Home Chicago | Video: Movie

A joyful witness: Nuns tell Oprah about the joy of religious life

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

What Catholic Women Want for Valentine's Day

What Catholic Women Want for Valentine's Day -EWTN.com

Good insights on the "genius of woman", love, and the importance of Valentine's Day.

Coming to prime time: the "Sister Mary Oprah Show"?

EWTN.com - Dominican Sisters To Appear on Oprah

Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb 8, 2010 (CNA).- The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have made waves across the nation for their rapid growth and their devout orthodoxy. Now, they are once again in the national spotlight, being featured on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.

"They phoned us and asked if they could do a program on us with Oprah. That's all we know!" Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, vocations director for the community, told CNA in an email.

The show featuring the sisters will air on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The same day happens to be the congregation’s 13th anniversary. The coincidence is "amazing, as they did not know this when they chose the date -- but God did!" exclaimed the vocations director.

When asked why they chose to accept the invitation and appear on the show, "Oprah is powerful -- we entrust this endeavor to Mother Mary for the greater glory of her Son! It's truly been a lot of fun as 'the world' does not begin to understand our life," the Dominican said. "Hopefully, this will inspire more people to love God and serve Him in the manner He invites each of us -- and get the Gospel on the airwaves!!"

The Dominican Sisters of Mary were founded in 1997 by four Dominican sisters responding to John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization. In the 13 years of their existence, they have grown to almost 100 members. Their newly constructed motherhouse is already filled to capacity.

Currently, the average age of the sisters is 26 and the average age of their postulants is 21.

"Young people, inspired by John Paul the Great and Pope Benedict XVI, are generous and desirous of living sacrificial, authentic lives as God asks of them," Sr. Joseph Andrew said.

"We agreed (to be on the show) because it will further understanding of Religious Life," she added. "The Catholic Church is alive, well, and thriving as is authentic religious life," she added.

The secular West longs for an authentic Christianity

Cardinal Schönborn at Catholic University of America: Christianity Offers Dual Citizenship -EWTN.com: "the secular West longs for an authentic Christianity..."

Cardinal Schönborn at Catholic University of America: Christianity Offers Dual Citizenship

By Kirsten Evans

WASHINGTON, D.C., FEB. 4, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Ice and snow did not keep them away. Amidst the flurry of a winter snowstorm, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, addressed an auditorium over-flowing with students, faculty, clergy and lay faithful at the Catholic University of America (CUA).

The lecture, a joint venture of CUA's School of Theology and Religious Studies, School of Philosophy, and School of Canon Law, was open to the public. And the public came. Attendance was so strong that some students complained of having to turn back, because there was no standing room left in the hall.

Cardinal Schönborn, a Dominican religious, was ordained a priest in 1970. Before being named archbishop of Vienna in 1995, he was a professor of dogmatic theology at Fribourg, Switzerland. He was later elevated to cardinal in 1998. The cardinal addressed Wednesday's audience on the question "Christianity: Alien Presence or Foundation of the West?"

Fascinating alternative

Cardinal Schönborn began his address by delineating three legacies that he believes fundamental to the inheritance of Christian culture to the West: a sense of moral integrity, by which Christians are often recognized not only by what they do, but also by what they do not do; the concept of humanity as a united, universal family; and the idea that freedom makes man most like God, and is man's greatest possession.

The cardinal went on to ask, "Is it true that modern man wins his freedom through a bitter struggle against the Church? Is it true that the Enlightenment brought human freedom and dignity to humanity, not Christianity?" This, he claims, is the great hypothesis of modern history. But he is not convinced.

Cardinal Schönborn suggested that much of the early Church was born and emerged from a pluralistic Greco-Roman world 2,000 years ago, Christianity today offers a fascinating alternative to the modern secular world.

"Christianity's position in modern Europe is paradoxical," the cardinal proposed. "It is both a foreign body and a root for Europe. Although it is seen as a foreign entity, it still evokes a feeling of home and nostalgia for many in Europe.

"Europe has an increasingly number of people who, after having lived a fully secular lifestyle, find there way to a conscious Christian faith. And they have a way of describing their discovery of Christianity as a 'way home,' or a 'finding home.'"

Of heaven and earth

Alluding to St. Augustine, Cardinal Schönborn went on to explain, "Here in lays the distinctive and unmistakable strength of Christianity: her dual citizenship. At once earthly and heavenly, it invites one to a loyal participation in society, taking on responsibility for the city of man without wanting to overthrow it in order to create some utopian society. This engagement with the temporal is founded on the fact of a peril-less citizenship in the city of God."

Cardinal Schönborn made clear that the Christian's claim to belong not only to an earthly citizenship, but to a heavenly one, is what makes Christianity hated by totalitarian systems, most especially notable in the 20th century. "The Christian is free," he says. "Free with respect to the state, because he is never only a citizen of the state. Never before has this Christian freedom been more clearly expressed than during the time of fascism, communism, and Nazism during the last century, when authentic Christian witness resulted in millions and millions of martyrs."

The cardinal believes that this foundation of freedom is precisely what Christianity has to offer modern Europe. "It is freedom from the demands of the mainstream, from political correctness, or simply from the pressure of the latest fashions. Christian freedom," Cardinal Schönborn described.

Radical freedom

As testimony to the power of Christian freedom, Cardinal Schönborn recalled the great spiritual movements that became cultural movements in Western history. "This year marks exactly 1,100 years since the monastic reform of Cluny," he remembered. "This monastic reform brought Europe over 4,000 monasteries in a period of 200 years. A fantastic network all over Europe, with an enormous economic, social, artistic and spiritual energy."

The cardinal explained that when Cluny began to decline another great spiritual renewal was sparked with Bernard of Clairvaux, then again with the Cistercians, and history repeated itself again with the mendicant orders of Francis and Dominic. Each of these spiritual renewals made enormous contributions to the cultural and civil societies of their time.

"Has enough consideration been given to the freedom made possible by these renewal movements and how much Europe has been influenced by these movements?" he questioned. "From its inception, Christianity allowed people to step outside of their temporal and political order. The idea that man must obey God before he need obey man brought an enormous element of freedom into society," he continued.

The cardinal argued that throughout the centuries the freedom to radically follow Christ set free enormous creative energy throughout the Western world, and is "one of the permanent sources of European vitality."

Cardinal Schönborn also expressed his joy over the resurgence of spiritual movements in today's Church. "Why should history not repeat itself today?" he asked. "Why should we not have the kind of surprise, undreamt-of surprise, ahead of us that Francis of Assisi brought to Europe 800 years ago?" He described the lay movements in the Church as "a very vital sign" and claimed they point to the same creative Spirit that once brought to life the Christian spiritual and cultural renewals of previous centuries. The cardinal mentioned in particular Opus Dei, the Neo-Catechumenal Way, and Communion and Liberation.

Call to purification

But the cardinal did not fail to point out that the modern relationship between secularism and Christianity serves a needed purpose for the purification and maturation of Christianity: "Christianity also needs the critical voice of secular Europe, asking hard questions, sometimes nasty questions, questions we should not try to escape or avoid.

"It does Christianity good to listen to the questions of secular society and be challenged to answer them. It wakes the Christians up and challenges them. It questions Christianity's credibility. And Christianity needs to be questioned.

"It is good for us to be held accountable."

He explained that the critical questioning of the secular world presses Christianity to become what it is called to be, and helps to purify what is incoherent between its words and deeds. "And why?" he asked. "Because deep down, the secular West longs for an authentic Christianity, and hopes for a Christianity that is credible through its life."

Cardinal Schönborn ended the evening with a call to faith. "Christian freedom has an inexhaustible source. 'Remember, I am with you until the end of time.' This saying of Jesus Christ is Christianity's most powerful resource!" he exclaimed. "This alone explains the inexhaustible power of regeneration in Christianity, which again and again experiences its resurrection, in the power of the One who rose again."

Patriarch of Moscow affirms common ground with Pope

Russian Patriarch sees close accord with Catholics on public issues -Catholic Culture

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has drawn the attention of Russian Orthodox bishops to the need for partnership with the Catholic Church in defending traditional Christian moral principles.
"We have similar positions on many problems facing Christians in the modern world," the Patriarch told a February 2 meeting of the Russian hierarchy. "They include aggressive secularization, globalization, and the erosion of the traditional moral principles."

In contrast, Patriarch Kirill noted, many Protestant groups have moved steadily away from Christian traditions.

The Spirit blows where it wills.

Dancing Hula in the Quest for Holiness

Dancing Hula in the Quest for Holiness

"...What I learned from St. Josemaría’s love of freedom is that it didn’t matter that I didn’t fit. I wasn’t supposed to fit. God made me the way he did for a reason, and it is my role as a Christian to be open to his promptings so I can fulfill what he wants of me. I actually can’t wait to find out how a Jamaican/English hula-dancing engineer with six kids fits into his plans. I know it won’t be dull..."

Read more

East and West: Will the thousand year division end in our lifetime?

"The Pope Is the First Among the Patriarchs" Just How Remains to Be Seen -Chiesa News

With Benedict XVI, for the first time in history, the Orthodox have agreed to discuss the primacy of the bishop of Rome, according to the model of the first millennium, when the Church was undivided...
There are some who say that ecumenism has entered a phase of retreat and chill. But as soon as one that looks to the East, the facts say the opposite. Relations with the Orthodox Churches have never been so promising as they have since Joseph Ratzinger has been pope.
...

First in Belgrade in 2006, and then in Ravenna in 2007, the international mixed commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches started meeting again.
And what rose to the top of the discussion was precisely the question that most divides East and West: the primacy of the successor of Peter in the universal Church.
...
Since then, the discussion on controversial points has advanced at an accelerated pace. And it has started to examine, above all, how the Churches of East and West interpreted the role of the bishop of Rome during the first millennium, when they were still united.

The full article reveals some encouraging signs that the discussions are serious, positive, and in good faith. They seem to be "getting traction".

It would be pretty nice if the churches of the East and West would find their way to reunite before Jesus returns. I'm pretty sure He'd be happy to see that sort of progress.

It could almost be like a surprise party for Him. -except He's always known that it was going to happen.

Belgian government denounces archbishop for being Catholic

‘Belgian Ratzinger’ named nation’s primate; government blasts choice -Catholic Culture

Pope Benedict on January 18 named Bishop André-Mutien Léonard of Namur, a member of the International Theological Commission, as Archbishop of Malines-Brussels. Succeeding the influential Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop Léonard is known for his forthright defense of Catholic moral teaching and his support for Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict’s motu proprio on the extraordinary form of the Mass.

Deputy Prime Minister Laurette Onkelinx condemned the choice. "Church and State are separate in Belgium, but when there are problems in our society, all the social partners sit down around a table, including representatives of secularism and of religion,” she said. “Cardinal Danneels was a man of openness, of tolerance and was able to fit in there. Archbishop Léonard has already regularly challenged decisions made by our parliament."

"Concerning AIDS, he’s against the use of condoms even while people are dying from it every day," she continued. "He is against abortion and euthanasia … The Pope’s choice could undermine the compromise that allows us to live together with respect for everyone."

"The Pope’s choice could undermine the compromise that allows us to live together with respect for everyone."

Behold the thinly veiled threat. The dark lords of secularism warn that "respect for everyone" demands a "compromise" in which no one dares to challenge the government or blaspheme the sacraments of the Culture of Death: Holy Contraception, Holy Abortion, and Holy Euthanasia.

Musings of an Expagan » Orthodoxy, sadness, and Eastern Christianity.

Musings of an Expagan » Orthodoxy, sadness, and Eastern Christianity.

My friend, You wrote,

“Half measures do not work, when those who find Orthodoxy in union with Rome scratch the surface they find a thin veneer of orthodoxy. And wanting to steep themselves more deeply they find they cannot get this within the Eastern rites so they have to go to the Orthodox. Even the Vatican has told the Eastern rite Catholics that where we are lacking in our spirituality we must go back to the Orthodox. Even the Vatican realizes that on some level that due to miscalculated meddling that the Eastern rite Catholics have been robbed of many of their authentic traditions. In the end, the ultimate goal, should be the total reincorporation of the Eastern Catholic Churches with those Orthodox Churches that they once were part of. The separation from our roots, and our brothers, is killing us.”

I do believe that there is much of great value that Eastern rite and Orthodox Christians have preserved in their liturgy and tradition, as have Latin rite Christians. These things should be rich soil for nurturing the “faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Yet are these things really the “roots” of the faith, or are they rather its food, its clothing, its shelter, its cultural heritage, and its proofs?
One could become so concerned with the cultural and historical divisions of the Church that one might lose sight of its essential unity. The divisions are terrible, yet they are temporary. The unity will last, because Christ will triumph -has already triumphed. And he has given His Church an apostolic foundation and a vicar to serve as a visible principle of unity.

“Particular Churches are fully catholic through their communion with one of them, the Church of Rome ‘which presides in charity.’” (CCC 834)

None of us have been called to communion with a Church already completely healed of its divisions and fully purified of its past, any more than are its members yet perfected. But we have received a faith that Jesus delivered through His apostles in union with Peter and his successor, the bishop of Rome. In union with him we have access and anchor to a truly “orthodox” faith.

It’s one thing to acknowledge the depth and beauty of Christian diversity, and to draw benefits from the treasures preserved by various Christian traditions. But it would seem to me a tragedy for a friend to abandon unity with Peter in search of some other, elusive, unity which apart from Peter can not truly exist. Dividing from Peter can not further unity with Christ, nor bring closer that coming day of unity among believers that Jesus so much prayed for.

Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia.