Elizabeth the Prophet

John the Baptist is sometimes called the last prophet in the Old Testament, or the Bridge Prophet, because he links the Old and New Testaments. This morning, Monsignor Moran called our attention to John the Baptist's mother, Elizabeth.

Consider what she said to Mary, in Luke 1: 41-42, "...Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!'" 

You can always tell a prophet, Monsignor told us, because they don't talk about themselves, but rather they speak of God.  If it were you or I, we'd say, "Guess what happened to me today."  Elizabeth calls attention to the Lord.

A Miracle

Drawing by MEK

Once a month my library holds a book sale.  During the month, library patrons donate books for the book sale.  It is amazing how many books are donated--and every single month!  We raise quite a bit of money for the library this way.  The books are a bargain, selling at one dollar for hardcovers and fifty cents for paperbacks.  And this is where I need to begin.

What attracted me to the purchase was it's wrapping.  I know.  I know.  You can't judge a book by its cover, but at a dollar a book- it's worth taking a chance.  Besides, it's cover was new--unopened, in fact.  It was a package deal, i.e., a DVD and a guidebook wrapped together in cellophane.  It was a course from "The Great Courses".  It contained 24 lectures/30 minutes per lecture.  The lecturer was Professor Bart D. Ehrman, a scripture scholar.  (I repeat; the price was one dollar!)  It was practically calling me by name!

The course was From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity.  Since I enjoy reading scripture and history, I knew I would enjoy this course.  The lecturer seemed to be well known and respected.  I popped the DVD in, as soon as I arrived home, and opened the Course Guidebook.  I only listened to the first lecture, which was an introduction explaining the topics the lectures would cover.  However, this is all I watched.  In a way, Dr. Bart Ehrman was over my head.  He was asking questions I never heard before and I wasn't comfortable listening to his lecture.  I am not knowledgeable enough to question and I wasn't sure I was understanding him.  Dr. Ehrman questioned what Jesus actually said.  He said we don't know if Jesus claimed to be divine.  Modern historians have tried to reconstruct Jesus' life when Jesus is best understood to be a Jewish prophet calling the Jews to repent.  Dr. Ehrman asks how did the religion of Jesus become a religion about Jesus?

I stopped watching and reading.  I'm sure the lectures are excellent but I'm only a simple old lady fingering her rosary beads, who just couldn't follow along.

This is not the end of the story.  Not long after I gave up, I received a surprise in the mail.  It was a book with a note.  The note said, "You are the winner of our drawing ...!"

Yes!  I won something.  It was a book entitled The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre.  I was thrilled but on second thought, "Jesus, again!  Will this be over my head, too?"  But I can take a hint (two books about Jesus).  I will have to try to read this book.

I didn't need to worry.  This book is not over my head.  It is simply written and clearly organized step by step proving (guess what) that scripture scholars like Dr. Ehrman are wrong.  I learned that there is a school of biblical interpretation that argue about the reliability of the Gospels, of which Bart Ehrman is a proponent.  It's a school of thought that endeavors to demonstrate that the disciples of Jesus weren't taking dictation, so by the time the gospels were written, the stories about Jesus were distorted, much like the original message in the children's game of Telephone.  This is called the form-critical approach.  In this school of thought, Jesus is not the Son of God, true God, and true Man, but just a teacher, a rabbi, an activist, and a good man.

No wonder I felt uncomfortable watching Dr. Ehrman's lecture.  He was introducing something new to me.  I didn't get it.  Reading Dr. Pitre's The Case for Jesus explained what Dr. Ehrman was proposing.  Of course, Pitre is refuting Ehrman, but in so doing Pitre has to explain what Ehrman is teaching. I finally understood Ehrman.

But it was Brant Pitre's clear, organized presentation that helped me understand both schools of thought.  I liked how Pitre gave his background in the opening chapter.  Like me, when he started studying religion at Vanderbilt he was so confused he graduated an agnostic/atheist.  But he didn't want to be.  He drove into learning Greek and reading the early church fathers. He continued learning until he ended up with a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies.  And he thinks the form-critical approach is wrong.  The Case for Jesus explains Pitre's thesis.

Dr. Pitre explains and uses internal and external evidence. He also interprets Jesus' words and deeds in a first-century Jewish context. Pitre proves Jesus was divine, He really was crucified and resurrected, He fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies, and the Gospels do actually record the substance of what Jesus said and did.

I found it fascinating.

I also consider winning The Case for Jesus, proof of divine intervention. Deo Gratias. 

The Elusive Spirit

In his Pentecost homily, Father Peter related his spirit story.  I'd post it but I'm sure I've already done that.  (Although I can't find it.) In the blessing, "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," Father Peter states how easy it is to picture the Father as an old man; the Son is a younger man.  But the Holy Spirit? What do you picture?

Father Peter just couldn't envision an image. Then one day, in Philadelphia he saw the famous picture of the Spirit of '76, by Archibald Willard.  He then realized that the Holy Spirit can be best represented in art, which many artists have attempted.

But my story is interesting, too.  As I was looking for this picture by Archibald Willard, I came across the story of Ann O'Delia Diss Debar.  It seems that this lady and some others hoodwinked people into believing that they could get a deceased famous artist to paint his pictures AGAIN. Picture a seance atmosphere.  A blank canvass was produced.  The dead artist was asked to come back and miraculously paint his masterpiece.  Buda bing buda boom!  With one swipe of the arm, the painting appeared.

They were called "spirit paintings."  It was a magic trick.  In the chemistry of the painting was a white film that could be wiped off with a sponge to reveal a painting underneath. Copies of famous paintings were made and then covered over with this whitewash.  Then when the "spirit painter" swiped her hand of the canvass, the painting underneath was revealed. 

Needless to say, the crooks were caught.

From the Ferocious O'Flaherty's O Lord deliver us!

From the Ferocious O Flaherty’s O Lord deliver us
— Plaque on the walls of Galway City

My husband is a Flaherty so I have heard this slogan before.  In fact, last year when we visited Ireland we had to visit Aughnanure Castle, which is considered the O'Flaherty castle, I heard and read this quote often.  I also remembered when I toured the castle and read the historic plaques that decorated the walls, that Donal O'Flaherty married Grace O'Malley.  They had three or four children.

Grace O'Malley is a famous pirate.  One of my hiking friends, Mary Connors, told me she was related to Grace O'Malley, so we consider ourselves related through mutual interest, if not blood-related.  During one of our hikes, she excitedly related the story of someone tracing their family back to Grace O'Malley.  Evidently, she had been to a Talk by an author who had just written a novel that interwove tracing his Irish family history to a genealogical mystery.  She was so animated that I caught her enthusiasm.

After our hike, she gave me the book.  The author is Richard T. Rook and it turns out, another of our hikers knows him.  He said Rook lives in Sheldonville and you could easily bump into him at the Sheldonville Post Office.  You can "friend" Richard Rook on facebook.

The book is Tiernan's Wake.  It is a nice, easy read.  Anyone who has done any ancestry genealogy can follow Michael Tiernan's research.  Tiernan is a major character and his well drawn.  Another protagonist is Aedan Burns. Aedan is a hoot.  He has the money to be fun.  He funds Tiernan's search to follow Grace O'Malley's family tree.  Anyone who is Irish will love this novel.  Anyone interested in genealogy would enjoy the story.  So would a mystery lover.  Did I leave anyone out?  It's for everyone.

Although at first, I was annoyed by Tiernan's irreverence to the Catholic Church.  I was all set to write a scathing reprimand to the author, for his misrepresentation of Catholic theology.  Did he stop his study of religious education in the sixth grade?  His view of the Catholic religion is adolescent ridicule.  Although, there are enough people with only an adolescent's theological understanding to think Catholic bashing is humorous. Making fun of what some people hold sacred is just plain mean.  One character, Mrs. Carty, was the victim of ridicule.   Her piety and general "do-good" personality were easy to mock.  Bullies find that wit funny.  I don't.

For your penance, Richard T. Rock, you must write another novel about trying to find out what happened at Knock.  And there must be a conversion in the plot, from agnostic detective to a devout monk.

But I never did write that letter.  In fact the next day, I felt differently.  After all, Rook is Irish.  Irreverance is bred in the genes.  Catholic bashing sells.  

Still.

Yes, I still recommend the book. Tiernan's Wake is available on Kindle for just $ 3.99 and on Amazon for $ 14.33  Lulu has the same price, too.  It has gotten excellent reviews, five stars!  Mystery lovers will enjoy the plot.  Of course, genealogy fans will relate.  And those who love reading about local venus will love the Boston references, as well as the Irish settings.  Everyone will enjoy the story, except maybe the Mrs. Carty types.  Oh all right!  I enjoyed it too.  And I forgive Richard T. Rook.  I am only codding.

Maniacs

I could get on the swing but I couldn't
stay on.  It was too tippy.

Back from the retreat in Maine.  People from Massachusetts affectionately call people from Maine, Maniacs.  Of course, the Maniacs reciprocate by calling people from Massachusetts Massholes.  Now we're even.

This retreat was different from any retreat I have ever been on.  The spirituality wasn't stressed.  The purpose of this retreat was to build community.  It was a retreat for the parish, after all.  So mostly it was fun.  Too much fun--I gained 3 and a half pounds!

My heart shaped rock.

What was different was the scavenger hunt we were sent on.  We were all given an empty bottle that said Holy Water.  We had to go down to the beach and fill it with sea water.  We also had to find two special rocks.  One that looked like a foot and the other like a heart.  We had three meditations during the day that had to deal with "water," "hands and feet," and "hearts."  Here are some pictures.

The stained glass window in the chapel at St. Francis retreat house.  This is Our Lady of Siluva, or Our Lady of Lituania.

St. Casimir - Patron of Lituania

A Lay Dominican's Suitcase

My suitcase is empty.  I should be thinking of what to wear while I'm on retreat.  I'm packing to go on a few days retreat at the St. Francis Monastery in Kennebunk, Maine. 

So far my suitcase consists of books and my medicine.  Specifically, three days' worth of pills and my kindle, plus:

Liturgy of the Hours (Yes, I know I could have it on my Kindle or iPhone, but I have personal notations and holy cards and other meaningful, personal mementos interwoven between the pages of my LOH book.)  (How do you press a flower in a Kindle or iPhone?)

Treasury of Novenas (I continually pray a novena for friends and acquaintances in Purgatory.  Also, I'm in the middle of a novena leading up to Pentecost.)

The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre (I somehow won this book {I forget why or how} from Catholic TV Network.)

Tiernan's Wake by Richard Rook (My fellow hiker, Mary Connor, gushed over this author, Richard T. Rook and told me to read it.  And she only gave me a week!)

My Dear Sisters by Fr. Jean-Gueullette, O.P. (I heard Sister Renata Camenzind, O.P. give a talk on my spiritual hero, Pere Jean-Joseph Lataste, and this book is the latest biography of the Apostle of Prisons.)

So what else should I pack?  What else do I need?

I know--pajamas.

Black and White

The book for May in my book club group, Argonauta, was The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies. At first, I didn't like it.  Probably, my fault.  I am used to reading non-fiction books and encyclicals and papal exhortations, so a story seemed silly.  The characters annoyed me.  Of course, I'm not used to reading about people!  The main character, the tea planter's wife, Gwendolyn, seemed to be always whining about one thing or another.  Her husband, Laurence wasn't communicative.  His sister was a kaleidoscope of emotions and actions. If it weren't assigned by Argonauta, I would have thrown the silly book across the room.  But that's the beauty of belonging to a book club.  You read books you would have never read on your own.  You learn and learn to appreciate books you would never have approached.  And this is what happened to me and The Tea Planter's Wife.

When Gwendolyn gave birth to one black twin and one white twin, I became involved with her.  I, as the author, Dinah Jefferies, intended, thought the father was Ravasinge.  Spoiler alert!  I learned (yes I did research) that it is biologically possible for two sperm from two different men to impregnate a woman.

The story took off from there.  Gwendolyn, Verity, Laurence, and Naveena are woven into a mesh of circumstances that tie their familial interests into an emotional mess.  The setting of Ceylon at the beginning of World War II and the political and economic stress add to the tension of the plot.

Yes, I learned to enjoy the book.  The ending is a page-turner.  The storyline is different.  I am recommending the book. The only question I have is why was Laurence's sister given the name Verity?  Verity is a derivative of "truth"
and I don't see what that has to do with her character.

Good Thing the 7:30 Mass is So Forgiving

Public Domain Image

7:30 Mass goof up again.  This time the Mass celebrant, who didn't have the missalette with him, began the Nicene Creed, stopped to have the people continue on, by themselves.  Only to have (somewhere in the beginning) the words switched to the Apostle's Creed.

The look on everyone's face was amusement.  How'd that happen?

Confession Quote

Sometimes, people ask me when confession started.  I think they are asking because they think it’s something the church started, not Jesus.  I’m sorry to disappoint these critics or church bashers, but it was started by Jesus, Who often forgave people’s sins and passed on this gift to His apostles Matt. 16: 19.  And from the apostles to the bishops and so forth through apostolic succession.  And in early Christianity, confessions were public!  One of the first catechisms of the church is the Didache.  Here is a quote regarding confession.

In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . But every Lord’s day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. – Didache 4, 14 (50 A.D).

Disability groups oppose using botanist's death to advance assisted suicide agenda

Disability groups oppose using botanist's death to advance assisted suicide agenda: Bern, Switzerland, May 10, 2018 CNA/EWTN News.- Botanist and ecologist David Goodall ended his life May 10 in Switzerland by assisted suicide, a procedure which he had long advocated legalizing. 
     Disability groups oppose euthanasia for good reason.  The disables might be pressured to end their lives due to not producing useful accomplishments, in some people's estimation, or the expense the disabled incur on government insurance premiums
or some other specious reasoning.

Ascension Novena

There is a treasury of novenas.  Since today is the solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus, I thought I'd start a novena.  You could make up your own prayers for nine days because that's what novena means or pray the novena to the Holy Spirit, starting tomorrow, but I want to start today.  So I am praying the Ascension Novena.  Pray along with me.

Meditation

What joy the Apostles and disciples of Jesus must have felt when they saw Jesus ascend into heaven.  Where Jesus ascended in His physical body, so shall we.  They saw it happen right before their eyes!  I hope I will deserve to be united with Jesus in heaven.  May I receive the grace of courage and perseverance to keep to God's Commandments.  I love You Jesus, help me to love others as You love them. (Mention request)  Help me grow in holiness, Lord.

My Lord and God, make me joyful today.  May I follow Jesus into heaven, for His Ascension is my hope.  I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.  Amen

Remember pray for nine days.

How to Pray When You Are Put on the Spot

You are eating with friends in a restaurant, they ask you to pray the blessings.

Before the meeting begins, Father asks you to pray to begin the meeting.

Just before leaving the sacristry to process to Mass, the celebrant asks you to pray.

What do you do?  Pray the Lord's Prayer.  Don't you wish you could just rattle off a prayer like the charismatics do?

I've often wished this.  I call it the gift of prayer.  I've prayed for that gift.  My friend, Bert, gave me a lesson plan called, "You, Who, Do, Through."  I don't know where he got it, so if anyone knows, tell me in a comment, and I will give credit.  I'll explain this method in my own words.

When you are put on the spot to pray, think "You, Who, Do, Through."  Use it as an outline.

You
Call God a name, e.i., Lord, Father, Beloved, Holy Spirit, Jesus, God, etc.

Who
Address God in terms relating to what you are praying for.  If you want to pray for healing, then
Lord,
You who cure the blind and make lepers clean...
If you are about to begin a meeting, then
Lord,
You who are wisdom Yourself...      or    You who guide all decisions....

Do
Present your petition:
Lord,
You who cure the blind and make lepers clean, I ask You to heal my friend, who has cancer.
or
Lord,
You who are wisdom Yourself, please be with us during this meeting.
Lord,
You who guide all decisions, help us decide wisely according to Your Will.

Through
Prayers usually end with "through Christ our Lord."  There's a longer version; "Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever."
Lord,
You who cure the blind and make lepers clean, I ask You to heal my friend, who has cancer.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
Lord,
You who guide all decisions, help us decide wisely according to Your Will. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever."  Amen.

Pope calls dicastery to promote reflection on role of women

Pope calls dicastery to promote reflection on role of women: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has updated the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, adding among other things a specific reference to the office's responsibility for promoting reflection on the role of women in the church.

You Need New Feet.

Here's the story my "cloistered brother" told when I asked him how he came to know Jesus.

He was a professional scoundrel.  He was an alcoholic, did drugs, was a drug dealer, operated a prostitution ring, and broke every commandment there is.  That's why he's in prison for life.  While in prison he still did drugs and drank booze.  Where do the prisoners get the stuff?  Some they make from natural fruits and vegetables, and some are smuggled in.  He did everything.

One particular day, his cellie said, "You know what your problem is?  You need a new pair of feet!"  Since my "cloistered brother" was drunk and didn't care to learn what his cellie was talking about, he just waved him away and collapsed on his bunk.  

Somehow, that crazy statement penetrated his alcohol logged brain.  You need a new pair of feet.

He often wondered what it meant.  The next time he staggered into his cell and fell on the floor, he heard the statement, again.  "You need a new pair of feet!"  Right then, however, he didn't care.

The next morning, he did care.  He asked his cellie, what do you mean I need a new pair of feet?

You are always getting high or drunk.  Why?  Who are you running away from?

I don't know what you are talking about.  I'm not running away from anybody.

You only have one body, you know.  You only have one pair of feet. 

I don't know what you're getting at.

I can't explain well.  Come with me after supper, I want you to meet some guys.

After supper, we went outside to the basketball court.  Over in a corner was a table where some dudes were playing cards.  I was invited in the game.  They were playing cribbage.  The winners were paid in stamps.  Postage stamps are used as money in prison.  I kept up with them; I did OK.  But I made some friends--good friends.  They all were in AA and religious dudes. They were normal, not what I thought the Jesus freaks were like.  I particularly made friends with a dude named U-Haul.  He and I became close.  

One time when I got drunk, U-Haul was in my cell waiting for me.  You need a new pair of feet.  We stayed up all night talking.  It all came down to our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit.  And we were only given  ONE.  My feet kept bringing me back to drinking and drugging.  I needed new feet to walk away from the rot.  I needed to keep my body clean and healthy, inside and out.  My new feet will walk me on a better path.  At the end of that path is God.  U-Haul said I should look into finding God.  U-Haul wasn't Catholic.  He was Protestant, but his faith was solid.  Since I owed U-Haul a couple of books of stamps, he said, he'd forgive my debt if I went to his Bible study.  I did and didn't understand what they were talking about. I was also given a Bible to keep.  I tried to read it but I opened to a genealogy reading and put the book aside. 

 

But I did want to start taking care of my body and be healthier--inside and out.  I started looking for God.  I joined Buddhism. I tried the Jews.  I went to Islam.  But I was more comfortable with the Christians.  Jesus said He loved me, no matter what I did.  Buddha and Mohammed never said they loved me. Jesus even proved that He loved me.

Finally, my new feet took me to a Catholic Mass.  At first, I was actually scared.  When I saw this long procession, led by a cross held high, and ending with a man in a strange costume, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  But I liked the strange gestures, the prayers, the readings, and music.  What impressed me the most was the reverence of the people. They were really praying. When they went up to receive Communion some were so reverent they knelt.  Their faith was palpable.

I wanted to learn more about Catholicism.  I'm still learning.  I love it.

 

Pope: Faith says 'no' to Satan, 'yes' to God

Pope: Faith says 'no' to Satan, 'yes' to God: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Baptism requires rejecting Satan and professing one's full faith in God, Pope Francis said.



Yes, Faith says 'no' to Satan, and a resounding shout, 'yes' to God!

The Branch on the Vine

Vincent Lataste 

My "cloistered brothers" and I follow the spirituality of Bl. Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP.  Sunday, we had a visit from the grand great-nephew of Bl. Lataste, Vincent Lataste.  He is a vigneron.  His vineyard is in France and he is working towards distributing his wine in the USA.  One of my "cloistered brothers" was moved enough by Vincent's visit to write this beautiful reflection.

Visiting the Vines

By James Keown

As a child, our family lived for a short time in the country. Tucked into one edge of our property was a small collection of grape vines growing around a row of raised wooden posts. I loved sneaking into the patch in the summer to pick my fill of grapes. While I gorged myself, I would use my fingers to trace the vines as they twisted and tucked around one another to firmly latch onto the old wood.

The Gospel for this past Sunday tells us, "I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower." Vincent Lataste has a lot more experience with vines than me. He is a vineyard owner and wine maker from France currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. For Sunday's Mass, Vincent traveled forty minutes south of Boston to  join the members of the lay Dominican "Our Lady of Mercy" chapter inside the prison MCI-Norfolk. How appropriate it was for the chapter to host a vineyard owner on the day the Gospel speaks of God being a vine grower. But Vincent is not simply a wine maker. Vincent is the great grand nephew of Blessed Jean Joseph Lataste, the founder of the Bethany Community in France. 

The lay order of Dominicans living inside MCI-Norfolk grew from the vines Blessed Father Lataste planted in France after his transformative visit to celebrate Mass inside Cadillac prison in the 1800s. Our Lady of Mercy represents one of the many fruits of Blessed Father Lataste's work. For several years, the Norfolk community has added its voice to the petition for Blessed Father Lataste to be named a Saint by the Catholic Church. Recently, the Church beatified Father Lataste at a ceremony in Cadillac France. It was there Vincent Lataste met Dominican members who volunteered inside the prison.

Following Sunday's Mass, Vincent fielded questions from chapter members about his life in France and about being a member of the Lataste family in Cadillac. Many of the Norfolk members were also very interested to learn more about Vincent's work. Watching and Listening to Vincent answer our regular life questions felt a bit surreal. 

Even though Father Lataste lived in the 19th Century, I have never felt any closer to him than St. Dominic who lived 800 years ago. That was until Sunday. Sitting with Vincent, my mind could see bits of Father Lataste in his face. One member even passed around a picture of Father Lataste so everyone could do their own analysis. And as I listened to Vincent answer our questions and laugh at our jokes, I wondered how much of Father Lataste's voice survived in Vincent. What was clear to me, was that Father Lataste's heart clearly beat inside Vincent. Why else would a vine grower from France spend a sunny spring Sunday sitting on a dark and dusty stage inside an American prison? Through Vincent, I saw Blessed Father Lataste clearer. In one short afternoon, the long-departed priest became present to me. In Bleesed Father Lataste's great grand nephew, I saw a spirit that must have been similar to the one that formed the original Bethany chapter in Cadillac 150 years ago.

The Gospel reminds us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit." But even an amateur grape grower like myself knows that any crop that is neglected will eventually wither. Vincent Lataste's trip to visit with the Our Lady of Mercy chapter was a business trip. Inside the state prison in Norfolk, Vincent the vineyard keeper checked the vines planted by his family as any good vine grower would do. He made sure our braches were strong and firmly attached to the wood. He nourished us with his visit and made a hopeful Saint feel much closer.