The Sign of the Cross

Signs tell you a lot.  They give names and directions.  I'm not talking about virtual signs but also those that use body language. 

Hitchhikers stick their thumbs out signifying they want a ride.  There is a certain sign that is extremely rude and crude, people use to show extreme displeasure.  There's a thumb up sign that tell people that everything is OK. 

And then there's the "Sign of the Cross." The sign of the cross is made by touching the hand sequentially to the forehead, lower chest or stomach, and both shoulders, accompanied by the Trinitarian formula: at the forehead In the name of the Father (or In Nomine Patris in Latin); at the stomach or heart and of the Son (et Filii); across the shoulders and of the Holy Spirit.  Wikipedia

As soon as someone sees you doing that particular sign, they know you are Roman Catholic.  Catholics use the sign of the cross in both the Mass and private praying. Early Christians started this tradition as a source of divine power and protection.  The sign is an actual prayer invoking God's presence to bless us and keep us from harm.

Just think what that cross means!  Jesus overcame death on a cross.  Jesus destroyed sin. Satan was overthrown.

Don't take this gesture for granted.

Kids!

What is the matter with kids?  Are parents forever doomed to never understanding them?  I just finished reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.  The storyline revolves around Olive.  Some of the characters in the story have Olive playing a minor role.  But she's the force behind them.

And a force she is!  She physically is big.  Her personality is big. She dominates.  She and her husband both had dreams that never came to fruition, especially concerning their son.  Their son was cowed by his mother and resents it.  He just can't get along with her and now that he's an adult, he tells her off.

It's odd, isn't it; how some parents can't get along with their children.  I remember thinking that myself.  Where did this kid come from?  Why is she afraid of this?  How can she not like that?  What's the matter with her?  She reminds me of my mother.  I couldn't relate to my mother and now I can't relate to my daughter/son.

That's what Olive Kitteridge is about.

Where Did the Nicene Creed Come From?

Where Did the Nicene Creed Cf-ae From? | What is the Origin of the Nicene Creed? - Beliefnet  This is a link to Beliefnet. It's an internet multi-faith new source. This article will give you the background to the Nicene Creed.

The Set-Up

This morning's homilist gave a different take on the woman in Luke 7: 36-50.  This is the story where the woman comes into Simon's house and weeps and weeps, washing Jesus' feet and drying them with her hair.

Where did she come from?
Simon seemed to know her.
Did Simon invite her, hoping to tempt Jesus?
Since Simon didn't offer the usual niceties that a host gives to a guest, then this dinner was a setup.

Simon invited Jesus and the woman, thinking the woman would try to entice Jesus.  Instead, Simon was given a lesson in etiquette and religion.  Simon's response isn't given.

P. C.

The funniest thing that happened at tonight's meeting was how the initials, "P." "C." had a different conceptual image in each group's minds."

To the Dominican friars, "P." "C." meant Providence College.

To the Lay Dominicans, "P." "C." meant Provincial Council.

To my "cloistered brothers," "P." "C." meant "protected custody."

Word War, World War

Word War, World War: To capitulate on pronouns is not an act of charity. It is rather the total surrender of the world, in a word.

What this article in Public Discourse is talking about is how words change the meaning of ideas, little by little.  "A slippery slope, if you will.  So it's not acceptable to kill a child but it is acceptable to eliminate a fetus.  Please click on the link to learn more.  Article written by Alan McLaughlin.

A Never-ending Meditation

I can't stop meditating on this poem by Christina Rossetti.  It's the end of summer.  It's the end of life.  It's the end.

                   Summer is Ended

To think that this meaningless thing was ever a rose,
Scentless, colourless, this!
Will it ever be thus (who knows?)
Thus with our bless,
If we wait till the close?

Though we care not to wait for the end, there comes the end
Sooner, later, at last,
Which nothing can mar, nothing mend:
An end locked fast,
Bent we cannot re-bend.

Cardinal O'Malley Speaks Out on Immigration Crisis

Migrant families seeking asylum walk from a bus depot to a Catholic Charities humanitarian respite center just after being released from federal detention in McAllen, Texas, July 31. CNS photo/Loren Elliott, Reuters

Cardinal O'Malley speaks out on immigration crisis: BOSTON (CNS) -- In an op-ed published in The Boston Globe Sept. 9, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley called for spirit of "civility and charity" in resolving the question of immigration and said that the country's deep division on the issue has "produced severe human consequences."   Yes, remember this situation involves human lives.  Click on the link to read the rest of this article.

Joe's Story

I'm using my friend, Joe's story as a guest blog post.  I'm hoping it will help a young man I know.

Serving My Country
by
Joe Ewald

When I was in my last year of high school, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after I graduated. My grades weren’t good enough to go to college so that option was out the door.  So when I went to the local book store, in passing I noticed a sign at a navy recruiting center.  It was enticing  you to join. I went inside to check it out. I talked to the recruiter and between his convincing me with his pitch and me falling in love with the idea, I joined.  At the time, I was only 17, but because it was at the end of the Vietnam War I received a waiver to join at 17 because they needed every man they could get.  Everybody was becoming disenchanted with the supposedly police action.

The day after graduation from high school, I found myself in Great Lakes, Illinois. I caught a flight with two other guys that were going to Boot Camp. Believe it or not, they got me high in the bathroom with smoking a joint.  So when the bus picked me up, I was as high as a kite.  That’s how I started Boot Camp. 

When the buzz started to come down, reality set in.  I was missing my mother big time and I thought I had made a horrible mistake.  I was thinking of a way to get out of basic training like starting a fight or faking an illness but I decided not to do those things as I convinced myself to give it a try. To my surprise, things got better as I went along.  We were allowed to write letters home and receive them back.  This is one of the things that got me through to graduation.

One of the happiest moments I have ever experienced in this life was flying back home on American Airlines United jet.  I had received a two week leave before I had to go to dental technician school, in San Diego.  After my leave, I flew again on a plane to start my training.  School was pretty tough and I was lucky to get A.C. because my grades were average.  After I graduated they assigned me to the Marine Corps for four weeks.  It was like a four week Boot Camp with the so call Grunts. It was definitely tougher than the navy boot camp.  But I somehow made it through.

Most of the training was run, run, run… Besides being tall and skinny, I was able to do that part pretty good. I ran three miles in 21 minutes when all you had to do was 28 minutes.  The obese men had a tough time and were picked on by the drill instructor.  I felt sorry for them because they were crying.  But that is par course for Boot Camp. I myself had found a way to get through Boot Camp due to my ability to run.

After that, I got another two-week leave and it just happened to be Christmas.  Needless to say, it made my heart feel good to just be with my family. After the holidays were over, my duty assignment was to fly to Okinawa, Japan, to start my next journey with the US Marine Corps as a combination dental tech and field corpsman “A Doc,” the nickname the Grunts gave us.

I was at Camp Hanse for 13 months.  The only reason I completed that duty at Camp Hanse was the guys I served with.  They were great. I made a lot of good friends. 

Afterward, I flew home on another leave for a month and an assignment to serve the rest of my active time obligation to the Navy, at Oceanside, California. I was at Camp Pendleton for two years.

San Diego is great. They have one of the best zoos in the world, which everybody already knows. Also, they have a version of Boston Common—Balboa Park. In many ways, my fellow shipmates were awesome all the way through the rest of my active service time. My inactive service was to serve 6 years reserve at the old Weymouth Navy Air Station.

One of the most flattering moments in my life was to receive a wedding invitation from my best friend in San Diego. One of the best memories of my life was what I had serving my three years, then my six years reserves. In hindsight, I would highly recommend to young people that have a hard time deciding what to do after high school is to join the service. It gets you out of your parent’s house. It teaches you discipline and organization. Plus you make friends to have for the rest of your life.

Go Navy!

Reinforcement

There's been a lot  of talk lately about the fact that the majority of Catholics who don't believe in the True Presence in the Eucharist.  The conclusion seems to be the fault lies with poor catechesis.  I disagree.  Nobody  lies to people.  The catechists teach the truth.  I think the fault lies in the fact that that truth is not reinforced.  Do you remember what you learned in school?  I bet the only things you remember were reinforced again and again.

I can't diagram a sentence.  I can't speak Lithuanian.  I don't remember how to play Canasta.  IOW, I was taught these things for one or two years and then gave any of them a thought.  So it is with faith formation, especially when religion isn't reinforced at home.

Actually, I don't even see it being taught in church.  I remember the Mass celebrant telling us to bow our heads during the creed, ONCE.  99% of the people don't.  Ministers of the Eucharist don't bow or reverence the altar in any way when crossing in front of it. 

And the talking before and after Mass!!!!!  And the worst offenders are some priests!!! 

Small gestures to reverence the Eucharist would remind people Who is there.  This would keep God in their thoughts certainly more than He is now.

The Sabine Women

The invitation said it was for ALL, especially the ladies.  Everyone was invited to the Roman Festival. Even the Sabines came.  They were eager to see Rome and the celebrated festivities.  Everyone wore their finest.

Romulus was proud of the city he founded.  He invited all the surrounding regions around Rome.  As the villages walked down the street waving to the cheering crowd, then the Romans sprang their plot.  The Roman youth broke out and seized the virgins, especially the beautiful Sabine girls.

This story comes from Livy, The History of Rome, Bk 1, CH 9.

Another story about the Sabine Women is told. The episode of the rape caused a war between Rome and the Sabine men.  Since many of the women were now married and mothers of Roman babies they were caught in the middle.  Their husbands found their fathers and brothers.  The Sabine women intervened and the fighting stopped.

The rape and war has been the subject of many works of art.  It is quite a story.

Spiritual v. Political Constructs

How do I explain a spiritual construct to a nine-year-old?  My granddaughter told me that she didn't want to be Catholic any more because girls can't become pope.

I blame her teacher from last year.  She had to do a report on Vatican City and she was told that women couldn't  vote, which isn't true.  Nobody votes in Vatican City. I told her that but evidently it didn't stick. 

But about girls not able to be pope.  She's applying a political construct to a spiritual one.  How do you explain that to a child?

The pope is a pastoral position.  The pope is the head of the church family.  The pope is the Vicar of Christ.  The pope is the successor of Peter.  All these positions are male.

I think I'll wait until she is a teenager to tackle why girls can't become pope.

Something's Wrong

When you don't eat for 4 days and you gain weight, then there must be something medically wrong with me.  I was on a liquid diet, Tuesday.  Wednesday I had a colonoscopy, so I didn't eat at all.  That procedure threw me for a loop because I was languid all day; I barely ate.  I was very dehydrated and sipped water all day.  Since I was in the bathroom constantly from drinking water, I suspected a UTI, but thankfully no.  I was just sick. Friday I didn't eat breakfast because I was going to my T.O.P.S. meeting to get weighed.

I gained a quarter of a pound! 

Papers For Sale!

John Waters in his article, "The End of the News," in First Things, bemoans the decline of real news--trustworthy reporting.

If you have read my posts about the proliferation of fake news, then you know I wholeheartedly agree.  What I want is a respectable news source to come forward and take dominance in the news reporting. Hopefully, the public will leave the sensational, click-bait sites and prove that people want the truth.

Waters takes a different view. He wants the fake to fake itself to death.  When everyone is fed up and doesn't read anymore, then we will see what will arise out of the ashes.

Cats Bring Glory to God

Christopher Smart was an eighteenth-century poet.  He didn't have a happy life.  He spent many years in an insane asylum.  While there, Smart's constant companion was his cat, Jeoffry.  Smart considered that everything praised God, including his cat, Jeoffy, just by existing.  Here's an excerpt from Jubilate Agno, about Jeoffrey.

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.

Look for the Good

Every storm cloud has a silver lining.  So they say.  We have to believe it.  We need to.  This came to mind when I was listening to Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac for today, September 2, 2019.  

He was talking about the 1666 Fire of London. It was horrific.  I imagine many thought it was the end of the world.  Everything was made of wood.  Even the lead roof on St. Paul's Cathedral melted and flowed down the street.  Imagine!

It lasted for days,  There weren't that many human casualties but the rat population was decimated.  That's the silver lining--the rats were carrying the plague and in the previous were killing off the people.  Now the plague was gone.

Do you think the people knew that?  They were probably in shock over the devastation from the fires.

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

Last and Stupid

Because of this parable, my friends were last and stupid. 

LK 14:1, 7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor. 
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
'Give your place to this man,'
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place. 
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
'My friend, move up to a higher position.'
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." 
Then he said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers        

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

What happened is that my friends and I went to Mary Magdalene Day at Boston College and somehow we among the last to enter the conference hall.  We needed four seats together, but it seemed that everyone was saving seats at their tables.  We couldn't find anything so we took the very last table in the corner.  

Just before the Talk was to begin, some officious person came to our table and suggested that we move upfront because no one else was sitting there.

Now I know Jesus' parable predicts this would happen but...

We didn't know this person.

What if that table was for the speaker and other dignitaries?

So we convinced ourselves that we were fine, just where we were.