Candlemas Haiku

God Lights Our Souls

Morning light opens

Candlemas melting snow

And our sinful souls.

This Sunday is the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord. We are celebrating the Holy Family obeying their religious laws.  Joseph and Mary were bringing Jesus to be circumcised.  The Old Testament prophesized that God would come to the temple.  Well, Jesus was there.

I like the older name for February 2.  It was once called Candlemas.  Everyone brought their candles to church to be blessed. This day was picked because it is in the middle of the winter soltice and spring equinox.  It is also forty days after Jesus' birth.

Jesus is the Light!  Luke 2: 22-40 tells us that this light will shine for the Gentiles and bring glory to Israel.  May all see the Light.

Why is Active Participation at Mass So Difficult?

Why is Active Participation at Mass So Difficult?: A long time ago at a little Catholic college in Virginia, there lived a cardinal. Having specified that it was a Catholic college, I should also clarify that the cardinal in question was of the avian, not episcopal, variety—a rather important distinction given the odd behavior I’m about to describe. I knew this particular bird who kept flying into the window to get inside reminded the author, Caitlyn Marchand of herself at Mass.

This article describes how I used to feel.  You know what is the solution?  Sit up front.
Really.


Get as close as you can.  It wasn't until I was a lector and sit beside the altar, that I finally paid attention to what was going on.  Lectors in my parish don't come from the assembly and return to their pew.  They are in the entrance procession and sit beside the altar for the entire Mass and then recess out.  I'm closer than a priest concelebrating. 
Sometimes, when there aren't altar servers, I do that job.  That's where you really pay attention! 

Note people sitting to the right and left of the altar.

Survival

Educated by Tara Westover is the next selection in the Argonauta Book Club.  It's an easy hard read.  I mean the narrative is understandable and coherent, but the subject is difficult.  This is Tara Westover's memoir.

Her childhood makes mine seem perfect.  Her father was a tyrant.  An older brother was physically abusing his siblings but their parents defend him.  This is not ancient history; everyone is still living.  Tara is still estranged from her parents.

Remember Ruby Ridge in 1992.  Tara's family is similar.  They're so anti-government they're paranoid.  And I don't think being Mormon has anything to do with it.  It just happens that the predominant religion in their area is Mormon and that's where they go to church. When Tara went to college at Brigham Young University, all the Mormons there thought she was crazy. 

It's her parents that are crazy.

Liturgical Dance

It's not accurate to call the moving expressions of sacredness, "dance", is it?  When Catholics worship at Mass there are certain times when movement would enhance the natural movement of the sacred liturgy.  Mass starts with a procession.  Who has seen a solemn, swaying, incense flowing, rhythmic procession enter the sanctuary?  Not only have I seen it, I still remember the emotion that filled me watching the performance.  I won't call it "dance;" I prefer performance.

Performance is the exact word to use.  The liturgy used at Mass is a performance. The Mass celebrant leads the prayers encouraging the congregation to participate and become involved in the rhythm of the liturgical celebration. The music supports the ritual.  The lectors invite the people to visualize the scriptures.  The cantor leads the psalm and the choir responds carrying the people along.

That's a performance to me.

With so much ritualistic expression, wouldn't liturgical dance be a natural fit?  The opening procession started it all.  Bringing up the gifts with sacred movement would give importance to the gesture.  I've seen the altar servers carrying candles accompany a lector to the ambo and stand on either side of the ambo as the Liturgy of the Word is read.

The drama!!

I'm telling you, liturgical dance is a natural fit!

And then, THEN, the climax...

The Liturgy of the Eucharist.  By this time, God has called the assembly through their senses.  Shshsh...listen   to   the  quiet.    He's come.

Feel the drama.

Come receive Him.

Enjoyment in quiet contemplation.  The music leads the congregation into the thanksgiving prayers of the priest.  The people stand. The closing rites echo how the performance began, "The Lord be with you and the Sign of the Cross."  The priest sends us forth to bring this experience out for the world to enjoy, be blessed, learn, and love.

How can anyone not act like Miriam in Exodus 15: 20-21 dancing out of the Red Sea?  Or like King David dancing home carrying the Ark of the Covenant, 2 Samuel 6?  Was that not worship?  Isn't celebrating God worship?

Come. Take trumpets, harps, lyres, lutes, clashing cymbals--resounding cymbals and dance to worship the Lord.  Psalm 150

Pope, Pence meet at the Vatican

Pope, Pence meet at the Vatican: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After Pope Francis and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met privately for nearly an hour at the Vatican, Pence told the pope that his Roman Catholic mother will be pleased with the visit. Click on the link to read more.

Pope Francis greets U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during a private meeting at the Vatican Jan. 24. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

How Are Saints Canonized?

How Are Saints Canonized?   This is a link to the article in Beliefnet explaining the process of becoming a saint.  The author, Stephanie Hertzenberg, leaves out a vital part.  The people promoting the saint have to have money $$$$$$.  It is like hiring a lawyer to represent you. That person is called the postulator and his job is to prove that your saint candidate is saint material.  He has to be paid.



My Lay Dominic Fraternity has been trying to get Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. canonized ever since he died in 1869.  Our postulator, Jean Marie Gueullette, has dedicated his life, over twenty years working on Lataste's cause.  We hope Pope Francis will canonize him this year.  No one could afford to pay someone to do this work since 1869, but Father Gueullette belongs to the Order of Preachers, the same religious order as Jean-Joseph Lataste, and Father Gueullette has been assigned to promote the canonization process of Father Lataste.  It has been a life-consuming work.  So the Order of Preachers pays.



The first title one is given is Servant of God.  Next title is Venerable.  Next is Blessed.  Father Jean-Joseph Lataste is Blessed.  He is called the Apostle of Prisons.  The final step is canonization where Father Lataste will be called a saint.  We already know he is a saint, whether or not, Rome recognizes him or not.



Pere M. Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. pray for our "cloistered brothers."

Where Do Seagulls Go?

The towns have plenty of sea gulls.  Why?  We don't really live on the coast.  It takes me about an hour to get to the beach.  I suppose as a bird would fly--it wouldn't take as long.  That explains why they are hanging around town, especially town dumps.

This is a picture of Medway Town Hall, MA.  The roof is covered with seagulls.  Where do they go when it rains?  At night?  

Mass. bishops call on parishioners to oppose ROE Act

Mass. bishops call on parishioners to oppose ROE Act: BRAINTREE -- With seven months left in the current legislative session, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference is once again asking Catholic voters to voice their opposition to proposed legislation.  click on the link.

Dorothy Anne O’Neill Weimar

While surfing the net, I met Dorothy Anne O’Neill Weimar.  It caught my eye because she was a Lay Dominican.  She led a quiet life, no one ever heard of her but she had locutions and visions.  If you click on her link, you can read about her.

What I find strange is that she didn't have an easy life.  Her husband left her with two children.  She had to return home to her parents.  At one time, due to her religiosity, she was committed to a mental institution.  But when you read her journal entries, they are never about her personal situations.  They are all the same.  God is great.

How different my posts are!

Lost and Found

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff is set in Paris, 1945.  A group of young English girls that

spoke French well enough to pass as French were trained as radio operators/spies.  They were dropped into the French countryside just before the end of the war.

The suspense is palpable.  But to me, the major character, Marie was maddening.  I thought she always made the wrong choice to the point I thought her stupid.  However, I know that there wouldn't have been a story if the protagonist didn't act.

The story is narrated by alternate chapters between Grace, a modern lady who happens upon the story, to back to WWII.  Then back to Marie and Eleanor, Marie's mentor.

It is a story that urges you to read more.  Soon the story is over.

Proportionality

George MacKay, Center, Stars In A Scene From The Movie "1917." CNS Photo/Universal

'1917' and remembering who we are: is a film reviewed by Bishop Robert Barron.  Not only does he think that WWI did not meet the criteria for the Church's principles for a Just War, according to Barron, but he also blames the loss of faith on the war, too.  A brutal, nonsensical combat, for what?

Retired pope wants his name removed as co-author of From the Depths of Our Heart

Retired pope wants his name removed as co-author of book on celibacy: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At the request of retired Pope Benedict XVI, his name will be removed as co-author of a book defending priestly celibacy, said Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Vatican official who coordinated the work on the book.



Yesterday, I posted an announcement of the book.  Immediately, people questioned the Pope Emeritus' role.  He is quite elderly.  How much work could he have done? 



This article explains: "Considering the polemics provoked by the publication of the book, 'From the Depths of Our Hearts,' it has been decided that the author of the book for future editions will be Cardinal Sarah, with the contribution of Benedict XVI," Cardinal Sarah tweeted Jan. 14.

"However," he said, "the full text remains absolutely unchanged."

Archbishop Georg Ganswein, personal secretary to Pope Benedict, phoned several German news agencies and spoke with the Reuters news agency Jan. 14, saying the retired pope had requested that his name be removed as co-author of the book, its introduction and its conclusion. The archbishop confirmed that the book's first chapter, attributed to Pope Benedict, was the work of the retired pope.
     Since marriage and priesthood both demand the total devotion and self-giving of a man to his vocation, "it does not seem possible to realize both vocations simultaneously," retired Pope Benedict wrote in his essay.

Priestly Celibacy

This is the cover of "From the Depths of Our Hearts," by retired Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. In the book they defend priestly celibacy, an issue that was discussed at last year's Synod of Bishops for the Amazon. (CNS photo/Ignatius Press)

Retired pope, Vatican cardinal write book defending priestly celibacy: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Since marriage and priesthood both demand the total devotion and self-giving of a man to his vocation, "it does not seem possible to realize both vocations simultaneously," retired Pope Benedict XVI said in a new book.


"From the Depths of Our Hearts," a defense of priestly celibacy, has an introduction and conclusion written jointly by the retired pope and by Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and one chapter written by each of them alone.

The book was to be published in English Feb. 20 by Ignatius Press but the French newspaper Le Figaro released excerpts Jan. 12 from the original French edition.  Both priests support Pope Francis.

Journaling

It seems that everyone who succeeds in T.O.P.S. has some sort of food journal. I know this, but I don't do it. Sometimes, I use the T.O.P.S. App, where you check off how many portions of each food group you eat.  But like my attempts at journaling, I don't even make it through one day.

The biggest reason is the time it takes.  Next, I don't think of it.  Then again, there's tomorrow.

Anyway, I don't do it.  That's why I read with interest Mark Arsenault's article in the Boston Globe Magazine, "Write it Down."  I laughed while I read it.  T.O.P.S. uses the same reasoning and I actually am attempting to write down meals, appointments, and housekeeping chores, ever since the New Year's.  It's my New Year's Resolution.  I'm not perfect, but I haven't given up.

BTW, I know my picture is sideways, but the picture in My Pictures on my iPhone is not.  I don't know why it posted sideways but you can see that it's the aforementioned article stuck to my refrigerator.  Mark Arsenault's advice was:

All resolutions must be written down. That's it.  But not written in pixels on a phone.  It must be something real, such as chalkboard or a wall or a piece of paper.

     Once put to paper, your aspirations are literally brought into the physical world.  And if posted where you can see them--and they can see you--they will not be ignored.

My name is Faith and I also have a lot of hope. This time I will succeed.  I will.  This time I will keep it up.  I will.  I know I will.  I will.

Camaraderie

Last night, the group from Pax Christi made arrangements to meet for pizza.  We dined and chatted.  As we left for our various homes, we all bid each other "good-bye," "see you later," "so long," "addio", "adios," etc.

I guess we were loud.  The remaining people in the restaurant called out their "good-byes", as well.  I even heard, "Good-bye, I love you."

We departed amid laughter.

Any Moral Theologians in the Audience?

Today in RCIA, my "cloistered brothers" and I were talking about venial and mortal sin.  Well, let me tell you, their frame of reference is exponentially different than mine.  The CCC definition of venial sin is 1862 One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.

Whereas, mortal sin,1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God's law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart¹³³ do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

"My cloistered brothers" pointed out that someone who committed 2nd degree murder committed a venial sin.  Well of course, that can't be correct but how would you explain this to them?

Second degree manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without implied or expressed malice, which is ill will toward someone. A charge of second degree manslaughter also indicates that the defendant had no intention of taking the life of the victim and that he or she took reasonable and ordinary action to prevent the victim's death. 

Watching the Drama Unfold

Being a Lector has brought me closer to God.  It's not the scripture readings per se.  It's the physical closeness of being in the sanctuary.  In my parish, the lector processes in and recesses out and remains in the sanctuary during the entire Mass.

Watching the dramatic actions taking place right before my very eyes have made me realize what is really going on during Mass.  When I sit in the pews I sometimes get bored and start daydreaming.  I look around and see people that look like they're consciously participating in the Mass. Why can't I?  Why do I only get involved when I an next to the altar?  How do people do it when they sit in the last pew?

It's a constant struggle that I pray to resolve.

Annoucement of Easter and Moveable Feasts in 2020

It is tradition, that on the Feast of the Epiphany, which is the last liturgical fixed date, to proclaim the dates of Easter and other moveable feasts and dates. This is proclaimed from the altar and/or sung.  

I did not hear this at my parish church.  Guess where I did hear it.

In the prison chapel.

Our Lady of Mercy

This morning I had some Lay Dominican business to attend to in East Greenwich, RI.  I was meeting with the newly elected Treasurer and President to turn over my account books.  The time was 9:30 AM.  I was nervous because I hate to drive.  I hate to drive to unfamiliar places.  I hate to drive in traffic.  I hate highways.

Needless to say, I prayed my rosary as I drove.  Another worry is that I don't trust GPS. One time when I was going over the Jamestown Bridge, the GPS told me to turn right, here.  Another time I came to a dead-end street facing woods.  The GPS told me that I had arrived at my destination.

But I arrived safe and sound with time to spare.  However, my destination was across the street.  So I took a side street to turn around in.  As soon as I turned, I saw a beautiful church, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.  

Guess what the name of my Lay Dominican fraternity.  Our Lady of Mercy.

Of course, I had to go in to thank Our Lady of Mercy.  I also asked Jesus to bless our meeting and he did.

I love it when God does this.

The Jewish Messiah

Of course, Jesus Christ is the Messiah.  Roy Schoeman affirms this fact in his book, Salvation is from the Jews.  Schoeman was a cultural Jew/agnostic until he had a personal revelation from Mary, herself. She led him to find Jesus.  Schoeman's mind was blown when he connected the dots from his Jewish faith formation to a Jewish mother--Mary and her Jewish Son.

This book shows the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.  The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament.  The Catholic Church takes over because the Jews rejected Jesus.  This was interesting.  Why do you think the Jews rejected Jesus?  Read Romans 11.

It is because the Jews didn't believe that Jesus sent the Apostles to the Gentiles.  If the Jews had believed, that would have been the end of it.  The Jews accepted Jesus as their Messiah.  Bad for them; good for us.

So Schoeman's books travels through the role Judaism plays in salvation history.  The reader is even brought to the Second Coming.  Now read Romans 11 and you'll see the Second Coming described.

The Holocaust is examined and is actually the seed from which many of our Islamic terrorist groups have sprouted.  Schoemann actually comes off as Islamophobic in Chapter 7.  He tells of the indoctrination of children and Nazism in the Arab world.  It's scary.

The book ends with a postscript that explains where Roy Schoeman is coming from.  His personal witness is encouraging.

I really loved the book.  I think I'll read it again and I never read a book twice, if I can help it.  I read this with my catechism and Bible beside me so I could look up all the references. I plan to read the books recommended by Schoeman.  I learned about other famous Jewish converts to Catholicism.  I learned so much and this book is still bouncing around in my head.  I enjoyed it so much!

Pope prayer intention for January: World Peace

Did John Know Jesus?

This morning's Gospel was John 1: 29-34.  But the homily addressed a later time in John's life, Matt. 11: 3.

Art thou he who is to come, or shall we look for another?

Out of all the explanations of John's question, no one thought of John's question being a subtle accusation.  IOW, if you are God, then get me out of prison.

What do you think?

Hurtful People

Do you know any negative people?  How do you handle them?

Fortunately, I only know one.  He always looks to criticize?  He's narrowminded and he has no filter.  He mouths off the first thing that enters his mind.  He's worse on Facebook.  I posted 9 ways to spot fake news. mouths off the first thing that enters his mind.  This is his immediate comment: "how to spot a fake news story?......probably published by this Huffington post liberal piece of fish wrap....HUFPO is a" gay loving" Catholic hating progressive propaganda machine... 

His comment is unabashedly opinionated.  There is no attempt to respond kindly or even fairly.  I started to respond in a like manner but decided to post my thoughts on my blog, instead.

How to recognize defamatory statements:   

1.1.       Read past the name.

2.2   Check the history of previous opinions of the author.

3.3       Was the statement a “too quick to judge” conclusion?

4.4    Author never looks for the good.

5.5       Author spreads disinformation and doesn’t even attempt to be unbiased, prejudice-free, non-partisan, neutral, nor objective.

6.6    Statements are misleading if not blatantly wrong.

7.7       No sources quoted to back up erroneous statements.

8.8       No authority to make considerate opinions or decisions.

9.9       Statements are reactionary judgements, not thoughtful reflection.

110.   Statements are aimed to inflame, shock and insult.

Plenary Indulgence for January 1

Ha!  I was disappointed that Veni Creator Spiritus was not sung at Mass, today.  A plenary indulgence may be gained by publically saying or singing the Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year, January 1.

But, I HAVE A BLOG!!  What's more public than that? 

Veni Creator Spiritus is an invocation to the Holy Spirit to bless the New Year. 

Indulgences are defined as "the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned." The first thing to note is that forgiveness of a sin is separate from punishment for the sin. Through sacramental confession we obtain forgiveness, but we aren't let off the hook as far as punishment goes.

Indulgences are two kinds: partial and plenary. A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due for sins. A plenary indulgence removes all of it. This punishment may come either in this life, in the form of various sufferings, or in the next life, in purgatory. What we don't get rid of here we suffer there." For a plenary indulgence, it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent."

So, here on January 1 is Veni Creator Spiritus:

Latin text	English version
Veni Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita, imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti, pectora.	Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come from thy bright heav'nly throne; come, take possession of our souls, and make them all thine own.
Qui diceris Paraclitus, altissimi donum Dei, fons vivus, ignis, caritas, et spiritalis unctio.	Thou who art called the Paraclete, best gift of God above, the living spring, the living fire, sweet unction and true love.
Tu septiformis munere, digitus paternae dexterae, tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura.	Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace, finger of God's right hand; his promise, teaching little ones to speak and understand.
Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem cordibus, infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti.	O guide our minds with thy blest light, with love our hearts inflame; and with thy strength, which ne'er decays, confirm our mortal frame.
Hostem repellas longius pacemque dones protinus; ductore sic te praevio vitemus omne noxium.	Far from us drive our deadly foe; true peace unto us bring; and through all perils lead us safe beneath thy sacred wing.
Per te sciamus da Patrem noscamus atque Filium, te utriusque Spiritum credamus omni tempore.	Through thee may we the Father know, through thee th'eternal Son, and thee the Spirit of them both, thrice-blessed three in One.
(In some instances, a doxology follows)[2]
Deo Patri sit gloria et Filio, qui a mortuis surrexit, ac Paraclito in saeculorum saecula.	All glory to the Father be, with his coequal Son; the same to thee, great Paraclete, while endless ages run.
Amen. Credit to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veni_Creator_Spiritus	Amen.