Insidiousness

In case your wondering what happened to my posting Catholics Come Home, I deleted it.  I  linked to the Catholics Come Home site and was talking about how great it was.  It would be a great follow up to the program, Arise Together in Christ, that my parish has undertaken.

The trouble was that I couldn't embed the video on the Catholics Come Home page.  So I went to You Tube, and searched for Catholic Come Home videos.  The problem was, the one I chose, which I thought was the one that had Tom Peterson introducing Catholic Come Home, was an anti-Catholic video.

I can't see CCH giving authorization to this guy, to use for his purposes. When I listened to his talk, Bill is up front saying he's an ex-Catholic.  I thought that was perfect.  He's going to explain how he came home.  Only, he doesn't.  He claims that the Catholic Church is spiritually abusing its people.  I couldn't believe my ears.  This was Catholic Come Home, wasn't it.

No it wasn't. It's Bill's screed on the Holy Roman Catholic Church.  Bill's interpretation of scripture is curious.        Strange theology.  His conclusion of course is that Catholics are wrong and he's right.

Good luck, with that Bill.

But using Catholic Come Home's logo is against copy right rules, isn't it?  Sorry if I upset anyone.

Thomas Richard Heath O.P.

                                        Thomas Richard Heath O.P.

                                           By T.K. Kraft, O.P.

                                Published by  Province of St. Joseph,

                                                    2010, 156 pp.

         

          For the past few years, I’ve always heard references regarding “Father Tom’s Kids.”  I vaguely understood that this term referred to the students in our Kenyan Vicariate, that were looking for sponsors.  But I never knew who Father Tom was.  Consequently, I was happy to hear that a book had been written about Father Tom.

           Thomas Richard Heath O.P. is an excellent little book.  It is beautiful.  I know you can’t judge a book by its cover, but this cover definitely attracts you.  It is a full page, colored picture of a relaxing Father Tom.  The pictures inside the book are numerous and artfully arranged, too.  They are “eye candy.”

          Luckily, Father Tom was a prolific writer.  He kept journals, correspondence, wrote books, articles, and poems.  There were plenty of materials, for the author, Father Kraft, to draw from.  Fr. Kraft covers Father Tom’s life from childhood to his death.  The account is quite personal as we see the world thru Father Tom’s lenses.  As we readers progress through the pages of this book, we find ourselves automatically “liking” Father Tom.  How could you not?  He was inspirational, peaceful, amicable, generous…Read this one impression:  page 113.

          He was a very unique person of enormous love, generosity,

          kind, joyful, compassionate, faithful to his religious commit-

          ment, and a strong-willed mind…He was a very sincere

          and honest person is his words and action, that you

          could never cheat him...  Sr. Marcella Auma, FSA

       What a good testimony!  Thomas Richard Heath O.P. is an easy read and a story everyone will appreciate, especially those in the Province of Saint Joseph, and its Vicariate.  Now, we are able to understand our Kenyan connection, who Father Tom’s Kids are, and who exactly this man, this priest, this Dominican friar was.

To purchase this book  send $ 20 to:                                              

Province of St. Joseph                        

141 E. Sixty-fifth Street                       

New York, NY 10021-6618                 

Make check out to: Dominican Foundation                        

On Memo Line=Heath Book                

In Defense of SPOOKS

My friend has a particular dislike, of what she disdainly refers to as SPOOKS.  (Spiritual, Pious, Observance Of the King)  IOW, people that practice devotions.  She says that the Mass is enough.  She also prays the Liturgy of the Hours, daily, and does a lot of meditation.  Praiseworthy, to be sure, but others love other devotions.

I'm specifically referring to people in prayer groups, Divine Mercy, First Saturdays, Rosary groups, Eucharistic Adoration, etc.  Actually, she's thinking of those types of devotions.  People that wear crosses larger than the Pope's, "scare her," she says.  These spiritual, pious, observance of the King types, make her uneasy.

Why?  I think because she's just not that type.  Notice, her preference for devotions: LOH, meditation--all done alone.  Whereas most of the others are in a group setting.  These pious people, that she makes fun of, are the very people who are praying for her, and the parish.  Their prayers, and sacrifices are what sustain the Church.  Actually, they are united in their little communities with obvious love, and with courage to face up to those who denigrate them and their little groups.  Some may seem eccentric.  What of it?  One would have to be different to face up to the challenge of being counter cultural in today's world.  These SPOOKS are faithful, traditional, holy, and may seem out of step with the current thought, but are the very backbone of all parishes.  Remember the types of people Jesus called to be his first disciples.

Dissing the prayer group types is unworthy of any Catholic.  These small devotions are a consistent and powerful ministry to those involved.  They are humble people who probably find no stimulation in theological disputations.  They express their faith in ways they can relate to, in specific environments, that enhance their spiritual journeys.  Their pious expressions are not at odds with Sacred Liturgy.  Rather, their devotions promote the faith of the people.  The devotions predispose the people to the celebration of the Eucharist.

The SPOOKS should be regarded as a treasure in any parish.  They offer their time, sacrifices, and prayers, for the people, the parish, the diocese, the Church, and the world.  Their devotions are testimonies of faith.  Devotions generate interior attitudes, i.e., patience, awareness of the Cross in everyday life, detachment, and piety.

My friend may criticize the repetitive nature of their prayer life.  That may not be her cup of tea, but even "repetition" is helpful.  Private contemplation and humility are important, but communal prayer, like a litany are important, also.  Does anyone ever get tired of hearing "I love you?"

Litanies, Chaplets, Rosary, rote prayers are a form of "I love you."  These ritual like prayers are a form of love. They offer an ordered procedure of worship.  They specifically express devotion.  These type of prayers develop a social discipline, and a way of worship when done in a group.  And don't forget the indulgence these people can attain satisfaction from.

Besides what harm do they do?  None.  Whatsoever!  These people, these SPOOKS bother you?  Get over it.  You are benefiting from their prayers.

At least, we can all agree on the Mass.  Nothing beats the Sacred Liturgy.  That's the best.  And I contend that the devotions the SPOOKS are dedicated to, enhance their experience of the Eucharist.  Their prayers are directed to the Sacred Liturgy.  Devotional piety offers a way to dialogue with God, through Christ in the Mass.  The celebration of the Liturgy does not exhaust the Church's worship.  Devotions are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  And as such, worthy to be used by these SPOOKS, who are the humble, and so docile to Magisterium.

May God bless them.

* Reference: Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Dec. 2001 -- Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Jesus Set Us Free

I thought it quite apropos that July 4th fell on a Sunday, this year.  What better way to celebrate freedom, than worshiping the One who set us free. The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus shed his blood to free us from sin.  This is the freedom that gives us peace.  Peace being the correct order of life, what's important, orientating the world towards God.


Also at Mass this morning, we recalled our brave soldiers who shed their blood for us, fighting for a different kind of freedom.  A freedom from oppressors, and fighting to keep that freedom.  We celebrate with parades and fireworks to proclaim our Independence.


Both types of freedom were hard fought.  Both types of freedom involve sacrifice.  Both types of freedom are celebrated on this day, Sunday, July 4, 2010.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up.

      The Trinity has a great impact on Catholics.  We begin our prayers with “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  Non-believers may ask, “I thought you believers believed in one God?” “We do.”

    Of course, this line of thought leads to an explanation of the Trinity.  No explanation can do justice to the magnificent reality of God being three unique Persons, and at the same time One Person.  One can try to explain the Trinity by referencing the Bible, but the word, Trinity, as such, is not mentioned in the Bible.  The term “Holy Trinity,” has been used for many centuries by Christians to embody the  concept of Trinity, which is presented as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

      Many have tried to explain the concept of the Trinity.  Sometimes they help to understand, but they all have their limitations.  I have encountered “1x1x1=1”.  The Trinity is like ice to water to vapor, but they are all H2O.  Also there is, the egg is a shell, whites, and the yolk, but one egg.  Of course, there’s St. Patrick’s famous shamrock, made up of three leaves, but one clover.  There’s even the novel, The Shack by William P. Young.  The author has the Trinity as:  Father a black middle aged female, Son a young  Arab, and the Holy Spirit as some sort of electric current.

      All these explanations fall short.  The Trinity is a mystery.  One argument that has some merit includes a view of other religions that don’t have the Trinity.   Some of these religions seem to cater to man’s desires.  They fulfill man’s wishes.  For example, the Muslims picture heaven as being inhabited by young beautiful virgins.  Obviously, a paradise created for man.  The Hindu reincarnation may be an expression of man’s desire to live forever.  One can see that these expressions are fulfillments of man made dreams.  Then where did the idea of the Trinity come from?  What man could have ever conceived of such an idea?  

Divine inspiration can not be ruled out.

Believe It!

Father Gabriel has a nice voice.  I'm not talking about his melodious singing voice, either.  His normal, regular voice is smoothing, kind, and oh, so gentle.  He's what I picture as the quintessence of what a monk should be (Fr. AQ, excepted since he's my Spiritual Director).   Anyway, the way he read the Gospel this morning traveled that long road from my head to my heart.  John 20: 24-29.


Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.


Of course, I knew that.  I did.  Didn't I?  Then why did it suddenly make me smile and be proud.  He's talking about me.  I haven't seen Christ, yet I believe--most of the time.  Today, I do.

My thoughts were confirmed by Pope St. Gregory the Great's Homily ( Hom. 26, 7-9: PL 76, 1201-1202).
Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple (Thomas) was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed?  It was not by chance but in God's providence.  In a marvelous way God's mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master's body, should heal our wounds of disbelief.  The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith that the faith of the other disciples.


Thomas was God's instrument.  Deo Gratias.   We believe.  That's the hard part.    ....er.....not really.  Faith also needs good works.  We need to put our faith into actions.  A spiritual way of saying "Put your money where your mouth is."  The true believer practices what he believes.

Lord, grant the gift of faith to those who cannot believe without proof.

Happy Fourth of July