A Catholic Blog for Lovers |
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A celebration of beauty, truth, and goodness, and, of course, love...and perhaps a little nastiness 
My Buddy, ONION"I agree with about 99% of what you blog" Johannes Paulus II "This is my favorite blog and wish it were mandatory reading for all" Joseph Ratzinger "I even read your blog from heaven" Mother Teresa "I wish I were alive to publish every word you write in The Catholic Worker" Dorothy Day A Catholic Page for Lovers Praise of Glory *Great* Books Center Some Catholic Blogs: "St Blog's" MY BLOG HOMEPAGE email Gerard N.B. Many of the images posted will be removed after a few weeks; the text will remain as is. Archives 
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Saturday, September 07, 2002
Spoiled forever! I was blessed to be born and raised in a great parish in Brooklyn, NY, the incomparable Our Lady of Perpetual Help, staffed by the Redemptorists. What a church! Looming over our entire neighborhood, the center of many of our lives (it was quite a Catholic neighborhood with a share of "publics" - a name we sometimes called the Protestants, since they mostly went to public school. But then several thousand Catholics came to CCD every Wednesday - during school hours, by the way!). We didn't lock our doors during the day, only at night. Yes, in the middle of Brooklyn! There is so much I could say about this great parish of my baptism, first confession and communion, of my confirmation, etc. but I'll let two photos say the rest. You may see why I say I was spoiled.   Two good reflections on being Catholic in the Church today The second one begins: "Amidst all the turmoil, controversy and storm clouds which seem to beset us these days, I am reminded that there is still so much to be grateful and to give thanks for. First, there is the fact of our own astonishing existence. We are. There is a world which shines in upon us daily as soon as we wipe the sleep from our eyes. We are the children of God, the Creator, who is Love, and Love, by its very nature, gives. So we are. We are what is given, called into being. On our worst days we know that before the foundation of the world we were known, loved, prepared in advance in love to live in precisely this time; our time, with all its joys, redemptive sorrows, and challenges. Whether we came from wealth or poverty, health or sickness, from wonderful or badly flawed parents or role models, God saw fit to call us by name, and fashion for us our very being - because He loved us. We were loved before we born...." Novena in preparation for One Year Anniversary of 9/11  Our Bishops have offered many resources for preparation including a novena which started Tuesday of this week: Saturday, September 7 "We are a people who bear witness. A "witness" is someone who gives testimony or has personal knowledge of something. Recall a time when you were treated with respect and dignity. As you remember that experience, be a witness to the respect and dignity that we are capable of showing to each other throughout the day." Friday, September 06, 2002
Something well worth reading from a blog that seems to me a marvel Thanks, Steven! (And Karen Marie!) BE RECONCILED! During these next weeks I hope to put up, piece by piece, one of the most beautiful, challenging, profound statements of the Teaching Office of the Church: the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI "On Reconciliation Within the Church". It seems to me the need for this is even greater perhaps than when Paul VI sent this powerful and poignant letter to the Church. I hope and pray it will be of help to some (myself included). I begin with the introduction I spontaneously wrote when I posted this on my website some years ago. Veni, Sancte Spiritus!  INTRODUCTION: I consider this page one of the most important of my entire website! I have seen the damage wrought by the phenomenon of dissent. Dissent leads to dissen-sion and truly wounds the unity of the Church! There are norms for authentic dissent from non-infallible teachings, yes; but these do not permit public displays of such dissent (such as on the internet), nor does the Church condone dissent as a "way of life" but rather urges all dissenters, even conscientious ones, to stay open to the Holy Spirit, obedient to legitimate authority, and to build up, not tear down, the Body of Christ. There is room, too, for legitimate criticism, yes; there is room, too, for prophetic words and a desire to have the Church be ever more faithful to her reality and mission - but only springing from a profound love and humble acceptance of the Church as she really is (and not as we think she should be!). I have on this site the works of any number of great Catholics, who while not being dissenters in any sense, were nonetheless silenced, misunderstood, and overlooked. These witnesses accepted the discipline of the Church obediently and humbly - they did not hold press conferences and publicly protest and hold their Mother up to contempt! - they continued their life of faith, continued their work, and deepened their love for the Church! These are voices worth hearing - and they speak the language of love. This is the same language used by Pope Paul VI in the following Apostolic Letter! Here he opens his heart and reaches the very depths of my own heart. I cannot read this Letter without a burning desire to be united wholeheartedly with "the spirit of the Church." His words seem so pertinent today. Not only are there today dissenters "from the left" or among those who think, for example, that Vatican II didn't go far enough and who dissent in the name of "the spirit of Vatican 2" but there seems a growing phenomenon of dissent "from the right" who distance themselves, more and more, from the current Pope and recent Popes and who seemingly reject the teachings and decrees of Vatican II, a legitimate ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church. (Again, some criticism of some aspects may have a place - but not as an attack on ecclesial unity!). I have left much unsaid and what I do say I say poorly. But I can't express my own desire that those who find themselves dissenting and overly-critical to read these words of Pope Paul VI "on your knees" (as I have tried to do myself). Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to a deeper love of the Church and her legitimate authority and her approved expressions of faith (even if not to your own tastes and preferences). I do thank God here for one gift I believe he has bestowed on me, undeserving as I am: LOVE OF THE CHURCH. As she really is! I yearn for all to share this love of the the Church, our Mother, who has given me everything, because she has given me Christ. BE RECONCILED TO THE CHURCH, OUR MOTHER AND TEACHER! Cardinal Roger Mahony's Homily at the Dedication of the cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels "It is the one and same Spirit who led the 18th century Franciscans to evangelize California, carrying the Gospel message as they trod the Camino Real. It is the Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, who has challenged and consoled generation after generation of Catholics throughout Southern California, and today has gathered us here for the dedication liturgy of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. It is the same Spirit who is stirring now in our heart as we ready to make the Profession of Faith for the first time in the Cathedral, our voices rising in proclamation of a living faith from the time of the apostolic church until now, at this time and in this place. Let our proclamation echo to the ends of the earth: We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We stand amidst that blessed communion of saints, women and men, young and old, heroic and humble, sung and unsung, as we prepare to invoke their names in litany. Hallowing the altar with the relics of Saints and Blesseds we are unceasingly reminded of the faith of those who have gone before us, leading us onward, interceding for us and strengthening us in our call to holiness." Novena in preparation for One Year Anniversary of 9/11  Our Bishops have offered many resources for preparation including a novena which started Tuesday of this week: Friday, September 6 "We are a people who dialogue. We need to know more about other faiths and understand them better, especially Judaism and Islam. Spend some time today reading in the library or online about these other faith traditions." Thursday, September 05, 2002
GuestMap added! Once again following the lead of the bloggingest and best blogger of Saint Blog's, our "national treasure", Amy Welborn, I have added a new - and fun - feature, a GuestMap - located in the left side bar. I would be honored if you would sign it, let us know where you call home, and leave a little message. And, each day, I will pray for those who have signed it (and I hope you will pray for me). Enjoy! Another Hmmmm.... I have read many outcries about the amount of money spent on the new cathedral of the largest diocese in the United States. I don't recall reading many outcries about Mother Angelica's $30,000,000 Shrine to the Blessed Sacrament and new living quarters for her nuns. No comparison with a cathedral of a growing archdiocese with millions of Catholics. Here it is a matter of, say, forty nuns and some pilgrims and visitors (I am sure not nearly as many as Our Lady of the Angels). Hmmmm..... Blessed Ramon Lull, Missionary and Martyr - c.1230-1315 For some reason, not sure why, Robert Ellsberg in his most interesting and inspiring treasure, All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time, dedicates today, September 5th, to Ramon Lull.  One of the most fascinating persons in the history of philosophy and theology, known as "Doctor Illuminatus", Ramon Lull, was a poet, and author of over three hundred books - in Latin, Catalan, and Arabic! A married man with two children, his wife died and at the age of sixty he became a Franciscan Tertiary. He had the heart of a missionary and was especially concerned with the evangelization of the Moslems.
He was quite brilliant and profuse and some of his theories have created some confusion among "followers" - though this is not unusual for speculative and daring thinkers. Some of his followers were known as "Lullists." There is a tradition that Ramon was stoned to death by crowds in Morroco. He was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1847. In one article I found this, which fascinates me: "...he invented a mechanical contrivance, a logical machine, in which the subjects and predicates of theological propositions were arranged in circles, squares, triangles, and other geometrical figures, so that by moving a lever, turning a crank, or causing a wheel to revolve, the propositions would arrange themselves in the affirmative or negative and thus prove themselves to be true. This device he called the Ars Generalis Ultima or the Ars Magna, and to the description and explanation of it he devoted his most important works." For more see the wonderful Patron Saints Index. What an incomparably interesting Church! "Fire! Fire! Fire!" These past few days I have read lots about the new cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. I have read media articles, bloggings and comments on blogs, etc. I have been astounded at the incredible ignorance of so many commentors as they decry this new cathedral as not being Catholic. "There is no crucifix!" And yet there is a large accesible crucifix for anyone to see (and to venerate and kiss). "There is no tabernacle!" And yet there is a Blessed Sacrament Chapel with a large tabernacle. "There are no kneelers!" And yet there are indeed kneelers. For those still doubting thomases , see for yourself. "There are no images!" Yet there are hundreds of saints depicted in huge tapestries on the walls of the cathedral and in various chapels (which also have vigil lights - the real kind and not "electric"). "Fire! Fire! Fire!" I suggest staying put. There ain’t no fire...... Novena in preparation for One Year Anniversary of 9/11  Our Bishops have offered many resources for preparation including a novena which started Tuesday of this week: Thursday September 5 "We are a people who teach. Pope Paul VI once said, "If you want peace, work for justice." Today, practice two skills that teach and work toward justice. One, treat others with dignity - each of us has equal value in God's eyes. Two, help those who are the most vulnerable among us, especially the poor." Yet more warm welcomes to Saint Blog's Defensor Fidei: James Akin's Apologetic Blog Reflections and Thoughts - Simon Russell In Deo Speramus ...ibidem - jesus gil Wednesday, September 04, 2002
The Humor of the Saints..... Hans Urs von Balthasar "But the saints are never the kind of killjoy spinster aunts who go in for faultfinding and lack all sense of humor. (Nor should the Karl Barth who so loved and understood Mozart be regarded as such.) For humor is a mysterious but unmistakable charism inseparable from Catholic faith, and neither the "progressives" nor the "integralists" seem to possess it - the latter even less than the former. Both of these tend to be faultfinders, malicious satirists, grumblers, carping critics, full of bitter scorn, know-it-alls who think they have the monopoly on infallible judgment; they are self-legitimizing prophets - in short, fanatics. (The word comes from fanum, "holy place", i.e., it denotes guardians of the temple threshold, transported into frenzy by the Divinity. They are ill-humored, as was Jansenism in toto, which spread like a blight, for centuries, over the spiritual life of France. Perhaps Claudel and Bernanos were the first to be completely free from it.) And naturally they are critics before all else. Having thoroughly criticized the pure, the practical and the judging reason, there is nothing left of reason but criticism itself, the real "thing-in-itself" that grinds up everything that comes between its millstones - all thinking about God, the language in which it is expressed, every form of proclaiming the message (Fichte began his career with an attempt at a critique of all revelation), and every recognizable feature of the Church itself, is a contradiction in terms. Whatever is, should not be or it should be otherwise; "changing the world" - that is the secret password of these humorless hard-liners. They are rigid, while the Catholic is pliable, flexible, yielding, because the latter's firmness is not based on himself and his own opinion but on God, who is the "ever-greater." They are either fanatically "come of age" (the progressives) or fanatically immature (the integralists who clamor for the tangible exercise of papal authority and elevate to the status of dogma things that are not, such as Communion on the tongue and all kinds of apparitions of the Mother of God, etc.). Just as the fanatics who insisted on the soli of the Reformation were condemned, by an iron law of the philosophy of history, to bring about the very opposite of what they intended and thus fall prey to the schizophrenia of dialectics, so today the elements on the fringe of Catholicism, progressivism and integralism, are forever metamorphosing into each other, dialectically provoking each other into existence. True enough, not everyone in the Catholic Church is what he should be: holy. And not all possess the balance that we have indicated by the reference to humor. Somehow it bespeaks a sense of humor when the Catholic Church, which, since the time of the Church Fathers, through High Scholasticism and modern humanism, was always inclined to absorb and integrate the heritage of antiquity and even of all non-Christian religions, responds to the Reformation with the putti of the Bavarian Baroque. And decidedly humorous is the way Chesterton, the defender of "nonsense, humility, penny dreadfuls and other despised things", answers the bestial seriousness and despairing optimism of modern world views - which are united in their opposition to Rome - saying that only the Catholic form guarantees the miraculous quality of being, the freedom, the sense of being a child, of adventure, the resilient, energizing paradox of existence: "A bird is active, because a bird is soft. A stone is helpless, because a stone is hard. A stone must by its own nature go downwards, because hardness is weakness. The bird can of its nature go upwards, because fragility is force. In perfect force there is a kind of frivolity, an airiness that can maintain itself in the air.... Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. This his always been the instinct of Christendom.... Pride is the downward drag of all things into an easy solemnity. One "settles down" into a sort of selfish seriousness; but one has to rise to a gay self-forgetfulness. A man "falls" into a brown study; he reaches up at a blue sky. Seriousness is not a virtue.... It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one's self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do. It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch, For solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light. Satan fell by the force of gravity." "Looking down on things [from Zarathustra's mountains] may be a delightful experience, but there is nothing, from a mountain to a cabbage, that is really seen when it is seen from a balloon....at the moment when we attempt to appreciate things as they should be appreciated.... We do actually go through a process of mental asceticism, a castration of the entire being, when we wish to feel the abounding good in all things." The book on the humor of the saints has yet to be written. Goethe has given us a short excerpt of it in his Philipp Neri, der humoristische Heilige (the humorous saint), particularly in the latter's far from reverential exchange of notes with Clement VIII. But what merriment do we find as early as Irenaeus, when he pricks the shimmering bubbles of the gnostic world systems! And in Clement of Alexandria, too, when he juggles with these systems like a circus artist. What a boyish spirit of adventure in Bonaventure's "Chart for the soul's journey to God"! What flashes of humor (for which one seeks in vain in the solemn Reformers) in Ignatius Loyola and Teresa of Avila! And, nearer to us in time, what charming mischief in little Therese, to say nothing of Claudel's homely laughter (through tears of passion). What a lighthearted grandezza in Peguy as he opens his Christian soul to all Jewish and Gentile values, only to lay down all these treasures, smilingly, at the crib (in Eve); what a loving forbearance did Madeleine Deibrel have for the shortcomings of Christians (whom she wished were burning torches). And I take the liberty, with a good conscience, of appropriating for the Catholica the humor of C. S. Lewis (whose tales are more beautiful than Brentano's) and Ljeskov, for whom life with all its terrors remained a single paradoxical miracle. Then there is Kierkegaard, who looks wistfully beyond the limits of his melancholy religion toward the Catholic paradise where, in spite of all its seriousness,one may be "a little mischievous", where "all that is childlike recurs in one may a heightened form, as a mature naivete, simplicity, wonder, humor". Peguy's final categories (in the Note Conjointe) are the "morale souple" and the "morale raide" - the pliant, flexible attitude to life versus the rigid attitude that we also find among Christians. For him, flexibility has nothing to do with laxity: on the contrary, it places greater demands on man and on his love than any comfortable rigidity. It would be useful if at this point we could make a survey of the papacy in a world context: papacy and diplomacy, papacy and humanism (from Damasus through Gregory I to Gregory XVI, up to the writings of Paul VI), a papacy that is easygoing in nonessentials but unyielding concerning the slightest deviation, the merest jot (homoousios instead of homoiousios) that represents the tip of a hidden iceberg on which the bark of the whole Church would smash to pieces. Most of the time all that is needed is the occasional light touch of the helmsman's hand. Even if not all popes have lived up to this ethos that is inherent in their calling - particularly when the office of Peter was overshadowed by state power - one may still say that it belongs to the very concept and the particular ethos of their mission." The above selection is from the best book I know on the papacy - balanced, nuanced, fascinating explorations of Scripture and Tradition, historical, spiritual:  Order it now, you won't be sorry: THE OFFICE OF PETER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH (Ignatius) British Cardinal Condemns Liberal Attacks On The Church "LONDON, Sep 4, 02 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has denounced liberal critics of the Church as ridiculous, feeble, and shameful. Speaking yesterday to the National Conference of Priests, the cardinal said the Church was under repeated assault because it remained a potent force against secular culture...." I wonder if there will be given equal time to the "conservative" critics of the Church (from within) who seem to me more vocal these days than the "liberals" - and perhaps nastier even! Senior Editor of The National Review becomes art critic - (emphasis on CRITIC, but that's no surprise). Fun at the expense of others? Nothing New Under the Sun A most interesting scene from the Word of God: From 2 Samuel, chapter 6: It was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; 13 and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.17 They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, 19 and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. 20 David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!" 21 David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor." So David had his critics. As another passage of the Word of God affirms so truly: There is nothing new under the sun..... Albert Schweitzer: +Sept.4, 1965 Missionary Doctor, theologian (if a bit "liberal"), renowned musician-organist and expert on Johann Sebastian Bach, noble soul "Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments from our common heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise. Nor should we forget that anything wrought by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our separated brethren can be a help to our own edification. Whatever is truly Christian is never contrary to what genuinely belongs to the faith; indeed, it can always bring a deeper realization of the mystery of Christ and the Church." (Decree on Ecumenism)  Some Quotes of Albert Schweitzer's:
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." "You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it." "Hear our prayer, O Lord, for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death. and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words." Pomp Past, Masses Flock to Cathedral A report that makes me glad to be a Catholic! LA TIMES: September 4, 2002 Awe and piety, even tears, are much in evidence as people tour complex, attend services. A day after the elite of Los Angeles and princes of the church filled the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at its invitation-only dedication, the soaring edifice Tuesday became a cathedral for the common man and woman. Surprising even the priests who hoped for a good turnout, an estimated 1,200 people showed up for the first daily Mass at 7 a.m. An additional 2,500 attended the 12:10 p.m. Mass, part of a first-day crowd that archdiocese officials estimated at 12,000. Norwalk resident Margarita Gonzalez, 68, took a bus, the Green Line train and then the Blue Line to get to the new downtown landmark. The trip from her home to the statue of Mary at the cathedral lasted an hour and 40 minutes. Kneeling before the statue, Gonzalez prayed and dabbed her tears with a tissue. "They say it cost $200 million, and that it was a waste of money," she said. "But really it's all for God. What's $200 million for God?" Many of Tuesday's visitors were as excited and awestruck as the business, civic and political leaders at Monday's dedication liturgy. "This is magnificent, I tell you," said Rob Lazaga of Duarte. "The people who come here will see the flow of Jesus' life into their own. It could be transforming." "It's kind of overwhelming," said Matt Hourihan, 44, of Pasadena, who left the church 20 years ago. "All the thought that went into it. It makes me want to return to the church." Priests and others who had been present Monday said the mood was different Tuesday. There were far more displays of simple piety and many more tears. After the 12:10 p.m. Mass, a line 90 feet long formed inside the cathedral, as the devout waited to approach the 14-foot tall wooden cross bearing the cast-bronze corpus of the suffering Jesus. Officials of the archdiocese had invited cathedral visitors to walk around the altar and approach the crucifix. They did not expect what happened next. One after another, worshipers went up to the statue, crossed themselves and began to touch it, many with tears in their eyes. They rubbed the bronze feet of the suffering savior; they rubbed the flayed and abraded skin. They lingered. The scene reminded some of the way pilgrims rub the bronze feet of a statue of St. Peter in the Basilica in Vatican City that bears his name. Over the ages, the toes on Peter's feet have disappeared from the rubbings. "It's really amazing," said archdiocesan spokesman Tod Tamberg. "You could see 500 years from now the tradition here is to kiss the shins and touch the shins of the crucifix--and it's starting today." Those in Tuesday's crowd were mostly working people, kneeling, praying, paying $2 and lighting a votive candle. A Latino couple stood in silence for several minutes in the cathedral plaza before a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. "It is beautiful in my heart," Marcos de la Cruz of Van Nuys said in broken English. Maria Gutierrez, 75, a Pico Rivera resident and native of Guatemala, tarried before the painting of Mexico's patroness a little bit longer than her niece and her two small children. As her relatives walked away, Gutierrez, with halting steps, ventured closer to the painting and, standing amid the other onlookers, gazed at it shyly. "It's a real beauty," she said. "Guatemalans don't venerate her the same way Mexicans do, but to me she is the world's mother and a mother to me. I love her dearly." Inside the cathedral, secretaries on their lunch hour and a Latino family reverently knelt in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel before the stylized tabernacle containing the consecrated bread and wine, which Catholics believe is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. A little girl took a long-stemmed rose from a bouquet her mother had brought and gently laid it on the floor before the tabernacle. There were old people in wheelchairs, young mothers with infants, working men in white cotton T-shirts, and a teenage boy wearing a baseball cap and headphones. "Oh, my God, it's beautiful and it's joyful. It's a different feeling. It's just like floating up in the air," said Rebecca Cate of La Canada Flintridge. One man carried a plastic grocery bag as he kissed the ring of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles. An old woman approached the cardinal and wept as he blessed her. "God bless you. Thanks for coming," Mahony told one. "Congratulations," someone told the cardinal. Another momentarily held his hand. "Thank you for your beautiful cathedral," he said. "Our cathedral," Mahony corrected him. Commenting on those who held a banner Monday protesting the cost of the cathedral, the cardinal said, "I wish people carrying 'No Fat Cat Cathedral' signs could have been here today." New Bishop for troubled diocese of Palm Springs, Florida Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley wrote a preface to Father Benedict Groeschel's latest book "From Scandal To Hope".  Novena in preparation for One Year Anniversary of 9/11  Our Bishops have offered many resources for preparation including a novena which started yesterday: Wednesday, September 4 "We are a people who fast. Why do we fast? Fasting helps us be more concerned about others. Fasting makes us more open to God and ready to act when God calls us. Today, we fast because we want a just and peaceful world and we want to protect all innocent human life. Give up something today - a favorite activity or food, a few minutes to help someone in need." Tuesday, September 03, 2002
Bearers of doom and gloom The older I get, the more I read and hear and see - of people and living (and this after a close call with death) - I believe that some, if and when they are ushered into The Beatific Vision, will say: "Quick! Give me my shades! It's just TOO bright! Someone's deliberately trying to blind us!" Novena in preparation for One Year Anniversary of 9/11  Our Bishops have offered many resources for preparation including a novena starting today: Tuesday, September 3 "We prepare ourselves to remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We are a people who pray. We pray for the victims and their families, and for those who have since died working to end terror and violence. We pray for national and world leaders, for police and firefighters, for health care and relief workers, and for military men and women. We pray for an end to terror and violence. We also pray for the Afghan people and for our adversaries. We pray for peace." LETTER OF JOHN PAUL II TO CARDINAL J. FRANCIS STAFFORD FOR THE CONSECRATION OF THE NEW CATHEDRAL DEDICATED TO OUR LADY OF THE ANGELES To Our Venerable Brother Cardinal James Francis Stafford President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity Calling to mind the words of Sacred Scripture that Jesus pronounced, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Mk 11,17), we readily turn our thoughts to the Clergy and faithful People of Los Angeles, who in the coming month of September will have the joy and honour of the inauguration of the new cathedral, that was planned a hundred years ago and has only now been completed. Even though Jesus said, "The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head" (Mt 8,20), we rejoice over the honour that will be shown to the Son of God himself and to his Mother with her title "of the Angels", by the consecration of this church. In order to participate in this solemn celebration, we give you, our venerable brother, the mandate to assist as our Special Envoy at the sacred rites that will be celebrated on 2 September in the city of Los Angeles, California. Thus you can bring our greeting to all who are present and impart with abundance the Apostolic Blessing so that the new Cathedral may effectively contribute to the growth of the true faith and to the strengthening of solid devotion. Given at Castel Gandolfo, on the 20th day of the month of August, in the year of the Lord 2002, the 24th year of my Pontificate.  Feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great  Pope Gregory is the one who, in the sixth century, adopted the beautiful title still used by popes: servus servorum Dei, the servant of the servants of God. Catholic Self-Hatred? Reflecting a bit on the outpouring of negativity, harsh criticism, even "bile", as a new cathedral church is consecrated in the United States (and that is a major event that doesn't take place often), it would seem to me that as Catholics we would at least tend to be grateful and tend to be supportive (and could, perhaps, put aside our own tastes and preferences for a day or two or give them second place at least). After all, we are all Catholics! Why not try our best to support one another when it comes to important matters, such as a new cathedral church in the largest diocese in the United States? I have never been a fan of Cardinal Roger Mahony and my initial reaction to the new cathedral was "oh no, not again!" But listening to the carping criticisms (and seeing how much of it is simply based on ignorance), I re-evaluated and now truly believe the new cathedral quite beautiful and even worthy (and, yes, I would have some things differently if I could). I sense that the carping criticisms do not help but hurt and inflict a sort of self-laceration on the Body of Christ (and God knows we have enough reason for humiliation already!). I wish the Cardinal and his Archdiocese every grace and blessing. I will try to remember to pray for them. I rejoice in the raising of a new and substantial witness to the Presence of Christ in our world today. And I will even pray for the critics and nay-sayers and those who condemn, condemn, condemn..... may God give us all a taste of joy and happiness and a desire to spread that to others as well. Despite our "feelings" and "preferences." What Dorothy Day called "the duty of delight." P.S. After posting this came across a beautiful reflection on Steven Riddle's "Flos Carmeli". P.P.S. Later addition: a good example of the heart-sickening criticism I speak of, look at this page of a "magisterium loyal" website. Don't miss the title at the top, "Prepare to be sickened by Cardinal Mahoney (sic)..." I wonder when this guy will burn the letter of Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the Consecration of this new cathedral? P.P.P.S. Added later yet (on 9/4): I see that on that site they slander me with inaccurate and false statements. Why am I not surprised? (I suspect while they call it a "magisterium loyal" website, they have not lately read The Catechism of The Catholic Church on the sins of detraction and calumny). At any rate, the "facts" given are quite wrong and if anyone wishes to consider me a "liberal" I think I am considering that more and more a compliment, seeing how crazy the "right" seems to be getting these days....if you read the entire thread "prepare to be sickened by Cardinal Mahony" you will see a simply mind-boggling array of ignorance and errors. Incredible! Monday, September 02, 2002
Altar consecrated for cathedral of largest diocese in the US  LA Times on Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to be dedicated today 
Cathedral Embodies Spiritual Journey - a look at the architecture and two good photos of this new cathedral church. Thoughts on the new cathedral - comments by several including Placido Domingo! Commissioned Works Don't Soar to New Cathedral's Heights - an art critics thinks the building magnificent but the art works "superficial" in comparison.  Sunday, September 01, 2002
More Photos of the new Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels I think it is growing on me and there are aspects of this new church I like a good bit and think quite beautiful - and, if truth be told, I think I am reacting too to what I perceive as overly harsh and negative criticisms of both the cathedral and Cardinal Mahony.     Happy New Year! To all Eastern Christians celebrating today the beginning of a new year of grace, the beginning of a new liturgical year - may this year be a season rich in blessings, and growth in Christ, and a deepening of the life and love of the Indwelling Blessed Trinity. Cologne: World Youth Day 2005: here comes a renewed Pope? I don't read or speak French but I may get the basic "gist" of this story from Le Monde: that the Pope received a "miracle treatment" which Le Monde claims to have improved the Pope's health. François Mauriac: Novelist, Nobel Laureate, fervent Catholic The last of the giants of the French Catholic Literary Revival of the 20th century died on Sept 1,1970 Published after his death: "I believe as I did as a child, that life has meaning, a direction, a value; that no suffering is lost, that every tear counts, each drop of blood; that the secret of the world is to be found in Saint John's: Deus caritas est. God is love." |
