Building the City of God

Another fine article from an Illinois priest who has begun teaching…gasp!…TRUTH!

 http://www.humanaevitaepriests.org/

Enjoy!

As I read the latest Spirit & Life Newsletter from Fr. Tom Euteneuer, I was saddened to hear of the death of a great champion of the Gospel of Life such as Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo.  I was also joyful that he has been called from his life of defending the Faith toward Eternal Life where no defense is necessary.  I pray that his legacy lives on, and that his successor will take up the task of defense confidently and ably.

God bless!

I really do enjoy these things when I have time…

1. The rules of the game get posted on the beginning.
2. Each player answers the rules about himself.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read his blog.

What I was doing ten years ago:
Finishing my junior year of high school.  This day, ten years ago: at school and work (a buss boy at a steakhouse!).  This moment, ten years ago: probably asleep in study hall.

Five things on my To-Do list today:
1. Get wife and son out the door to work and daycare.
2. Morning prayer.
3. Give final exam for history class.
4. Work to build the culture of life and love among the youth of my community (seemingly unattainable!).
5. Get frozen yogurt with wife and son (who may or may not eat it).

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Ensure the finacial stability of my family.
2. Pay off my parish’s debt (diocesan debt, too).
3. Publish my own Church History courses.
4. Travel, travel, travel.
5. Have a custom-made “non-pope-mobile” (as a show of solidarity with the Holy Father).

Three of my bad habits/qualities:
1. Overly obsessive about minor details.
2. Selfish ignorance.
3. Gluttony, gluttony, gluttony.

Five places I’ve lived:
1. Johnson City, Tennessee
2. Parents’ house
3. Fraternity house
4. Friend’s house
5. Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Driving range attendant
2. Midway attendant (go-karts, kiddie rides, etc.)
3. Food service
4. Teacher
5. Youth Minister

Five books I’ve recently read:
1. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
2. Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn
3. How to Win the Culture War by Peter Kreeft
4. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis
5. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

Five people or communities I’m going to tag:
1. Khira at Caelitus Mihi Vires
2. Andy at Musings of a Catholic Convert
3. Bob at The Off Brand Dad Club
4. Jen at Et Tu?
5. The Simpsons at Happy Catholic

All faithful Christians can appreciate the statement that it is difficult to live one’s faith each and every day.  However, each one also knows that professing the faith which bears its founder’s name requires a change of attitudes and actions in every facet of daily existence.  Jesus taught and performed miracles not only on the Sabbath; His work was executed at all times, in all situations.  How could we ever claim Him as our standard-bearer and yet not allow the lessons and experiences of Sunday to alter (for the better) every other moment of our week?

In his address to the bishops of the United States, Pope Benedict identified this separation of profession and action as a key component of America’s deep, ongoing religious and moral crisis.  American Catholics, clergy included, have not provided a public witness that mirrors their confession on Sunday, and thus a void has been created that must be filled.  If such a void is not filled with “Christ Our Hope,” it will be filled with other moral evils, some of which were explicitly named by His Holiness.

It is left, then, to the bishops, the pastors of our souls, to provide the first, best examples.  Further, it is their responsibility to facilitate the proper formation of their flocks’ consciences.  Only when they have been instructed in the way of holiness and fidelity to Christ will large groups of faithful Catholics present the clear, decisive witness that was expressly willed by the Anointed during His time on earth.

Let us all pray for our bishops in the country.  Let us also pray that more people will encounter the Risen Lord and allow Him to transform every moment of their lives, private and public.

God bless!

As you all know by now, Pope Benedict has arrived in the United States, and he has visited President George Bush at the White House.  Yet again, the pontiff’s vision and methods are clear from his opening remarks during that brief meeting with our country’s chief executive.

There are more than a few thoughts in that address that are worthy of consideration, but time limits that exercise.  The focus of this post, then, will be directed toward the final paragraph of the written text.  After reading those words, it is most difficult to understand how people still hold such scathing hatred of this wise, charitable, and holy man.

Pope Benedict offers a great deal of admiration and respect for our country: “America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes.”  His analysis is unbelievably accurate!  There is no other secular nation that provides as much aid to those in dire need throughout the world (e.g., Red Cross, UNICEF, etc.), and applauds that fact.

There is one word, however, that must be highlighted: “traditionally.”  The Pope, while recognizing such remarkable national charity, does not fail to point out that such a statement is not true in all situations at all times.  America has dropped the proverbial ball on several key aspects of “meeting immediate human needs.”  Oh, how he wishes (and we wish, too) that he could point out the protection of the dignity and right to life of every person, born and unborn.  (There is no doubt that this will also be a theme of his message to the United Nations.)

Yes, indeed, our Holy Father has reminded this nation in no uncertain terms that we have the potential and duty to do important things for human dignity and rights.  We can campaign for “concern for the greater human family,” and we can show “support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress.”  Only then, Pope Benedict says, will the world be a place where “truth, freedom and justice can flourish;” and where the “God-given dignity and rights of every man, women and child are cherished, protected, and effectively advanced.”

Pray for the United States.  Pray that Americans will heed the wisdom of the Holy Father and experience conversion of mind and heart.  Pray that Truth will reign!

Today, I celebrate the beginning of my fifth year as a Catholic; four full years of being in the home that God intends for all of his human creation!

I remember my reception into full communion, and I smile with joy.  I recall my earliest efforts to deepen my knowledge of the one, true faith and the spirituality that comes along with it.  I laugh at my own naivete because I thought that I had the fullness of everything on that blessed night four years ago.

No, my friends.  I was stubborn as usual.  I was only a spiritual babe on April 10, 2004, and I am not sure that I’m even a sprititual toddler today.  I am sure of one thing, however: God works SLOWLY!

Despite all of my stubborn, prideful efforts to consume every aspect of this beautiful Church, God has made one fact abundantly clear.  He has told me on many occassions, “Slow down!”  I shall try!

 Friends, please pray that my fifth year may be ever more fruitful than the ones before.  Pray also for the Church’s neophytes this year, who have just recently arrived home.

 God bless!

“Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?”

Everyone who reads this post has probably heard that question at least once.  Some of us have even asked that question (to ourselves or to others explicitly), perhaps on multiple occassions.  Well, the answer is clear!

We’ve all heard the cliche: God does answer prayers; sometimes He answers with ”No.”  Indeed, He does, and such is His divine, omniscient prerogative!  However, in this author’s own prayers and meditations, it seems necessary to seek a deeper explanation.

The Gospel of John offers a wonderful insight: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him” (Jn. 9:31).  Thus we can explain the lack of “acceptable” answers from the Giver.  Only when we cut sin out of our lives (a difficult task in its own right), worship God properly, and conform our will to His do we begin to receive the answers for which we beg.

There is, however, an underlying truth not immediately recognizable.  We should never be so naive as to think that God will provide the answers that we want simply because we do exactly as He tells us.  On the contrary, once we participate in Reconciliation, Penance, Divine Liturgy, and submission of personal will, we experience profound conversion.  That conversion of heart creates in us a desire not to tell God what He must do for us; but to truly seek God’s answer before we begin to ask any questions.

God has exercised this Divine methodology in this author’s life over the course of four years.  There is no doubt that He wants to do the same in the lives of every other human.  Indeed, it is the methodology by which we will merit Eternal Life.

God bless!

Yesterday, the Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland presented a fabulous catechesis on the necessity of confession and about the positive impact that it could have on our modern western culture.  Without a doubt, western civilization has lost the proper definition of humanity; has allowed its sense of sin to be lost; and has been led into the pit of darkness by Satan and his agents.

The West, America included, is now marked by “an increasingly aggressive and competitive attitude,” a “more frequent resort to violence,” as well as a “merciless culture of image compliance” among other things.  The blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of those who have falsely taught that God does not exist or that there are no eternal consequences for the things we do with our minds and bodies.

Humans of the last three centuries (and especially the last forty years or so) have been lied to!  The inherent dignity of human life has been covered up; and we have been taught to do what feels good or what is convenient.  Such falsehoods have been devastating for our modern world.

Let us pray, then, that Truth will abound in our civilization.  Let us pray that many who have been improperly guided will return to grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Let us offer prayers in reparation for the harm done for so many years.  Finally, let us receive the mercy and grace available in this essential sacrament.

God bless!

Enjoy these over a cup of juice or coffee, a glass of wine, or a pint of ale.

• “You Are Witnesses to My Resurrection” by Msgr. Charles M. Mangan (Easter Homily)
• “First Things: Save the Lost” by Robert R. Allard
• “Italian Socialists claim Christian Banner” (news report from Catholic World News)

Have a blessed weekend!

Today is a most blessed day in the liturgical year.  It is the day that all of humanity’s salvation was put on its right path.  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation (also known as the celebration of the Incarnation of Our Lord).

It is appropriate, then, to reach for a deeper understanding of how and why the Second Person of the Trinity became fully human while remaining fully divine.  It is necessary for faithful Christians to grasp this concept because perfect humanity could be the only vehicle for the salvation of fallen humanity.

Read and pray the words of St. Cyril of Alexandria:

The only-begotten Son proceeds from the very substance of God the Father, possessing all of His Begetter in His own nature.  He became flesh, according to the Scripture, blending Himself, as it were, with our nature by an inexpressible combination and union with this earthly body.  Thus He who is God by nature became, and is truly, a Man from heaven.  He was not merely “inspired,” as some people imagine, who do not rightly understand the depth of the mystery.  He is, rather, simultaneously God and Man.  He unites in Himself things that are naturally opposed to one another and unable to be fused together.  And thus He enables man to share and partake in God’s nature.

It is Christ who took on our sinful human condition and perfected what had been ruined in our first parents.  Only by that perfection are we able to enter Eternity.

It would be most prudent, then, to take some time during this day to offer fitting praise and adoration to our God who would not leave us in our sinful state, and who continually calls us to be like Christ, the Perfect Man.

God bless!