Building the City of God

Based on St. Paul’s exhortation in his letter to the Romans (15:1-2), I offer these articles, which await your perusal over the coming weekend.

• “Return to Paganism” by Mark Shea
• “The Relationship between Mercy and Justice” by Donald DeMarco

God bless!

Indeed, the pinnacle celebration of the Christian faith was foreshadowed for many centuries before Christ came and instituted the Eucharistic celebration!

At the behest of my pastor, I have undertaken a prayerful reading of the book of the prophet Joel during this Lenten season.  In chapter two, there is a very clear type of the Mass.  Verses 15 through 17 read:

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.  Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say “Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.  Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Let’s compare the above passage to the order of the Mass.  Blowing the trumpet is equivalent to an opening hymn (which sometimes includes a trumpet accompaniment).  Theoretically, all who are attending Mass have engaged in a fast before the celebration.  The celebration is completed in the midst of a solemn gathering of people, including babies, children, youth, and adults.

Further, the priest, who is acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), begs the Father audibly and silently to spare us of His wrath; to let His mercy reign on us.  When the celebration continues, everyone in the assembly knows where God is and remains (hint…the tabernacle).  At last, the entire Mass is a feast that celebrates the union of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) with His Beloved Bride (the Church…all of us).

Let the glory of God reign, and let us all seek to participate more fully in this most blessed celebration!

God bless!

I have heard many people remark that the Church is “too legalistic,” or that it’s too hard to be Catholic because of “all the rules.”  I have even had such feelings of “constraint” during the few short years that I have been in full communion with the Church.  However, I have realized that while it is “difficult” to be Catholic at those times, it is also very easy because I have an abundance of guidance for making a good moral decision (i.e., clear Church teaching and the examples of the saints).

As I read the following passage of Gaudium et Spes this afternoon, my thoughts were focused differently.  I was able to see the logical transition from the Gospel message taught by Christ to “the rules” established by the Catholic Church.

There is no human law so powerful to safeguard the personal dignity and freedom of man as the Gospel which Christ entrusted to the Church; for the Gospel announces and proclaims the freedom of the sons of God, it rejects all bondage resulting from sin, it scrupulously reswpects the dignity of conscience and its freedom of choice, it never ceases to encourage the employment of human talents in the service of God and man, and, finally, it commends everyone to the charity of all (GS 41).

Aha!  The Catholic Church prescribe all those “constrictive rules” because she is providing vast protection against the violation of individuals’ dignity!  And all that time I thought the Church was just telling me I couldn’t have any fun…he he!

Pray that Truth will reign, and all humanity will realize that the Church provides more freedom (properly understood) to humans than any other group, society, or institution ever has…or ever will.

God bless!

As I remarked in another post, I am co-teaching a course on the Second Vatican Council this semester for my diocese’s catechesis curriculm.  In the spirit of being a good Church historian and catechist, I decided that the best way to prepare for that course would be to READ THE DOCUMENTS OF THE COUNCIL.  What a novel idea!

In my short time as a Catholic, I have been in conversation with people who have never read any portion of the Council’s teaching, but certainly can offer their opinions about the way the Church ought to operate in this modern age.  In my humblest academic opinion, that is bad scholarship.

 And so I continue my efforts to read the very words of the Council Fathers who were certainly guided by the Holy Spirit.  I am overwhelmed each time I turn a page and find countless phrases that offer ripe material for prayer, meditation, and expanded teaching.  I do not know how I will ever be able to teach Gaudium et Spes in two hours!

Please pray for the “success” of this course: that participants will come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of what this Council said and intended.  Pray that the so-called “Spirit of Vatican II” will be replaced by the authentic teaching of Vatican II.

(And, if you’re interested in bringing this course to your parish, please let me know via the comments page.)

God bless!

As this penitential season moves forward, let us all remember that its ultimate purpose is to bring us more deeply into the Christian Mystery.  Pope Paul VI found a beautiful (and short) series of words to express the method of going deeper into the Mystery.  “A Christian who is really Catholic must be an apostle with prayer, with example, with oblation, with suffering, with activity, with discipline, with organization.  A widespread effort of faith is the duty of this hour for every member of the Mystical Body of Christ.”

Did you catch that?  Our faith takes EFFORT!  And, everyone…not most, not half, not a few…must put forth effort for the good of the Kingdom!  Indeed, a body becomes weak and cannot sustain itself when one part fails to serve its proper function.  In the same way, the Church will never be as strong as she could be if more of the faithful do not take up their particular Christian duties.

 Pray that all baptized people will become more active, willing participants in the work of the Church to build the City of God here on earth.

God bless!

In recent weeks, I have been blessed with a deeper understanding of God’s Revelation to humanity.  I was able to finally read Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation from the Second Vatican Council, in its entirety; and I was treated to a stellar catechesis (by a stellar catechist) on that same document!  Additionally, I made a point to read an article written by Bishop William Lori that appeared in the most recent edition of Columbia magazine.

 So, God has reached out to me, and now I have a choice to respond to Him.  I think I’ll choose…YES!!!  (Look for more posts soon on how this happens.)

Pray that all humans, Catholics and non-Catholics and non-Christians alike, will recognize that God has already moved in their lives; and that they will respond with great faith, hope, and charity.

God bless!

The following thoughts were made clear to me based on prayer and Scripture reading over the past twenty-four hours.  I am continually amazed at how God teaches things to me; I suppose He does it that way because of my ignorance and stubbornness.  Alas, I have learned something: it is my own lack of faith that prevents the recognition of God’s answers to my prayers.

Monday evening was filled with stress and self-doubt, while Tuesday was marked by disappointment and confusion.  All the while, God was speaking softly (as usual) to me; trying to get my attention.  At last, He did gain my full attention as my wife, my son, and I sat in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

 But, His revelation to me did not end with that special time of prayer and reconciliation among family members.  This morning, my eyes fell upon a passage from Mark 11 as I prayed the Scriptures.  “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and you will.  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive your trespasses” (v. 24-25).

O God, forgive me for doubting that You will provide the solution to my life’s little “problems.”  Forgive me, also, for my lack of forgiveness toward others.  As the young, demon-possessed boy’s father cried, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Pray that all people will be open to hearing God’s Word, receiving His revelation with great faith, and forgiving their fellow humans.

 God bless.

I’m glad that my friend, Andy, convinced me to move my blog.  Now, I just hope that I can find a bit more time to write in the midst of my schedule these days.

 Look for new posts soon!

God bless!