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!

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!

There are a plethora of philosophical, theological, and catechetical topics running about in my overworked brain this afternoon. I suppose I will have to give you a brief glimpse into each of them.

1. God is AMAZING! Today is an absolutely beautiful day: there are few clouds in the sky, which is a perfect shade of blue, and the temperature has receded quite a bit from the last several days. In addition to the weather, God has answered many prayers over the past 48 hours or so. I pray that He will continue that pattern (and that I will recognize those answers.)

2. St. Teresa of Avila is, without question, one of the most brilliant minds that our Church has ever known. A mere half-hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament with Interior Castle has yielded deeper prayer than I have known in weeks. This will do wonders for future classes that I might teach for my parish and diocese.

3. Speaking of courses, I am nearing completion the completion of my first attempt at teaching a survey of the history of the Catholic Church. After I finish teaching, I will put the finishing touches on the instructor’s manual and participant workbook and begin to shop for a publisher. (Any of you who read this blog ought to consider this as a follow-up to The Great Adventure course.)

4. I just found out that Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex has added me to the blogroll! I feel somewhat accomplished now. I only pray that I can continue to write regularly (and poignantly) enough that visitors know I am still alive. Thanks to C-L-S!

5. YOU CAN’T BE UNBAPTIZED…regardless of what the court in Spain says! This fellow is in for a real surprise when he reaches his particular judgment and finds out that the indelible mark is still as vivid as the day that first sacrament was celebrated. (Hat tip to Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam for the story.)

God Bless.

What an amazing testimony about the culmination of Christian initiation! This woman made her way from an anti-Christian atheist to a devout Catholic in just a few years. I urge you to read her story and, if you feel led, to give her an abundance of encouragement that she did make the right decision to come home (something I’m sure she already knows).

As I read her story, I was reminded of my own reception into the Catholic Church just over three years ago. I, too, remember feeling that I was home. I also remember what it was like to begin living my Catholic life over the next several months. So, I would like to share a letter that I wrote to several friends during the summer of 2004. It was entitled “My First Hundred Days.”

To all who are interested, this is another edition of my thoughts on
faith and spirituality. This one is particularly special to me; and I
hope that some of you might learn something that you did not know
before.

As the subject line of this email indicates, it has to do with my first one hundred days. Although I am not old enough, and most of you are not old enough, to personally remember, I assume that you know this to be a reference to one of our greatest American presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. After he was inaugurated, he began his term with “The First Hundred Days,” during which time he helped the
national banking system to recouperate and introduced numerous pieces of legislation that served as the first phase of his famous New Deal.

But, I digress. This is no history lesson. This is about my first one hundred days as a Catholic. (Okay, I know that it has been 112 days, but I needed some time to think about this.) My one hundredth day of being a Catholic fell on July 20. Just over three months is the time period I am considering; and I will not be bound to just those one hundred days.

I don’t know how it is for the “cradle Catholics,” but so much has happened in the three months since my amazing Easter Vigil on April 10. Actually, it began well before that, as various signs and feelings began to point me toward Catholicism. Here, I’ll take a little bit of time to tell you about those.

First, is the faith and love exhibited by my closest and favorite Catholic family–the Albonetti-Pieri-Gruber-Hellen-Connelly-Grisanti (am I leaving anyone out?) family. The example that was set for me just by being around this wonderful group of people could not have been better. And the seed was planted. Next, but certainly not less close or less favorite (just further away), would have to be the faith
and love exhibited by my aunt and uncle, Lyn and John–again, a wonderful model after which to pattern myself.

Then come the inward signs. If you couldn’t tell by my introduction, I love history. I look to history for guidelines; and sometimes for answers. Well, the history of the Catholic Church offers a wonderful guideline. It is the church that Jesus started; it has two thousand years of history. And, the doctrines of revealed truth have remained unchanged, despite attempts to the contrary, through the gift of the
Holy Spirit. The history alone is enough of an answer for me. The next sign was my comfort in the place of worship. I felt at home in the Mass, even though I could not fully participate. Not simply because I had been in an Anglican Church where 90% of the liturgy is identical; but rather because of the reverence, solemness and the,
here it is again, tradition! I felt a part of it because people have been worshiping that way for two thousand years. (Ah, it has to do with history again.) Lastly, and certainly equal to all three of these, is the man who would become my confirmation saint; and who is a guiding light to me each and every day–St. Augustine. That is
another story in and of itself. Suffice it to say that he was working on me when I didn’t even realize it. Now I look to his wisdom in many situations. He was a man on a personal search for truth; and he found it in the Catholic Church! Not to mention he is one of the greatest thinkers in HISTORY!

Now, to the meat. I know, you are thinking this is going to be really long. Not so. I hope I can keep this brief.

In the amount of time that I have officially been a Catholic, a number of amazing things have happened, both internally and externally. I will focus on two of each.

First externally. The Sunday after Easter was an almost surreal experience. Khira and I were sitting in the pew at Holy Rosary. After kneeling to pray for a few short moments, one of the ushers approached us and asked if we would participate in the Mass by bringing the gifts to the altar. Not allowing me time to think, Khira
quickly answered to the affirmative. I didn’t know what was going on. I kept asking her questions about what to do when we were walking and when we got to the altar, etc. She told me to relax; and I said that I would just follow her. I followed something, because it seemed like I wasn’t in control of my body. It was as though I could see myself walking down that aisle. Once we started walking, I wasn’t
even nervous about dropping the wine as I had been before. Everything went according to plan–no malfunctions. I wondered what this meant. Bringing the gifts that are to become the body and blood of our Lord on the first week of being Catholic was a huge honor to me. Then I realized that God was telling me that I was a part of this Church; that he would use me; and that I would serve a purpose. From the very
first week he told me that. AMAZING!

The second event is one that happened just recently–near the end of my first one hundred days. We were in St. Louis for our anual three days of baseball, Italian food, and general fun (Budweiser, the Arch that I won’t ascend, etc.). The previous year, Khira took me inside the Cathedral Basilica. I was absolutely in awe of the beauty and magnificance of the structure. But, we did not go to a mass because we weren’t there over a weekend and I wasn’t Catholic yet. This year, we were there over a weekend; and I am Catholic. I decided that I wanted to go to Mass at the Basilica. We entered the Church, knelt and prayed, and I began to read the bulletin for that morning. Toward the back, I noticed a box labeled “Special Events.” “Today-July 11: Mass with the Archbishop” is what it read. In case you don’t know, Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis is the person leading the charge against Catholic politicians taking communion if the support abortion. I realized who he was; and I immediately had a special feeling. Here was a man who had the guts to stand up for what he believes and what his Church teaches–the same things I believe. How happy do you think I was when I stretched out my hand and he gave me
the body of my Lord and Savior. Communion from an Archbishop!! Probably something that many Catholics never experience in their whole lives, I got before had been in the Church for three months. WOW!!

The internal things, while maybe not as cool to others, are certainly more important to me. They serve as the foundation of my growth in and toward Christ. First, is the realization and galvanization of beliefs. There were things that I believed in, at least inwardly, but either was in denial or didn’t know how to express them. Now I know what I believe, I profess to believe it, and I am not backing down from that position. Take for example abortion. (This is not a political tyrade, so please don’t take it that way. Insert another issue if you like, because they are all the same for my point.) I always knew in the back of my mind that abortion was wrong. There was something inherently wrong with killing something that was growing inside of a woman. However, for whatever reason, I actually said at times that abortion was okay. Maybe a “live-and-let-live” philosophy on life? Well, I assure you that I no longer feel that way. The gut feeling I always had has come out stronger than ever thanks to the Church’s teaching on the dignity of human life (see Pope Paul VI’s
Humanae Vitae for a better understanding). Now I can put my finger on why I believe it is wrong; and, better yet, I can explain it to others. Discovering objective truth, such as the dignity of human life, is the first part. The second part is explaining that objective truth and not being swayed by fallacies that seem to take hold of American society.

That leads me to my second internal happening in the last three months. A continual conversion to Christ. As Martha said during my RCIA program, this is what we Catholics are searching for. I assure you that I have a long way to go; but I try on a daily basis to make sure that I stay on that path to total conversion. It is doubtful that most of us will ever reach that point; but I think that the journey can be a destination in and of itself. God will have mercy on our souls so long as we never stop trying to reach him by living sacramental lives. Just like St. Augustine, he realized the error of his ways; and he spent every day of the remainder of his life converting himself to God through the sacraments.

This brings me to the end of my spiritual musing. I know, you probably stopped reading long ago. Last thing. It has been an amazing 112 days. But, even if nothing so amazing as has happened externally ever happens again, it will not affect my internal growth and salvation as I will continually look for God’s grace. I look
forward to the next one hundred years as a Catholic with as much zeal and fervor as has been in me for the past several months. I hope that this will reach as many people as possible; and that it will help someone who might no longer be in love with the Church or someone who might be searching for a spirtiual home as I was. In either case, the Church is always there waiting with open arms, just like Christ it’s founder.

I wish all of you peace and joy until I talk to or speak with each of you again. I ask God’s blessings upon you that you may all live and love to the fullest extent.

In Christ,
Derek

Let us pray for the neophytes of our Church. Let us also pray for those who doubt God’s existence or may be afraid to take the next step toward a relationship with Him.

God Bless.

For nearly a month, I have not been able to post.

My desire to write remains as strong as ever. However, I have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to participate in building the kingdom here on earth in other ways, primarily by speaking and teaching.

I have recently completed the skeletal outline of my course on Church History, which I presented at my parish’s Christian Initiation sessions. I have also been very blessed in recent weeks to share with the youth of my parish the true beauty of the Catholic Church. Two weeks ago, they learned (most of them, at least) that God does desire a relationship with them; that they are good enough for God, regardless of what the world says. Last week, they learned that God provides tangible proof that He loves them and wants communion with them; they learned about WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT MASS!

To my grand surprise, they all listened and even seemed excited about their next opportunity to participate in the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries.

I shall promise no great flurry of posts in coming weeks, but I will certainly post something. Until then, I have provided a short video (which most have probably already seen) for your edification.

Please keep me, my family, and my ministry in your prayers.

God Bless.

This says it all…and I didn’t even say it!

(It is a video, so turn on your speakers, and make sure you view it in the full-screen version.)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and
sold all that he had and bought it.”

These words of Jesus Christ have echoed through my brain all day. In some ways, they have even been reverberating through my mind and soul for weeks, even months.

As I have meditated in front of the Blessed Sacrament and contemplated God’s will for my life, I have been particularly focused on a certain idea: self-sacrifice for the sake of building the City of God on earth. Over the course of days and weeks, the idea has crystalized in my mind and heart. Now I can share it with you.

God is calling me to forsake the things of this world and pursue Him to the fullest! Yes, that sounds very vague, and even difficult for a married man such as myself. But, there is a simple answer. My situation calls me to live not in total physical or economic poverty, but in a perpetual state of spiritual poverty; without attachment to mental and bodily desires and the standards of my culture.

Further, my sacrifices (physical, mental, and spiritual) should all be directed toward the ultimate goal: finding and gaining the kingdom of Heaven. Indeed, it is the “pearl of great price” that I must desire above all else. And, I must not allow anything to impeed my progress toward that goal; I must only engage in activities that allow me to draw nearer to my crucified Lord; I must become detached everything that does not help me to bear spiritual fruit.

These things are possible, but only through lots of prayer and support from those who are closest to me. I do pray that I can please God in such a way, and that those around me will offer their prayers on my behalf. Please pray that I might, one day, be transformed into the person God desires me to be. (I’ll pray for you as well!)

God Bless.

Pope Benedict XVI continues to build the city of God here on earth, even in the simplest of ways. Yesterday, he visited a Roman soup kitchen and brought gifts to those being served.

Click here to read the report from Catholic World News.

[Posted picture is from Catholic News Service]

God Bless.

Merry Christmas! Why, you ask, am I still proclaiming such a phrase? Because the Christmas season has yet to end. In fact, we still have three full days of Christmastide. So, fellow Catholics and Christians, shout with joy: Merry Christmas! (The twelve days of Christmas begin, not end, on December 25.)

How might such a rant be connected to the Catholic Word of the Week? Because our CWOTW happens to be the liturgical solemnity that marks the official end of Christmas. That word, and corresponding feast day, is “Epiphany.”

When the word is capitalized (as above), it is a reference to the liturgical feast celebrated by Catholics the world over on January 6 of each year. The feast is a celebration and commemoration of the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem after their journey from the distant east. (And, it just so happens that January 6 is twelve days after December 25. Coincidence?)

When the word remains uncapitalized, it refers to the following (as defined by Merriam-Webster): “an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being; a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something; an intuitive grasp of reality…; an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure”.

Is there any question as to why the feast celebrated on January 6 has its particular name? It really is quite simple. As Christians, we are to seek Christ as the Magi did so many years ago. When we truly find Him, He is manifest to us; we perceive the essence and meaning of life; we receive, through the power of the Holy Spirit, “an intuitive grasp of reality;” our minds, hearts, and souls are illumined.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is particularly special to me because I am reminded of my own (ongoing) illumination and transformation. Just over three years ago, I began my journey from the “distant east” of secularism, giving in to worldly desires, and general laziness. Since I have allowed Christ to be manifest in me, I have a greater cognition of my reason for being, I understand (though not fully) true reality, and my soul is lighter and brighter than at any time prior.

So, my friends, I urge you all to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany with the utmost reverence and desire to let your lives be changed.

God Bless.

My friends, I am inspired today! The Holy Spirit has been working overtime in the past twenty-four hours to reveal an essential principle to me. It certainly is amazing that revelation can happen even though we are ignorant or unexpecting.

The following Scripture passage comes from yesterdays first Mass reading:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom…it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy annd singing. … The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water…. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:1-10)

To what is this connected? As I read a book on prayer last evening, the author remarked that personal prayer is analogous to water that brings life to the dry, parched desert; that we need prayer to make us fruitful. Moreover, as I studied the eleventh chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, I saw how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy quoted above.

It is simple! When Jesus comes to us, physically in the Eucharist and spiritually in prayer, our lives are made fruitful. When we receive the Lord, the parched deserts that are our lives gradually cease to be arid. When we become less arid and are able to bear much fruit, we can become builders of the Kingdom of Heaven, the City of God on Earth.

God Bless.