In our modern church, we are overrun with liturgical reform.  Some reforms are excellent; others are the result of poor understanding of liturgical theology; in the worst cases, some reforms have added an element of "performance" where there should be none.  The problem, then, is that few people have the catechetical knowledge that is necessary to understand which reforms are good, and which are bad.

At last, there is change on the horizon!  A return to proper liturgical principles is being wrought by the Holy Spirit in our Church!  Such a transformation will come not only through a revised English translation of the Roman Missal (due to be implemented sometime in 2009), but also through wonderful liturgical scholarship and catechesis in parishes and dioceses throughout the country.

The links below should give readers some context for the forthcoming transformation. 

Liturgical Norms: Our Keys to Spriritual Nourishment, Evangelization and Unity by Mary Anne Moresco provides clear perspective on what the faithful receive from the liturgy.  The gifts passed on to them through the public actions are diminished and even removed when the rubrics are modified to suit "personal preference."

Catholic World News Report: "Vatican Approves New English Translation for Mass" is a straightforward commentary on the first changes that will be implemented.  Quite simply: the new translation will be more faithful to the original Latin text than the translation currently in use.  The minor, but noticeable changes will bring American Catholics more perfectly into communion with Catholics who worship around the world.

Catholic World News Feature Story: "Vatican Directive: 'YAHWEH' Inappropriate for Liturgical Use" seeks to help readers understand why certain words and actions should not be a part of our liturgical life.  Holy Mother Church, infinite in Her wisdom, always desires that the souls of the faithful should be protected from pride and arrogance.  The directive that is discussed here is one such example.

Pray that liturgical propriety will soon return to the Catholic Church.  Pray that the Liturgy will once again lead Catholics into a fruitful spirituality.

God bless! 

Because of my deep devotion and connection to St. Augustine, it is most proper to read his ancient words on a regular basis, and to meditate on how they are applicable to my life.  As my eyes traversed the pages of Confessions yesterday, there appeared a passage on the relationship between humility and conversion.  The great saint clearly identified the importance of a virtue whose importance has diminished throughout history.

"Therefore, by humble devotion return is made to you, and you cleanse us from our evil ways, and are merciful to the sins of those who confess to you, and graciously hear the groans of those shackled by sin, and you free them from the chains that we have made for ourselves.  This you do, if we do not raise up against you…[by] putting more love upon our own personal good than upon you, the good of all that is" (Book III, Chapter VIII).

Quite simply, God helps those who wish to find conversion.   By His grace, and by growth in the virtues (which also comes from grace), people can be "free from the chains" that bind them.  Indeed, God wants to be merciful, but He only pours out that mercy on those who acknowledge the need for it.

This cycle of grace is true in my own life.  During my last years of high school and through college, there a number of chains around my soul that I freely (even if ignorantly) placed there and even wore with pride.  Yes, my love of academic knowledge and personal pleasure (read "more love upon [my] own personal good") were the standards by which I measured "happiness" and blessings.  How ignorant and errant was this line of thought! 

It was not until God moved and spoke to me in the silence of my heart, that I began to understand that the chains were not a fashion statement for my soul.  It was then that I understood how much they were weighing upon me; how much they restricted my freedom.  At that point, the point where I surrendered my pride, God was able to reach down and begin to deconstruct the intricate system of bondage around my soul.

That sequence of events began over four years ago under the patronage of St. Augustine, who wore chains similar to my own.  And, it is a trend that continues today.  I make no pretensions of being rid of pride; of having perfectly cultivated humility in my life.  However, I know that St. Augustine's intercession and God's amazing grace will allow me to achieve a greater degree of freedom than I have ever known.  Then, I will be able to recognize fully "the good of all that is."

Pray for an increase of God's grace and our assent to that grace through humility and surrender.

God bless! 

Of particular concern is the social sin perpetuated by our present civilization, which has become predicated on the "absolute truths" of relativism and humanism.  Western society in all its grandeur is one that now accepts and affirms violations of human dignity on a daily basis.  While westerners were napping over several decades, the Enemy has entered the culture and disguised evil as "convenience" and "self-gratification."  Instead, their precious liberties have been (and are currently being) trampled and eroded.

Two examples, which effectively bring to light a grotesque double standard, will suffice.  The first is a recent situation involving Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who is quite possibly the most influential legislator in our country.  In an interview this past Sunday, Pelosi mutilated the Church's clear teaching on the point at which a human life begins, and she tread not-so-lightly into the land of scandal by once again affirming her belief in "the woman's right to choose [to have an abortion]."  Without a doubt, the Speaker has helped to perpetuate the culture of death based on the "rights" of conscience and convenience.

Thanks be to God that there are still men like Archbishop Charles Chaput (Denver, CO) who are able to recognize the work of the devil; and who work to combat the spread of the culture of death, relativism, and convenience.  In a statement entitled "On the  Separation of Sense and State," the prelate took Pelosi to task on her claims.  His conclusions were that Pelosi's self-styled theological research was shoddy at best; that she is objectively an advocate of moral evil; and that she is presently leading faithful Catholics into grave sin.  He wrote:

"Abortion kills an unborn, developing human life.  It is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it.  Catholics who make excuses for it – whether they’re famous or not – fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and live their Catholic faith.”

(Click here to read the Catholic News Agency report.) 

In close proximity to Pelosi, in her home state of California, a judge has recently ruled that doctors have no freedom of conscience to refrain from providing medical treatments that they find morally reprehensible.  According to a Catholic News Agency report, that state has required that homosexual women be provided with artificial insemination by two physicians who are conscientious objectors.

"You must merely obey what the state says, you have no right to follow your own moral guide," stated the attorney who worked in defense of the physicians, seemingly sarcastically.  So, we have entered a period in our national history when freedom of speech and association are guaranteed only when they are not contrary to the opinions of certain legislators and judges.  Vital protections of our personal dignity and liberty seem to have been erased from this country's consciousness.  No longer can we expect to think and associate freely.  Neither can we choose what work we will and will not do.  Rather, we have accepted the qualities of fascism, tyrrany, and dictatorship, and they are veiled as tolerance.  Indeed, the dictatorship of relativism is real, and it has a tight grip over our nation!

This proverbial culture of death "cake" has been iced with attractive misnomers like "I can do anything I want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else," or "It's not a baby; it's a fetus!"  (Hint: look up the English translation of fetus.)  And, since the icing is so attractive and "liberating," people fail to see the inherent contradictions in speech and action.  For example, those who decry efforts to end abortion and euthanasia as "violations of conscience" are the same people who will support the denial of two doctors' "right to choose" to refuse certain services.

Does anyone else see these trends?  Are we headed for total darkness?  The evidence would seem so.  However, our current situation is not without hope!

Christ is the answer!  It is He who illuminates our lives with the wisdom and truth of God; He who teaches us that we must respect each and every person's free will, whether that will chooses wisely or poorly.  It is He who teaches that we must protect "even the least of these," a category that scientifically includes those who are not yet born.  It is He who proclaimed that the "utopian" world is to built on self-sacrifice, service to our fellow humans, and virtues such as humility, patience, chastity, and integrity.  (Hint: Read the Beatitudes; Matthew 5:1-11.)

Let us remember these principles as we act out our daily lives, and especially as we choose to be active in our nation's culture.

God bless!

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a memorial during which all the faithful are reminded that Mary, the Mother of Our Lord, has been made queen of all the heavens and the earth (the Fifth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary).  Because we are creatures of this earth and disciples of Christ, we, too, must honor the Blessed Mother as queen.

Let us remember that giving honor to Mary in no way takes focus off of Christ, Our King.  In fact, the glory, honor, and blessing given to the Queen will only be reflected by her toward the King, her Son.  Thus, we may faithfully conclude that an intimate relationship with the Queen of Heaven will lead us into a more intimate relationship with Christ the King.

Personal experience proves, however, that such an intimate relationship with Mary is easier to write and speak about than it is to achieve.  I have committed and re-committed myself to a Marian devotion on numerous occasions.  Yet there always seems to be an excuse to become lax in that devotion.  Fortunately, the proverbial tide seems to be turning!

In recent weeks, the addition of the Memorarae to my daily prayer regimen seems to have provided additional peace and grace in my life.  Further, occasional (not daily at this point) recitation of the Rosary brings about joy, comfort, and peace; wonderful substitutes for the stress, anxiety, and turmoil wrought by Satan on a daily basis.

I pray that my devotion to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth may continue to increase throughout my adult life.  I pray that her intercession will bring innumerable graces for my family and ministry.  I pray that she will guide me toward her Son, even until the moment of my judgment.

Also, click here for a fabulous article on Our Lady of America, and the history of some lesser-known apparitions.

God bless!

The building's exterior was enough to make any pilgrim fall in love with Gothic architecture and wish that more churches were still built with such delicate intricacies.  As the spires stretched toward Heaven, it was impossible to focus on anything near the ground.  Surely, that must have been one of the reason for the use of Gothic architecture during this project.  It draws our eyes and hearts away from earthly cares and toward the Almighty, in whom we have our existence.

Such an idea was equally true while this pilgrim gazed upon the interior decor; and participated in the Heavenly Liturgy within its walls.  The nave, which covers most of the cathedral's 350+ total feet in length, brought a realization that our Christian journey is always directed toward communion with Christ.  The Stations of the Cross were not only massive, but gorgeous as well, and served as a reminder of Our Lord's sacrificial offering on our behalf.  The stained glass windows provided a radiant flood of light, just as God provides a radiant flood of wisdom to our minds and hearts.  Even the crypt, where Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was held, required worshipers to focus on life after death.  It was impossible not to feel God's presence, distinctly and powerfully.

 

 

Finally, the cathedral contains a painting of our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians.  She is the patroness of Australia, and she was the patroness of World Youth Day 2008.  By reciting a special prayer, entire groups of pilgrims entrusted their pilgrimage and the rest of their lives to Mary's intercession.  Indeed, even in such an exciting time, one was not allowed to forget the place of Our Lady in the mission of the Church.

St. Mary's Cathedral, then, must be placed on the list of "things to see" by anyone who might travel to Australia, especially those who are Catholic.  To visit the cathedral, and to worship within its walls, created a sense of worshiping with faithful Christians who lived centuries ago.

For more information on St. Mary's Cathedral, click here.  To view all of my pictures of the cathedral, click here.

God bless.

Within the second reading of today's Mass (the Feast of the Transfiguration), two sentences provided the important link that had been missing from this over-exerted mind.  "Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.  You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."  The connection became so clear: Pope Benedict, who is the successor of the man who first articulated this truth (St. Peter), proclaimed a prophetic message to the world's young people; a message that was meant to shine light into the the pitch-black, secular culture found throughout the modern world.

In his welcome address, the pope extolled the "innate goodness" of God's human creatures, who are "crowned with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:5).  Listeners were reminded of the vast potential found within the human race: "advances in medical sciences and the wise application of technology," creative arts, recreational activities, etc.  Such achievements, precisely because they are good, create "profound joy and gratitude."  Why should they not be praised?  None of them are inherently opposed to God's will for human life, so they should be celebrated.

The pope went on to remind young people, however, that there is much evil to be found among those positive goods; a certain "poison which threatens to corrode what is good."  The primary avenue by which such poison has infiltrated our culture is disunity or, worse, false unity.  Moreover, the agent which seems to have bred false unity most quickly is relativism, the proverbial thorn in Benedict's side.  Indeed, relativism is an underlying cause of division, tension, and so much of the social sin that infects modern culture.  Relativism, Benedict asserted, is contrary to the "very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity" (Vigil Message).

Although there were points at which this Successor of Peter decried abuses to human dignity, he was not content to focus on the negative things of this world.  Rather, his most ardent desire was to teach young people how to be witnesses in their own communities; how to be conduits of the Holy Spirit in broken, scarred societies.  Thus, his words were keyed to the themes of reconciliation, unity, and hope in the future.

He questioned the audience at Randwick Racecourse: "How can we offer the hope of peace, healing and harmony to…'stations' of conflict, suffering, and tension…" (Vigil Message)?  The simple answer was God and His Church on earth, the Catholic Church.  "Unity is of the essence of the Church; it is a gift we must recognize and cherish," he proclaimed.  Further, it is by the Holy Spirit, "Who satisfies that essential human yearning to be one, to be immersed in communion," that the Church is endowed with her oneness.  Because the Holy Spirit is necessary for unity, we must pray that He come into our lives and invigorate us!

In his homily during the Closing Mass, His Holiness continued to instill in the worshipers the belief that Christ is the ultimate answer to life's most serious and perplexing problems.  "The outpouring of Christ's Spirit upon humanity is a pledge of hope and deliverance from everything that impoverishes us," he taught.  Yes, that is the same Spirit Who moved over the formless, dark void at the beginning of time (Genesis 1:1-2); the same Spirit Who descended upon Christ after He was baptized in the Jordan River (John 1:32); the same Spirit received by those baptized throughout Christian history.  The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are of one essence.  There is no separation of the two.  Therefore, we know and believe that it is by Christ and the Holy Spirit that this world will be resurrected from its current dregs.

In the face of ridicule, isolation, and envy by the Enemy, believers must unceasingly proclaim Christ as "the 'way' who satisfies all human yearning, and the 'life' to which we are called to bear witness, walking always in his light" (Rite of Baptism 100).  Although there is much evil in our time (and for generations into the future), the light of Christ will never be overcome by the darkness of Satan and the world.  On that day when the "morning star" rises in the heart of all humanity, it will be because Christ poured out His Spirit upon faithful believers, and because they have been faithful to their calling.

Let us applaud Pope Benedict XVI for identifying the most pressing problems of our modern age.  Let us also applaud him for his effort to point humans toward the One who is capable of providing joyful remedies to such problems.  Let us give thanks that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has given Pope Benedict XVI to His Holy Catholic Church as its servant!  Thanks be to God!

In order to put a more human face on such an ambiguous combination of sentences, take a moment to read The Albright Chronicle, written by my cousin.  She is the wife of a man who is in the final stages of a battle against lymphoma.  She is the mother of two boys, both of whom are under five years old.  At the same time, she seems to be a woman who understands that "thy" is more important than "my."

It is impossible to imagine the emotional roller coaster on which she must be traveling.  Such a coaster must make stops at anxiety, fear, anger, confusion, and many other points on the emotional compass.  Yet, the words in her posts convey a sense of passive acceptance; an understanding that her ailing husband is now fully in the hands of the One who created him.

It is appropriate, then, to take pause and ask ourselves how honest we are when we recite those heavy words: "thy will be done."  We must learn that God is our creator, our provider, our sustainer, our lover.  His Divine Wisdom and Love are infinitely perfect, and so we must never doubt that his actions in our lives are meant to bring some form of blessing.  I pray that I, too, will be able to learn this important lesson as I encounter adulthood.

Please pray for my cousin, for her husband, for their sons, and for their extended family.

In the days since my return, many people have inquired about my recent pilgrimage.  Some want to know about the scenery and sightseeing opportunities in Australia, some want to know about the World Youth Day events, some want to know about the youth who accompanied me on the pilgrimage.  "How was it?," everybody asks.  My replies have seemed inadequate; I cannot seem to find words to properly express the immensity and intensity of a pilgrimage to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008.  Alas, I will try to articulate two weeks worth of experiences and points of personal revelation into this post and ones to follow in the next days.

Indeed, there were many fascinating things to see in the Land Down Under.  From the day of my arrival, I was surrounded by the historical and cultural sites to be expected of such a global metropolis.  Such sites included the Sydney Harbour Bridge (I climbed it!) and skyline; the world renown Sydney Opera House; Hyde Park (whose namesake was built in London centuries earlier) and the statue of Queen Victoria; Parliament House and the former residence of the royal governor; Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay Wharf; Sydney's two oldest pubs (questions of which was older caused the need to visit both); and St. Mary's Cathedral, which is Australia's oldest Catholic Church and worthy of a separate post.

Encounters with Australian wildlife were quite common, too. Visits to two wildlife observatories yielded opportunities to view the world's most venomous snake, tiny penguins, seemingly infinite varieties of birds and butterfly species, wallabies, wombats (the best of all Aussie animals!), a Tasmanian devil, the world's largest cockroach, boxing kangaroos, and koala bears.  In addition to species found on land and air, I experienced a wide variety of aquatic life found in the south Pacific.  Most fascinating and beautiful in the Sydney Aquarium was the representation of the Great Barrier Reef, which gave a brief glimpse into that underwater paradise.

In the final days of the pilgrimage, I was blessed with opportunities to experience the Blue Mountains and Australian beach scenery.  The first wonderfully clear day provided breathtaking views of the sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls, canyons stretching for miles covered in a light blue haze (created by oil from the eucalyptus tree), and fascinating rock formations.  On the following day, I witnessed a radiant sunrise on the Pacific horizon; framed by a tall cliff on one side and white foam created by waves crashing into the rocks near shore on the other side.  Finally, my body and mind were treated to a slow boat cruise around Pittwater Bay (north of Sydney), during which time I caught a glimpse of how long and far one could travel without interruption if such was his/her desire.

Aside from culture and wildlife, I also learned that Aussie food is delicious!  Actually, it is quite similar to our own culinary achievements with a few noticeable variations.  The best single food product that I tasted while in Sydney was, believe it or not, kangaroo.  It tastes like perfectly prepared beef tenderloin, and it is much better than emu (which tastes distinctly like liver).  Another delectable dish is fish and chips, an Aussie staple.  I was informed that, on most occasions, the fish of fish and chips is shark.  The chips of fish and chips are merely french fries, nothing fancy.  Pork sausages are grilled along with onions and served on slices of white bread. Although I was not able to sample, I heard on good authority that crocodile is fabulous as well.  Wheetbix is an amazing cereal (comparable to mini-wheats in the U.S., but MUCH MORE DELICIOUS).  Meat pies are filling!  Tomato sauce (actually ketchup with less sugar and salt) takes the place of ketchup.  TimTams (similar to Twix bars in the U.S.) are one of the best desserts in all the world!  All experiences were not positive, however.  I have realized that canned tuna is hardly palatable to me; and that any variety of baked beans other than barbecued leave a bad taste in my mouth.  Alas, I received one tidbit of personal revelation through all of these culinary ventures: God has never let me go hungry!  Regardless of what food is in front of me, I am thankful that I have food in front of me.

Click here to see some of the images from the pilgrimage. 

Of all the conclusions to be made from such encounters, one was paramount above the others.  I was reminded that God's majesty is infinite; and it can be found all over this huge planet, in places that are both obvious and unexpected.  The musings above are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  There are so many other experiences about which to write.  In fact, whole posts could be written on many of the ideas above.  Those posts will come in due time.

Until then, please join me in my prayers of thanksgiving for the universal Church, Pope Benedict XVI, the youth of our planet, Australia and all its culture, safe travels, and the opportunity to be at home once again with my family.

God bless! 

I seem to be getting everything completed in a timely manner.  However, completing those projects and tasks, as well as making time for prayer and my family, takes every ounce of my energy.  There is rarely anything left over to share with the cyberspace community.

Alas, I will try to find more time to write in the future (probably far into it since I'm preparing for a youth retreat and the World Youth Day celebration).  In the mean time, please keep me, my family, and my youth ministry in your prayers.

In the mean time, you might try out a few things that I've found to be enjoyable in recent days.

1. This article by Fr. Frank Pavone, which serves as a reminder of the world's inconsistent philosophy on the rights of individuals.
2. Reading classic fictional literature.  I am within twenty pages of completing The Three Musketeers, and I should like to pick up other books in the near future such as The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and others.  I'll return to history and theology after I have disembarked from the crazy train (is that ever possible?).
3. Enjoying a cold Sunset Wheat Ale by the Leinenkugel Brewery.  I tried it for the first time last night and found it to be…um…delicious!  It goes best with an orange slice.

I do hope to bring back plenty of pictures of the Land Down Under, so look for a post sometime around the end of July.

God bless! 

The question that heads this essay is one that might have a thousand different answers from a thousand different men.  However, because I am a man who has experience in many different states of life, and because I know that there is one Ultimate Happines, I know that I am "qualified" to answer such a perplexing question.  In fact, the question becomes quite an easy one because of the various perspectives from which I have seen, endured, and lived this human life.

The first Psalm of David says:

"Blessed [sometimes translated 'happy'] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (vv. 1-2).

I certainly am a man who has walked in the counsel of the wicked; I have stood in, and even danced, in the way of sinners.  I spent many nights trying to find happiness in such sensuality.  After all of that searching, only one thing is clear: the wickedness in which I wallowed was only an erroneous happiness.

In recent years, that erroneous happiness has been replaced by a true blessedness, one that brings more peace, joy, and fulfillment than I have ever known.  I find more pleasure in being a Christian, husband, father, and minister than in seeking base sensual pleasures.  To use a modern (or not-so-modern) example, I would rather sit with my son's head resting on my shoulder, and know that my wife is cared for and content, than seek my next drink.

Indeed, the counsel of the wicked and the way of sinners would have me seek over-indulgince in alcohol, misguided sexual pleasures, gluttony, and, impatience among other things.  Yet those things seem grotesue and unfulfilling anymore.  True happiness, rather, comes from the latter portion of the Psalm quoted above: seeking, knowing, and doing the law of the Lord day and night, even when opportunities to do the opposite arise.

God has blessed me with a plethora of opportunities to seek, know, and do His will.  Those opportunities, then, are where this man, and humanity as a whole, will find infinite happiness.  There exists nothing as pleasurable as casting off those things that the world and the Enemy advertise as the means to happiness.  It is, without a doubt, one of the great paradoxes that a person can learn when He knows Truth: greater happiness, true happiness, is found in denial of selfish pleasures; in making a gift of self to another of the Creator's creations.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will impregnate this world with true happiness and peace.  And, I pray that all men will learn to dwell in that happiness and peace for all the days of their lives.

God bless!