Deacon's Blog

I’m moving

2005-12-31T19:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve reached a point in posting that has motivated me to move to a more expansive publishing tool. Therefore, I’m moving my blog to my own website and have decided to use WordPress as a publishing tool.

Yahoo! Web Hosting Services has a great deal for pre-installed WordPress publishing. Yahoo! also offers Movable Type for the seriously serious (all included in the price).

I stayed up way too late last night moving everything and getting my set-up done. I am so much happier having made the transition now.

In addition to Deacon’s Blog, I will be doing a family and friends blog as well as a genealogy blog there.

I would like to acknowledge the Pontificator, Alvin Kimel. His beautiful blog site inspired me to move up the professional ladder as did MeanDean from the Heal Your Church Website blog and blogs4God.

The new addresses are:

www.konicki.com

or

www.bvmcdeacon.com

Predictions for 2006

2005-12-30T12:07:00.000-05:00

Oooooops!

Sorry, no predictions.

I’ve always had a problem with such things. Predictions, fortune telling, etc., besides just being whacky on their face, are an engagement in things that feed into our god complex.

I’m one for letting God be God. That He has our future firmly in hand, I am certain (time for a great discussion on predestination, Calvinism, Arminianism, Universalism, and where the PNCC and Roman Catholic Church differ – but not today).

All I can do then is pray that, come what may, we all be given the grace of final perseverance.

O sovereign and eternal God,
I thank You for having created me;
for having redeemed me by means of Jesus Christ;
for having made me a Christian by calling me to the true faith,
and giving me time to repent after the many sins I have committed.

O Infinite Goodness,
I love You above all things;
and I repent with all my heart of all my offences against You.
I hope You have already pardoned me;
but I am continually in danger of again offending You.

For the love of Jesus Christ,
I beg of You holy perseverance till death.

You know my weakness; help me, then,
and permit me never again
to separate myself from You.
Rather let me die a thousand times,
than ever again to lose Your grace.

Our Lady of Czestochowa, obtain for me holy perseverance!

Solemnity - Circumcision of our Lord

2005-12-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

[Note: In the PNCC we observe the 8th day within the Octave of the Nativity as the Solemnity of the Circumcision of our Lord. The Solemnity falls on Sunday, January 1st, 2006. The PNCC does not celebrate the 'Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God’ which is a Solemnity observed according to the Roman Catholic Liturgical calendar.

Unless superseded by a Solemnity of the Lord, the Sunday following the Nativity is the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds. The Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds will be observed Sunday, January 8th, 2006]

New Year – parties, festivities, football games, parades, and we are here to focus and reflect on the circumcision of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

God entered into a covenant with mankind, he entered into a contract with us through the Jewish people and told them that from the seed of Abraham would come the Savior. It was a contract sealed in flesh and blood.

In the time of Abraham the making of a covenant, or contract, required that the parties sacrifice an animal, divide it in half, and walk between the divided parts. It was a sealing of the contract in flesh and blood. In Genesis 15 we read:

Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession." "O Lord GOD," he asked, "How am I to know that I shall possess it?" He answered him, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon." He brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up.

When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River (the Euphrates).

Think about this passage. Who walked between the pieces of the cut up sacrifice? God alone as both a smoking brazier and a flaming torch. Abram did not pass through. God, in reality, made a covenant with Himself to make Israel great; to give Abram and his descendants the land.

Later, in Genesis 17, which we read today, God promises to make Abraham the father of “a host of nations.” Not just one nation, but a host of nations.

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, told him that He would make him “exceedingly fertile” and that He would make “nations of him” and that “kings shall stem from him”.

God tells Abraham that His covenant will be an “everlasting pact” and the He will be his God and the God of his descendants after him”. That is, the God of a host of nations.

God also said to Abraham: "On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.

Today, Jesus Christ is circumcised. God is once again making a contract with Himself, in flesh and blood. Jesus, the new covenant and the fulfillment of the old, is circumcised. Jesus, God Himself, as the sacrifice, sheds His blood.

Because Jesus is truly God and truly man he sanctifies the flesh. Let me ask you, do we believe the flesh is evil? To this the Church must say no. We do proclaim, along with Paul that because of God’s action, because of the atoning death of His Son, Jesus Christ, even though unmerited by us, we have been granted righteousness by our faith.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Yes, we all fall short and with Paul we know that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Jesus, God himself, took on our flesh to show us that perfection in our flesh is not only possible, but is our destiny. That even though we fall short we are welcome into the kingdom.

We know we fall short in our flesh and that we are imperfect. But Jesus meets people where they are to show them the way out of sin.

You are called to make a decision. You are called here to make a decision and to move along the road, the narrow path to perfection.

I can guarantee you that you will not reach it before you die. I can however guarantee and what our Church teaches is that once you make that choice for God you are changed forever by that very choice, there is no going back. As Paul told us already, “righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

It is a serious decision, to circumcise yourself. To circumcise yourself not in the sense of the flesh, but in the sense of the spirit. We teach and proclaim that your choice for God will open up the treasures of eternity for you and that God Himself will give you His love, in the form of grace, through the sacraments, so that you are strengthened for that journey.

God is all perfection, all truth, and all justice. He is faithful to His covenant, the contract He made with Himself to save us. Now is the time to stand, to look at yourself and to choose. Every day in the grace of God is a new year, a new and perfect eternity in the presence and love of God. Choose today to partake of the free gift won for us by God Himself.

Holy Innocents - the Killing Continues

2005-12-28T14:41:00.000-05:00

From the Associated Press - no commentary on my part necessary:

Pakistani Describes Killing of Daughters

The 40-year old laborer, speaking to The Associated Press in police detention as he was being shifted to prison, confessed to just one regret — that he didn't murder the stepsister's alleged lover too.

Ahmed's killing spree — witnessed by his wife Rehmat Bibi as she cradled their 3 month-old baby son — happened Friday night at their home in the cotton-growing village of Gago Mandi in eastern Punjab province.

It is the latest of more than 260 such honor killings documented by the rights commission, mostly from media reports, during the first 11 months of 2005.

Bibi recounted how she was woken by a shriek as Ahmed put his hand to the mouth of his stepdaughter Muqadas and cut her throat with a machete. Bibi looked helplessly on from the corner of the room as he then killed the three girls — Bano, 8, Sumaira, 7, and Humaira, 4 — pausing between the slayings to brandish the bloodstained knife at his wife, warning her not to intervene or raise alarm.
...
Despite Ahmed's contention that Muqadas had committed adultery — a claim made by her husband — the rights commission reported that according to local people, Muqadas had fled her husband because he had abused her and forced her to work in a brick-making factory.
Police have said they do not know the identity or whereabouts of Muqadas' alleged lover.
Muqadas was Bibi's daughter by her first marriage to Ahmed's brother, who died 14 years ago. Ahmed married his brother's widow, as is customary under Islamic tradition.
"Women are treated as property and those committing crimes against them do not get punished," said the rights commission's director, Kamla Hyat. "The steps taken by our government have made no real difference."

Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

2005-12-28T14:31:00.000-05:00

From the Episcopal Collect for today:

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray for all those innocents who are killed each day, in family and community violence, in war, and in abortion clinics.

By Your coming among us, Lord, save your people

Oxymoron, Hypocrisy, or Error?

2005-12-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

Back in November I was reading several articles centered around the biennial conference of the Union for Reformed Judaism (held in Houston) and statements by the group’s President, Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie. I've been wanting to write about this for some time, and now is the time.

I couldn’t quite get my mind around two statements that came from the convention. The two statements were titled as follows:

Reform Judaism’s Leader Criticizes Religious Right for Intolerance;
Rabbi Yoffie Calls for Synagogues to Invite & Support Conversion

The press release (excerpted) regarding the Rabbi’s statements makes the following remarks:

HOUSTON, Nov.19, 2005—From the heart of the Bible belt, the leader of Reform Judaism today criticized the Religious Right for its exclusionary beliefs and statements that say “unless you attend my church, accept my God, and study my sacred text, you cannot be a moral person.”

Problem 1: Morality is well defined as following the natural law. All people have that ability. The Jewish people, as the people of the Law have an even greater advantage as God personally elucidated the Law to them. The Rabbi is confusing morality with salvation.

“We are particularly offended by the suggestion that the opposite of the Religious Right is the voice of atheism,” said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. “We are appalled when ‘people of faith’ is used in such a way that it excludes us, as well as most Jews, Catholics, and Muslims. What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God and that anyone who disagrees with you is not a person of faith?”

Problem 2: Labels and misdirection. People who believe in the God of at least the Old Testament, are not atheists. No Christian or Jew is an atheist. No one in fact who believes in a higher power is an atheist. They may be a pagan, but not an atheist. See atheist. Bigoted? It would appear that the Rabbi is defining anyone who seeks to teach their faith to another as a bigot. But how can that be? The oxymoron to this is coming up.

Yoffie called for a major new effort to bring the voices of religious people who often disagree with the Religious Right to the public square. He announced that the Union would be reaching out to a wide array of such voices in a new forum to be co-convened in Washington by Yoffie and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Reform Movement’s Religious Action.

Thought: Now it gets better. Let’s use our resources to convince people that what we think/believe is correct. So if I do not agree with the Union’s position how shall I be labeled? I wonder?

Now for the punch line:

Yoffie’s comments came during an hour-long sermon at the Union’s Biennial Convention meeting here this week, during which he also urged the 4,200 Reform leaders to change the face of North American Judaism by increasing the ranks of affiliated Jews and asking non-Jews who are involved in synagogue life to convert to Judaism.

Problem 3: That’s right, convert those spouses (or significant others)! Have them reject their salvation. When you read the text of the full sermon it gets better, because there’s quite the emphasis on assuring children in a mixed marriage are raised Jewish. But isn’t this bigoted? Isn’t this the methodology of the so called religious right? Let’s increase our ranks and actively make converts?

The specific statements from your sermon (emphasis mine):

Let’s talk now about welcoming of a very specific sort—welcoming non-Jewish spouses and converts to Judaism.

There is no better place to raise these issues than in Houston, for it was in this very city twenty-seven years ago that Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler initiated our Outreach program. He declared that we would not merely tolerate converts; we would enthusiastically embrace them. And he proclaimed that we would not sit shivah for our children who intermarry. This was not an endorsement of intermarriage, but rather a refusal to reject the intermarried. We would welcome them into our synagogues, our families, and our homes. We would do this in the hope that the non-Jewish partners would ultimately convert to Judaism; and if not, that they would commit themselves to raising their children as Jews.
…
Another challenge that we face is the decline in the number of non-Jewish spouses who convert to Judaism. There is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that interest in conversion has waned in our congregations.

In the early years of Outreach, Alex Schindler often returned to this topic. Alex told us: “We need to ask. We must not forget to ask.” And for a while, our Movement actively encouraged conversion. Many of our congregations began holding public conversion ceremonies during regular worship services, but such ceremonies are far rarer now.

The reason, perhaps, is that by making non-Jews feel comfortable and accepted in our congregations, we have sent the message that we do not care if they convert. But that is not our message.

Why? Because it is a mitzvah to help a potential Jew become a Jew-by-choice. Because the synagogue is not a neutral institution; it is committed to building a vibrant religious life for the Jewish people. Because we want families to function as Jewish families, and while intermarried families can surely do this, we recognize the advantages of an intermarried family becoming a fully Jewish family, with two adult Jewish partners. Judaism does not denigrate those who find religious truth elsewhere; still, our synagogues emphasize the grandeur of Judaism and we joyfully extend membership in our covenantal community to all who are prepared to accept it.
…
But none of this is a reason for inaction. The time has come to reverse direction by returning to public conversions and doing all the other things that encourage conversion in our synagogues.

Yes, and Christians emphasize the grandeur of Christianity and we joyfully and actively extend membership in the Church, and the gift of salvation to all who are prepared to accept it. Now, back to the press release excerpts:

Yoffie accused the Religious Right of refusing to acknowledge that there are religious perspectives different from its own, and of misreading religious texts sacred to both Christians and Jews.

Problem 4: Another canard. Anyone can acknowledge that there are other religious perspectives. Just look in the phone book under churches or temples and it is obvious. I can acknowledge that some people have a Hindu perspective while at the same time making an argument that it is not the perspective I think they should have. It would seem you agree, since the non Jew in a mixed marriage should be encouraged to convert and even if they do not, should agree to raise their children as Jewish. I cannot understand whether your perspective on this issue is the same or different from mine. Are you right? Am I in error? Are we saying the same thing, yet evangelizing from our own perspectives?

As to biblical exegesis, I am no expert. However, I think Christians and Jews can very easily throw the label of misinterpreting scripture at each other. Our points of view as to the Messiah and salvation are mutually exclusive.

Yoffie argued for a balanced approach to religion in public life and a religious discourse intended to educate and convince rather than exclude. “Religion should not be hidden from view,” he said. “But, no matter how profoundly religion influences you, when you make a public argument, you must ground your statements in reason and in a language of morality that is accessible to everyone—to people of different religions or no religion at all.”

Agree (sort of): Depends what you mean by “you must ground your statements in reason…” God is not approachable by reason alone, but by faith. If you have scientifically proven God, I’d like to hear it. And, yes, not hiding religion, freedom to espouse and live your faith and convert others to it by information and argument, and the freedom to do so publicly is called preaching for conversion.

And the starting point for this discussion, he said, should be that “tolerance is an American value and a religious necessity; that religion is far too important to be entangled with government; that we need beware the zealots who want to make their religion the religion of everyone else; and that we all need to put our trust in America, the most religiously diverse country in the world.”

Problem 5: You shouldn't make your religion the religion of everyone else? But didn't you just say that people should be converted? Isn't that zealotry? Religion is far too important not to be entangled in politics or any other area of life. We are called to live the way God intends, not just in our house, car, synagogue, or church, but in every aspect of our life, public and private. In the last two paragraphs cited it would seem that you wish a clear demarcation of religion and public life. You undersell your faith. Morality, the Law, and its gift to mankind is of essence and in reality from God. Do not forget who formed you and knew you before all others.

To read the Rabbi’s entire sermon go here: http://urj.org/yoffie/biennialsermon05/

Now, I would like to frame all of this in terms of the Jewish community’s Dabru Emet statement of September 2000.

The Dabru Emet statement: Is a statement dealing with Jewish-Christian relations. The title was taken from Zechariah 8:16 and means "speak the truth." It was signed by over 150 rabbis and Jewish scholars from the U.S., Canada, UK and Israel. It was published in the New York Times and Baltimore Sun during 2000-SEP.

Some of the points raised in the statement are:

Jews and Christians: Both worship the same God: i.e. Jehovah, as described in the Tanakh (a.k.a. the Jewish Scriptures or, called by many Christians, the Old Testament).

Both seek authority from the Tanakh.
Both accept the moral principles of Torah -- e.g. the sanctity and dignity of each person.
Both can respect each other's faithfulness to the revelation that they received.
Should not be "pressed into affirming the teaching of the other community."
Must work together to promote justice and peace in the world.

Seems to work for me…

On Schism and Point-of-View

2005-12-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

On Schism

With the recent goings on concerning schism from the Roman Catholic Church, perhaps you would be interested in a primer on schism.

First of all, schism is defined in Roman Catholic Canon Law #751 as:

Schism is the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him.

For an in depth analyses from the Roman Catholic point-of-view see Definition of Schism.

Much of the information and additional discussion that is available in regard to formally leaving the Roman Catholic Church centers around the sacrament of marriage and annulments. Canon #1117 covers it rather well.

The form prescribed above is to be observed if at least one of the parties contracting marriage was baptized in the catholic Church or received into it and has not by a formal act defected from it, without prejudice to the provisions of canon 1127.2 (dispensation from form by the local ordinary)

From the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo (emphasis mine):

If a Catholic has formally left the Catholic Church, he or she is not bound by Canonical Form. The law has not defined what constitutes a formal act of defection. If there is the possibility of this having happened, in each individual case this will have to be determined by a Tribunal. Items that would lead to suspicion of having formally left would be an open declaration of abandonment of the Catholic faith, a formal enrolling in another religion, a public affiliation to an atheistic ideology or movement manifestly opposed to the Catholic faith or being involved in an established heresy, apostasy or schism. Merely ceasing to practice the faith even over a considerable length of time, regular attendance at the religious services of another religion or similar actions would not prove the formal act of leaving the Catholic Church. (The Canon Law Letter and Spirit, p.603).

I found an excellent write-up (can’t exactly remember where) that discusses joining an Orthodox Church and the implications of Dominus Iesus:

Dominus Iesus clarifies that the Catholic Church does not teach that the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church are sister churches, but that the constituent sui juris Churches of Catholicism are sisters to the particular Orthodox Churches, who are, despite being fully "churches" (and not "ecclesial communities", as are the Protestant Christians), nevertheless lacking in full communion because of the refusal to acknowledge the role of the Bishop of Rome. So from the Catholic perspective, someone who leaves Catholicism for Orthodoxy has (1) broken communion with Rome, which of course is a sin in itself and (2) joined a church which, despite its ‘churchiness’, does not have the same degree of fullness as the Catholic sui juris churches do. The person has embraced schism from the Catholic Church by rejecting communion with it, from the Catholic perspective: breaking communion with Rome is, per Catholicism, a personal act of schism, and hence an act which makes one a schismatic in the eyes of Catholicism, regardless of how Catholicism may view other people who are members of the Orthodox Church.

On Point of View

Now having been raised a Roman Catholic, and having a fairly good idea of the rules, my having left the Roman Catholic Church, having officially joined the PNCC, and having received Holy Orders in the PNCC is a blatant act of schism. So accused, so guilty.

However, one would have to believe that the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church is binding upon them. If I fly over to Poland and break the laws there (or God forbid Singapore or Saudi Arabia) I am by my act of going there making myself subject to their law. By manifestly removing myself from the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church (yes and I know that there is some reasoning that the Roman Catholic Church has universal jurisdiction over all humanity, including me, whether I like it or not) I make myself not subject to its laws.

In my mind, and in accordance with Dominus Iesus, para. 17, I am still part of a particular Church (why – because I need the sacraments and a Church in valid Apostolic succession).

Dominus Iesus states:

Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him. The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches. Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church, since they do not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church.

On the other hand, the ecclesial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery, are not Churches in the proper sense; however, those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church. .Baptism in fact tends per se toward the full development of life in Christ, through the integral profession of faith, the Eucharist, and full communion in the Church.

As a member of a “true particular Church” (cf. Canon 844) i.e., the Polish National Catholic Church along with members of the Orthodox Churches, and the Assyrian Church of the East, I have exercised my ability to choose to honor the Roman pontiff as first among equals, but not the administrative head of the Church, to belong to a Church with valid Holy Orders, and that is in Apostolic succession.

So to me, it is the point-of-view that determines. That all should be one, I agree. That all should be part of the one, holy catholic and apostolic faith, I agree. That all are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and are required to cooperate in that salvation, I agree. In Catholicism there are many houses and means to come unto Christ.

For those who wish to comment, I welcome your perspective. I also respect your right to follow the law you have subjected yourself to, and to follow it thoroughly, as you should. However, I also expect you to respect my right to be unbound from your laws.

Truth vs. Blackmail and What is Evidence - via the St. Louis Dispatch

2005-12-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

An interesting story today, recapping the Christmas Eve story from St. Stanislaus Kostka church in St. Louis and Fr. Bozek’s homily for Christmas Day.

Fr. Bozek’s Christmas morning homily was a revelation as to his character. It is the speaking of truth in the face of those who resort to blackmail to get what they want. Blackmail cannot stand if the accused has no fear. Those who have no fear or do not let themselves be ruled by fear are those that have the Lord as their shield.

It would appear that the lavender mafia of the American Roman Catholic church is at work again.

For those not familiar with the lavender mafia, there are tons of internet resources about it. Just do a Google Search or check out The Gay Question by Rod Dreher from the National Review Online. To wit:

THE LAVENDER MAFIA

The raw numbers are less important, though, if homosexual priests occupy positions of influence in the vast Catholic bureaucracy; and there seems little doubt that this is the case in the American Church. Lest this be dismissed as right-wing paranoia, it bears noting that psychotherapist Sipe is no conservative — indeed, he is disliked by many on the Catholic Right for his vigorous dissent from Church teaching on sexual morality — yet he is convinced that the sexual abuse of minors is facilitated by a secret, powerful network of gay priests. Sipe has a great deal of clinical and research experience in this field; he has reviewed thousands of case histories of sexually active priests and abuse victims. He is convinced of the existence of what the Rev. Andrew Greeley, the left-wing clerical gadfly, has called a "lavender Mafia."

"This is a system. This is a whole community. You have many good people covering it up," Sipe says. "There is a network of power. A lot of seminary rectors and teachers are part of it, and they move to chancery-office positions, and on to bishoprics. It's part of the ladder of success. It breaks your heart to see the people who suffer because of this."

In his new book, Goodbye! Good Men, Michael S. Rose documents in shocking detail how pervasive militant homosexuality is in many seminaries, how much gay sex is taking place among seminarians and priest-professors, and how gay power cliques exclude and punish heterosexuals who oppose them. "It's not just a few guys in a few seminaries that have an ax to grind. It is a pattern," says Rose. "The protective network [of homosexual priests] begins in the seminaries."

The stories related in Rose's book will strike many as incredible, but they track closely with the stories that priests have told me about open gay sex and gay politicking in seminaries. The current scandal is opening Catholic eyes: As one ex-seminarian says, "People thought I was crazy when I told them what it was like there, so I finally quit talking about it. They're starting to see now that I wasn't."

Goodbye! Good Men links homosexuality among priests with theological dissent, a connection commonly made by conservative Catholics who wonder why their parish priests have practically abandoned teaching and explaining Catholic sexual morality. But one veteran vocations-team member for a conservative diocese cautions that Catholics should not assume that theological orthodoxy guarantees heterosexuality or chastity. "You find [active homosexuality] among some pretty conservative orders, and in places you'd not expect it," he says. "That's what makes this so depressing. You don't know where to turn."

So it would seem that those who do not like Fr. Bozek’s decision have decided to attack his call by labeling him (excerpts from the St. Louis Dispatch):

It wasn't until Christmas morning, in a different homily, that Bozek told his new parishioners about a prior episode in his life that helped prepare him for this latest challenge to authority. "God tries us with fire to make our faith stronger," he told them.

Five years ago, Bozek and Catholic church leaders in Poland were at odds about something more personal than the St. Stanislaus dispute. It was an accusation that forced him to flee his homeland, landing in Missouri, and, finally, in the pulpit at St. Stanislaus parish.

…

The next morning, Bozek returned to the pulpit, this time with a different homily. "It seems so many things happen by accident, that paths cross by accident," he said. "But that is the mystery of our faith - nothing happens without a reason."

With a startling revelation, he signaled to his parishioners on Christmas morning that he had been through controversy with church authority before. And he believed it had made him stronger.

Bozek told his new parishioners the story of his struggle five years ago at a seminary in Poland with an accusation made against him - "a witch hunt" he called it. "Some people accused me of being a promiscuous homosexual," he said. He told the rector of the seminary to provide proof, and said the rector couldn't, but persisted in the
accusations.

Bozek said he went to his Warmia Archbishop Edmund Michal Piszcz, and told him to call off the rector. He threatened to sue the archdiocese. "They have no proof," he told Piszcz. Bozek said Piszcz agreed. Nevertheless the priest left the seminary and Poland, landing in Springfield, Mo.

"What would have happened had I not been accused?" he asked the congregation. "I probably would still be in Poland living happily near my parents. I probably never would have heard of St. Stanislaus Kostka church."

Jan Guzowski, the rector at the Hosianum seminary in Olsztyn when Bozek was there, said in a telephone interview from Poland that Bozek had been told to leave because of suspected homosexuality.

"We thought he was homosexual. We had several problems with him. He said he wasn't homosexual, but we had certain proof that this wasn't true." Asked what proof, Guzowski said that other seminarians told him so.

Oh yes, “we thought”, how convenient. We thought therefore it must be so. The rector and some students wishing to paint seminarian Bozek as a ‘promiscuous homosexual’. Perhaps they had only wished it to be true? See I can draw innuendo as well as the next person. Being in the profession I am in during my regular 9 – 5 I should know what having evidence is all about. Dr. Guzowski has the luxury of making ‘evidence’ be anything he wishes it to be. Read on…

Guzowski, who left the seminary two years ago, is now professor of moral theology at a state-run university in Olsztyn.

Do I even have to point out the irony?

In an interview after his second Christmas Mass on Sunday, Bozek denied Guzowski's charges. "Of course the rector is going to say I was kicked out; that's his side of the story," Bozek said. "But I have a recommendation from Archbishop Piszcz which says I left by my own request."

Bozek said he then decided to be "a missionary" resulting in his acceptance to study as a priest for the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, his arrival there in 2000, his studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana, and his eventual ordination three years ago.

…

Bozek said he brought up his flight from Hosianum in his Christmas homily because he had received phone calls threatening to leak the accusations to the press. "I wanted to tell this to my new parishioners in my own words," he said.

…

So what will the new priest say when his parishioners ask him the inevitable question: Are you a homosexual? "When people ask me that, I just say, I am a celibate and chaste priest, so it doesn't matter," Bozek said.

Fr. Bozek makes an important note here that the press often misses. Celibacy and chastity are not the same thing. Now celibacy by rights would presume chastity. You cannot be married and as such you should not be having sexual relations with anyone. Chastity is the key. Fr. Bozek is neither married (therefore celibate) and is not engaging in sexual relations (therefore chaste).

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2005-12-26T21:49:00.000-05:00

My family and I, along with several other families from our church, went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra today.

It was a wonderful experience on many levels and I would like to just note a few here:

Our Parish supports its children and young people:

The fact is, children pay for nothing in our parish. The Parent-Teacher organization provides for all the religious education needs for our School of Christian Living. There are no book fees, material fees, teaching fees, or any other kind of fees. Rich or poor, nothing hinders our children or their parents from approaching the Lord.

The PTO paid for the tickets for all the children today. It was a great Christmas gift for them. I am grateful for the PTO’s support. The PTO also assists with the annual youth retreat and the youth Valentine’s Day Holy Mass and party.

The men’s organization, the Young Men’s Society of the Resurrection (YMS of R), along with our fraternal organization, the Polish National Union of America (Spójnia) provides for an annual after Christmas bowling party. The YMS of R also covers the full freight for our children’s Church summer camp (KURS) attendance and for attendance at the biennial PNCC Youth Convocation.

God bless these dedicated men and women for their support.

The children’s reaction:

It was wonderful to see the children’s reaction to the TSO’s stage show, lighting, pyrotechnics, and music. My 4 year old daughter was a little scared at the beginning, but once the initial razzzle-dazzle was done, she settled right in. My 6 year old son just though everything was great. He be-bopped right along.

My children love the arts. It was great to see their wide-eyed reaction to everything.

TSO:

What can I say? I was surprised! My wife researched the group in advance, I did not. I was expecting a secular Christmas experience. Instead I got theology – and pretty good at that.

The group told the “Christmas Eve & Other Stories” tale. What I found in this story was an affirmation of God’s abiding presence with us. Christ is real and present. God is not a disinterested, distant observer, but actively engages man where he is. Christ’s action continues to inspire man to act.

The other amazing thing is that they did not slip into secular humanism or equating all religions on an equal plane. This was, in a sense, a rediscovery of Christianity and the Arts working together to better humanity.

Once when asked what Trans-Siberian Orchestra was about, Paul O'Neill replied, "It's about creating great art. When asked to define what great art was, Paul said, "The purpose of art is to create an emotional response in the person that is exposed to that art. And there are three categories of art; bad art, good art and great art. Bad art will elicit no emotional response in the person that is exposed to it, i.e.; a song you hear in an elevator and it does nothing to you, a picture on a wall that gives you the same emotional response as if the wall had been blank, a movie that chews up time. Good art will make you feel an emotion that you have felt before; you see a picture of a forest and you remember the last time you went fishing with your dad, you hear a song about love and you remember the last time you were in love. Great art will make you feel an emotion you have never felt before; seeing the pieta, the world famous sculpture by Michelangelo, can cause someone to feel the pain of losing a child even if they've never had one. And when you're trying for these emotions the easiest one to trigger is anger. Anyone can do it. Go into the street, throw a rock at someone, you will make them angry. The emotions of love, empathy and laughter are much harder to trigger, but since they operate on a deeper level, they bring a much greater reward.

Having read this I recall the great patrimony held in our churches, the very same ones our ancestors built with love and which, it would seem, we are so bent of closing and selling. These buildings are not only property and assets; rather they are about lifting our eyes and hearts to God and the magnificence of His love for us. Our ancestors, in their poverty, recognized the need to glorify and magnify the Lord. If only we, blessed by riches, would support these churches. At the same time, wouldn’t it be great if the new churches being built would reflect God rather than the mall.

Feast of Stephen, Deacon and Protomartyr

2005-12-26T20:56:00.000-05:00

As a deacon in the Church, St. Stephen is both my patron and role model. Along with St. Anthony of Padua, for whom my mother had great devotion, they have both inspired me for as long as I can remember and right through to today.

Their common theme is strong preaching. Both were the best examples of proclaiming the Lord in the face of difficulty and with St. Stephen, martyrdom.

St. Stephen, Protomartyr, pray for us.

Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier. Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin's womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.

Our king, despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he did not come empty-handed. He gave of his bounty, yet without any loss to himself. In a marvelous way he changed into wealth the poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession of his own inexhaustible riches. And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment.

Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey's end.

My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together.

-- from a sermon by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe

O, First Martyr and Apostle of Christ, you fought the good fight. You exposed the perversion of the persecutors, for when you were killed by stoning of the hands of the wicked men, you received a crown from the Right Hand on high.

-- Troparion of St. Stephen

Vigil of the Nativity - Lord, we are so hungry!

2005-12-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

Take yourself back, back across the years, the centuries, the millennia. Go far back in time, back to the time of creation. Back, to the beginning.

There aren’t too many people around right now, but you notice a subtle difference amongst those that are. Certain people focus on the here and now, on getting the job done, on hunting, gathering, and fishing. Others do the same, yet, they seem to be the ones who always cry out for more.

No, not more food, but more. They know there is something more.

Now walk forward with me. There’s Abram. He received a message; he packed up and left, with his old barren wife. He’s crossing the desert. I hear later that he’s now called Abraham. He heard from that mysterious something more. Whatever that more is has made a blood covenant with Abraham. They have a contract, to become a great nation.

Still further along we find Moses, leading that people out of Egypt. The contact has matured, the nation is large, and they are going to claim their inheritance. They were slaves and cried out, we need more, save us, we are hungry for more! And remarkably, they now meet with that something more, first on a mountain, then in a tent, in the desert. They know its laws, and well, they know His name – Yahweh. I am.

The years fly by faster now. Judges, kings, prophets, each in their own way, faced with struggles, confronting sin and mistakes. David is told that an eternal king shall be his descendant.

More kings, some, many, self interested louts. Then the exile. The great and minor prophets, Hosea speaking God’s love poetry to the people: Come back to me with all your heart.

When Israel was a child, I loved her,
and called her out of Egypt as my own.
But the more I called to her,
the more she turned away from me.
Yet I was the one who taught them to walk.
I took my people up in my arms,
but they did not acknowledge that I took care of them.
I drew them to me with affection and love.
I picked them up and held them to my cheek.
I bent down to them and fed them.
How can I give you up, my people?
How can I abandon you?
Could I ever destroy you
or treat you harmfully?
My heart will not let me do it!
My love for you is too strong.

And so we arrive in the poor, overcrowded, dirty streets of Bethlehem. In a barn out back of the city. We are no more than objects, not even called human beings by the government in Rome. We are slaves once again. And we are hungry, thirsty, alone, and broken hearted.

Some years later we stand in the presence of a remarkable man from Nazareth. We find him on the other side of the lake and we ask him:

Teacher, why did you come here?

Jesus answered them and said:

I am going to tell you an important truth that you need to understand.

You are looking for me not because you saw a miracle, but because you ate loaves of bread and your hunger was satisfied.

Don’t work for the food that spoils but for the food that gives life for eternity, which only the Son of man can give you.

For I am the only one the Father has commissioned to give eternal life.

They asked:

What must we do in order to earn this food that gives life for eternity?

Jesus said to them:

The work you can do to please God is to believe on the one whom God has sent.

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes on me will never thirst.

The Jews began to start grumbling about Jesus because he said he was the bread of life that came down from heaven. They said:

Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Don’t we know his father and mother? How can he say he came down from heaven?

Jesus answered them:

I am the living bread that comes down from heaven and once a man eats it he will never die, but live forever. The bread that I give is my flesh, given for the life of the world.

The Jews began to discuss what these mysterious words meant.

We know what these words meant. We know because we are here. We kneel here and acknowledge our knowing every week. We kneel here still hungry, but with the blessed assurance that he came to feed us and to save us.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, we are hungry and we are here now. You came this day to reconcile us because the Father’s love is so strong. You came to feed us with your body and blood, to save us. May our hunger for you, for your word, for your body and blood be our only desire. Welcome Lord Jesus, welcome into my life.

Amen.

Christmas Rant

2005-12-23T14:04:00.000-05:00

An excellent well researched article about the situation in St. Louis, the penalty of excommunication, and the tie-in to clergy sex abuse is found at Flying Down to Rio.

Read - Christmas Rant

The best line (for humor) I thought was:

And the situation of Cardinal Bevilacqua is not unique. No Catholic prelate has been sanctioned, to my knowledge, in connection with the recent scandals involving sexual abuse of children. In this context of indulgence of serious abuse by church leaders, it can be argued that the actions of Archbishop Burke in excommunicating the leadership of a parish in a dispute over church property and clergy appointments is for a "slight cause" and therefore "works more evil than good."

I like the term 'indulgence' for its double entendre. I think I shall hasten to call Martin Luther, reformation is needed.

St. John Kanty, pray for us

2005-12-23T00:32:00.000-05:00

Conturbare cave, non est placare suave, diffamare cave, nam revocare grave
Guard against causing trouble and slandering others, for it is difficult to right the evil done.

Since the Roman Church celebrates the Commemoration of St. John of Kanty, priest on December 23rd, it is opportune that we look to him and ask his intercession for our friends at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in St. Louis.

John Cantius was born in the year 1397 in the Polish town of Kanty (near Krakow). He became a professor of theology, then a parish priest for a short time. He returned to the professor's chair at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He made pilgrimages to the holy places of Rome and Palestine.

It is said that one day, after robbers had deprived him of all his effects, they asked him whether he had anything more. The saint said no, but hardly had they gone when he remembered having sewn some gold pieces inside his clothing; immediately he followed and overtook them. The robbers, astonished at the man's sense of truthfulness, refused to accept the money and returned to him the stolen luggage.

Many miracles are attributed to him during his earthly life.

To guard himself and his household from evil gossip he wrote upon the wall of his room:

Conturbare cave, non est placare suave, diffamare cave, nam revocare grave
Guard against causing trouble and slandering others, for it is difficult to right the evil done.

His love of neighbor was most edifying. Often he gave away his own clothing and shoes; then, not to appear barefoot, he lowered his cassock so as to have it drag along the ground. Sensing that his death was near at hand, he distributed whatever he still had to the poor and died peacefully in the Lord at an advanced age. He is honored as one of the principal patrons of Poland and Lithuania.

St. John Kanty, pray for us.

And, by the way, if your read a one sided interpretation into "Guard against causing trouble and slandering others," you would be mistaken.

We don't like you - here's why

2005-12-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

More on the subject of Fr. Marek Bozek and St. Staislaus Kostka Church. The folks at Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam have been going on about the goings on in the St. Louis Archdiocese for quite a long time.

In their post, Bishop Leibrecht defends suspension of AWOL priest; they enumerate all the ways in which they feel Fr. Bozek is Satan incarnate. Among the reasons cited is a beautiful homily he delivered on the salvation of souls.

In the homily (click here to read it for as long as St. Agnes Cathedral keeps it on-line) he states:

How many times have you heard some Christians and Catholics say things like, "take it or leave it" or "go somewhere else if you don’t like it" or "you know the teachings, you cannot be Catholic and do what you are doing at the same time". There are many smart virgins nowadays who make everybody else feel so unwelcome in the Christian community. As a priest I often meet so called "fallen away" Catholics [w]ho were told to "go to hell" and they listened. They were and are struggling with one or another point of our Catholic faith or moral teachings; they were and are asking questions, admitting honestly that they are not 100% ready to meet the Bridegroom. They thought [t]hey have to fulfill all religious requirements in order to be invited, and so they left. And this is true foolishness.

The Ad Majoriam writers are exactly those people who tell everyone else to ‘go to hell’. That’s why they do not like the homily. Truth preached too close to home is dangerous.

They probably firmly believe in “Ex Ecclesia Nulla Salus” (Outside the [Roman Catholic] Church there is no salvation). Of course they believe what they wish, but since they are such sticklers for absolutes, now that Abp. Burke has excommunicated these people and has suppressed the parish, it is in effect, according to their laws, no longer “Roman” Catholic.

So I ask, why rail against the wind? These poor folks are now, to you, nothing more than abject mortal sinners in a schismatic church destined for hell. Why not rail against the Orthodox or any Protestant Church, whom, according to you are equally schismatic and destined for hell.

$9.5 million for your Abp makes you want to break out the broad axe of innuendo, detraction and calumny (also mortal sins as they are done with full knowledge) me thinks.

So it goes. I need not defend the St. Stan’s faithful. They do very well on their own. I simply point out what is obvious from Fr. Bozek’s homily.

We all sin, we all are imperfect, but continue to strive, continue to work, continue to hold people to the church. But we must not kill the seed that has been planted in each individual. We are not predestined to fall on rocky soil or among thorns. We are all intended for good soil. Woe to those who uproot and kill – for that is not our job.

Hurray for those crossing the line

2005-12-21T14:44:00.001-05:00

I read in today's news that about 1,000 transit workers crossed the NY Transit strike line today. These are about the only people who make sense to me.

How can a group that allegedly has the best interests of its 'members' (yes, I know membership is forced here in NY - and that the union leadership only cares for itself and its 'at the expense of our members' pay and benefits) allow its members to loose two days of pay per day off, be fined, loose anything they could possibly gain in a matter of a few days, and become law breaking hooligans? In addition, they are going against the advice of their own international (I like that term - everyone sing along and all hail Marx and Lenin).

Union mentality defies all logic and believes it is a law unto itself. Would I cross a line - absolutely. I'm not breaking the law, endangering my family's welfare, or breaking my commitment to the public good for anyone's agenda.

From the AP, one of the union members stated:

"The union executives called for a strike, and we have to do what we have to do," McRae said on Manhattan's West Side.

Mr. or Ms. McRae, I hope someone sues you first.

This, ‘we have a right’ mentality is another one of those roots of all evil - teaching stupidity to people. Don’t make a moral decision, let us decide for you. Don’t live up to the commitment you have, not just to your employment contract, but to doing the greater good.

It will be interesting to see what happens when someone walking over the Brooklyn Bridge falls and gets hurt or killed; when someone freezes to death walking home on Christmas Eve. Everyone will blame someone else. Everyone will sue. I will put it where it lies, that man or woman transit operator (McRae?) who should have been on the “A, C, or E line” running the train.

Now, I do believe unions have a place. In the early to mid 1900's, yes. When employers abuse, harm, kill, and treat workers as slaves - yes. Solidarity (in Poland and other similarly styled freedom fighting groups elsewhere) - yes. Would I stand with them - yes. The AFL, CIO, TWA, CWA, Teamsters, SEIU - no way.

I was forced to be a union 'member' in two places I have worked. $1,000 a year out of my pocket for nothing. $1,000 a year to give people, who would otherwise be earning a clerk's salary, a salary equal to an executive. The reality they never understood is that you can throw a salary at anyone, but it doesn't make them an executive.

Roman Catholic - Orthodox Dialog and Primacy

2005-12-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

Check out Where the Eucharist is, there is the Catholic Church for some great insights.

In my very humble and unknowing opion, I think the PNCC would be of a like mind on such concepts as are presented. Our ecclesiology is much closer to the Orthodox.

Special thanks to la nouvelle theologie via the Pontificator.

By the way - I'd love to give a Biretta tip, but I cannot seem to find a good source for purchasing one. Advice?

Fr. Bozek's side

2005-12-18T01:25:00.000-05:00

As excepted from St. Louis Today:

For Bozek, the particulars of the battle are secondary. In fact, he believes Burke is on solid ground in the dispute.

"Legally, canonically speaking, he’s right," Bozek said. "The Holy See has said he’s right. Bozek mailed a letter to Burke on Friday. In it the priest said he wanted "to express respect and assure you that you will be indeed considered by me the Archbishop..."

Bozek’s decision to flout his superiors has more to do with a situation he labels "desperate" — that members of St. Stanislaus have not been able to take part in the sacraments in their own church for longer than a year because they lack a priest.

"I can’t imagine my life without the sacraments," he said. "And these people have gone without them for so long."

...

In his letter to Burke, Bozek wrote, "I believe that there are serious and grave reasons existing at the time that validate this step, which omits the usual process of priestly assignment."

On Friday morning, Bozek was relieved of his duties in Springfield by his bishop, John J. Leibrecht. In a statement issued by the St. Louis archdiocese, Leibrecht said Bozek "no longer has the status of a priest in good standing." The statement went on to say Burke was "considering what further canonical action to take."

"The salvation of souls"

The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, visiting scholar at Santa Clara University, said Bozek’s suspension meant that "he’s not authorized to act as a priest." If Bozek presides over any sacraments at St. Stanislaus, "they would be considered valid but illicit," said Reese.

He also said public excommunication was extremely unusual. Then again, he added, "Most priests would not go up against a bishop and do something like this."

In a statement Friday, Burke reminded St. Louis Catholics that to "participate knowingly and willingly in the celebration of the Mass by a suspended priest is gravely sinful."

At a press conference Saturday, St. Stanislaus spokesman, Roger Krasnicki called Burke’s language a "scare tactic" used to keep people from coming to the church. Krasnicki also said the board and Bozek had long conversations about the possible ramifications of their actions, and were "entirely and completely prepared for the consequences."

Board member William Bialczak said he "wouldn’t doubt that Archbishop Burke is going to excommunicate all of us."

Bozek also knows he may come off as high-minded. "My bishop told me I’m naive and idealistic, and I am," he said. "I’m 30 and I have the right to be. If there’s a time to be idealistic, it’s now. Jesus was idealistic. He did things that were illegal but right. If we give up on our ideals, what are we left with?"

To help explain his actions, Bozek quotes from part of Canon 1752, the final law in the Catholic church’s law code, which reads in part, "the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes."

"I think it’s significant that the code ends that way," he said. "There are many canons, and I am breaking some of them. But to me, in that last canon, the word
‘supreme’ means it precedes all the other ones. To me, it’s about saving the souls of the people of St. Stanislaus."

About the Rev. Marek B. Bozek:

Born Dec. 18, 1974, in Zagan, Poland

Became an altar server at 10.

Attended a college seminary in Olsztyn, Poland, where he wrote two plays: “The Paraclete,” about the life of Jesus from the perspective of the Holy Spirit; and “Under Pontius Pilate,” a story Bozek says is about “what it’s like to condemn God,” set in the 20th century. “Under Pontius Pilate” was performed on television and still runs on Polish Catholic TV.

At 25, left Poland for Springfield, Mo., to continue studying for the priesthood; ordained two years later in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese.

...

And see the Urban Review website for a completely different take on this.

...

By the way, I have witnessed what church closings do to people. They don't go to another denomination; they don't go to the 'cluster parish' or the new suburban parish. They simply do not go anymore. A very sad outcome when the salvation of souls is at stake. This is obedience for the sake of obedience, not for the building up of Christ's Church.

The church my father was baptized in and the one he grew up in were both closed and have been ransacked.

Here we go again...

2005-12-18T00:10:00.000-05:00

In 1898, Bishop Michael Hoban of Scranton, Pennsylvania excommunicated Father Francis Hodur for serving the Polish immigrants of Pennsylvania’s coal mining region.

These hard working individuals would not bow to the Bishop’s demand that the lay directors of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Church turn over the church’s assets to him. The people wanted God, they needed Jesus Christ, Father Hodur came to serve them.

Yesterday, Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, Missouri excommunicated Father Marek B. Bozek and the lay Board of Directors of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church for the very same reasons. Father Bozek came to serve the people in their need and to provide for them. He came to assure that they had access to the sacraments. Abp. Burke had previously placed the Directors under interdict.

How very sad that the re-styled Roman Catholic Church of today’s American Bishops, living in the “light” of Vatican II still resort to medieval demands for property, power, and obedience and uses tools such as the interdict and excommunications. Of course the American Bishops can resort to the old when convenient, just keep that Tridentine Mass out of their churches. They like the dancing, clowns, and the ok-gay crowd.

Anyone notice any parallels? Anyone notice that the great grandchildren of the Polish immigrants of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s will still not be bullied? Anyone notice the grand irony in all this (you have to know some history here)?

The irony is that St. Stanislaus Kostka in St. Louis was allowed to be a lay led and controlled parish and the seat of the Polish ministry in St. Louis in the late 1800’s exactly to prevent what happened in Scranton from happening there. It took 107 years for Abp. Burke to get around to getting rid of those stubborn Poles. And who says history does not repeat itself?

Even the Abp’s statement, reprinted below, smacks of the same labeling that occurred back then (Fr. Bozek is an irregular priest, "We must not, however, permit Satan to steal our joy at the preparation for Christmas and the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus."). At least he is not irregular in terms of his sexuality or proclivity to destroying children’s lives. And who exactly is Satan? Who is casting the first label?

To the people of St. Stanislaus I offer my words of encouragement. Your ancestors’ stood strong. You are a prophetic gift to the church. The old Polish National Alliance motto applies to you: w jedności siła – In unity there is strength.

Fr. Bozek, Fr. Hodur burned the writ of excommunication and threw the ashes in a brook behind the church. I advise you do the same.

To Abp. Burke (as if he cares), I offer my prayers. Good management was summed up very well by Rupertus Meldenius (attributed sometimes to St. Augustine):

In necessariis unitas, In dubiis libertas, In omnibus autem caritas.
In essentials unity, In doubtful things liberty, But in all things love.

By the way, Pope Benedict would know this very well since he identifies with Augustinian truths so well. Just mention the "Friedensspruch" or "Peace Saying" to him at your ad limina.

For the Roman Catholic citation see John XXIII - Ad Petri cathedram of 1959 (quotation from paragraph 72):

But the common saying, expressed in various ways and attributed to various authors, must be recalled with approval: in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.

Below is Abp. Burke’s statement from the St. Louis Diocesan newspaper.

December 16, 2005

The deep wound of schism in the archdiocese
by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

Introduction

I write, with heavy heart, about a situation which I, as bishop, had hoped that I would never have to address. I refer to the recent break with the communion of the Roman Catholic Church on the part of the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in the City of St. Louis, and on the part of the priest from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, whom they have hired to serve them.

It saddens me, in particular, to address such a deep wound to the Church in our archdiocese in these days of our final preparation for the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord on Christmas. The fact of the schism, however, must be addressed by me now, because it has immediate effects in the whole Church, especially the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The priest in question has informed me that he will begin his service at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Christmas Eve.

As archbishop, it is my responsibility to explain the situation to all of the faithful of the archdiocese, who are so deeply affected by what has happened, in order that they not be subjected to further confusion and division, that they not be deceived about the lawfulness and validity of sacraments celebrated by the schismatic priest and that they pray for the reconciliation of those who gone into schism.

Schism

Schism is "the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him" (can. 751). It is the repudiation of the authority which Christ conferred upon St. Peter and the other Apostles in communion with him, and their successors. It, therefore, involves not only a premeditated and most grave act of disobedience to the authority of the Roman Pontiff and the bishops in the communion with him, but also a certain denial of an integral part of the Catholic faith, that is, the apostolic mark of the Church. In other words, those who choose to go into schism believe that they can be the Church without the pastoral teaching, ministration of the sacraments and governance of the Apostles and their successors.

In the case of the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, the act of disobedience involves directly not only the archbishop of St. Louis but also the Apostolic See. They have rejected both my direction and the direction of the Apostolic See.

At the beginning of my service as archbishop of St. Louis on Jan. 26, 2004, I was obliged to address the structure of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, in order that it be in conformity with universal Church law which demands that the form of civil corporation respect the office of the archbishop and pastor of the parish. Because the bylaws of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish had been altered to eliminate any recognition of the authority of the archbishop and
pastor, my predecessor, then-Archbishop Justin Rigali, had taken the proper steps to rectify the matter. In the meantime, he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and, therefore, it was my responsibility, as his successor, to complete the necessary work which he had begun for the good of the faithful of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and of the whole archdiocese.

From the very beginning of my service, the members of the board of directors of the civil corporation have refused to obey my directives and, in fact, made appeal to the Apostolic See against my directives to them. The appeal was made to the Holy Father’s Congregation for the Clergy, which is competent in such matters. The Congregation for the Clergy responded to the board of directors, strongly directing them to comply with my directives. When the board of directors refused to obey either my directives or the directives of the Apostolic See, I was obliged to impose the penalty of interdict, in the hope that the members of the board would recognize the error of their way and repent. I have insisted with the members of the board of directors that the way to unity and, therefore, peace is obedience to our lawful superiors in the Church, that is, the Holy Father’s Congregation for the Clergy.

Conflict with the Roman Catholic Church

Some have understood that the conflict of the members of the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and of those who follow them is with me personally. Such is clearly not the case, as the decision of the Congregation for the Clergy indicated. Their conflict is with the Roman Catholic Church. It is a conflict which several of my predecessors addressed in their time. The members of the board of directors refuse to accept the governance of the parish by the Roman Catholic Church, insisting that they remain devout Roman Catholics by governing the parish themselves. They have, thereby, broken the bond of communion with the Apostolic See and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Some have understood the object of the conflict to be power and money. Such is also
clearly not the case. The object of the conflict is obedience, the obedience we all owe to the Apostolic teaching and discipline of the Church.

The power in question belongs to Christ alone, who continues to guide the Church through those who act in His person as shepherd and head of the flock, in virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the jurisdiction conferred by the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ on earth, and the bishops in communion with the Holy Father. It is precisely when we place ourselves above Christ and His authority in the Church that we introduce division into the Body of Christ.

Regarding money, there has never been a question that the money and all the other temporal goods of the parish belong to the parish, as is the case with every other parish in the archdiocese. I have no authority to seize the funds of any parish for any purpose, no matter how noble. My interest in the right ordering of parish life at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish involves money only to the extent that it includes the stewardship of the goods of the parish, according to ecclesiastical and civil law, and the vigilance over the administration of the temporal goods of the parish, so that they are used for the good of the parish. For that reason, from the beginning, I have insisted that a public audit of the parish’s goods be conducted, so that there could be
no question of any misappropriation of the parish’s goods.

Act of schism

The act of schism, committed by the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, was the hiring of a suspended priest, that is a priest who is not in good standing in the Church, for the purpose of attempting to celebrate the sacraments and sacramentals at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. The priest in question, Father Marek B. Bozek, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, has left his priestly office of assistant pastor of St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield against the explicit direction of his bishop, the Most Reverend John J.
Leibrecht, and after Bishop Leibrecht had explained to him more than once the gravity of his action and its consequences.

The fact of the matter is that only a priest who is not in good standing would agree to employment by a group of parishioners without the appointment of the diocesan bishop, that is, a group of parishioners who are breaking communion with the Church. All priests serve in communion with the diocesan bishop who serves in communion with the Roman Pontiff. When Father Bozek left his assignment without his bishop’s permission, he was rightly suspended. The penalty of suspension prohibits him from the exercise of his priestly office (cf. can. 1333, §1).

A priest, who knowingly and willingly chooses to attempt to exercise priestly ministry outside of the communion of the Church and, thereby, assists and encourages others in breaking communion with the Church, clearly also commits the ecclesiastical crime of schism. To be clear, it is not only the members of the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish who are in schism, but also the priest whom they have presumed to hire and who has agreed to be hired.

In the secular media, it has been suggested that Bishop Leibrecht, more than once,
asked me to accept Father Bozek for assignment to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, but that I stubbornly refused. The suggestion is totally false. Bishop Leibrecht informed me immediately when he learned from Father Bozek about his intention to accept employment by the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. Bishop Leibrecht assured me that he had not given Father Bozek any permission to pursue a position at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and that, on the contrary, he was insisting that Father Bozek remain faithful to the exercise of his priestly office at St. Agnes Cathedral.

Father Bozek remains a priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Bishop Leibrecht as bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has made it abundantly clear that he desires Father Bozek to return to his diocese immediately, in order to be reconciled. It is my prayer that Father Bozek will respond to Bishop Leibrecht’s direction, in accord with the promise of obedience, which he made, in Bishop Leibrecht’s hands, to Bishop Leibrecht and his successors on the day of his ordination. Please pray for the same intention.

Consequences of schism

Those who commit the ecclesiastical crime of schism incur automatically the penalty of excommunication (cf. can. 1364, §1; and 1314). The excommunicated person is forbidden "to have any ministerial participation in celebrating the Sacrifice of the Eucharist or any other ceremonies of worship whatsoever" (can. 1331, §1, 1º); "to celebrate the sacraments or sacramentals, and to receive the sacraments" (can. 1331, §1, 2º); and "to exercise any ecclesiastical offices, ministries or functions whatsoever or to place acts of governance" (can. 1331, §1, 3º). The various elements of the penalty underline the fact that the party in question has broken communion with the Church. The prohibition of receiving the sacraments or sacramentals is suspended when the party under sanction is in danger of death, given that he is otherwise properly disposed (cf. can. 1352, §1).

Although the excommunication is incurred automatically, it is my duty as the diocesan bishop in whose jurisdiction the act of schism has taken place to declare the excommunication, after I have made certain that the parties in question have understood the gravity of their act and its most serious consequences (cf. cann. 1717-1719). It has been made clear to me for some time that the members of the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish have understood that the action of hiring a priest who is not in good standing in the Church to serve them carried with it the penalty of excommunication. Over the months since the imposition of the penalty of interdict, it has been my hope that the members of the board of directors would seek reconciliation. Also, I have renewed several times my offer to execute civil legal documents to guarantee what is already guaranteed by Church discipline, namely, the ownership of the temporal goods of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish as a personal parish for faithful of Polish language or heritage. The
members of the board of directors, however, have insisted on their governance of the parish, even if, at the same time, they have asserted their desire to be part of the Roman Catholic Church. Having attempted to address the situation through fraternal correction and other means of pastoral solicitude, including the pastoral visit of the Most Reverend Ryszard Karpinski, auxiliary bishop of Lublin in Poland and the delegate of the Polish Conference of Bishops for Polish faithful living outside their homeland, now I must declare that the latest action of the members of the board of directors constitutes schism, carrying with it the automatic penalty of excommunication (cf. can. 1341).

The ordained priest who goes into schism, in addition to being bound by the above-listed prohibitions, is also rendered irregular for the exercise of Holy Orders (cf. can. 1044, §1, 2º). In other words, he may not exercise the Sacrament of Holy Orders which he has received. Any Mass celebrated by a suspended and excommunicated priest is valid, but illicit. To knowingly and willingly celebrate the Holy Mass, when one is legitimately prohibited from doing so, is a most grave sin. A priest under the penalty of excommunication does not give valid sacramental absolution (cf. can. 966, §1). Neither can he validly officiate at a wedding (cf. can. 1108, §1).

The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation by a schismatic priest is invalid because he no longer has any faculty to do so, either by universal Church law or the granting of the faculty by the diocesan bishop (cf. can. 882). Baptism and the Anointing of the Sick are conferred validly but not licitly (cf. cann. 862; and 1003, §§1-2).

The faithful who approach a schismatic priest for the reception of the sacraments, except in the case of danger of death, commit a mortal sin. All of the faithful of the archdiocese should guard against any participation in the attempt to celebrate the sacraments or sacramentals at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Also, they should caution visitors and others who are unaware of the status of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, lest they unknowingly participate in the schismatic acts.

Finally, since the civil legal control of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish belongs exclusively to the members of the board of directors of the civil corporation and they have chosen to lead the members of the parish into schism, I will be obliged to suppress St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. It is not possible for St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish to remain a parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and, at the same time, to operate completely independently of the Apostolic See and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Conclusion

As I wrote at the beginning, my heart is heavy in writing to you about the break of communion with the Church by our brothers and sisters at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, most especially at the Holy Seasons of Advent and Christmas. We must not, however, permit Satan to steal our joy at the preparation for Christmas and the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus. Let, rather, the mystery of the Incarnation, which we will celebrate with deepest joy on Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas Season be the source of our renewed prayers for the reconciliation of the members of the board of directors, of those who support them, and of Father Marek Bozek.

On Dec. 17, we will begin the final days of our preparation for the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On each day, from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24, we will salute Christ our Savior by one of the ancient and beautiful titles given to the long-awaited Messiah. The last of the titles is Emmanuel. It contains all the other titles, for it means: God with us. Let us, through the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa, implore our Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Mercy, on behalf of the reconciliation of those who have gone into schism. Christ, Divine Mercy Incarnate, accomplishes all things. Let us place the dolorous situation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish into all-merciful and loving heart.

These are days of strong grace in the Church. May we keep them with deepest faith and so obtain the grace of being fittingly prepared for the great celebration of the Birth of our Savior. Through the observance of these final days of Advent, may many graces come to our homes and our archdiocese, uniting us in the peace which Christ brought to the world at His Birth.

End-note: This one will get some comments I think...

Fourth Sunday of Advent - To the only wise God

2005-12-17T11:19:00.000-05:00

To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever!

My family in Christ,

Glory to God for His wisdom. Glory to God for His mercy.

God gives David a message: I have my own plans and who are you to take charge? Look at what I have done for you and how, through you, my plan of salvation will be fulfilled. I will raise up and heir to you who will be king forever.

God tells us through Isaiah 55:8-9: "My ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts; but just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

There is no contradiction or lack of knowing in God, but there is finite understanding in us. God is perfection, our knowledge is transitory and limited.

Today we held our semi-annual penance service. At every Holy Mass our Church imparts penance and absolution after you pause to reflect on your sinfulness and privately confess to God. Do you do a good job every week? Do you focus on those recurrent sins in your life? Do you formally tell God, “I am sorry, I did wrong, I hurt You, please forgive me?” Are you serious in acknowledging God as Father and in understanding that you are made to love Him above all?

Today was the way we try to get ourselves back on track, to remember those ways we offend God and hurt our brothers and sisters. Did you know that those reflections were in our pew missals? Good practice – get here early and read those reflections.

My sisters and brothers,

This was indeed a mysterious week. We are sad at the death of our Bishop, Casimir Grotnik. At the same time, we recognize our joy that the Lord has rescued Him and is now holding him in His arms. Bishop Grotnik will hear the words: ‘Come to me good and faithful servant.’

Why did he have to suffer so much? Why in the face of suffering, was he so filled with love and generosity?

I tell you, from personal experience, it is so difficult not to question God. It is also difficult to see our suffering as so much less than the suffering Jesus Christ endured for our salvation.

In the book of Job, Job remains faithful to God. He does not turn on Him in the face of horrendous suffering. But he does question why. When God comes to him and his friends God is very clear:

Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers! Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid the cornerstone?

God goes on to question him through two chapters. In summary God is saying: “What do you know?”

Our answer must be: “Nothing! You are God!”

Like Mary, we must respond to God with the willingness to take on all God asks of us. To accept suffering with joy, to be humble, to thank Him for the blessings we have received, and to know God is our Lord and master.

And … Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Let us pray that along with Mary we may answer, as we wake each morning, "May it be done to me according to your word.”

Amen.

More survey results...

2005-12-16T14:49:00.000-05:00

More results from another interestinmg survey. The results of the other bloggers I read can be seen at Pontifications or at Bonfire of the Vanities.

And now...

You scored as Traditional Catholic. You look at the great piety and holiness of the Church before the Second Vatican Council and the decay of belief and practice since then, and see that much of the decline is due to failed reforms based on the "Spirit of the Council". You regret the loss of vast numbers of Religious and Ordained clergy and the widely diverging celebrations of the Mass of Pope Paul VI, which often don't even seem to be Catholic anymore. You are helping to rebuild this past culture in one of the many new Traditional Latin Mass communities or attend Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy. You seek refuge from the world of pornography, recreational drugs, violence, and materialism. You are an articulate, confident, committed, and intelligent Catholic.

But do you support legitimate reform of the Church, and are you willing to submit to the directives of the Second Vatican Council? Will you cooperate responsibly with others who are not part of the Traditional community?

Traditional Catholic

93%

Radical Catholic

67%

Neo-Conservative Catholic

40%

Evangelical Catholic

38%

New Catholic

38%

Liberal Catholic

31%

Lukewarm Catholic

What is your style of American Catholicism?
created with QuizFarm.com

Holy Liturgies on the Death of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Casimir J. Grotnik

2005-12-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

I am home again after spending two days at our Diocesan Seat in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday evening a solemn vespers service was held. The Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, our Prime Bishop, presided, assisted by the Senior Priest, priests, and deacons of the church. The Senior Priest of my seniorate, the Very Rev. Walter Madej, gave the homily.

It was a wonderful message that put before us the great gifts of the Holy Spirit offered to those called to the service of the Church. These gifts do not preclude suffering or sacrifice, but take that effective sacrifice as an offering for our people.

Bishop Grotnik had both great joys and great suffering. The greatness of his heart, his generosity, his love for his people and his clergy, the welcoming reality he lived and practiced were the reality that came from his joys and sufferings.

On Thursday morning the clergy of the church sung Mattins which was then followed the Holy Funeral Mass. Bishop Grotnik had and Prime Bishop Nemkovich has a wonderful talent and gift for music. The solemnity of the traditional liturgy of the Church coupled with the love and warmth of our time together before God, remembering and praying for our dear Bishop, was everything Bishop Grotnik struggled to preserve and engender within our Church.

Needless to say, the choir of St. Stanislaus Cathedral and the planning and preparations that were overseen by Fr. Anthony Mikovsky were true expressions of love for our dear Bishop.

I shall miss my spiritual father greatly and I have already seen and experienced the power of his intercession before the Lord. With the confidence the Catholic/Christian faith offers I know he is with our Father in heaven.

...

As an aside, as I was in thought after Holy Communion I looked over at the portrait of our first Bishop, Francis Hodur. Bishop Hodur was watching over the body of Bishop Grotnik, and could not help but think that Bishop Grotnik is now with Bishop Hodur, whom he spent many years researching and writing about.

...

Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord! Also, please pray for his wife Krystyna, his children, and grandchildren.

Let the Crusade Begin!

2005-12-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

In light of my post below, I offer the following image compliments of Traditional Catholic Designs.

Note, do not take this seriously beyond the fact that our active evangelization must be a crusade. Time to take seriously the command to put on the armor of Christ.

Denial keeps flowing

2005-12-12T12:39:00.000-05:00

A profound bow to Fr. Martin Fox over at Bonfire of the Vanities for his article "The Islamic Threat: same as it ever was"

The words of Paul to Timothy are not 'more' true today, but just as true, because the human heart becomes blinded to its desire for the one true God and covers that desire with words that sound sweet but will taste bitter.

To wit:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

We all want to believe in the good motives of people and want them to be able to relate to us. In doing this we often try to morph others into the person we think they should be. They become a 'kind of Christian'. An examination of the basic facts often destroys that fallacy.

The basic fact is there is no alternate Christianity. There is only one Jesus Christ who is not Buddha, Mohammed, Siddhartha, or Lao-Tse. None of these are God, but Jesus Christ. None provides us with salvation, but Jesus Christ.

To be true to truth, to bear it and proclaim it, we are required to proclaim Christ as true God and true man who purchased for all, by his blood, eternal life in heaven. Of this we are certain, of this we are required to preach and baptize.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt

2005-12-12T10:44:00.000-05:00

From today's BBC:

Abortion 'leaves mental legacy'

Some find abortion difficult to cope with An abortion can cause five years of mental anguish, anxiety, guilt and even shame, a BMC Medicine study suggests.

See the entire article by clicking here...

And from the ‘can't see the forest for the trees’ department, the abortion (death) providers are astonished because very few people come back to them for counseling.

In their land of make believe women would normally say: "Look, I feel bad because I killed my child, so why don't I go back to the scene of the crime so I can feel better about myself."

Third Sunday of Advent - My Soul Rejoices in my God

2005-12-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

The scripture passages and Gospel for today: Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Clear and unambiguous, great and heroic.

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

This day is the third Sunday in Advent. We draw ever closer to His coming. The anticipation grows and we want to cry out, “My soul rejoices in my God.”

The beauty of the first reading is its simultaneous anticipation and in our knowing its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

When we read or listen to these passages we know how they apply. There is however an important insight - these prophecies apply to us.

God has indeed anointed us. By our baptism and confirmation He sends us bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD, and a day of vindication by our God.

The day of vindication has come and is coming. We will commemorate that magnificent day in two short weeks. Today, and on that day, we must renew our pledge to live lives worthy of God’s magnificent gift - the gift of eternal life with Him.

Isaiah tells us to rejoice heartily in the LORD, in our God who is the joy of our soul; for he has clothed us with a robe of salvation, and wrapped us in a mantle of justice.

The Lord GOD made justice and praise spring up before all the nations. He sent us His only Son, Jesus. Jesus purchased our salvation and left us with a mandate.

We go forward with that mandate and we, with Paul, rejoice always. We pray without ceasing. In all circumstances we give thanks, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. We do not quench the Spirit nor despise prophetic utterances. We test everything; retaining what is good. We refrain from every kind of evil.

Paul tells us that the one who calls us is faithful.

John knew this. He had no fear of the lawyers, scholars, and bureaucrats. He did not wilt in the face of the powerful, for his power, like yours and mine, comes from the One. It comes from God who is all in all our light and salvation, our Father and Lord.

Like John, we must go forth from this place. We must go forth for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through us. On our own we are not the light, but we must, by our presence here and by our lives out there, testify to the light. Testify to the truth of Jesus and to His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

This must be our testimony in the face of our family, friends, and co-workers; the public, those who hate God and who especially hate Christianity. When they ask you: “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” You must say: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’ There is one who is returning, one you do not recognize,” who will as John proclaims, take up His winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn.

On the death of our Bishop Ordinary

2005-12-09T21:43:00.000-05:00

Our Bishop Ordinary, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Casimir J. Grotnik passed away today. I ask all of you, my readers and friends, to please pray for the repose of his soul and to pray for his wife and family.

Bishop Grotnik ordained me. He was a wonderful, insightful, and practical man. He was also a great intellectual and writer. I will miss his good humor and his guidance very much. He had a certain way of looking into your eyes and through them to your soul. He saw into you with a certainty founded in faith. He loved his people and his clergy.

As deacon, I was his hands, eyes, and ears in our Parish. We were connected by grace and by filial love and admiration.

The last time I saw him was at the Central Diocese School of Christian Living conference. He was not doing very well. He had a kidney replacement about a year ago. Recently it was found that he had cancer and hew had recurrent boughts of pneumonia. He suffered greatly, but always saw through the suffering to his faith. We have a biography of Bishop Grotnik on our Parish's website (click here...).

Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon him.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day

2005-12-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love the tradition of St. Nicholas Day. In Polish it is Mikojki time. The figure of St. Nicholas allows us to refocus the idea of “holiday” gift giving and place it in proper perspective. Gifts come from God, and God’s greatest gift is His son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

St. Nicholas visits our School of Christian Living children each year. They get the message that God sends St. Nicholas to them to encourage them in their studies, to promote their generosity, and to bless them.

In our home my children exchange small gifts. I’ve noticed that their choice of gifts is very sensitive, personal, and meaningful. They also feel special because this time/this day is unique to their Catholic/Christian life.

If you do not do this in your Parish or home, give it a try. Most pastors usually cut a fine figure in an alb, beard and white hair, red cope, and miter, carrying a cross as their crosier. The affect on your children, families, and Parish members is marvelous.

I pray that through the intercession of St. Nicholas our charity and love increase, that we look past our own desires, and that children, families, and all people be strengthened in their love and devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Second Sunday of Advent - Here for Change

2005-12-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me…”

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

John surrendered himself, John who could have had a good life as the son of a temple priest; he surrendered himself to God’s will.

What a goofball, “One mightier than I is coming after me?” John, do you understand that you are wearing camel’s hair, a leather belt, and that you’re eating locusts and wild honey? John, anyone could be mightier than you. Who is coming next, a street beggar? John, the only thing you have going for you is a lack of fear, and that, in itself, is dangerous.

Yet they came.

People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

Just like you do each week, they came. They came to hear the message of God, the promise of salvation. Repent, the time is drawing near.

Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.

John understood his mandate, his duty, and his mission. That is what we must do, because the time is drawing near.

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,”
but He is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

Peter’s message is vital. He knew patience better than anybody. He knew how many chances Jesus gave him. He knew the deep intimate and unexpected love Jesus brought. He also knew the powerful demand of accountability and repentance that Jesus mandated.

Jesus demands much from us.

We need to live in truth. We need to hold to our beliefs and faith even if everyone, family, friends, co-workers, and parish members think we are goofballs. We need to wear the modern equivalent of camel’s hair and a leather belt. We need to be who we purport to be.

As Catholic Christians in the Polish National Catholic Church we hold a unique position in the history of the Church. Our beliefs are orthodox in many ways. We are very traditional in liturgy and church polity. We abide in the underlying message of hope and trust in God. It is orthodoxy with joy. It is also the proclamation of a message of personal accountability, responsibility, and repentance.

In the PNCC we believe that Hell is a state of suffering and a place where we may go to atone for our sinfulness. It is not eternal for everyone. We believe what Peter taught:

He is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

We teach that God’s patience is eternal and everlasting. He always offers His love and provides us with opportunity to change. This is as true in this life as it is in eternal life.

The point is, and the problem is, that we must accept it. We must make a conscious choice and accept it. We must change and be regenerated in the Spirit. We must be responsible and accountable.

Most importantly, you are called to action now. Do not delay. Do not put off to tomorrow. Those who will spend eternity in Hell are those that want it. Those who are obstinate and unrepentant. Those who see their way as more important than God’s way. Those who create a life for themselves that says, I don’t need God, I can wait, I’ll pay tomorrow. The very people who rejected and eventually beheaded John.

What happens to the obstinate and unrepentant is that they find themselves fully believing in their own way – a way that refuses to subjugate itself to God’s way. A way they have trained themselves in every day of their lives.

The PNCC does not have a Satan, exorcists, or even a mention of the devil in its catechism. What we do know is that evil is real and that it is your choice – and your responsibility.

Persist in evil; persist in casting your responsibility off on Mr. Satan. Persist in believing that you will go to heaven and only the really evil will go to Hell. Persist in having it your way. Persist on living on borrowed time.

If you and I persist in being what we want, believing what we want, and in failing to meet God’s demands and expectations, then welcome to the Hell that we have created for ourselves.

If we change, if we are regenerated, if we keep working on it (because we are not perfect), then our dedication to God will move us along on the road to heaven.

You are here, so remain. You are here, like the people of Jerusalem – here to hear the message. You are here to receive sanctifying grace through penance, the Word, and the Eucharist. You are here to build strength for the road. You are here to change – for heaven’s sake.

Advertising kills the news

2005-12-02T13:49:00.000-05:00

I've had to remove the Moreover newsfeed item from this page. Unfortunately, the advertisers Moreover uses to support their newsfeeds are not consistent with the message my blog tries to convey.

You would think that Moreover would look at the news items contained in a feed. If I were them, I would choose advertisers consistent with the output page's theme. Why not choose companies consistent with my news feeds about Religion and Poland? I know Google can do this with their ad copy, I guess Moreover cannot.

It appears dating and illicit encounters are more important to the folks at Moreover. The bottom line rules their day.

On the good side, my pages may load faster!

To contact Moreover, feel free to visit their website at: http://w.moreover.com/.

First Sunday of Advent - Why?

2005-11-26T13:10:00.000-05:00

Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from Your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear You not?

In other words, Lord, why do you allow us to be the people we are? Why do you let us go on and on? Why, why, why?

We are always asking God why. Why am I the way I am? Why do I suffer? Why do others hurt me? Why do I hurt others? Why Do I keep forgetting about God?

We really do want an answer. More than an answer, we want a sign. We want Jesus to come back and straighten everything out.

Over the past few weeks the Gospels have dealt with being prepared. They dealt with the end of time. We want that. Please separate the sheep from the goats, answer my questions, give me a firm foothold and a grasp on what is really going on.

Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,

And this is echoed in the words of our Psalm response: “let us see your face and we shall be saved.”

We are literally dying to get to the Lord.

The inescapable fact is that as we age, as we approach our end, our hope increases. We will see His face and be saved. This is because our time of waiting, our time of expectations is drawing shorter and shorter.

Saint Paul gives us this assurance and more:

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in Him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, we have been enriched, given every gift, and all the knowledge we need. The gift we have is our Christian/Catholic faith. The sustaining gift we receive is the Eucharist, Jesus’ very body and blood, and His Word, the Gospel, both filling us with sanctifying grace. These gifts prepare us for His revelation. We have the answer we need to follow Jesus’ command:

Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: (Watch!)

Your job is to question less and believe more. We have all we need to become regenerated. God’s offering is on the table. Come forward, accept it, let it fill your heart and renew you. Become the new man, the new woman, alive in faith, alive in the hope and expectation of Christ.

Eat His body, drink His blood. Walk in His ways. Know that you have all you need to do this. Use your free will and take it on.

The answers are there and they all begin with Jesus.

Why am I the way I am? Jesus asks you to use your unique gifts and personality to build His kingdom. You are essential to His kingdom.

Why do I suffer? Jesus was not above suffering. Do not trade your cross for His or another’s. Bear it for love of Jesus. Offer up your cross and make of it sacrificial suffering for His kingdom.

Why do others hurt me? Why do I hurt others? Jesus told us we are sinful and are in need of repentance. You must cast aside your sin and accept His forgiveness.

Why Do I keep forgetting about God? Jesus’ eternal love is less attractive than worldly cares, or so you think.

Now is the time, this is the moment to re-orient yourself. Do not let this second pass without your personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Do not let this time of expectation be spent in indecisive waiting, but in waiting with the blessed assurance that Jesus Christ is our life, our salvation, and our end.

Amen.

The Priesthood and…

2005-11-25T15:32:00.000-05:00

Among the secondary reasons I joined the PNCC was the whole issue of the priesthood and what it stands for. I’m not talking theologically, because the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and PNCC priesthood are rather on the same page from that perspective.

What I considered important was what the priesthood represents at witness in the world, in the flesh. I think the vast majority (95%) of priests in the PNCC are married. To me this is essential. It is also why I believe the Orthodox have it right. I also want to give a hearty tip o’ the miter to Cardinal Husar of the Ukraine who said in an interview (read entire interview by clicking here...)

“QUESTION: Recently there have also been problems for your married priests who operate in Western Europe. The doctrine of “canonical territory” for which the Orthodox are being reprimanded, has surfaced in the requests of some European episcopates …

HUSAR: The Spanish and Italian bishops have written to us asking us not to send married priests to their countries for the pastoral care of our communities. But we don’t have enough celibate priests to send for pastoral service, now that the faithful of our Church are spread throughout the world. I understand the reasons of our brother bishops in the West. They are afraid of what appears to them perhaps as a bad example, given that in their Churches there is debate on this point. The attachment to cultural forms must be taken into consideration, but these must not be absolutized. One can calmly explain that married men are ordained priests not only in the Orthodox Church, but also in the Catholic Church. I come from a family of priests. My grandfather was a priest, many of my relatives are married priests. Some wonderful, others less so. At the same time, I know exemplary celibate priests, and others who are not indeed so. The quality of a priest does not depend on being married or not. In some cases, for one who tries to live his vocation, having a family may also be an advantage. But I don’t wish to be discourteous to my Latin brothers. I only wish our priests be treated in the West also with the respect that is shown to our brother Orthodox priests.”

Cardinal Husar is a gem!

I read Amy Welborn’s response to the leaked, upcoming document regarding homosexuals in the Roman Catholic priesthood. I can say that I agree with her on many/most levels, though not completely. Where I digress is indicative of my thinking on the subject.

View her entire post by clicking here...

Now for my comments on the areas I diverge (hey, what are blogs for anyway if not to present divergent views):

“Which is why the seminaries have to tend to the personal formation, the psychological and emotional makeup of the candidate. When I wrote that NY Times op-ed, the editor questioned the used of the word "formation." I explained that "education" would not get at it, because that's not what seminary is - it's formation of the whole person, since priesthood is not just an intellectual stance, it's the gift of one's whole life to God and His people.”

Yes, the seminary is for formation of which education is only a part. When education takes primacy what you get is the typical intellectual or legalistic priest. When humanism takes over, you get a great social worker whose values lay in humanity, not in God, not a priest at all.

Yes, priesthood is a gift and with the option of being married it becomes not only a gift of ones self, but of the family unit. It is the modeling of the Christian family by Christian leaders, our priests. The married priest cannot lead a dualistic existence. He does not have a church face and a home face. The truly wonderful examples of married priests and their families show a joined and unified surrendering of life to the service of God and community. It is the element of sacrifice and surrender involved for the priest’s spouse and family. A Christian sacrificial love. It is a truly right ordered biblical understanding of the family relationship.

Formation is required in choosing right relationships. Choosing a spouse and the potential spouse’s choice of you, as a priest, has to be well founded and must be done with the clearest understanding of your joint mission. It is a life of sacrifice – but sacrifice within the construct that God intended in creating man and woman.

This leads to my deep disagreement with:

“Here's what celibacy is supposed to be: it's supposed to be a life of eschatological witness, an extreme sign of what, in the end, we are called to be, and will be in the fullness of the Kingdom: for God alone.”

It is frankly, in my opinion, a symbol of personal, chosen martyrdom for the purpose of self aggrandizement and pride. Sometimes, at the worst levels, it is a protective shield against the necessary commitment that comes with human relationships.

‘Look at me; I am alone, in pain.’ Look, I’m nailing myself to the cross as a symbol of what heaven will look like? ‘Look at me, I made a commitment to God, I might have sex with you, but I cannot commit to you too.’ I think not.

There is room for celibacy, if you are given that charism. The Roman Church does not offer you the opportunity to fulfill that Spirit given gift. It requires that you go to the Spirit and demand it.

The key word is “extreme”. It is extreme in that it takes the choice from God and makes celibacy an operation by law.

We are all called to be “for God alone” as our primary and ultimate. However, as implied here to be “for God alone” is extremism and the misuse of what it means to be for God alone. I actively work to set aside my sinfulness, to repent and make amends. I seek to live the life God intended. This does not mean that I must give up human relationships and my marriage. Check out the book Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick

If this apartness were so, the inspired writers of the Bible would have given us that symbolism. They did not, but for a few examples.
When they showed us sacrificial love, it was for the purpose of holding up self-sacrifice as a freely chosen offering.

We are not Christ. We are the humanity he took on. Humanity created to come together as family and community. When Jesus Christ took on our humanity it was not for the absence of deeply personal relationships but for their ultimate beauty. He calls us to be fully human in all its dimensions sans sin.

“And they [priests] will embrace what the Church teaches, will teach it themselves, and will commit to helping, with compassion and understanding, Catholics live this out themselves.”

Yes, absolutely!

What Makes a Good Christian?

2005-11-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

I took the survey. It was very interesting and I think well put together. The following quotes were found at http://www.emaxhealth.com/27/3826.html

"Boston University researchers seek 'answer' to provocative question through www.religiosityscalesproject.com survey

...

The current Web survey follows-up the team's extensive review of existing scales of religiosity, the quality of being religious, which examined some 150 measurements used by psychologists, sociologists and others. Research on the relationship of religious faith and facets of today's society such as volunteerism, belief systems, tolerance, prejudice, forgiveness and more, depends upon the availability and accuracy of such scales.

...

"It's worth noting that in the phrase 'a good Christian,' the term 'practicing' may be substituted for 'good,' since the study is seeking to determine the importance of each of the items in the lives of Christians, not the 'goodness' or 'badness' of Christians," said Cutting.

It should take participants less than a half-hour to complete the full survey at www.religiosityscalesproject.com. For each of the 59 multiple choice questions, respondents are asked to judge the importance of each action, task, practice or principle to being a "good Christian," or "practicing Christian." Choices are on a one to five scale and range from "not at all important" on one end to "absolutely essential" on the opposite end of the spectrum. The survey is open to men and women of all ages, races, ethnicities, social classes, geographical regions and political and social beliefs. While respondents are asked for their age, gender and ethnicity, the Web site does not collect specific identifying information, making it impossible to connect any individual with their respective responses. "

Thanks be to God

2005-11-24T01:23:00.000-05:00

I wish all of my fellow U.S. citizens a very happy Thanksgiving Day.

The naysayer and skeptic will probably say, "What is there to be thankful for this year?"

As I updated our church sign tonight to read: "Thanks be to God for every gift" I could not help but reflect on the tremendous suffering endured this year. At the same time we sit with one of our parishioners in the final days of his earthly pilgrimage.

Thanks be to God for every gift, including and especially for the gift of suffering.

Help me to reflect more intently on the fact that You shared our joys and celebrations as well as our tears and sufferings. In the end you suffered beyond all suffering and died completely alone, abandoned. You tied yourself completely to us for our salvation.

Help me to be thankful for each gift given for our salvation. Help me to remember that Your good gifts include things that are both joyful and sorrowful.

Amen.

My theological perspective

2005-11-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to the Pontificator once again. A recent post on the "Theological Worldview Test" revealed him to be 96% Roman Catholic. I thought I would see how I fared. And the results are:

You scored as Neo orthodox. You are neo-orthodox. You reject the human-centeredness and skepticism of liberal theology, but neither do you go to the other extreme and make the Bible the central issue for faith. You believe that Christ is God's most important revelation to humanity, and the Trinity is hugely important in your theology. The Bible is also important because it points us to the revelation of Christ. You are influenced by Karl Barth and P T Forsyth.

Neo orthodox

79%

Roman Catholic

75%

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

75%

Classical Liberal

54%

Emergent/Postmodern

50%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

39%

Reformed Evangelical

39%

Modern Liberal

32%

Fundamentalist

14%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

Actually, pretty true to who I am for a short quiz.

A slightly more engaging quiz reveals:

Your results for Christian Traditions Selector.

Percent Rank Item

(100%) 1: Eastern Orthodox
(98%) 2: Roman Catholic
(93%) 3: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England
(83%) 4: Lutheran
(79%) 5: Presbyterian/Reformed
(62%) 6: Congregational/United Church of Christ
(48%) 7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic)
(33%) 8: Church of Christ/Campbellite
(22%) 9: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene
(18%) 10: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist
(16%) 11: Seventh-Day Adventist
(10%) 12: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God
(05%) 13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.)

I seem to follow the path of the reformation pretty closely.

While taking these quizzes and thinking about theologians I recalled the words from the Wizard of Oz to the Scarecrow when the Scarecrow received his brain:

"Why, anybody can have a brain. That's a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have! But they have one thing you haven't got - a diploma."

What looks like a good book from my neo-orthodox brethren:

Remembered Voices
Reclaiming the Legacy of "Neo-Orthodoxy"
by Douglas John Hall
Westminster / John Knox Press,
1998
176 pages,
English
Paper
ISBN: 0664257720

News Items - Why being helpful isn't always helpful

2005-11-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

Excerpt from LifeSiteNews.com

Catholic Schism Being Revealed as Homosexual Priest Document Readies for Release

By John-Henry Westen, VATICAN, November 14, 2005 - As the publication of the new Vatican document on homosexuality and the Catholic priesthood is about to be published at the end of the month, several Catholic leaders including an American bishop have publicly stated their views against the long-standing Vatican position against ordaining men with homosexual inclinations to the priesthood. Rochester, NY, Bishop Matthew H. Clark, was the latest to come out in favour of homosexual priests in a column in his diocesan paper Saturday.

...and...

Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, the international leader of the Dominican Order from 1992 to 2001, last week slammed any suggestion of barring homosexuals from the priesthood, and suggested barring "homophobes" instead. "Any deep-rooted prejudice against others, such as homophobia or misogyny, would be grounds for rejecting a candidate for the priesthood, but not their sexual orientation," he said.

Clark, in his column, relates the story of priests and religious in his diocese who have "come out" to him as being homosexuals. About receiving the revelations, the bishop writes "I know that I was deeply gratified that they entrusted me with that information . . . Their simplicity and honesty with me only deepened my regard for them . . . and (I) felt enriched by their trust and confidence."

Clark says media reports that the upcoming Vatican document will restate the church's position that those with homosexual orientations are unfit for the priesthood are "a source of great pain for them and for all of us who know and love them."

However, as re-affirmed in 1961, the Catholic Church's official disciplines have strictly forbidden the ordination of homosexuals, whether 'active and open' or otherwise. The fact that the Vatican's instruction was largely ignored is evidenced by the current proliferation of homosexual men in the priesthood and subsequent need for another document reiterating the direction.

Nevertheless, Clark says, "The fundamental concern of formation for a life of celibate chastity is for sexual maturity, not sexual orientation." He goes so far as to tell homosexual men, using the homosexual activist "gay" term, "to gay young men who are considering a vocation to priesthood. We try to treat all inquiries fairly. You will be no exception."

--------------

If you look at the original posting from Bishop Clark in his diocesan newspaper you will notice that his column portrays him as so very open. It has a very positive spin. He portrays himself as being fair minded and accepting of people's 'vocations'. It is a reminder to his flock that there is a process of discernment and review before anyone becomes a priest. He tells us that he is not closing the door.

The different take in the LifeSiteNews article reminds me of the old saying, sometimes it is not helpful to be helpful - and for us at least, we should not be helpful in the way we discern (on our own).

Churches have a process for discernment, whether it is in vocational awareness or in matters of theology or dogma. When we decide to impose our personal agendas on a matter that has undergone discernment under the ecclesial norms of the Church, then we are being helpful in an unhelpful way.

Like Bishop Robinson of New Hampshire, the office of Bishop can be easily hijacked by personal agendas.

It is far more charitable and helpful to be honest about a vocation. Perhaps, your vocational calling is not to the Holy Priesthood, but to the single life. A life dedicated to Christ in chastity. Whether hetero or homosexual – chaste. And no, phony marriage ceremonies or govenment allowances do not relieve you of the necessity of not engaging in sinful sexual activity.

As we approach the season of Advent, let’s pray that we watch in patience. God has given us all we need for our journey. We need to set aside activist agendas that fly in the face of the Gospel’s call to repentance, and not just repentance, but to set aside sin. Sacrificial living is hard.

For those who love irony, today’s Buffalo News has an article about a 60 year old widower and grandfather that was ordained to the Holy Priesthood this past weekend. In it:

“A long-postponed journey into the Catholic priesthood concluded Saturday with the ordination at age 60 of the Rev. Richard J. Cilano of Victor in St. Joseph Cathedral.

The Mass was celebrated here [in Buffalo, NY] because the Rochester native's home diocese, but not the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, deemed him too old.”

Yes, that’s Rochester, NY, Bishop Clark’s Diocese.

Well said...

2005-11-20T22:16:00.000-05:00

From Alvin Kimel at the Pontifications Blog

Re-enchanting the Mass

“There have been many days since when I have wondered if God actually exists or whether Jesus is truly risen from the dead. But as long as I believe, I will believe that the consecrated elements are truly the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus. I found it possible to believe the Eucharistic promises of Christ because of the enchanting power of the liturgy....”

And so much more so well said! A great analysis of what our aching minds, hearts, and souls are missing. People come to Church to be re-energized, re-connected, and re-focused, all-in-all centrally on God and on His Son Jesus Christ.

This was the first and foremost reason for my falling in love with the PNCC. It is the mystery and reverence with which the Holy Mass is conducted. It is not mass, a community celebration, or any other term. It is simply Holy Mass. Every first Sunday Holy Mass concludes with solemn Exposition and Benediction. Each Holy Mass begins with the Asperges (Vidi aquam during Eastertide). The entire atmosphere draws you to the place where Christ is real and present in a most special way – His Church.

Adherence to the rhythm and life of the Church is expressed not only by the calendar, but more so, and in a more real way, by the liturgical life of the Parish. I hope Mr. Kimel continues to find those Parishes out there that are true gems. They allow the radiance, mystery, and glory of God to touch us in a very human way, thus building up the humanity God intended in all of us.

Solemnity, Christ the King - The Veil will be Lifted

2005-11-15T16:18:00.000-05:00

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

My fellow subjects of Christ the King,

The veil will be lifted and we shall see God as He is.

This passage in the Gospel has always held a special place in my heart. It lets me look at the last days as a sort of observer. I’m watching the sheep and the goats from on-high. I’m watching Jesus in His glorious second coming. Jesus robed in gold, surrounded by angels, seated on a throne. Trumpets blast, paradise to the right, damnation and fire to the left. A huge sea of humanity before Him.

I wonder if anyone has ever captured this event in a movie? The Gospel lets us watch this movie in our minds.

But, the veil will be lifted,

The veil to be lifted is our veil of voyeurism. We will not be watching this event, but will be participants in it. We will not have the luxury of checking out all the cool sights and sounds; we will be shaking in our shoes.

Remember those small wrongs we have all done? We put them quickly out of our minds. Remember those small and sometimes big lies? We thought the passing of time would wipe them clean. Remember every sin you have committed? Remember those times you put yourself and your money ahead of the stranger, the naked, the sick or the imprisoned? Remember that time you “just couldn’t make it” to see mom or dad, your brother or sister, Aunt Susan or Uncle Tony? Remember that time you judged the person next to you? You’ll be in line thinking about those things pretty fast.

The veil will be lifted,

As we look upon Jesus Christ our King seated on the throne of glory we will also be looking at the rest of humanity around us. We will not be seeing Bob, Nancy, Jim, Mary, Tom, Hassam, Fatima, Manuel, Hilda, Miecislaw, Jadwiga, Juan, Hiroshi, or Kameko. We will be looking at Jesus Christ crucified in them. They will see Jesus Christ crucified in us. We will see the pain and loneliness we have inflicted upon others.

We will see very clearly that Jesus is within each of us. When we hurt another, when we criticize another, when we imply motives to another person, we do it to Christ. We drive the nails straight into Jesus’ hands right through the heart of the person next to us.

The veil will be lifted,

It is something that you and I will not be able to bear. Remember how Peter cried after he disowned Jesus? The old story is that the lines in Peter’s face were from the rivers of tears he cried for days after hurting Jesus.

Very few of us approach Christian perfection and frankly we are all headed to the left. It is pretty cut and dried.

But the veil will be lifted.

The Bible says that we all sin, we all fall short of God's glory and righteousness. We do not and cannot earn God's acceptance, nor do we need to. Jesus has purchased that for us by His death on that cross.

On that last day our hope is in Jesus Christ the true shepherd. The Bible tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds "He had compassion on them for they were helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Jesus let us press thorns into his head, beat him, whip him, and nail him to a cross. He carried that cross and died on it for our sin. Enduring enormous suffering, Jesus paid for sin on our behalf.

He died, but rose again, showing the world that He has complete power over death. When Jesus said he came to give us eternal life, he showed that he owned eternal life and he offers it to us as a gift. In His kingship we receive that gift.

This is God’s remarkable love for us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him...might have eternal life."

This is what our Church, the PNCC teaches. The road to the left is not the final curtain. We teach that repentance, sorrow for our sins and the desire for God opens the door to God’s everlasting love, a door that is never closed. Our Church preaches the hope of the Gospel. Not a false hope of happy times and the easy way, but a hope that comes from right belief. Give yourself to the shepherd and he will take you into His sheepfold. Desire Him above all else, repent and make amends.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in him...might have eternal life."

Amen.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Biblical Investing

2005-11-12T23:49:00.000-05:00

For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;

My sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus,

I love biblical lessons on investing.

Consider these questions: Can we invest with our own knowledge and skills and obtain an everlasting reward? Can we go toe-to-toe with God and answer Him in regard to what is right? Can we expect a return for our investment of time in this Church this Sunday?

To the first and second question, no. We cannot rely on ourselves. We cannot approach God as experts, demanding of Him.

What is sadly lacking in our hearts is humility and knowing our place. It is lacking because society and the world tell us that we are grand. Our ideas are perfect, our opinions and feelings are important. Our desires should be met, whatever they are. False and dangerous reasoning.

For the third question, Can we expect a return on this Sunday’s investment of time? Maybe. If we are led by the Holy Spirit, and come to God of our own free will, perhaps. If we live Christian lives beyond this Sunday morning, all the more certain.

But, we must first come here. We must come and lay our lives and our desires at the foot of the cross.

If we come with humility and the desire for God burning within us we have found wisdom, the worthy wife. “her value is far beyond pearls.”

I thank God that we have been called. That we have been called here, not because of our own righteousness, but because of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our acceptance of the call and our follow-through in living the call is the outward sign of that wisdom.

Reflect on your parents’ gift to you at Baptism. Your inclusion and membership in the Body of Christ, not by your own desire and demand, but by your humility.

Think about Baptism. A small child, little self consciousness or determined will. A child subject to the will of another. A child, ultimately, really, and symbolically carried to the waters of Baptism. The child, pure humility and reliance.

Jesus told us that we must be as the little children, even now.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light and children of the day.

No, you are not in darkness. You know that, as children, we must be humble before God. You know that we must set our own will and desires aside – to let God lead us. To free ourselves from the darkness of earthly desires and enter into the light of the kingdom.

Jesus told Peter this.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

And this is what we must do as good investors. We must come to this Altar free from self-will. Reliant only on the grace and love of God. Humble in receiving Jesus Christ into ourselves through the Word and through His body and blood. Dependent on an act of faith, trusting in God. Come forward and proclaim your faith. Stand now and profess your act of faith.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

2005-11-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

My family, joined together in the name of Christ Jesus,

We all thirst. Within us is an unquenchable desire. During the month of November we reflect even more deeply on this desire.

On All Souls Day Father Andrew and I read the names of our deceased brothers and sisters. Before each High Holy Mass throughout the month we will re-read those names, and pray for the repose of their souls. A strong symbol of our desire to remember them.

For All Souls Day we broke out the black vestments. You do not see these very often. They are however very representative of our feelings. They are symbolic of our emotions, our longing, and our need.

When I visit a funeral home before the Requiem Holy Mass, I ask people what color they would like us to use for their loved one’s funeral. They have a choice of black, purple, or white. Invariably, people choose white. White is obviously symbolic. We celebrate our brothers’ and sisters’ entry into heaven. We celebrate their life. We are supposed to be ‘happy’.

In today’s second reading, Saint Paul reminds us that death is not a time for mysterious grief, but a time for ardent hope. We know where we, as people who hope in the salvation of Christ Jesus, are going.

“We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”

My brothers and sisters,

The fact is, we are not happy. We miss them. Even weeks, months, years later we will cry for them. Our pain might ease over time. But we are not predisposed to forget them. We cannot wash away our sadness and desire in a sea of joyful white. When we try to mask the reality of our existence, when we try to cover our true feelings, we are failing to touch the humanity that God gave us.

The first reading speaks of the gifts of wisdom. Wisdom is found in truth.

The truth is, we are thirsting. We thirst for the Kingdom of God. We thirst to be joined together. What we see now is only shadows, and what we know now is not everlasting happiness. What we do know is that we must walk the way of the cross before we can reach the Resurrection. Good Friday comes before Easter Sunday. We know that we must be truthful and deal with the pain and sadness represented in black before we can get to the white.

The ten virgins represent this difference. Five were wise. Five were prepared for and understood reality. Five knew that the bridegroom has his own schedule. Five were foolish. Five thought they knew what was going to happen and were left unprepared.

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them, but
the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

The five foolish virgins created their own reality. They had their own dreams and schemes. You would think that after sitting there, waiting for a while, at least a few of them would have gotten nervous. You would think at least a few would have rethought their positions on what is real. But no,

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

They waited to rethink their concept of reality and didn’t do so until it was too late.

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Now is the time to reconnect to what is real. Now is the time to worship what is real. Now is the time to buy your oil and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now is the time to be ready. Do not think that you have the power to define reality. That is God’s job.

Let us pray that our reality will be the truth taught by wisdom. Let us pray that we rethink our perceptions and concepts, and that we sacrifice what we think at the foot of the Cross. Lord Jesus Christ, take my life and teach me Your truth. Amen.

News Items

2005-11-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

Today’s articles are categorized under the title of generally to completely disturbing:

From the Associated Press:

Bishop: Anglican[s] Will One Day Embrace Gays

LONDON, November 4, 2005, AP -- The first openly gay Episcopal bishop said Friday he believed that the wider Anglican Church will eventually embrace homosexuals, but perhaps not in his lifetime.

He met privately Thursday with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who is struggling to hold the Anglican Communion together despite vehement and apparently irreconcilable differences over whether gays should serve as priests and bishops. Conservatives believe that is contrary to the Bible, and have condemned moves by Anglicans in the United States and Canada to affirm faithful homosexual relationships.

Robinson described the meeting as "cordial," while Williams' office said it was "friendly but candid." Neither side has disclosed the substance of their discussions.

"I believe that the acceptance of gay and lesbian people into the life of the Church is something that is going to happen," Robinson said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio.

This is very interesting. Christian tradition (although not sacramental in the Anglican/EC-USA) holds that Episcopal consecration confers the offices of sanctifying, teaching and ruling. A Bishop allegedly has the fullness of these roles in his office.

I wonder if Bishop Robinson understands his teaching role? It would appear that he is quite misguided about the teachings of his own church. His statement above would make you think that as soon as a gay person steps foot in an Anglican or EC-USA Church they are thrown out. Thankfully the Bishop is wrong in his assessment and in 'his' teaching. The church does not shun or throw out gays. It accepts them, just like it accepts the rest of us, in our sinfulness. What the Church does not accept is persistence in sinfulness. What the Church expects is repentance.

It would appear to this writer that the Bishop was endowed with the spirit of political advocacy rather than the Holy Spirit at his consecration.

In the same story:

Anglicans disagree on other issues including abortion, stem-cell research and the war in Iraq, he [Bishop Robinson] said.

"So the question is can we still live together and hold on to one another while we resolve this issue?" Robinson said.

Ummm, NO. We can ask repentance from sinfulness but as Saint Paul so aptly put it:

"Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?" (2 Cor 6:14-15)

We pray that the gifts of sanctifying, teaching and ruling are soon bestowed on the Bishop. Like the gift of forgiveness, they are waiting out there.

In the deeply disturbing column:

EU Conference Says World is a Cruel Place Because of Catholic Church
TheFactIs.org, November 4, 2005

Finding ways to force countries like Ireland, Portugal and Malta to liberalize their abortion laws was the focus of a meeting of 17 members of the European Parliament and representatives of various NGOs who gathered in Brussels on October 18. At a conference entitled, "Abortion – Making it a right for all women in the EU," attendees heard testimony from abortion advocates from countries with restrictive abortion laws. Held at the European Parliament building, participants strategized about ways to make a right to abortion mandatory for all member states of the European Union. They discussed ways to argue that guaranteeing the right abortion falls under the European Union's mandate because it is a human rights and public health issue.

Participants were particularly concerned about the role of the Catholic Church in countries with a strong Catholic identity. Maria Elena Valenicano Martinez-Orozco, a member of the European Parliament from Spain, spoke on "How to deal with the Catholic Church and reproductive rights."

Once the labeling begins the persecution is not far behind. As Christians, we are getting in the way of the ‘I want, I think, I need, I have a right’, generation. Christ's message is bringing the sword once again. Christian's, take a look at the Cycle A readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. It's time to make sure we have enough oil for our lamps.

News Items

2005-11-03T15:29:00.000-05:00

Interesting, sometimes happy, sometimes disturbing articles from the recent news:

In the disturbing column:

Sacramento Catholic School Expels 15-year-old Student who Alerted Bishop to Abortion Activist Teacher

Bishop's Hands are Tied

SACRAMENTO, November 2, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A 15-year-old girl at a Catholic school who was responsible for alerting her bishop to the presence of a pro-abortion activist teacher on staff at her school has been expelled from the school. Katelyn Sills, was expelled from Loretto High School in Sacramento last week, two weeks after the teacher, who was found to be an abortion clinic escort, was dismissed at the behest of the local Bishop William Weigand.

For Ms. Sills blog, visit here...

For the story source, visit here...

And the topper for this infamy was:

"SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION DISAGREED WITH BISHOP BUT DID FOLLOW DIRECTION

Rev. McDermott notes that when the Bishop raised the issue with Sr. Timothy and Principal Sr. Barbara Nelson, they "did not agree entirely with our position." However, Rev. McDermott added that Sr. Timothy "quite correctly and honorably followed the bishop's suggestion and removed Mrs. Bain, the person in question, from employment.""

Well, I guess killing babies is a situational ethics thing for the school administration.

You can contact the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Loretto Sisters via their website at www.ibvm.org. Either their motto, Freedom, Justice, Equality applies to all of humanity, born, unborn, young, and old or perhaps only to whom they feel it should.

In the well done column:

The United Methodist Church (UMC) disbarred a lesbian minister for failing to live up to her commitment to the Church's discipline. It wasn't that she lived openly as a lesbian (i.e., she didn't keep it a secret), but that she did so in contradiction to what she is supposed to represent.

The UMC Press Release stated that:

In an Oct. 31 telephone interview, Stroud said she "will continue to stay in the United Methodist Church and work for change. Today's decision shows that the existing discrimination in the United Methodist Church is clear. There's no room to be in denial about that.

That's right Miss. Stroud, the Christian Church does discriminate. We discriminate against sin. We do not embrace sin. We embrace you and hope to lead you from sin to Christ Jesus.

See the full article here...

The UMC also re-instated a pastor who was removed when he refused to allow an actively gay man to join the Church.

See that article here...

Way to go UMC!

Commemoration of All Souls

2005-11-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

On this All Souls Day I want you and I to focus on the body of Christ.

The Body of Christ – the Church with you and me as its members. The Body of Christ with our deceased relatives, friends, and benefactors as its members. The Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

The Body of Christ is what we are and what we are becoming. Each day that we come to Holy Mass we are being transformed. We are transformed in a way that requires us to give up our appearances and our facades. We are transformed in a way that requires us to become what God has always intended for us to be.

When we receive Holy Communion we are changed. We are primarily nourished spiritually. We are made part of Christ. Jesus Christ is taking us unto Himself. This is unlike regular eating, where the food we ingest strictly becomes part of us. At the same time we are fortified by the bread so that the ‘staff of life’ strengthens us for the Holy work ahead of us.

How does this transformation occur? It occurs in the most mysterious and magnificent way, through our reception of our Lord, Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In his Summa Theologiae (3a.75.1), St Thomas Aquinas addresses the question: ‘Is Christ is really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist, or is He only there in a figurative way, as a sign or symbol.’ St. Thomas’ belief, and ours, is that Jesus Christ is really the Holy Eucharist. He is here body, soul, humanity, and divinity, because Jesus desires to maintain friendship with us. There is no more bread or wine, it is Him.

St. Thomas summed it all up by making several points:

· The charity of Christ led him to take a real body, to become human and unite that body to the Godhead to save us.
· The law of friendship requires that friends should live together in union.
· Jesus promised us his bodily presence.
· Jesus has not left us without his bodily presence in our pilgrimage to heaven.
· Jesus specifically told us, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.”

These thoughts from the passages in St. Thomas’ work are truly wonderful. They tell us what we know by instinct. Friends and lovers cherish each other’s bodily presence. Our bodies are the very means of our communion.

Some Protestant churches do not believe in the real presence as we do. Their theology has boiled down the relationship with Christ to an “I and thou” personal communion. The Body of Christ is more than Jesus and me.

The Body of Christ is all of us together. God and I are not alone. I am not alone in my joys, sufferings, happiness, sadness, struggle or triumph. I am joined to Christ and to the entire Christian community everywhere and throughout all time.

Jesus Christ is indeed real and present with us and for us. The bread and cup are his visible body. When Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood” He is telling us: “Here I am for you. I love you. I died for you. I forgive you. I fill you with my Spirit. I give you eternal life. Come, come feast upon me. I am the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation.”

Today we conduct this immemorial remembrance for our deceased brothers and sisters. We reaffirm that they are not gone, wiped out of existence, but that they are present here with us spiritually as they pray and intercede for us in heaven.

In the funeral liturgy we remember that those who have died were baptized into the Body of Christ, made members of His Holy Church. We remember too that they ate the Bread of Life and drank from the Cup of eternal salvation.

In the Holy Eucharist we, the Body of Christ, encounter the source of our life and salvation – Jesus Christ, God and man. We eat His flesh and drink His blood. We chew on Him and digest Him so we can become more like Him, less like us.

When you approach the Eucharist today, and I encourage you to approach Holy Communion as often as it is available, know that you are purified and sanctified by God’s grace. Know that you are regenerated into our Lord’s very body, and that you are joined to the entire Body of Christ, living and deceased, militant and triumphant.

May our prayers for our beloved dead be blessed and received this day through the merits won for us by Him who is our Lord, Jesus Christ, and through His grace may we all be joined together in the Kingdom of God.

[My special thanks to Al Kimel from the Pontifications Blog for the inspiration for this homily]

Solemnity of All Saints

2005-11-01T01:49:00.000-05:00

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.

But we’re turning into the Maytag repair man. Our lot is getting very lonely. Being a true Christian, especially in a traditional Catholic/Christian community is not very easy. It takes a special gift of the Holy Spirit to hold true to what is right in the Church.

In the Roman Catholic tradition there is a great battle going on. It is between those who which to re-invent the Church in their own image and those who hold fast to a very traditional, dogmatic way of thinking.

Neither is correct.

I recently read a series of articles in the St. Anthony’s Messenger, a Franciscan magazine. These were effusive articles relating the great things that Vatican II brought about. The commentators and the “everyday people,” selected to write brief observations, were completely one sided in their views. The funny thing was that there was a common thread, besides the ‘this is all great’ part of their message. The common thread was that they all said ‘something is missing’. They couldn’t put their finger on it or describe it. But it was there, a longing for the holy, the sacred.

When you look at our Church, the PNCC, you might observe that its congregations are small. You might notice that its church buildings are not huge cathedrals or modernist monstrosities. You might see churches that speak of holiness in honor of God. You might observe everyone pulling together and cooperative decision making. You might notice a respect for the sacred and a love of democracy.

You might notice – the Catholic Church.

Look around you. Look at these walls, this Altar, the windows, the statues, the candles. People are dying alone, without the comfort and love of the Catholic Church they grew up in because all this was done away with. It went into the garbage pile. They are hurt and cannot find their way home. They stay away in anger because they have no home.

On this All Saints Day, the saints are crying. They are calling to the world and saying, we are here, the martyrs and mystics, the doctors and confessors, the virgins, the priests, deacons, and bishops, the holy men and women.

Look around you and give thanks. We are not ultra-modern. We are traditional. We pray. We light candles and use incense. We say novenas and the rosary. We do the Stations of the Cross. We believe in penance, repentance, and forgiveness. We believe Jesus Christ is truly present in the Word and in the Eucharist, and that the Holy Mass is a sacrifice not a holy mess.

I could walk into many churches, go to the tabernacle, pull out the ciborium, throw the Eucharist on the floor and step on it. No one would probably notice or care. Only 30% of Roman Catholics even believe anymore.

Long-time syndicated columnist and editor at the Dallas Morning News, William Murchison describes how Europe has lost its Christian faith.

“If you don't believe a thing is true, or vital, or relevant, in due course you quit acting as though you did, notwithstanding any sentimental attachment you might have to the outward forms and symbols of the old belief structure…You look elsewhere for satisfaction. Europe has long been looking elsewhere for the satisfactions Christianity once supplied.”

A church as a museum is not a Church. Look at these walls, look at the blending of the old and the new. Look at the democracy and will of the people. No one here threw out the baby with the bathwater. No one here threw out the saints and what they fought for. No one denigrated the ancient and sacred tradition of the Holy, catholic, Church.

When you come here and feel small. When you come and there are only 50, 75, or a hundred people here, remember that it is not the number that counts. Remember that it is whether those who come believe. Whether this is a Church.

Saint John said, “Because the world refused to acknowledge Him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.” We live the beatitudes and hold the faith of the saints. You yourselves are called to be saints. To be those things the world does not want. To be what everyone else modernizes out of existence.

Being poor in spirit and gentle; to mourn and hunger and thirst for what is right; to be merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted in the cause of right.

Listen again to Saint John:

My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He really is.

May God bless you and May God sustain our PNCC.

Nostra Aetate - Blowing Away the Cross

2005-10-29T20:54:00.000-04:00

I was scanning the front page of the Evangelist, the official newspaper of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese and was struck by the picture found there.

The picture featured a group of Buddhist monks creating a mandala - an 'artwork' made of grains of sand individually placed. These works are very intricate and once they are completed and viewed they are blown away, 'dust in the wind' so to speak. The creation and destruction of the mandala are supposed to represent the Buddhist concept that "the world is an impermanent place."

OK, so they have their mandala. The irony of the whole thing was that the mandala was in the shape of a Jerusalem Cross. In addition it was being created in the chapel of the Doane-Stuart School, a joint Roman Catholic - Episcopal private school (that has a Buddhist meditation center in it).

I thought, wow, the Buddhists get it. Symbols - what many Roman Catholics and Episcopalians have forgotten. Symbols stand for something and invoke meaning. The Buddhists got it. In the middle of an institution founded in the name of two great Christian faith traditions they created and blew away the Cross.

In today's Times Union, the Inter-religious Affairs Coordinator of Albany's Roman Catholic Diocese noted this event in his Religion Page 'Voices of Faith' article on Nostra Aetate’s 40th Anniversary.

Now Doane-Stuart is no longer a sectarian institution, has disavowed its Christian foundations, and is basically a public school with high tuition and two chapels, but never-the-less, should not the Christians there, the editorial board of the Evangelist, and the Roman Catholic Diocese's Inter-religious Affairs coordinator have taken a bye on lauding this event. Can't they see that by giving attention to the event they implicitly condone its message and its irony.

Nostra Aetate was indeed a pivotal document for the Roman Catholic Church. It discussed the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and other religions (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism). In a positive sense it set aside perceived doctrines of hatred. It stated that all humanity is created in God's image and that each person has within him/herself the Divine calling to unity with God.

Indeed the PNCC said the same thing almost a century before Nostra Aetate in its Confession of Faith, especially in Principals 9, 10, and 12:

I BELIEVE that all peoples as children of one Father, God, are equal in themselves; that privileges arising from differences in rank, from possession of immense riches or from differences of faith, sex and race, are a great wrong, for they are a violation of the rights of man which he possess by his nature and the dignity of his divine origin, and are a barrier to the purposeful development of man.

I BELIEVE that all people have an equal right to life, happiness and those ways and means which lead to the preservation of existence, to advancement and salvation, but I also believe that all people have sacred obligations toward God, themselves, their nation, state and all of humanity.
I BELIEVE in immortality and everlasting happiness in eternity in union with God of all people, races and ages, because I believe in the Divine power of love, mercy and justice and for nothing else do I yearn, but that it may be to me according to my faith.

The Principals of the PNCC and Nostra Aetate created an environment of respect between Catholic Christians and members of other religions. What it did not create, at least in my estimation, is a license to disavow the Christian faith or to find salvation in other religions. They do not allow us to stand by as others take the stage to blow away the cross as a symbol of impermanence.

The great Christian Saints, the contemplatives and mystics, did not need labyrinths, yoga, tai-chi, a mandala, reiki, energy fields, or crystals. They had the great prayers of the Church, the Divine Office, the Rosary, and most importantly the Eucharist and the Gospels. They had Jesus Christ, the God-man within them. They spent hours, days, months, and years meditating on him long before the yogis and Buddhists were known.

The thought that the East has taught us something is a canard. Thomas Merton brought nothing back from the East that was not already present in the Church. People just had to look for it within the Deposit of Faith.

On the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, let us pray that Catholic Christians renew their own self respect and stand up to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ crucified, the everlasting symbol of our salvation. Let us also pray that we remember that Principald 9, 10, and 12 must be seen in light of Principal 7:

I BELIEVE that the Church of Christ is the true teacher of both individual man as well as of all human society, that it is a steward of Divine Graces, a guide and a light in man's temporal pilgrimage to God and salvation; in so far as the followers and members of this Church, both lay and clerical, are united with the Divine Founder through faith and life proceeding from this faith.

Someday, in God's good time and through His graces we will be united as one flock under one shepherd, Christ the Lord.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2005-10-23T00:15:00.000-04:00

“Teacher which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

What follows this statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” is often the focus of the homily on this Sunday. We focus so much on “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” that we often overlook the first part, the greatest commandment “You shall love the Lord, your God”. Or we see “You shall love your neighbor as yourself!’ as an equal substitute for loving God.

Of course our neighbor is easy to see, sometimes even to love. Look around you. This Church, this community are filled with your neighbors. You’ll shake their hands at the sign of peace.

But what about God? God is in your neighbor of course, but your neighbor is not God. Nothing on earth is God, or anything in the heavens. God is the infinite and the ultimate. He cannot be contained in anything, not even in everything created. The created can only point to Him.

So my family in Christ, let’s focus on God.

You’ve all heard of the terrible term WMD’s, weapons of mass destruction. Today I will talk about an equally terrible weapon we all carry, IMD’s.

What is an IMD? An IMD is the tool of evil in our life. It is intimidation, manipulation, and domination. It is the set of
tools that evil gives us to make us feel secure in our own power and sense of control.

Intimidation, manipulation, and domination.

Perhaps we use these tools with our spouse, perhaps with our children, maybe with our co-workers or subordinates. Intimidation, manipulation, and domination make us feel secure and in control.

Evil in our lives, the force of evil in the world, leads us to believe that we need power and control. It tempts us, and when we sin, when we acquiesce to the idea that we need to gain knowledge, power, and control by using IMD’s, we discard the greatest commandment. God is not in charge anymore. We are. There is no God. We are not loving God heart, mind, and soul. When we sin we are not loving Him at all.

So what of God? Isn’t He the most powerful, most almighty, most everlasting. Isn’t He the ultimate IMD, the mother of all IMD’s.

No.

When we think of God we think, He can fix it, he can make it better, He has the power. And we disappoint ourselves, because we did not gain power and control over our situation through God’s hands. We didn’t get the power to control and understand what is happening. We didn’t change the outcome.

What does God give us? How does He act? Does He use I MD’s?

Well, He gave us His son, He allowed himself to be brutally killed so we could have everlasting life.

That is why the cross is a stumbling block. It does not represent intimidation, manipulation, and domination. It represents sacrifice, suffering, and love. Jesus did not promise us a honkey-dory existence. He did not promise us a rose garden. When we suffer, when we sacrifice, when we are in pain and need, we are ever closer to Him. When we realize our sin and repent from it, His death on the cross becomes real for us. When we set aside our need for control and put all in God’s hands, then we are Christian.

God gives us Himself in the presence of His Son in this tabernacle. His Son gave us all we need. He did not guarantee us power and control — quite the opposite. He did however open the doors of heaven to us. He guaranteed our everlasting life. And He left us with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The point of all this is who do you believe? Do you believe in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Cross and the power of the Holy Spirit? Do we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind? Or do you believe in yourself and your ability to use IMD’s.

The next time you are tempted, put down the IMD’s and follow the greatest commandment. Love God, that all may be well with you.

85th Anniversary of the founding of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Parish

2005-10-15T16:23:00.000-04:00

I welcome you on this joyous occasion, the celebration of the 85th anniversary of the foundation of this parish under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa.

In preparing my opening remarks, I was led to reflect on the words found in the 103rd Psalm.

The psalmist proclaims:

Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,
Who pardons all your sins, heals all your ills,
Delivers your life from the pit, surrounds you with love and compassion,
Fills your days with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

This parish is a gift from God and is a light to the world. God has blessed us with His many graces over the years. In His love he has not left us alone, but has joined us together to be a light to each other, and to our community. He has created this sacred place where we reflect upon God and do not forget Him. Where our sins are pardoned and all that troubles us is healed. It is a place where we are given every good thing, and where we are surrounded by love and compassion.

God himself inspired the brave founders of this parish to seek freedom and self determination. Not the false freedoms that the world offers, but true freedom found in the Kingdom of God that is now and is yet to be.

Our Lord Jesus led the people of Scranton to step forward in freedom. With Bishop Hodur as their spiritual guide, people across the country broke with the prevailing power structures of the church. They broke free, not to do as they pleased, but rather to transform the face of the earth. To transform the world through Faith in God and respect for each other. To transform the world through truth, work, and struggle.

Our ancestors in Albany walked the same path. They led and have taught us to bear faithful witness to the way of Christ.

They led in teaching that a Church is not a closed society of clerics, but rather a faithful representation of the Kingdom to come, the clergy and people working side-by-side, of one heart and mind, focused on Jesus Christ. They led and taught us that the Church is universal, that is open to all. They led in teaching that democracy is not the acceptance of everything and anything, but rather a means. They led and taught that democratic participation resists totalitarianism and that what the Church teaches is not its own vision of what is possible for humanity, but God’s vision – God’s freedom.

The prophet Zachariah tells us: Not by an army, nor by might, but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts.

Our community has succeeded not by bring the biggest or strongest, not because of intellectual achievement or hard work alone, but because we shine the light of Christ on all we do. The Spirit of the Lord of hosts dwells in this place and we do not hide it.

The old saying ‘w jednosci sila’ – ‘in unity there is strength’ is proven by our unity as a community, our unity in faith.

The psalmist concludes:

But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age.
He favors the children's children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.
The LORD'S throne is established in heaven; God's royal power rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you angels, mighty in strength and attentive, obedient to every command.
Bless the LORD, all you hosts, ministers who do God's will.
Bless the LORD, all creatures, everywhere in God's domain.
Bless the LORD, my soul!

The Solemnity of the Christian Family - The Christian Family, A Fiery Reflection

2005-10-09T15:28:00.000-04:00

In this week’s news:

41 year old actor Nicolas Cage and 20 year old Alice Kim have a new baby which they named Kal-El. That’s right, for those who do not recognize it, Kal-El is Superman's original Kryptonian name.

My sisters and brothers, my family in Christ,

Today the PNCC celebrates the Solemnity of the Christian Family. A remarkable and righteous celebration of what is good in God’s creation.

Our first reading explains God’s design. He created us in His image. Both men AND women, in God’s image. As a family, in God’s image. How amazing, the all powerful, everlasting, just, God created us in His image. Jesus Christ stood there at creation, the co-eternal Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit moved across the waters – and life was brought forth. Life in the shape of the family is life in God. Jesus came to us as a child, part of a family. Jesus built community around Him in his disciples and Apostles – the family of the Church.

Thinking on this is wonderful. It is all warm and fuzzy because we can relate to family. Whether it is nuclear, single parent, or extended, whether our family is represented in our friends, co-workers, in the Church, in a mentoring relationship, our experience of community tells us – this is right. This is God’s plan.

But, I bring you a sad message and a call to action. God’s creation is in great danger, and Jesus message, the Gospel, is being threatened at every turn.

The Hollywood agenda – pure selfishness. Name your son after a fictional character, carry on the fiction of your relationships, and all the while feed and expound on your own ego. Obviously wrong – but we accept it. We even support it in the guise of being open minded and artistic.

The new world order and its affect. We have to respect whatever any individual dreams up, because it is part of their ‘cultural’ imperative. We have to respect each person’s SELF-determination, accent on the self part. Obviously wrong – but we accept it. We even support it in the guise of being open minded and democratic.

The ongoing fight to destroy the institution of marriage, to make it something it is not, the culture of death, it’s all ok, it’s my right.

As a matter of fact none of it is right, and it is not ok. It is sin. It is placing man, and mans’ desires before God. It is denigrating God to a philosophical construct at best. It seeks to destroy the Christian family.

Is the Gospel of Christ getting uncomfortable for you yet?

It really shouldn’t matter; for today the Gospel is no more than the philosophical ramblings of a guy named Jesus. He lived a few thousand years ago, talked a lot about love (oh, forget the responsibility and repent part), and he ate and drank with sinners, because he thought sin was cool.

Is this what we believe?

Are we judgmental – in fact yes, and we are prejudiced too. We have the ultimate standard to judge by. That is God’s standards as taught to us in the Holy Bible. We have the words and teachings, the example and light of Jesus Christ. And that is the key. Our Church family, our Christian way of life is opposed to the way of the world. The answer to the world’s ways is Jesus. Buddha is not god, nor is Shiva, nor the Great Spirit or Mother Earth, nor money, nor the world.

Jesus Christ is God and unless we can fall before Him in praise and adoration, declaring and believing with every part of our being that He is the everlasting, the Alpha and Omega, the Just Judge and ruler of all, then there is no sense in being here. If he is not the center of our family life, if we as parents are not holding our children accountable for their faith, if we are not modeling the Christian behaviors and attitudes we want to see in our families, our children, and in the world, then we possess no more than an interesting philosophical debate for dinner parties.

This is your call to action. This is your call to, as the title of the homily suggests, be a Christian family – a fiery reflection of God’s light. As Christian families, and as a church family, we are called to reflect the light of Christ. To be a light to the world, and to face some hardship in doing so. In the fire of the world’s desires we will be tested and refined. We will be purified for the heavenly kingdom.

Therefore, affirm Jesus Christ as God and live as a Christ centered family. By doing so you will change all that may be hurting you and you will bear witness to Christ before the world.

As a family let us reflect and pray,

Lord, Jesus, today’s psalm tells us that those who fear You and walk in Your ways are happy. Help us to lead exemplary lives as Christians, as Christian families, and as a Christian community. Grant us the grace to resist the promptings and ways of the world for You are all we need. Give us and our world a spirit of responsibility and repentance. Help us to remember that You forgive our sins, and have washed us in Your blood. In all things gather us together, as a family, under the banner of this Church, and grant us the blessings and happiness reserved for those who fear You and walk in Your ways. Amen.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Blame Game

2005-10-02T15:23:00.000-04:00

Listen again to the words of Isaiah:

Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

If you notice, the landowner looked for a good crop. He expected it. He did everything necessary to bring about a good crop. And, he asks a very important question. “Why did it bring forth wild grapes?”

He moves right from the question to the action. “Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard”

What’s missing?

We should see it very easily. It is the unanswered question. Where does the blame lie? The landowner asked the question, “Why did it bring forth wild grapes?” Doesn’t he deserve an answer?

Look sir, perhaps it was the soil, the fertilizer, the type of grapes (they’re not right for the climate). Maybe it was the workers or the foreman – he had crazy ideas about how you should grow grapes.

What’s missing is the blame. But, Isaiah and Jesus did not have to lay blame. The expected results were known because God is the landowner. He has given every opportunity and every good thing to His people. The people of Isaiah’s time and Jesus’ time are our living, breathing, cautionary tale.

The cautionary tale has three components.

The first caution is that we must know that we have been given every good thing. The Gospel is our instruction book. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is our food and strength. And, within us, we have the constant, unconquerable desire for God. God, thank you for these gifts. They are all we need. Caution! Remember that God gives us all we need.

The second caution is that we must trust. Maybe our life situation is not exactly to our liking. Maybe our family and friends are less than we expect. Maybe we have experienced tragedy and sorrow. Maybe everything is honky-dory and we are successful, rich, blessed, and happy.

Regardless, of the circumstances, can we place our complete trust and faith in God? Jesus gave us the instruction, not a blade of grass withers or a bird falls from the sky without His Father’s knowledge. God, our trust is in you alone. You are the center and purpose of our life, not just in the big picture, but every minute of every day. Caution! We better trust in God alone.

The third caution is that we must act. Frankly, you need to be a radical. We are not here to adjust to our environment or to make compromise, but to deliver all and everything to Christ the Universal King in accord with His teaching and that of the Church.

“Teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”

When you wake in the morning, give thanks for the gifts of the day. For food which is real food unto eternal life, for the Word, for the Gospel. Give thanks for your joys and your sorrows. In your next breath, resolve once again to place your full trust, your full faith and credit in Jesus Christ.

The world will not take kindly to you as a radical for Christ. Our Lord promised us, “You shall be hated by all for my name’s sake” But, caution! Act in accord with Christ and His Church.

We can believe Jesus and we can learn from these cautions, trusting in the reward He promises, or we can heed his admonition.

“Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Let us reflect and pray.

Lord, grant us your grace. We ask only for this, for you love us completely and give us all we need. We thank You for what you give us. Inspire us to thank You more and more. Give us the grace to put You first and to fully trust in You. Do not let us be tempted to lay blame but inspire us to act in union with You and Your Church.

Amen.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time / PolishFest Weekend

2005-09-25T00:35:00.000-04:00

We begin this Sunday morning, the last day of this year’s Polish Fest, in the most right and proper way. We begin with Holy Mass. This is the fourth time our Parish has organized this festival.

We present Polish–American culture, music, and food. We also present ourselves, here, before Jesus Christ, as one people. We hold out a history of the Polish people that is marked by both great victory and bravery and by terrible tragedy.

Shakespeare could not have written a better history. Of course we do not need Shakespeare alone, for we have Mickiewicz and Sienkiewicz.

For nearly 1,040 years, faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel has kept us together and kept us strong. Even in the worst of times we knew that the blood of martyrs would be the seed of our continuing faith. We heard the words echoed in today’s psalm:

“He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.”

As a community, here in the Capital Region, our Parish has stood for 85 years as a beacon of Christ’s light. The Words of God is preached, the sacrifice is offered. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ strengthens us. We hear the words of Paul:

“If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.”

So we stand together as a community of faith. We witness Christ to you, through our Polish hospitality. Polish hospitality brought to you by Poles, Polish-Americans, and Italian-Americans, people of Irish, French, Caribbean, African, and Hispanic decent. People from every nation and culture united in Christ and honoring the rich Polish culture that has given so much to the world. We offer you our beloved customs, which have their roots in the Polish civilization, nurtured for over a thousand years.

And today, instead of the usual organ music, we are accompanied by the Eddie Forman Orchestra, wonderful musicians joining with us to praise Jesus Christ with joy and gladness.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters

Every Holy Mass is a mass of thanksgiving. We thank God for all the goodness which he gives to us, His love, mercy, and peace. We thank God for these three days of Polish Fest. We thank Him for the talent of the Eddie Forman Orchestra and for their contribution to making this a truly special liturgy.

On behalf of the parish, I personally want to thank all those who visited us during the last three days, all our guests, friends of the parish, those from other parishes.

Finally, I heartily thank all those who worked so hard and sacrificed so much in preparing for the Polish Fest. This glorious festival is the crowning achievement of their many months of hard work.

In closing, May the Almighty God bless all of us gathered here, our families and relatives, and our whole community.

National Day of Prayer and Remembrance

2005-09-16T12:31:00.000-04:00

Safety and Security, Prayer and Trust

To the common person these words would seem to be, at a minimum, opposites.

As a country we are very self reliant. It comes from our immigrant roots. None of our families started out here in the United States. Some may have been here since the time of the pilgrims. Some may be new immigrants or second or third generation Americans.

No matter how far removed we are, we still have that immigrant, go-it-alone, get-it-done ethic. We are a nation of great pioneers. The last U.S. nickel I looked at honored Lewis and Clark. Pioneers, explorers, and national heroes surround us.

This terrible disaster which has befallen our country has brought out that pioneer spirit. We listen to those who, in the face of the disaster, wish to rebuild. They are shining examples of self assurance and a determined, resilient attitude.

Levees, flood walls, security systems, alarms, police, the government, guns, sprinklers, and a long list of other things can be purchased, paid for, installed, and relied upon, all in the name of safety and security, all in the name of self reliance. We are Americans and we can do it.

You and I have come here today to pray. An odd notion really, in the face of self reliance. Some people might look and say: “They’re asking an invisible man for help?”

But for us it is not a one-up event. Prayer and trust in God is our way of life. It is our safety and security. These are our roots. We love an honor our grandparents and great grandparents. They had courage and strength, even in the face of incredible odds. However, theirs was not a misplaced or self assured courage and strength. It was the courage and strength that came from prayer and trust. By prayer and through trust in God they always knew, no matter what, that they had safety and security.

This terrible disaster, which has befallen our country, has brought out faith, especially today. Of course there are those who question and doubt God. There are those who cannot see God because of hatred. There are even those who will pray today and forget God tomorrow. But the vast majority of us are turning to God today as we do every day. We turn, for a brief moment each day to pray and remember. It is right that we do it today. It is right that we do it every day. It is right that we tell everyone we know, and the whole world, that safety and security on human terms is fleeting. Safety and security through prayer and trust in God is everlasting.

In the 16th Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John Jesus says: “Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."

Jesus trusted in the Father even in His darkest hour and reassured His disciples to have faith.

Let us collect ourselves and place our faith in God, today and everyday.

Solemnity of Brotherly Love

2005-09-11T00:31:00.000-04:00

On the second Sunday of September each year we celebrate a special feast day, the Solemnity of Brotherly Love. This Solemnity was established at the Church’s Chicago Synod in 1914.

1914 was a busy year, filled with memorable and historic events. In 1914 the Ford Motor Company announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Mother's Day proclamation. And, in June of that year the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed, starting World War I. The stage was also being set for the Armenian and Assyrian genocides.

In December of that year Bishop Hodur, the clergy, and the laity, including fifteen women, gathered to democratically debate and vote on matters concerning the church. It is interesting to note that our church, the PNCC, enfranchised women before they had the right to vote in the United States.

In the midst of a growing and struggling church, and in the midst of dramatic world events, these delegates carried on the Polish and American democratic tradition. They faced difficult debates about the Church’s mission, rules of celibacy, the election of Bishops, and relationships with other Christian churches.

With all of that, our Church continued in its positive, life affirming, hopeful, and brave way, and declared a Feast of Brotherly Love. In the light of war, love. In the light of hardship and struggle, love. In the light of heated debate, love.

On this day we remember the two greatest commandments of God. We are to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to the lawyer, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" The lawyer said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." At the end of the parable of the Samaritan Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

In this time of national trouble and uncertainty, remember our brave Bishop Hodur, remember those dedicated clergy, and the men and women who came together. In the face of a changing world and a struggling Church, they placed their faith in God. In the same moment, they took up the call to brotherly love. They remembered what Jesus said to each of them.

Each and every one of us is called to do the same for your brothers and sisters here, for those along the gulf coast, and for all we meet. Take up the task each and every day, and show compassion and love toward others. Without faith, goods works are empty. With faith, good works bring Christ to all. Love God and love your neighbors – as Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”

Thy Kingdom Come

2005-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

As Christians and as members of the PNCC we must be about bringing the Kingdom of God to reality. Church does not end when you pass the driveway on the way out of the parking lot. When you pass the end of the driveway after church you become the “light of the world”. You are Christ’s messenger to all people.

Your action in building God’s Kingdom starts with yourself and how you exemplify your faith. It is in your actions towards yourself and others. It is in the way you treat your spouse, loved ones, children, neighbors – even those who have hurt you. Do you live a life of Christian service?

Faith is more than a nice idea for Sunday. If we are reborn, we come to a true understanding of our relationship with God, and it is part of our everyday life.

When we are in love the grass is greener, the sky bluer. The rain is soft and gentle and the snow dazzlingly white. We no longer believe in “luck” or “coincidence”, we believe in miracles and love.

The first words Jesus spoke to the crowd contain the heart of his Gospel of hope and salvation, the proclamation of God's kingdom:

"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel'" Mk 1:14-15

From that moment on, Jesus

"went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people" Mt 4:23

We are called to work with our hands, mind, and heart for the coming of God's kingdom into the world. We are called to build the Kingdom of God by working with the Lord.

Trust the Spirit to bring people to you. Live the Christian life. Read and study God’s word. Worship with the Church. Renew and strengthen yourself through the grace received in the sacraments, especially through the Eucharist. Place a Bible next to your computer at work. Wear the cross of Christ with pride, give generously, and speak openly about the good God has accomplished in your life through Jesus Christ. Tell your neighbors, friends, co-workers. Take the first step to add to the Kingdom. Then you can call yourself a Christian – a disciple of Christ.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2005-09-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

Readings:

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95:1-2 / 6-7 / 8-9
Romans 13:8-10
Gospel Verse: II Cor 5:19
Matthew 18:15-20

Homily:

What jumps out of today’s readings is Christ’s instruction on how we are to correct our brothers and sisters. We like hearing that. It is a sort of permission to act. I can go to them privately and correct them – charitably of course. If they ignore me, I have recourse to witnesses and the Church.

This is a grant of power to us. It is a power to enforce the Christian way of life, and the proper order of the community. In the PNCC Constitution we have a right to bring grievances to a Parish level tribunal and if we are not satisfied we can go to the Diocese and the whole Church.

What we fail to recognize in the readings, or miss hearing, is the message that we are to love our neighbor, and the command to the Church to pray as a community.

This is the true power. Our power and strength as Catholic Christians lies in our actions toward our brothers and sisters. Paul tells us: “The commandments … are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Our strength also lies in following Jesus’ command to pray as a community. Our Lord and God tells us:

“Again, amen, I say to you,if two of you agree on earthabout anything for which they are to pray,it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there am I in the midst of them.”

On some Wednesday evenings, when we hold Holy Mass, a Novena, and Benediction, there are only two or three here. People would ask, “Why continue?” As Catholics we must! We must pray and implore the Lord as a community. We must gather and receive the graces Jesus died to give us.

At this time of national tragedy, the message of love and worship is much clearer.

I urge you: pray and act with love toward your brothers and sisters. Come to Church, receive God’s strength and follow His will.

Psalm 37

2005-09-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

Put your trust in the Lord and do good,
and your land and habitation will be secure.
Take your delight in the Lord,
and he will give you what your heart desires.

Entrust your journey to the Lord, and hope in him:
and he will act.

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-03T17:20:00.000-04:00

Wednesday evening we offered our Novena for the victims of the hurricane, for those killed, and for an end to violence and evil. On Sunday, September 4th, 9am Holy Mass will be offered for the victims and those killed. There will be special prayers during our monthly exposition and benediction of the Most Holy Eucharist. A special collection will be taken up as well.

We pray and ask the Our Lady interceed for all those in need, grant an end to violence, provide for all that is necessary, and comfort those who have lost loved ones. May she wrap her mantle of protection around them and ask her Son our Lord, Jesus Christ, to grant every grace to them and our country.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - PNCC Youth Sunday

2005-08-28T00:10:00.000-04:00

Readings:

Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63:2 / 3-4 / 5-6 / 8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Gospel Verse: See Eph 1:17-18
Matthew 16:21-27

Homily:

There is a saying that two things in life are certain, death and taxes. God is telling us in today’s readings and Gospel that there is more than that.

In our first reading the prophet Jeremiah tells us that, people laughed at him, and his message, to the point that he broke down and cried.

I think we have all had the experience of rejection. Perhaps it was in romance, in school, or in a social situation. However, we know that Jeremiah did not let up. He continued to spread God’s message even when he knew that the rulers and chief priests wanted him dead. He realized that he could not deny God’s call.

In the deepest part of us we know that we desire nothing more than to serve God. Of course we have free will. We can deny that call, we can cover it up with good things used badly, and we can run away. Jeremiah was stronger than that. He knew that he MUST proclaim God’s message and that he wanted nothing more than to please God.

In our Gospel, Jesus tells us that whoever wishes to come after Him must deny himself or herself, take up his or her cross, and follow him.

This is a tough message for Youth Sunday. You, our young people, are the promise of the future. You are hope and light for all of us. It is hard to imagine sorrow, pain, and the crosses that will come. It is hard to imagine giving up what you think you want for what God wants. By bringing you here to church and by teaching you the Catholic – Christian message we, your parents, grandparents, and me, are asking you to take the harder road and to do what God wants.

Being a true Christian today is very, very hard. Using your free will to choose Christ and to follow that inner call God put inside you is almost impossible.

Even though following Jesus’ way is hard, it is not impossible. The greatest part about it is that we will be happy forever because Jesus said so.

Remember that, and remember that we are here for you. This Church, this Parish is your refuge. It is where you are safe and where you receive the support and nourishment you need to do the right thing with your free will.

Let us pray for our youth and for ourselves. Let us pray that we use our free will to do the right thing, even though it may be harder. Let us pray that our SOCL students, their families, and our teachers are nourished this year. And, let us pray that this sanctuary, our Parish, be the starting point for our daily walk with Jesus. Amen.

Our Eucharistic Need

2005-08-22T13:24:00.000-04:00

There are many sources of information available regarding the reception of Holy Communion, the Eucharist, between the many Churches.

Many people are often confronted with a dilemma when they are in "another" church. These occasions may be based on proximity (it's the closest church to me), moral imperative (I can no longer attend that church due to scandal), or for family reasons (we all want to attend together; we're going to a wedding, funeral, other service).

Many Churches open the communion table to all attendees. Part of the reason for this may be their theological view of the Eucharist. 'We're sharing special bread/wine that is a symbol of Jesus.' Such a sharing places the onus on the act of community and the reason for coming together. We are here as one to praise God together. The Eucharist is symbolic of our Christian action and mandate. It's still just bread and wine albeit invoking a special representation.

For Catholic worshipers the story is different. We fully believe that the act of consecration changes the bread and wine. It is no longer bread and wine in any way except for its appearance and taste. The elements of bread and wine have been fully changed into Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is truly present in every possible way, body, blood, soul, and divinity. He is there ready for us to receive Him. By receiving Him we are joined together not just in theory, but in reality by the action of Christ and the grace of God. When I receive I receive and am joined to my brothers and sisters throughout the world. By the Body and Blood of Christ we become the Body of Christ.

This is wonderful and mystical and the act of receiving has consequences. We are changed by God's grace, we are joined together, we are confirmed in our Christian mission, we are nourished, and our desire to be so very close and intimately joined with Jesus Christ is increased.

In short, as the Rev. Ernest Falardeau, SSS. has said, "...it will be necessary to eliminate the idea that the Eucharist is some kind of reward for good behavior. It is the bread of life. It is a necessity."

The Rev. Falardeau captures the key element of the Eucharist. It is the nourishment that fulfills our essential human desire - to be one with Christ and to be with Him forever. Jesus Himself advised us that the Eucharist is essential for our salvation: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have life in you.” (Jn 6).

God has put the desire for heaven in each of us. It is our soul's longing to return to its origin. No matter the amount of masking today's society attempt to do. No matter the level of covering up we engage in, the desire is there. The Eucharist allows us daily or weekly closeness to Christ.

As Catholic Christians we have two essential obligations.

The first is the Catechesis of the Eucharist. We musty teach our brothers and sisters what the Eucharist is, the mystery beyond symbolism which is the reality of Jesus Christ.

The second is the opening of the Eucharistic door to all who share in Eucharistic faith. This is commonly referred to as Eucharistic Sharing.

In our Church, the communion rail is open. What is required is proper disposition and the faith and belief that what you receive is the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance and taste of bread and wine.

Our Roman Catholic friends as well as those attending a Roman church might ask – what does this all mean? As a member of the Roman church you would have to look to the conditions found in the Code of Canon Law - Canon 844:2. For non Roman Catholics you would have to follow the "rules" published in the pew missal. It is all very legalistic and formal and in the end you would have to make a decision as to whether you would approach the Altar or not (all while getting quite conflicted regarding your need versus the rules).

The Canon states: "Whenever necessity requires or genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for the faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister" (Catholic meaning churches with valid Holy Orders such as the Orthodox, PNCC)

I highly recommend the article: Eucharistic Sharing: Recent Developments by Ernest Falardeau, SSS. as originally published in Ecumenical Trends, for a further exposition on this matter. See especially:

“One of the problems with the present legislation in Canon 844, and the other official documents of the Church are that initially these existing rules were interpreted very strictly. Any attempt to interpret them generously was resisted. At the present time, this is changing. The Guidelines of South Africa, India, Germany and Austria tend to interpret existing rules more broadly. The new Policy for Canada expressly recalls the general principle of Canon Law that privileges are to be interpreted broadly. And it understands Eucharistic sharing as a privilege.” (Eucharistic Sharing: Recent Developments, Ernest Falardeau, SSS., Originally published in Ecumenical Trends)

At face value, there is no clear, understandable, or easily discernable guide for anyone in approaching an understanding of Canon 844:2. Many Bishop's conferences (setting Roman Church policies at the national level) give very broad latitude to the believer and interpret these concepts with great charity (South Africa, Canada as noted above). In the United States a very formal and legalistic view is taken.

To me, rules exist to guide people in making informed descisions. They are not meant as a roadblock to Jesus. As soon as we get away from minimalism and legalism, as soon as we stop loosing sight of our need for Jesus because we are busy interpreting a law, as soon as we stop treating the Eucharist as a personal possession that I may choose to give or withhold, and as soon as we focus on teaching Christ real and present, our road to God will open and we will be better fulfilling Christ's direction.

Holy Mass, Exposition, Novena, and Benediction

2005-08-10T23:49:00.000-04:00

Another Wednesday evening service completed. The wonderful thing about our Catholic faith is that once the worship is completed we take Jesus home with us in our hearts. He is inside of us, strengthening us through the sacramental grace we receive in the Holy Eucharist.

The Church was hot, but all gets forgotten when you are before the Lord in adoration. Every Wednesday evening we offer Holy Mass followed by Exposition, a Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Benediction. People think yoga and meditation can heal all... They should spend an hour in quiet contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament. It's not just the power of the peaceful moment, but the strength we receive from God real and present to us - physically, spiritually, eternally.

If each of us could just make time to spend an hour with the Lord each day. The power of His love and the working of His grace in our lives - if we allow it, would work wonders across the world.

Who stole the kiszka?

2005-08-09T20:19:00.000-04:00

There is a very popular and funny Polka tune called “Who Stole the Kiszka”. The song was originally recorded by Polka Hall of Fame inductee Walt Solek.

A little history

Walt Solek started recording in 1939 with the Krakowska Orchestra organized by his brother Henry. After recording with them on the RCA Victor label, he organized his own band. Solek served in the U.S. Navy and after the war he re-established his band and recorded the “Julida Polka” on Columbia Records. That hit vaulted him right to the top of the Polka world. Solek’s band was booked throughout the Eastern United States, and he was billed as the “Polish Spike Jones.” When the polka business reached a low in the 1950s, his band made the switch to cutting records with English lyrics. This resulted in a new hit for him, and the perennial Polka favorite, “Who Stole the Kiszka.” During his seventy-five years as a polka musician, Solek earned the nickname “The Clown Prince of Polkas” by wearing funny costumes on stage. He also was noted for his motto: “Bringing people together through music!”

Why is this important?

Walt Solek died in April 2005 at the age of 94. He was survived by his daughter, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a sister, two brothers and many nieces and nephews.

This quick review of his life shows the sort of indicators we all think about when we think of tradition. We think, Polka music – that’s traditional. We think, Wow a married man, children, family ties – that’s traditional. He served in the Navy – that’s traditional.

These few touch points set a sort of atmosphere that recounts for us happier times. We think of them as simple times. Time spent with family, going to church on Sunday, sitting by the radio and listening to Polka tunes on a Sunday afternoon. The family dinner. Going to bed at night while still singing “Who stole the kiszka”.

By the way – kiszka, polska kaszanka, for the uninitiated, is a type of sausage – very peasant in its origins. It’s basically made from buckwheat groats, leftover parts of pigs you wouldn’t want to think about, and blood.

A variant on the word kiszka is an informal term used to denote guts – kiszki (pronounced keesh-kee).

Well, somebody stole my kiszka!

What I’m speaking about is the slow trudging destruction of ethnic parishes in the R.C. church. I’ve been on the front lines of the protest against church closings, the removal of foreign language Holy Masses, and the removal of beautiful devotions and other spiritual exercises that enrich the community through prayer.

The worst situation I personally observed was the closing of Transfiguration R.C. Church in Buffalo, NY. My father was baptized in this church. In the rubble of what was left of the church I was able to see very clearly what was being done to my faith. Under the tossed about garbage and debris inside the church was the sacrifice of my parents, my grandparents and my great grandparents. There were the memorial plaques – this window donated by such and so, In memory of him or her. The baldachin or canopy under which the Holy Eucharist used to be carried in procession was on the floor under chunks of plaster and other garbage. In my mind’s eye I recalled the first time I saw a canopy being carried over the monstrance. I saw myself as a child and remembered gazing with wonder at the awesome respect we Catholics were showing Christ. The people fell to their knees, artists created the canopy and the magnificent monstrance in which the Body of our Lord was being carried. Mom said it was called adoration.

You might ask: Are you attached to your ancestors or to God? As a Catholic – both. God is the summit and the goal and we reach Him not through just our own prayer and faith commitment, but through the shared prayer and faith of the church militant and the church triumphant – the communion of saints.

The sacrifice of our ancestors should not be in vain. They did not build magnificent monuments to themselves – but to God. Their sacrifice, their focus, their family was all about God and in praise of Him. We do not love these churches because they represent our ancestors but because they represent right ordered thinking about God. They represent a community working together to praise, worship and witness Him.

As these ethnic churches, created as masterpieces to the glory of God, from the sacrifice of our immigrant ancestors, are closed, as traditions are rethought and cast off as irrelevant, as respect for the Holy Eucharist and the beliefs of the Church wane, we need to ask, who stole our kiszka? Who is ripping out our kiszki? And why?

What I see is a slide toward a new stigmatization and subtle persecution of people. These are people like me, attached to faith, with family centered and ethnic values, and who hold that tradition is not just a longing for something long dead. These values have at their core the bulwark of the Church. The church as the center of the community is remarkably able to support and reinforce the Christian way of life. It happens in the time tested way – through prayer, sacrifice, and community centered action.

The press has recently highlighted the struggles of the members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in St. Louis Missouri. In this particular case the struggle is between an Archbishop bent on resting singular control of $9.5 million in assets from the parishioners of the Church. The actions of Archbishop Raymond Burke, a Vatican trained Canon Lawyer, appear at face value to be legalistic, minimalistic, petty, and in direct contradiction to the actions of all previous Bishops and Archbishops of St. Louis.

Other struggles are not as well known. A quick search of the Internet will reveal the struggles that have taken place between the people of Assumption BVM Parish of Oil City, PA and the Bishop of Erie, PA., the people of St. Casimir’s in Albany, and many others. While these struggles to maintain the sacred, historical, and spiritual home of Catholic Christians are better know, the real story is closer to home. Buffalo, Detroit, Hamtramck, Chicago, Boston, Albany, large cities and small towns and the list goes on; have seen traditionally ethnic parishes close one-by-one. Of course the Bishops cite statistics and form committees that provide a veneer of credibility. They talk about fiscal problems, lack of vocations, declining census figures, and non payment of minimum diocesan assessments all as justifications for their actions.

Isn’t Tradition just old stuff ?

It depends. Some people practice traditions like they practice their faith – in a cold, separated sort of way. We do it because grandma did it. They never make it their own.

Like anything, tradition must be made alive by our taking ownership of it. We must make a conscientious effort to do these things because they are important to us and our children. It’s like our faith. Unless we accept Christ in faith, and invite Him into our lives, we are just going through the motions. In the same way, we must integrate tradition with our lives. Think of any traditional ethnic dinner during the holidays. At Christmas it may be Wigilia, Pronzo delta vigilia, or le reveillon dinners. How do you make it your own? Have you added your child’s favorite dish, pictures of your ancestors on the table, other meaningful objects (grandma’s crucifix or manager)? It is no longer just tradition but is alive because of your additions and modifications.

In the same way, our attachment to these churches is not just a cold, aloof, I go there because I have too faith. It is something real, meaningful, and visceral for us. It is alive, like Christ. It is felt not just in our minds and hearts, but in our guts, our kiszki.

What’s the problem…

What is the central problem and how does is represent a continuation of the repression of the Catholic faith, tradition, values, and of ethnic parishes?

The Struggle – Traditionalism versus Liberalism

First there is a constant struggle within the Roman Catholic Church over traditionalism versus liberalism. The American Church tends to exist in the liberal camp. While there are exceptions, the vast majority of Bishops do not care for traditionally minded Catholics who find great inspiration in beautiful liturgies and certainties of faith. The faith handed on from generation to generation via language and tradition is denigrated. It should be noted that in American circles Pope John Paul II was often viewed as a traditionalist, old-world leader – and as such was irrelevant.

As noted above, one of the basic tenets of Catholic faith is that faith is handed on from generation to generation. Faith starts with mom and dad in the family. There is a “Communion of Saints” and a progression of life and faith. Tradition, language, and customs are more than quaint side shows that are brought out at Christmas and Easter. These things create a continuity of faith through our ancestors, back to the Apostles. They are especially founded upon their realization within the family unit – and not just the nuclear or modern disconnected family – but in the extended, tribal family.

Per the Catholic News Service, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany called Jan. 6, 2005 for a commitment to revitalization of the parish despite the sex scandals, vocation crisis, pressures of secularism and other challenges facing the church. He stated, "We have a beloved pope who is melting away before our eyes, as a recalcitrant Curia seeks to steer the bark of Peter back to the 19th century." Bishop Hubbard made the opening presentation to the annual Diocesan Leadership Symposium sponsored by the National Pastoral Life Center in New York.

Perhaps the Bishop should be reminded that just because something existed in the 19th century does not in and of itself make it evil. What existed in the 19th century were his grandparents and the seeds of faith that established his family. In addition, it would seem highly uncharitable to paint the Roman Curia with such a broad brush. Maybe a better approach would be found by a simple reference from the Bible: “Test all things; hold fast to the good, but abstain from every false coinage.” (1 Thess 5:21-22).

American R.C. clergy (not all) and its leadership (not all) seem to be looking forward to a revival of the new openness. Newness and openness are more important and in fact vital to them and are opposed to the old and the traditional. Those ethnics that hold on to and publicly represent tradition must be repressed.

The best way to do this is to destroy centers of tradition, divide, conquer, and integrate. The problem is that you cannot ethnically cleanse someone’s soul, spirit, and memories. But, you can do it to future generations. Our children and grandchildren will not have a connection to the past. They will only look sadly on their poor parents and grandparents who have had the wind knocked out of their sails and who have had their faith damaged. Why doesn’t grandma go to church anymore? they will ask.

What’s really sad is that the children will not pray for the dead. The dead are old news, part of a tradition that is not relevant. What is old and dead is dead. Their connection to that Corporal Work of Mercy, burying the dead, will be lost. Their connection to the communion of saints will be a one liner from the Nicene Creed.

Literal or Spiritual?

What I find most odd, especially as illustrated in the case of St. Stanislaus in St. Louis, MO is the difference between the Roman Catholic Church’s views the interpretation of scripture and how it views the interpretation of Church made laws.

The Roman Catholic Church has not purported to be literalist in terms of Biblical understanding, at least within the past hundred years. The Roman Catholic Church is founded on Scripture and (oddly enough) tradition. The Church classifies Biblical books in different, figurative, ways as stories, poetry, and mythology. Each book has a message and an interpretation, but must be viewed based upon its historical milieu and based solely on the judgment of the Church. Who was the book written for, what were the circumstances, what was the message? While the Bible is treated with such careful interpretation, re-interpretation, study, and message-crafting, the laws of the Church, namely Canon Law and the Catechism, are interpreted literally (although conceptually they should be interpreted broadly and charitably).

If this were not true it might be a funny irony. Instead it becomes a Machiavellian reality show. Legalists tend to apply the law more harshly toward others than toward themselves. The legalist concentrates on his own strengths and the weaknesses of others. He refuses to pull the plank out of his own eye before he searches for the particle in someone else’s eye.

By way of additional Biblical reference, the scribes and Pharisees were ready to stone the woman guilty of adultery (John 8:2-11), yet they were insensitive to their breach of the law by taking advantage of the helpless (Mark 12:40; cp. Jas. 1:27), the neglect of their responsibilities to their own families (Mark 7:10-13), or their persecution of the righteous (Matt. 23:29-39).

Legalism has no interest in reducing burdens or assisting those in need (even if the need would assist people on their way to heaven). Instead, this continual reliance on the codes and laws of the Church produces burdens and refuses to assist anyone upon whom they are imposed.

Jesus contrasted Himself with the scribes and Pharisees with respect to burdens:

“And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger” (Matt. 23:4).

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Peter criticized the Jewish Christians of his day when they sought to place the burdens of Mosaic Law on others. Peter said, “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10).

Perhaps treating people as people, and looking at the complexities of the human heart would serve the Church better. Unfortunately, the ethnics may be too complex and deep. Perhaps they cannot be easily herded.

Those who are attached to their ethnic parishes and their heritage are in need of a shepherd, not the shepherd’s dog. The dog acts on instinct, the shepherd acts with forethought – “Will I hurt the sheep if I yank them by their neck?” In St. Louis, the reliance on legalism is directly challenged by a people who fought for over a thousand years for freedom. The Polish people who emigrated for freedom, who withstood communism, fascism, and imperialism all in the cause of human freedom, are to the legalists and minimalists a threat, and must be repressed.

In the end it is a choice of focus. What is essential is that in spiritual matters we remain united. That we accept the spiritual heritage handed down to us, by Christ first and foremost, by the Fathers of the Church, and by the catholic synods of the first 1,000 years of Christianity. The enrichment of our spirits through our knowledge of Christ and His salvific sacrifice trumps mere legalism and minimalism.

Accommodation versus Absolutism

“There seemed to be a consensus among us that the best way to accommodate immigrants to the United States is to integrate them into existing parishes rather than the previous pattern of establishing national parishes.” -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, NY writing on the topics discussed by New York State Bishops during their 2004 ad limina visit with Pope John Paul II.

Absolutists, dictators and such create absolute laws that serve their own purposes. It is the perpetuation of power for the sake of power. They act like the child who, when he does not get his way, picks up his toy and goes home. The Archbishop of St. Louis did exactly that. He picked up his priests and went home. He then placed a personal and interdict on the leaders of the St. Stanislaus parishioners. I would urge those reading this article to do a Google search on “interdict.”

It’s another not so funny irony that a medieval remedy is being used by those so intent on purging tradition.

When the Polish immigrants of Scranton and other U.S. cities sought Christ and their faith traditions, they were met with the same absolutism. They were met with strictures that were self serving in the perpetuation of power and class. They were met by nativist philosophies that trumped Christian love and charity. In the New York Times of August 24, 1901, James Cardinal Gibbons, prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States was quoted as having said: "The country, it seems to me, is overrun with immigrants, and a word of caution should be spoken to them."

The bishops it would seem have perpetuated this line of thinking right through today. Don’t let ethnics establish anything of theirs, integrate them.

When Bishop Francis Hodur sought a just hearing from the Vatican he was redirected. He petitioned Rome for a Polish-American bishop or Apostolic Delegate, for the suppression of "games" and "lotteries" directed by priests in the name of the Church" and for lay influence in parish affairs. He sought democracy so that his ethnics could find a clear way to God. They sought accommodation, not of evil, but of slight variances in the manner of leadership and management of the civil affairs of the Church. “Please give us someone who understands our culture and language, so we can learn more about the Catholic way to God.” “Please let us have a voice and a vote over the civil business of the Church.”

Of course this was met by excommunication.

So…

In the end we all have choices to make. How do we preserve our heritage, our traditions, and our path to God. How do we seek God in a true way, unencumbered by onerous discipline meted out by self appointed keepers of the business? I found it in the Polish National Catholic Church. It is a place where I can feel secure in faith, tradition, and identity. It is a place where no one will close my church. Best of all, it is a place where the Eucharist, the role of Mary, and the centrality of the Holy Mass keep me connected to the communion of saints.

My kiszka is safe and my kiszki are feeling fine...

The Conflict Between Spirituality and Realism - The Christian’s Role in Secular Society

2005-08-08T22:29:00.000-04:00

"An idealist in an age of pragmatists, a romantic in an age of realism..."

Can we use these words to describe us as Catholic Christians? These words appeared in a "San Francisco Examiner" article describing a man about to retire, a man who sought the public good. This particular man shaped his life and his work based on the example set by others and on goals and values he personally espoused.

As Christians we are called to shape our lives by the example given to us by Jesus Christ. This model, imitated throughout history by the saints, is as alive and pressing today as it has ever been. The goals and values we should be pursuing are those set by God.

When we read the Bible, God's Word, which our Church considers a Sacrament, a means by which grace is given, we tend to think of it as a historical document. Too often it becomes a story of long ago. We fail to grasp the fact that the Gospel is a living document. More than a document it is a living fire given to guide us through the power of the Holy Spirit. How do we apply this power?

Life in today’s world is marked by our unfortunate connection to materialism. It is a materialism that is more than a desire for things. Wants and desires, an "I can have it all" attitude surely exists. It is best evidenced in our children. Ask a child the meaning of Christmas and you will be shocked by the answer. The common response is toys, Santa, gifts, food, a party, time off from school. "Why do we give and get gifts?" "To be nice." "What if we’re not nice?" "Santa won’t be happy." "Why do we try to be nice to each other?" "Santa." It becomes a round robin conversation where nice is equal to Santa and Santa is the reason for the season.

If materialism were only desire we could fight it through repentance, prayer, fasting, teaching, and the traditional methods of overcoming the sin of selfishness.

Unfortunately, this is not enough. Materialism is founded in society's ever increasing push to secularization. Secularization is at its root realism. Realism is commonly defined as 'a concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.' If we can define it, it is. If we can produce it, it exists. If we can see, touch, smell, and taste it we can know it.

According to the Rev. Mark H. Creech, a commentator for the Christian News, "Secular humanism is that philosophy of life that emphasizes a worldview based on naturalism: the belief that the physical world is all that is real. It rejects theistic morality and supposedly defers to scientific inquiry. To a secular humanist, there is no divine purpose being worked out in the universe by Deity. Life has value and meaning only as we create and develop it. Being free from supernaturalism, the secular humanist opposes any absolute standards."

In secular society materialism is more than simple desire; it is the way of life. This way of life has no moral basis. Life is "in the eye of the beholder." Everything becomes subjective. Ethics, morality, law, humanity, and life itself are entirely situational and individualistic.

A good example of this trend toward secularization is the contrived distancing of "religious values" from public life.

In William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, Blackstone wrote: "Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, for he is an entirely dependent being."

This legal tradition that acted as the foundation for the United States, its Constitution, and the interpretation of our laws since 1793 is now regularly ruled to be inappropriate, improper, and not worthy of discussion. The new secularization would rather have a make-it-up as you go along basis for law. God did not create us, we are not headed toward God, and all we have is the here and now, so "do it if it feels good."

Are our modern lifestyle, global view, and personal beliefs nothing more than pragmatism? Do we say: "If I see it, or it is proven by science, I will believe?" Do we sow the seeds of unbelief in our everyday decisions at work or in the home?

The answer for us as Christians is to be witnesses. We must join ourselves to Christ ever more closely and to take on a Christian spiritual attitude. Making THE choice and placing our complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ is exceedingly difficult. It is a giant leap-of-faith that the world does not want you or me to take. It is the exact opposite of believing in luck, the quick fix or the fast buck. When we take this chance - a chance on God – we immediately mark ourselves as outcasts.

Once we become regenerated we become true believers and yes, we are in but apart from the world. We recognize our position in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We can no longer compromise or "blend in" with the world. Instead, we must be in the world, declaring repentance and through repentance salvation according to God's Word. We must actively challenge the secular world view.

St. Peter tells us that we as Christians belong to God and that belonging to God carries a responsibility. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9).

The Gospel according to St. John tells of Jesus' prayer on the night before he died. Jesus himself states that we are not of or for the world: "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." (John 17:14-15).

Nothing, including ourselves, is a being onto itself. We are part of the Body of Christ. We are required to do those things that energize us spiritually and prepare us to take on secular society. We desperately need those traditional forms of fighting sin: repentance, prayer, fasting, and the Eucharist. Above that we need to engage and witness our faith. We need to take the fruit of that repentance, prayer, fasting, and the Eucharist and engage the world. We must burn with the fire of the Gospel and with the power of the Holy Spirit. We must witness actively to our friends, family, children, neighbors, and especially to those who despise Christian faith.

"An idealist in an age of pragmatists, a romantic in an age of realism…"

Are we idealists and romantics for Christ? Can we be more than Thomas and believe not by seeing? Can we be impractical and visionary? This is what the saints did. This is what we are called to do.

Desensitized

2005-08-08T22:06:00.000-04:00

"One day I stood for the very first time with a knife in my hand beside a naked corpse on a marble slab. My first dissection. Opposite me stood a Christian girl, also a medical student. We both took very deep breaths in spite of the slight odor, and our eyes were wide and staring. I touched the cold skin covering the body and drew back my hand, gripping my scalpel more firmly. I looked at my partner's frightened brown eyes. 'D'you want to have a go first?' I asked unchivalrously. 'No, you first,' she breathed. Yet within two weeks it was all old hat. We could even... joke about matters which would make other people's hair stand on end."

Here, John White describes how, as a medical student, he was quickly desensitized.

What happens to us is that we become desensitized like John White. It's not a fault thing really. It's a natural human reaction. Perhaps it is the way our bodies and minds are made in order to protect us.

It happens in marriages, relationships, at work, with our hobbies, the shows and music we like. The honeymoon ends and the first spark dies. We get bored and want to liven things up a bit.

How long have you been going to church? 5 years, since birth, I was recently converted, for 80 years, all my life.

This happens to our faith as well. People complain. I'm not getting anything out of church. There is nothing new. I don't feel anything. We don't have the spirit here. I'm numb.

It's really pretty sad to hear this. It's especially sad when you're in love. If you and I are in love with Christ, if we come every Sunday to worship Him, then the focus of our questions and longings is really wrong. It is not what I am getting. The question we should ask ourselves is, "What am I giving?"

John Piper in his book "Desiring God" captures this by saying "If you come to God dutifully offering him the reward of your fellowship instead of thirsting after the reward of his fellowship, then you exalt yourself above God as his benefactor and belittle him as a needy beneficiary - and that is evil."

The PNCC is a catholic church. It's not only our heritage but it is our faith. Salvation comes through the transformation of the person by their commitment and faith in Jesus Christ, their willingness to live as Christians with all that goes along with that commitment, and all of this made real, present, and alive through our central, primary, and renewing focus being the Holy Mass and the sacraments.

We are entrusted with preaching the Word of God. Our church believes that the proclamation and preaching of the Word of God is a sacrament. You and I are all entrusted with this and have an equally important mission. Our mission involves:

Living and preaching Christ - if you want personal and church renewal this is what you must do - what you must give.
Exercising your faith - primarily through Holy Mass and the sacraments - and not just on Sunday, and also through prayer. By this exercise you will be strengthened and renewed.
Drawing others to Christ and the Church - through your actions, words, and life. At home, at work, everywhere.
No compromise - in your faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten son of the Father, who is co-eternal, who was born, lived, was crucified, died, was buried, and who rose from the dead. And... no compromise in the morality taught by the Church. No backsliding, no it's OK.

If we ask the right question, if our goal is the worship of God and His son Jesus Christ, if we fully accept and take up our cross and our mission, then we won't have time to be desensitized but will be renewed daily. As Peter C. Moore, says in his book "Disarming the Secular Gods" ". . . the ultimate judgment of love apparently sets people free to be go-givers rather than go-getters."

Swiatowid or Jesus Christ

2005-08-08T21:02:00.000-04:00

We are people of the modern world - the technological age. Nothing in the world or in space is unconquerable. There is no limit to our abilities or possibilities. Even human life is in our control.

Swiatowid was an ancient Slavic god. For many reasons this ancient god is applicable to today - perhaps more applicable than he was to the people of the 'fields' the Polonians of 1,039 years ago.

Swiatowid was not the greatest god in the pantheon of Slavic gods and goddesses. Studies have shown that the Polonians did not even worship stone gods, but were deists - believing that the gods were represented in every aspect of the world: people, trees, animals, and nature. It is thought that Swiatowid was created in response to the Christianization that occurred beginning a little before the baptism of Mieszko I in 966. The pagan believers needed a representation of a god that was bigger, better, and stronger than the Christian God.

Who was Swiatowid? Literally he was the god that sees the whole world. Swiatowid had four faces, two male and two female. The four faces on a stone column looked to the four directions, north, south, east and west. He saw it all and was, to his believers, all knowing and all powerful.

The modern age has adopted this ancient Slavic god as its standard-bearer. In today's world it is easy to know and see all, even to be all. We live in the age of globalization and globalism.

We have the conveniences of the Internet, modern communication systems, mobile and satellite phones. We can be in touch with the news and events of distant places. Modern transportation has bridged the gap. In a few hours we can be in Europe, Asia, or the Near East. We can go to the store and buy cookies from Poland, vodka from Finland, art from Africa, technology from Asia. Even space flight can be made available to the average person.

All of this pales in comparison to the high level technological and medical advances that are to come. Among the advances we easily recognize are nanotechnology, cloning, stem-cell research, organ transplant and replacement, and the use of living cells as containers for vast amounts of data. Science offers us choices without conditions. I can choose who may live, for how long, and then I can choose when to die.

Two or three generations ago our immigrant grandparents and great-grandparents kissed their families goodbye. The opportunity to see them again or even to communicate effectively was slim. A young woman leaving her rural village may have been saying her final goodbye to her parents. Today we live in a society where there is rarely a final goodbye. We can go back and forth as we see fit. Distance, cost, and time are of little concern.

Have we become the children of Swiatowid? This idea should be a cause for reflection and personal concern. Each of us takes advantage of the conveniences of modern life. No one wants to go back to a time that did not offer the benefits we enjoy. This is a false nostalgia. We all want the pill to keep our cholesterol low and our blood pressure down. We would rather spend time with our children and grandchildren then wash clothes by hand or shovel coal into a furnace. We do appreciate what we have - although we forget to be thankful on occasion. Maybe we loose perspective.

Our perspective is the key fact - the essential element. Do we throw ourselves at the feet of Swiatowid or do we call upon the man on the cross? What is my choice?

On Good Friday we Catholics kiss the cross of Jesus. Some of us kiss each of His wounds - His head, hands, feet, and side, a beautiful act of tenderness and compassion. This is an action that we need to repeat daily - an action of love. Regardless of our amassing unlimited power - we cannot truly love; we cannot truly live, without setting the world aside - setting Swiatowid aside for Jesus.

We can see the world and experience it - but we cannot know the world without looking through the lens of Christian faith. It is possible to accept everything our minds and hands create. However, an acceptance of everything without judgment is an illusion. Jesus showed us a life that was based on the two greatest commandments - love of God and love of neighbor. A world without these uniquely Christian elements will lead us to death.

Yes, Swiatowid is more applicable today if we set aside Christ and choose him. If we choose to worship a god of stone - a god out of our own hands - we will miss the redemption that is universal and eternal. This is the redemption offered to us through our repentance and faith and as the found of the PNCC stated, in our becoming regenerated.

Jesus was not a creation in response to outside influences. Jesus in fact is God, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The entire Old Testament was a progression from creation to Jesus. Like Advent, it was a preparation time. The Old Testament revealed Him albeit indirectly, pointed to Him, prophesied about Him, and was fulfilled by His coming. Twelve days after Christmas we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, which is God's revelation to the nations in the form of the Three Kings. Jesus is God's revelation to humanity and every revelation throughout history is done in the person of Jesus, the Son.

There are of course many examples of the Lord speaking and interacting with men and women in the Old Testament, of the pre-figuring of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, and in the words and prophesies of Isaiah which are especially clear to us.

This revelation is more than a man named Jesus who lived 2,005 years ago. Jesus did not begin and end in a span of 33 years. He is eternal and His message, His word, His way of life, His Spirit - the Holy Spirit is present, available, and completely applicable today.

Jesus and Swiatowid are choices. Jesus does not exclude or reject the world - for He moved upon the world as it was created, as the voice of the Father. It is really about choice. Jesus for the sake of my salvation and the salvation of the world or Swiatowid for the sake of the world alone. As for me and my family we choose Jesus.

Welcome

2005-08-08T20:23:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome. I am a Catholic deacon. I grew up as a Roman Catholic, studied in a R.C. seminary for the priesthood, and eventually reached a point where I found the R.C. church to no longer be relevant or enriching to me. This path of discovery is my personal faith journey.

I was searching for a church that proclaimed the word of God, was apostolic, had the seven sacraments, valid orders, a focus on the Eucharist - proclaiming the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, had traditional devotional opportunities, and was not intrusive into issues best left between a husband and wife. I found it in the PNCC, the Polish National Catholic Church. If you don't know too much about the PNCC, I recommend that you check out http://www.pncc.org/ or one of the links found at http://www.bvmc.org/. The Church has a very interesting history and a very relevant faith, especially for those who do not adhere to the idea of rules and regulations as established by the Roman Catholic Church.

In here I will post my personal thoughts, share homily ideas, and perspectives on the 'church' today.

I do not speak on behalf of the PNCC. I do however have a voice in my church. This is something we all share as members of the PNCC. Everyone has a voice and a vote - even in electing Bishops!

I welcome you and hope you find something meaningful from my posts. If you do, it's not because of me, but because of the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. I wish you all the best and pray that every blessing be yours.