A MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO DIED IN 2017: MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

As the New Year 2018 dawns upon us, I thought I would take a look backward to remember those who died this past year.

Among the multitude of those who passed from this life to eternal repose, I chose those who were part of my life’s journey, among them a number of entertainers who brought moments of happiness and laughter. 

And so, with respect and affection, with regret for some, I present a selective roll call of just a few of the people who died in 2017.

JANUARY:

Clare Hollingworth, 105. A British war correspondent who was the first to report the Nazi invasion of Poland that marked the beginning of World War II. Jan. 10.

William Peter Blatty, 89. A former Jesuit school valedictorian who conjured a tale of demonic possession and gave millions the fright of their lives with the best-selling novel and Oscar-winning movie "The Exorcist." Jan. 12.

Gene Cernan, 82. A former astronaut who was the last person to walk on the moon. Jan. 16.

Mary Tyler Moore, 80. The star of TV's beloved "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" whose comic realism helped revolutionize the depiction of women on the small screen. Jan. 25.

Mike Connors, 91. He starred as a hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series "Mannix." Jan. 26.

Barbara Hale, 94. A movie actress who found her most famous role on television as steadfast secretary Della Street in the long-running "Perry Mason" series. Jan. 26.

John Hurt, 77. An actor who had a half-century career highlighted with memorable performances, two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe and four British BAFTA awards. Jan. 27.

FEBRUARY:

Irwin Corey, 102. The wild-haired comedian and actor known for his improvisational riffs and nonsensical style who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority." Feb. 6.

Norma McCorvey, 69. Her legal challenge under the pseudonym "Jane Roe" led to the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision that legalized abortion but who later became an outspoken opponent of the procedure. Feb. 18.

Alan Colmes, 66. The radio and television host and commentator best known as the amiable liberal foil to the hard-right Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel. Feb. 23.

Bill Paxton, 61. A prolific and charismatic actor who had memorable roles in such blockbusters as "Apollo 13" and "Titanic" while also cherishing his work in "One False Move" and other low-budget movies and in the HBO series "Big Love." Feb. 25. Complications due to surgery.

Joseph Wapner, 97. The retired Los Angeles judge who presided over "The People's Court" with steady force during the heyday of the reality courtroom show. Feb. 26.

MARCH:

Robert Osborne, 84. The genial face of Turner Classic Movies and a walking encyclopedia of classic Hollywood. March 6.

Chuck Berry, 90. He was rock 'n' roll's founding guitar hero and storyteller who defined the music's joy and rebellion in such classics as "Johnny B. Goode," ''Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Roll Over Beethoven." March 18.

Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, 84. He ministered clandestinely to Catholics for years while officially orking as a window-washer during communist rule in Czechoslovakia. March 18.

Chuck Barris, 87. His game show empire included "The Dating Game," ''The Newlywed Game" and that infamous factory of cheese, "The Gong Show." March 21.

APRIL:

Don Rickles, 90. The big-mouthed, bald-headed comedian whose verbal assaults endeared him to audiences and peers and made him the acknowledged grandmaster of insult comedy. April 6.

Erin Moran, 56. The former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi." April 22. Cancer.

Jonathan Demme, 73. The eclectic, ever-enthusiastic filmmaker behind the Oscar winners "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia," and the director of one of the most seminal concert films ever made, the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense." April 26.


MAY:

Powers Boothe, 68. The character actor known for his villain roles in TV's "Deadwood," and in the movies "Tombstone," ''Sin City" and "The Avengers." May 14.

Roger Ailes, 77. He transformed TV news by creating Fox News Channel, only to be ousted at the height of his reign for alleged sexual harassment. May 18.

Dina Merrill, 93. The rebellious heiress who defied her super-rich parents to become a movie star, often portraying stylish wives or "the other woman." May 22.

Roger Moore, 89. The suavely insouciant star of seven James Bond films. May 23.

Manuel Noriega, 83. A former Panamanian dictator and onetime U.S. ally who was ousted as Panama's dictator by an American invasion in 1989. May 29.

Constantine Mitsotakis, 98. A former conservative prime minister remembered for fierce confrontations with Greece's liberal and socialist parties as well as early free-market reforms during a 60-year political career. May 29.

JUNE:

Jim Piersall, 87. A former major leaguer who bared his soul about his struggles with mental illness in his book "Fear Strikes Out." June 3.

Roger Smith, 84. He brought glamour to the TV detective genre as a hip private eye on "77 Sunset Strip." June 4.

Adam West, 88. His straight-faced portrayal of Batman in a campy 1960s TV series lifted the tight-clad Caped Crusader into the national consciousness. June 9.

Bill Dana, 92. A comedy writer and performer who won stardom in the 1950s and '60s with his character Jose Jimenez. June 15.

Helmut Kohl, 87. The physically imposing German chancellor whose reunification of a nation divided by the Cold War put Germany at the heart of a united Europe. June 16.

Michael Bond, 91. He was creator of marmalade-loving children's favorite Paddington bear. June 27.

JULY:

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, 80. A suave, silver-haired Spaniard who was a close confidant of Pope John Paul II, serving for more than two decades as chief Vatican spokesman. July 5.

Martin Landau, 89. The chameleon-like actor who gained fame as the crafty master of disguise in the 1960s TV show "Mission: Impossible," then capped a long and versatile career with an Oscar for his poignant portrayal of aging horror movie star Bela Lugosi in 1994's "Ed Wood." July 15.

George Romero, 77. His classic "Night of the Living Dead" and other horror films turned zombie movies into social commentaries and he saw his flesh-devouring undead spawn countless imitators, remakes and homages. July 16.

John Heard, 71. An actor whose many roles included the father in the "Home Alone" series and a corrupt detective in "The Sopranos." July 21.

Barbara Sinatra, 90. The fourth wife of legendary singer Frank Sinatra and a prominent children's advocate and philanthropist who raised millions of dollars to help abused youngsters. July 25.

June Foray, 99. An actress who gave voice to Rocky the Flying Squirrel and hundreds of other cartoon characters. July 26.

Jeanne Moreau, 89. She was the smoky-voiced femme fatale of the French New Wave who starred in Francois Truffaut's love triangle film "Jules and Jim" and worked with many other acclaimed directors during a decades-long career. July 31.

AUGUST:

Ara Parseghian, 94. He took over a foundering Notre Dame football program and restored it to glory with two national championships in 11 seasons. Aug. 2.

Ty Hardin, 87. A popular film and television actor who starred as the gunman Bronco Layne in the TV Western series "Bronco" and worked with Henry Fonda and Kirk Douglas among others. Aug. 3.

Glen Campbell, 81. The affable superstar singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman" whose appeal spanned country, pop, television and movies. Aug. 8.

Dick Gregory, 84. The comedian and activist and who broke racial barriers in the 1960s and used his humor to spread messages of social justice and nutritional health. Aug. 19.

Jerry Lewis, 91. The manic, rubber-faced showman who rose to fame in a lucrative partnership with Dean Martin, settled down to become a self-conscious screen auteur and found an even greater following as the host of the annual muscular dystrophy telethons. Aug. 20.

Richard Anderson, 91. The tall, handsome actor best known for costarring simultaneously in the popular 1970s television shows "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman." Aug. 31.

SEPTEMBER:

Shelley Berman, 92. A comedian who won gold records and appeared on top television shows in the 1950s and 1960s delivering wry monologues about the annoyances of everyday life. Sept. 1.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, 85. The former Roman Catholic archbishop of Westminster in England. Sept. 1.

Don Williams, 78. An award-winning country singer with love ballads like "I Believe in You." Sept. 8.

Frank Vincent, 80. A veteran character actor known for playing gangster roles, including in "The Sopranos," ''Goodfellas" and "Casino."

Jake LaMotta, 95. An iron-fisted battler who brawled his way to a middleweight title and was later memorialized by Robert De Niro in the film "Raging Bull." Sept. 19.

Hugh M. Hefner, 91. The Playboy magazine founder who revved up the sexual revolution in the 1950s and built a multimedia empire of clubs, mansions, movies and television. Sept. 27.

Anne Jeffreys, 94. The actress and opera singer who likely had her greatest impact on TV audiences as Marion Kerby "the ghostess with the mostess" in the 1950s TV series "Topper." Sept. 27.

Monty Hall, 96. The genial TV game show host whose long-running "Let's Make a Deal" traded on love of money and merchandise and the mystery of which door had the car behind it. Sept. 30.
OCTOBER:

Tom Petty, 66. An old-fashioned rock superstar and everyman who drew upon the Byrds, the Beatles and other bands he worshipped as a boy and produced new classics such as "Free Fallin,' "Refugee" and "American Girl." Oct. 2.

David Patterson Sr., 94. A Navajo Code Talker who used his native language to outsmart the Japanese in World War II. Oct. 8.

Y.A. Tittle, 90. The Hall of Fame quarterback played 17 years in pro football, including a memorable run for the New York Giants at the end of his career. Oct. 8.

Fats Domino, 89. The amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of New Orleans. Oct. 24.

Robert Guillaume, 89. He rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms "Soap" and "Benson." Oct. 24.

NOVEMBER:

Richard "Dick" F. Gordon Jr., 88. The Apollo 12 astronaut was one of a dozen men who flew around the moon but didn't land there. Nov. 6.

John Hillerman, 84. He played stuffed-shirt Higgins to Tom Selleck's freewheeling detective Thomas Magnum in the 1980s TV series "Magnum, P.I." Nov. 9.

Liz Smith, 94. A syndicated gossip columnist whose mixture of banter, barbs, and bon mots about the glitterati helped her climb the A-list as high as many of the celebrities she covered. Nov. 12.

Charles Manson, 83. The hippie cult leader who became the hypnotic-eyed face of evil across America after orchestrating the gruesome murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles during the summer of 1969. Nov. 19.

Mel Tillis, 85. The affable longtime country music star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles. Nov. 19.

Della Reese, 86. The actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama "Touched by an Angel." Nov. 19.

David Cassidy, 67. The teen and pre-teen idol who starred in the 1970s sitcom "The Partridge Family" and sold millions of records as the musical group's lead singer. Nov. 21.

Jim Nabors, 87. The Alabama-born comic actor who starred as TV's dim but good-hearted Southern rube Gomer Pyle and constantly surprised audiences with his twang-free operatic singing voice. Nov. 30.

DECEMBER:

Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, 104. The spiritual leader of Israel's non-Hasidic ultra-Orthodox Jews of European descent and one of its most influential and powerful rabbis. Dec. 12

Bernard Cardinal Law 86, of cancer.  December 20.

Some famous.  Some infamous.  Fellow travelers along the pathway of life to eternity.

May the Lord have mercy upon them all and grant them the blessings of eternal life.  May they pray for us, that when we depart this life, we do so in the presence and love of Jesus, to be in His and their company forever.

2018 dawns upon us....  What it will bring is reserved to the knowledge of God Himself.  May we walk the days of the New Year ever in His Peace and Blessings.

NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS

At midnight this Sunday, the year 2017 will pass into the annals of history.  One second later, the New Year 2018 will come into being!

Apart from the foolishness of many New Year's Eve celebrations, I must confess I always look forward to New Year's Day.

I look upon the occasion as another turning point in my life, an opportunity to start over again, to adjust the course of my life as it were and begin anew.

Of course, marking a completely man-made and artificial moment in the vastness of time is in and of itself rather insignificant as it applies to the free choices I make for good of ill.  But the noting of the event that, by common assent, humanity will globally reset its calendar allows me the illusion of being able to put away the past mistakes and failures and begin a new moment in my life, fee of the old failings and fresh on a journey of further discoveries about myself and the others with whom I share my life.

I customarily make just one resolution each New Year's Day.  This year, it will be to keep in closer touch with family members and friends, especially those wonderful folks I left when I moved from St. Louis to the Phoenix area.

Last year, I resolved to lose some weight and end the year around 14 pounds lighter than I was last New Year's Eve.  To that extent, I guess I did okay keeping my promise to myself.

So, allow me to express to you and your loved ones my prayers and best wishes for a truly Blessed and Happy 2018.  May each day begin with a recognition that you are loved by the Lord and that He is ever present in your life, in the small events and major changes that all of us are called to confront.

May you be surrounded by folks who love you and support you with their affection and care.

May you have faith enough in God's Providence to share your blessings, your time, your love, knowing that the Lord returns a hundredfold the good that we do.

May the Lord bless our country and our world with peace, may war be avoided and international disputes be resolved without bloodshed.  May our country know unity and civility again.  

And may humanity acknowledge and give due honor and glory to our Eternal Father, Our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit who nourishes us in body and in mind.

Happy New Year, everyone.  God bless you this New Year and always.

Father Joe

WHY DOES THE POPE IGNORE THE CAUSES OF THE REFUGEE CRISIS

On Christmas Day , Pope Francis has urged Roman Catholics not to ignore the plight of millions of migrants "driven from their land".

The Holy Father compared them to Mary and Joseph, recounting the Biblical story of how they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem but found no place to stay.

He has made defense of migrants around the world a major theme of his papacy.

"So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary," he told crowds who gathered at Saint Peter Basilica.  "We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones."

He said many of today's refugees were fleeing from leaders who "see no problem in shedding innocent blood".

The Pope stressed that faith demanded that foreigners be welcomed everywhere.

Certainly, the Pope’s remarks concerning refugees are commendable.  Yet....

Why is it that we never hear the Pope condemn the oppression, the injustice, the barbarism which forces so many from their native lands?

Why is it that the Holy Father will assault both Heaven and earth in denouncing those countries which ignore environmental concerns, yet never apply the same condemnation of regimes who inflict such horrible atrocities upon their citizens?

Refugees exist where injustice and barbarism is allowed to reign supreme.

The Holy Father needs to call upon the countries of the civilized world to inflict every possible political and (if needs be) military pressure upon the ruthless dictators whose savagery forces so many to flee from their native soil.

Merely accepting those driven from their lands will never solve the root cause of the problem.

Pope Francis should know better and realize that he has the attention of the world which focuses upon his words.  He should, in no ambiguous terms, condemn by name the dictators who inflict such suffering.  He should call upon the statesmen and women (if there be any) in Europe and the Americas to mount the most oppressive and punitive sanctions against barbarians who have risen to places of sovereign authority.

The refugees deserve help and support.  The best help we can give them is to help them purge the filth of corruption and greed from their countries.

And yet, it seems I have yet to hear that part of the solution to the refugee problem from the lips of this good and holy Pope!  

Why?

MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL PAPAL ACT OF 2017

To say that 2017 was a busy year for Pope Francis is perhaps the biggest understatement of the year itself.

Ever since his election and throughout his Pontificate, the Holy Father has consistently preached and encouraged Catholics and non-believers as well to value and appreciate differences rather than condemn or fear them.  2017 was no exception as the Pope even permitted greater diversity within the Church.

As the year quickly approaches its ending, we look back upon what may possibly be the most lasting and influential action undertaken during this Pontificate.

That decision was contained in the Pope’s motu proprio, Magnum Principium (The Great Priniciple).  The document provided changes to Canon Law which give national conferences of Bishops greater authority in translating liturgical texts into their native languages.

In a letter correcting some misstatements made by Cardinal Sarah, the Holy Father insisted that while in the past  "the judgment regarding the fidelity to the Latin and the eventual corrections necessary was the task of the Congregation (for Divine Worship)," the new norms give "episcopal conferences the faculty of judging the worth and coherence of one or another term in translations from the original, even if in dialogue with the Holy See."

By these actions, Pope Francis has given canonical expression to the teachings of Vatican Council II  that Bishops are indeed successors to the Apostles and have a distinct and proper role in the expression of that Apostolic Authority.  

Such a clarification gives greater understanding to the ancient declaration that the Pope is “primus inter pares”, that is, the Pope is “first among equals”.  The Bishops, therefore, individually and collectively exercise Apostolic authority within their dioceses and regions of the world in fulfilling the responsibilities of their office to teach, to sanctify and to govern.

It is an understanding of Apostolic authority such as the Church has not seen put into practice to date.

I predict it will be the principle upon which other reforms will take place, not the least of which will be the eventual Ordination of married men to the Sacred Priesthood, a decision which may not be all that far off into the future.  Already, Pope Francis has expressed his openness to the idea that local conferences of Bishops would have authority to ordain men of proven virtue given the lack of availability of Priests to minister to the souls entrusted to their pastoral care.

I further predict that Magnum Principium will be the impetus which many Bishops have been awaiting to make significant reforms pertaining to the administration of the Sacraments to those in irregular situations.

Neo-conservative reactionary groups within the Church have said little about Magnum Principium.  That is because they are aware of its import and the potential it has to bring reform in many areas of Church life.  They do not wish to bring attention to what will perhaps be the “ultimate bombshell” of the Francis Pontificate:  recognizing the rightful authority which Bishops share in the salvific ministry of the Church.

And while the Pope has done many other things, especially in areas related to Catholic social teaching (death penalty and nuclear deterrence), the establishment of new dioceses in heretofore unapproachable areas, and his consistent moral teachings regarding care for the environment, none will compare with the lasting effects which Magnum Principium will have upon the Church for the foreseeable future and beyond.

What will 2018 be for Pope Francis and the Church?  How will Magnum Principium further impact Church reform and practice?

The answers to those questions are known only to God Himself, to Whom we continue to entrust ourselves and the care of the Church we love so well.

POPE FRANCIS CANDID CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ROMAN CURIA

At times throughout the year, I have made comments and observations regarding the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), noting particularly the lethargy with which they have responded to the pastoral initiatives of Pope Francis and his consistent call for the Church to be merciful first and foremost in the announcement of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Some readers have commented that I have a tendency to be quite harsh in my commentary about the USCCB and many of the agencies it sponsors and supports.

Their criticism is quite correct, but my comments about the USCCB amount to nothing but quibbles when compared to the stinging rebuke which Pope Francis has leveled against members of the Roman Curia.

This past week, Pope Francis issued a stinging new critique of the Vatican's top administration.

For the fourth year running, Francis used his annual Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia to lecture the assembled Cardinals, Bishops and other department heads on the need for change.

"Reforming Rome is like cleaning the Sphinx of Egypt with a toothbrush," he said, quoting a 19th-century Belgian churchman. 

In his address on Thursday, he spoke of those "traitors of trust" who had been entrusted with carrying out reforms but "let themselves be corrupted by ambition and vainglory."  When they are quietly let go, he said, "they erroneously declare themselves to be martyrs of the system ... instead of reciting a 'mea culpa'.

Francis did not cite any specific examples.

Francis said the overwhelming majority of Curia members were faithful, competent and some saintly.

Later, in a separate meeting with lay Vatican employees and their families, Francis asked forgiveness for the failings of some Church officials.

While not in any way comparing the level or authority of my observations or comments to that of the Holy Father, I think I can say that we agree that there are those in positions of authority who have been consistent in their reluctance to enact the pastoral initiatives that Pope Francis has recommended.  

And those who have opposed him sit not only within the halls of the Curial Offices in Rome, but also among the members of Episcopal Conferences around the world, the United States included.

So, hat’s off to Pope Francis for his candor, frankness and honesty.  I shall continue to emulate these same virtues in the days and weeks of the New Year that awaits us all.

MEMORIES AND A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT POPE: PAUL VI

On a wall, just to the left of my desk, is a woodcut print, a gift from an artist and dear friend of my seminary days in Rome.  

It bears the image of one, who in my opinion (which is slowly gaining favor), is perhaps the greatest Pope of the modern era:  Pope Paul VI.

I have so many precious and fond memories of Pope Paul, who was Pontiff during my seminary days in Rome.

It was my good fortune to have served as Acolyte at his morning Mass a number of times.

As a Deacon, I and my brother-Deacons from the North American College assisted the Holy Father as Ministers of the Eucharist at the Pontifical Masses celebrated at Saint Peter’s Basilica.  

And I had the extraordinary privilege of meeting the Holy Father in private audience, the special guest of the Undersecretary of State who was a dear friend and classmate of the pastor of my home parish in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.

What few people know or ever experienced was the Holy Father’s quick wit and the ever-present yet subdued smile.  I can give witness to the fact that Pope Paul was the consummate gentleman, respect and kind to everyone.

He is seldom recalled of late.  

The judgment of many in the Church and secular society remains that his was a failed Pontificate (largely because of his Encyclical, Humanae Vitae).  

That may be the judgment of the last forty years since his death, but I doubt that that will be the judgment of history. 

The French Dominican theologian Yves Congar once predicted as much: “With time, Paul VI will be appreciated.”

Why has Pope Paul has been so often overlooked?

Many have offered answers.

But here’s my take on the question:  Pope Paul VI was just too intelligent and prudent to take sides on any given issue.  As a result, he was no one’s hero and no one’s real villain (other than those who attacked him personally for what he saw as the threat which artificial contraception posed to the dignity of life itself and the individual human person).

A careful, rather than exaggerated or hysterical reading of the Encyclical reveals that Pope Paul tried to see the value of every point of view, while avoiding the pitfall of becoming the darling of agenda-driven Catholics.

True, this Pope had clay feet (as do we all) and was susceptible to the influences of voices within the Curia in whom he had placed his trust.  In the end, some of those relationships did not serve the Holy Father very well at all.

Many accuse Pope Paul of an eager willingness to resist making decisions or providing solutions to the many problems which were plaguing the Church in the years immediately following Vatican Council II.  

Still, those who knew Paul VI insist it wasn't spinelessness or angst, but rather a keen awareness of the insufficiency of simple answers.

Simply put, Pope Paul VI knew the wisdom of silence and respect for the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the Church.

And so, while he may never be a hero to many, he remains a hero to me.

How often have I looked upon his visage and wondered what he would have said or done, not said or not done, in addressing the manifold challenges facing the Church in the contemporary world.

Pope Paul believed in listening before speaking.

It’s a wisdom our society has easily and quickly forgotten, the penalty for which is increasing division and hostility to opposing points of view.

I was just looking at his image again as I sit at the keyboard on this Christmas Eve morning and thought I’d offer a few words of homage to this great Pope and the fondest memories of the few and precious moments we shared in each other’s company.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL, MY DEARS....GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

This weekend, memories will be made that will last lifetimes.

Monday is Christmas Day!  

For many folks, today (Friday) is the last work day or school day before Christmas!  Already, many have anticipated the holiday with parities and gatherings at which gifts have been exchanged and friendships and relationships forged again and anew. 

Christmas is an especially poignant day for me and my family.  Our mother was born on Christmas Day!  And, although the Lord Jesus called her to eternal rest in 2003, the memory of joining the celebration of Christ's Birthday with Mom's still lingers in our hearts.  We commend her, our beloved father and brother and all those family members who have gone before us in faith.  May God give them blessed repose and eternal peace!

For yet another year, I celebrate Christmas (my 3rd) in Arizona, my residence of retirement from active pastoral ministry.

Celebrating Christmas in the desert is still a novel experience for me, yet the Lord seemed to accommodate my nostalgia for the frosty Christmas holidays I experienced in St. Louis with a brisk temperature of 34 degrees this morning....frost on the cacti, for sure!!

Permit me on this Christmas weekend, then, to put away the commentary and observations about events and occurrences in the Church and to simply offer a Christmas greeting and prayer to all.

Merry Christmas!  A Blessed and Grace-filled celebration to all of you.

May the Lord Jesus be with you and all those you love to shower His Grace and His Peace upon you.  May we all know His Presence in our lives and the power of His Wisdom and Love.

God bless you, each and every one, this Christmas and always!

Father Joe

CARDINAL BERNARD LAW IS DEAD, HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE THURSDAY

Cardinal Bernard Law died yesterday after a lengthy illness related to congestive heart failure.  Cardinal Law died in Rome at the age of 86, after a brief hospitalization. Two weeks ago, he experienced a decline in health and was admitted to a clinic in Rome to monitor the problem. He had been unresponsive for several days before his death.

Cardinal Law was appointed Archbishop of Boston in 1984, and resigned from the position in 2002, after reports revealed that he did not disclose multiple allegations of clerical sexual abuse to the police or to the public, or intervene to remove priests accused of sexual abuse from priestly ministry.

After his resignation, he moved to Rome.  He was assigned as the Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in 2004 by Pope John Paul II, a largely ceremonial position from which he resigned on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

The Vatican announced Wednesday that the funeral Mass of Cardinal Bernard Law, will be held Thursday.

As is customary for Cardinals who were most recently assigned to a ministry in Rome, the Mass will be held at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, and will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, alongside other Cardinals and 
Bishops.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Pope Francis will preside over the rite of Last Commendation and the Valediction, as is usual. Law will be buried in a tomb at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, which is customary for the Priests who have served there.

May the Lord grant him merciful repose.  May his soul and the souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Western civilization today stands at the threshold of extinction.  

I know how pessimistic and disturbing that statement is.  Yet it is factual, nonetheless.

To understand why this is so, it is necessary to understand how the social order is necessarily dependent upon the the concept and value of the individual human being.

The world's first civilizations were Mesopotamian.  These were theocratic, sacred states ruled in the name of a divinity or by rulers who were themselves seen as divine. Rulers, and the priests, soldiers and bureaucrats who carried out their will, were a small minority who kept power by exploiting those subject to their authority and power.  The individual had little or no value in and of himself, but only in relation to the role and recognition accorded him by those in control of the social order.

In Greco-Roman societies (in which Western civilization finds its earliest stirrings) not every individual human being was regarded as inviolable and worthy of protection.  Only those who enjoyed the recognition of being “citizens of the state” had the full right to life and the benefits which the state afforded them.

Non-citizens, slaves, conquered or indentured peoples had no rights.  Rather, they were subject to the arbitrary, sometimes whimsical, judgments of the few in whom the authority of the state was concentrated.  

In ancient Greece, as in Rome, human sacrifice and gladiatorial combat was acceptable. Spartan Law required that deformed infants be put to death.  Plato insisted that infanticide was one of the regular institutions of the ideal State.  For his part, Aristotle regarded abortion as a desirable option.  The Stoic philosopher Seneca demanaded unapologetically that children who at birth  were weak or abnormal be drowned.

Christianity introduced the singular concept which gave rise to the birth of Western Civilization as the world has known it for over two milennia.

Christianity’s tenet that every human life is sacred and meaningful formed a new standard by which society was to be ordered, while defining society’s very purpose and function.  Such a understanding of the value of the individual human being had never before existed.

The minute and scrupulous care for the individual, even in the most humble of circumstances, was totally distinct and opposed to paganism upon which prior civilizations had been established.
And this belief that the importance and value of every human person and his dignity and rights were accorded him, not by the state, but by the Creator of all that is, established both a new social and ethical order of life. 

At the heart of Western Civilization is the religious belief that life is sacred and the ethical attitudes to which these religious beliefs gave rise still find expression in the deep seated belief that human life, irrespective of its quality or kind, is absolutely inviolable and equally valuable.

Throughout its long history, the Christian Church has been an influential player in politics and religion. In various ways it has sought to affect Western attitudes to vice and virtue in diverse fields. It has, over many centuries, promulgated the teachings of Jesus within the Western world as well as throughout other nations. 

Festivals like Easter and Christmas are marked as public holidays.  The Gregorian Calendar has been adopted internationally as the civil calendar; and the calendar itself is measured from the date of Jesus's  Birth, soon to be celebrated around the world.

The cultural influence of the Church has been vast. 

Church scholars preserved literacy in Western Europe following the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the Church rose to replace the Roman Empire as the unifying force in Europe. 

The cathedrals of that age remain among the most iconic feats of architecture produced by Western civilization. Many of Europe's universities were also founded by the church at that time. Many historians state that universities and cathedral schools were a continuation of the interest in learning promoted by monasteries. The university is generally regarded as an institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting, born from Cathedral schools.  Renaissance masterpieces produced by Catholic artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael at that time remain among the most celebrated works of art ever produced. Similarly, Christian sacred music by composers like Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Verdi is among the most admired classical music in the Western canon.

The Bible and Christian theology have also strongly influenced Western philosophers and political activists. The teachings of Jesus, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, are among the important sources for modern notions of Human Rights and the welfare measures commonly provided by governments in the West. 

Though often ignored by modern feminist ideologies, Christianity positivelyaffected the status of women by condemning marital infidelity, divorce, incest, polygamy, birth control, infanticide (female infants were more likely to be killed), and abortion.  The fact is that women have played prominent roles in Western history through and as part of the Church, particularly in education and healthcare, but also as influential theologians and mystics.

Humanity has advanced by the practice of the Christian Faith and the virtues which have articulated and elaborated Western Civilization,  a political, social and economic order in entire consonance with the basic and perennial principles of Natural Law. 

As the Christian faith today finds itself either at odds with or irrelevant to contemporary values, Western Civilization itself stands at the threshold of its own extinction.  Sadly, the cultural elite and the guardians of political correctness are too blind to comprehend that their hostility toward Christianity spells their own doom.  

The Birth of Christ surely has religious significance, but faith in Christ Himself and His Message of the worth of every human being has been the cornerstone of every advancement in human history.

Would that the world would acknowledge and embrace its only hope for true and lasting peace and the fulfillment of every human hope and dream.

WHAT YEAR WAS CHRIST BORN?

Allow me to repost an article I have published both on this blogsite and in the bulletins of parishes where I have served over the course of my active ministry.  I do so because so many have found the subject interesting and informative.  So, begging your indulgence, I post this once again.

Scripture does not provide an exact date on which Christ was born.

In a previous post, I offered a number of popular explanations regarding the reasons why most of Christendom celebrates December 25th as the day of Christ's Birth.  

The exact year in which Jesus was born in Bethlehem is open to conjecture, since it is not recorded in the Bible. 

However, certain details of history narrow a determination of the year of Christ's Birth to a reasonable window of time.

The biblical details of Jesus’ birth are found in the Gospels. Matthew 2:1 states that Jesus was born during the days of Herod the king.

Now, since Herod died in 4 B.C., we have a parameter within which to work. Furthermore, after Joseph and Mary fled Bethlehem with Jesus, Herod ordered all the boys 2 years old and younger in that vicinity killed. This indicates that Jesus could have been as old as 2 before Herod’s death. This places the date of His birth between 6 and 4 B.C.

Luke 2:1-2 notes several other facts: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.” 

We know that Caesar Augustus reigned from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.  Quirinius governed Syria during this same time period, with records of a census that included Judea in approximately 6 B.C. 

Some scholars debate whether this is the census mentioned by Luke, but it does appear to be the same event. Based on these historical details, the most likely time of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem is 6-5 B.C.

Luke mentions another detail concerning our timeline: “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). 

Jesus began His ministry during the time John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness, and John’s ministry started “in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas” (Luke 3:1-2).

The only time period that fits all of these facts is A.D. 27-29. If Jesus was “about thirty years of age” by A.D. 27, a birth sometime between 6 and 4 B.C. would fit the chronology. More specifically, Jesus would have been approximately 32 years old at the time He began His ministry (still “about thirty years of age”).

What is known is that biblical and historical details point to an approximate year of birth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea approximately 6-4 B.C.

Whatever exact date or year of Christ's Birth, the fact that the Word of God became Flesh has changed human history forever.  May the celebration of His Birth rekindle the flame of faith in all our hearts.  May we celebrate His Coming each and everyday by living lives of charity and mercy toward all our sisters and brothers.

Merry Christmas!  God bless you!

HARKEN TO THE MESSAGE OF THE ANGELS

At Christmastime, angels and the role they play in the history of salvation is highlighted both in the Scriptures as well as Church teachings.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states unequivocally:  “The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.” (Paragraph 328)

Quoting the writings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the Catechism continues:  “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is spirit; if you seek the name of their office, it is angel: from what they are, spirit;, from what they do, angel.  (Paragraph 329)

The very word “angel” is derived from the Greek angelos, the word for a messenger.  In Hebrew, the word for angel is malak, used to denote both those totally spiritual beings in Heaven who act as God’s mighty messengers as well as the earthly prophets who announce His Will to His Chosen People.

From the dawn of creation when the Evil Spirit (himself a fallen angel) successfully seduced humanity to sin against the Creator’s Will, to the Incarnation announced by the angel Gabriel, angelic spirits are an essential part of Messianic history. 

Since the coming of Christ, angels are more than ever the messengers of the Good News which they first announced to the shepherds at Bethlehem.

In our modern culture, there is such a preoccupation with human psychology and physiology as to almost exclude the whole world of reality which is at once intelligent and deeply involved in the affairs of men. Even in Christian circles, there is only token attention paid to the existence and the ministry of angels among theologians.

Ironically, there exists at the same time an avalanche of modern day cults and movements which have gone to the other extreme. Preoccupation with the invisible powers of the world has produced scores of pseudo-religions that have also penetrated Catholic circles. 

The New Age movement, borrowed from the Oriental non-Christian world, has deeply penetrated Catholic thinking in Europe and North America.

As we celebrate the Nativity of Christ, we take note of the many occasions upon which the angels were called upon by Our Heavenly Father to prepare for and to announce the Fulfillment of the Promise of Redemption.

And while angels appear frequently in Scripture, only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel’s visions, announcing Michael’s role in God’s plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael’s activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit’s son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah’s marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit’s blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their individual feasts to Michael’s.

The Church encourages devotion to the angels.  In this context, devotion is to be understood as an expression of love which can manifest itself in different ways. 

We show our devotion to the angels by our prayer, our imitation, and our angelic apostolate.

The single most Catholic feature of praying to the angels is invoking their help. Our faith tells us that the angels are powerful intercessors with God. We in invoke them, and they intercede for us. They constantly see the face of God. They have access to His wisdom and power. Through them we can obtain so many things we need, provided we ask them to plead for us before the throne of God.

The most fundamental imitation of the angels that we are to practice is their humble submission to the Divine Will. After all this is the basic difference between heaven and hell. The angels and saints are in heaven because they were obedient to the will of God. The demons and others in hell are there because they refused to submit to His divine majesty.

Moreover, there is one feature of angelic life that we are especially to imitate.  They are always beholding the face of God and unceasingly meeting our many needs.  Our task in life, therefore, is to imitate the angels by living in the divine presence while constantly serving the needs of others.

Finally, there are two basic graces that human beings need to reach their eternal destiny: they must know the truth with their minds, and choose what is truly good with their wills.  Thus, we engage in the angelic ministry by sharing with others what our faith teaches us about the Lord and His love for all humanity.

We rejoice in proclaiming the existence and ministry of the angels and welcome the care they offer us individually and collectively as the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.

REGARDING NATIVITY SCENES AND CHRISTMAS TREES

The traditional Christmas scenes are "the signs of the heavenly Father's compassion, of his participation and closeness to humanity who experience not being abandoned in dark times, but instead visited and accompanied in their difficulties," the Pope said.

"Every year, the Christmas Nativity scene and tree speak to us through their symbolic language. They make more visible what is captured in the experience of the birth of the Son of God," Pope Francis said December 7th in a meeting with delegations from Poland and Italy, responsible respectively for the 2017 Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity scene.

The centerpiece of the Vatican's Christmas holiday decorations is the towering 92-foot spruce tree.

Measuring nearly 33 feet in diameter, the tree was donated by the Archdiocese of Elk, Poland, and transported to the Vatican on a flatbed truck traveling more than 1,240 miles across central Europe.

Thanking the members of the Polish delegation, the Pope said the tree's soaring height "motivates us to reach out 'toward the highest gifts’” and to rise above the clouds to experience "how beautiful and joyful it is to be immersed in the light of Christ."

"The tree, which comes from Poland this year, is a sign of the faith of that people who, also with this gesture, wanted to express their fidelity to the See of Peter," the pope said.

The Nativity scene was donated by the Benedictine Abbey of Montevergine, located in southern Italy. 

Created in a traditional 18th-century Neapolitan style, it covers a surface of over 860 square feet and features 20 terra cotta figures, some as tall as 6 feet.

The representation of the night of Jesus' birth, the Pope Francis said, is "inspired by the works of mercy" and is a reminder "that Jesus told us: 'Do to others what you would have them do to you.’”

"The crib is the evocative place where we contemplate Jesus who, taking upon himself human misery, invites us to do the same through act of mercy.”

As it was last year, the Christmas tree was adorned with ornaments made by children receiving treatment at several Italian hospitals.  Pope Francis thanked the children and told them their ornaments are a personal witness of Jesus "who made himself a child like you to tell you that he loves you."

The tree will remain in St. Peter's Square until the feast of the Lord's Baptism, January 7th.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US, POPE FRANCIS AND MYSELF!

This is a Birthday weekend of sorts.

Today, Saturday (December 16th), I celebrate my 70th Birthday.  Life does pass by quickly, that is for sure.

I celebrate this Birthday in retirement from active parochial ministry in the beautiful State of Arizona, where I have resided for the past two years and 4 months.  I am grateful for the gift of health which allows me to enjoy life in the desert Southwest, for the enthusiasm which I have for continuing to learn about my Catholic Faith, for the excitement which I find in sharing that Faith with all of you through this blogsite, and for the treasure of faithful and lasting friendships.  How good the Lord is and has been to me always!



Tomorrow, the Holy Father will celebrate his 81st Birthday.

He does so in an enviable state of good health overall.   And, while suffering occasional bouts of sciatica, he remains remarkably active.

As a teenager, doctors diagnosed a severe lung infection. Because they found three cysts, when his condition was stabilized and a prudent amount of time had passed, he had to undergo the removal of the upper part of his right lung.

Since then, however, the Holy Father has dealt with his pulmonary deficiency which, while it does not limit him seriously, still afflicts him. 

The Pope's last surviving sibling, his younger sister Maria Elena Bergoglio, also told Associate Press reporters that doctors removed "a pretty big part" of one lung, but said her brother is "completely healthy."

She added that diminished lung capacity seemed to bother Francis less than other ailments that come with old age, such as lower back pain. That's why he wears orthopedic shoes and uses a cane at times.

We join with the millions around the world in wishing Pope Francis a truly happy celebration of his 81st Birthday on Sunday.  May the Lord continue to bless His Holiness with good health and a gentle heart which delights in the goodness of God and the love of his fellow men and women, believers as well as non-believers.

God bless you, Holy Father.  Many happy returns of the day.  

I hope the Lord blesses both of us with many years of health and joy and many good people with whom to share both.  I know the Holy Father still has many exciting and challenging messages of hope and faith to offer us.  I would like to be around to hear and be encouraged by Pope Francis for years to come.

Viva il Papa ad multos annos!

A SNAPSHOT OF AMERICAN CATHOLICISM

Two recent studies offer a very interesting snapshot of Catholicism in America.

A study of churches and religious affiliation in the United States called the, “2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study” was recently released by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. 

It is the most comprehensive study of its kind. 

The study provides detailed county-by-county information on congregations, members, adherents and attendance for 236 different faiths groups. The survey even differentiates between specific denominations within the same tradition.

What does the research tell us about Catholics?

Slightly more than 58.9 million Catholic adherents and 20,589 congregations were reported in 2,960 counties across the country. 

The researchers found Massachusetts to be the most Catholic state with around 44.9 percent of population identifying as Catholic. The researchers found Tennessee to be the least Catholic state with only 3.5 percent identifying as Catholic.

The researchers defined as Catholic those with an affiliation to a parish including children, members and attendees who are not members.  

Except for a few scattered counties in the West and in the Bible belt, the rest of the country uniformly has at least 5 percent of Catholic adherents.  The highest concentration of Catholics is in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest.

Interestingly, the largest Catholic dioceses are now in the West. 

In 2010, Catholic parishes in the West reported an average of approximately 4,200 members. Thirty years ago, Catholic parishes in the West had slightly less than 2000 members on average, meaning that churches in the West have grown by over 100 percent in the last 30 years. 

Catholic parishes in the South have also grown about 67 percent in the same time period.

Another study conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that the median age of Catholic adults in the U.S. is 49 years old – four years older than it was in 2007. Catholics are significantly older than members of non-Christian faiths (40) and people who are not affiliated with any religion (36).

Just 17% of Catholic adults are under the age of 30, compared with 22% of U.S. adults, 35% of religious “nones” and 44% of U.S. Muslims.

The face of the Body of Christ in the United States is changing, sometimes at a surprising pace. 

One thing is certain.  The Catholic Church of the future in America will, without doubt, look, sound and feel different from the Church I knew for most of my life.

This fact should not disturb us, but remind and convince us yet again that the Holy Spirit is the Source of Life, the Paraclete, Who inspires Faith and nourishes and strengthens that Faith with the truth of the Gospel and the empowerment provided by the Sacraments.

God bless our Church, today and always.  Let us thank the Lord for His gift to us of our Catholic Faith, the greatest treasure in our lives.

CHRISTMAS AND THE COURTS

Just another sign of the times, I guess.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington announced over the weekend that it will be appealing a District of Columbia judge’s decision siding with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in the Archdiocese’s November lawsuit over WMATA rejecting their Christmas-themed advertisement.

The ad was for an initiative urging the public to consider the spiritual side of the Christmas season by learning about Advent and other Catholic Christmas traditions.

It depicts shepherds under a starry night and the simple slogan “Find the Perfect Gift.”

WMATA said on November 20th that the ad violated their policy prohibiting “all non-commercial advertising, including any speech that purportedly promotes a religion, religious practice, or belief,” because “it depicts a religious scene and thus seeks to promote religion,” according to the Archdiocese’s initial complaint, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief in D.C. Court.

The Archdiocese is arguing that WMATA’s ban interferes with their First Amendment rights, but D.C. Judge Amy Berman Jackson approved of the policy Friday, reasoning that inflammatory issue-oriented ads could incite violence.

“Given the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s concerns about the risks posed by issue-oriented ads, including ads promoting or opposing religion, its decision was reasonable,” Jackson said in her ruling. “The regulation is reasonably aligned with WMATA’s duty to provide safe, reliable transportation ... and it does not violate the First Amendment.”

The Archdiocese announced that they have appealed the decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Sunday.

The Archdiocese’s Secretary for Communications Ed McFadden referenced ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ in his comment on the decision.

“In ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ he asks, ‘Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?’ Linus responds, ‘Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.’ That is what the archdiocese wants to do with the www.FindthePerfectGift.org ad campaign,” McFadden said.

 “In a society concerned more with what’s under the tree, and where the birth of Jesus is treated as an intrusive element to the season, we simply want to share the real Christmas story, the full joy of Christmas, with our neighbors and share the Christmas spirit with those in need.”

WMATA’s policy on issue-oriented ads has already prompted other lawsuits including a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union filed in August over their refusal to run ads for the ACLU, an abortion clinic, Milo Yiannopoulos’s book, and PETA.

THE INTERNET AND THE CHURCH: BLESSINGS AND CONCERNS

In 1971, the Holy See published “The Pastoral Instruction on the Means of Social Communication Communio et Progressio.  Quoting from Pope Pius XII’s Encyclical Letter, Miranda Prorsus, the document underscored the fact that the Church “sees these media as ‘gifts of God' which, in accordance with his providential design, unite men in brotherhood and so help them to cooperate with his plan for their salvation”.

Back then, the Internet was in its infancy, taking fledgling steps into the vast cyberworld it would spawn decades later.

Today, the Internet has transformed the means of social communication and has itself become a major factor in the role it plays in human history.  

The Internet has become the most powerful tool available to man to disseminate information which can redound to mankind’s benefit or peril.

 As the Father of Vatican Council II noted: “although we must be careful to distinguish earthly progress clearly from the increase of the kingdom of Christ”, nevertheless “such progress is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society”.

Certainly, the Internet has the potential of contributing greatly to the enlargement and enrichment of men's minds and to the propagation and consolidation of the kingdom of God.

Digital communication by way of the Internet has provided the Church with a revolutionary number of benefits and advantages.  Daily, “the Net" carries news, information and commentary  about religious events, ideas, and personalities.  It serves as a instrument for evangelization and catechesis. 

The Internet is increasingly relevant to many activities and programs of the Church—  catechesis and other kinds of education, news and information, apologetics, governance and administration, and some forms of pastoral counseling and spiritual direction.

A growing number of parishes, dioceses, religious congregations, and church-related institutions, programs, nd organizations of all kinds now make effective use of the Internet for these and other purposes.

The Church, while embracing the opportunities and advancements which the Internet affords in proclaiming Christ and His Divine salvific message to the world, must be mindful and understand the power of the Internet as a tool of communication and persuasion. This requires keeping clearly in view its special character as a direct, immediate, interactive, and participatory medium.

Already, the two-way interactivity of the Internet is blurring the old distinction between those who communicate and those who receive what is communicated, creating a situation in which, potentially at least, everyone can do both. 

This is not the one-way, top-down communication of the past. As more and more people become familiar with this characteristic of the Internet in other areas of their lives, they can be expected also to look for it in regard to religion and the Church. 

This very blogsite and many others like it are examples of how the Catholic Faith can be communicated and shared among believers of good faith and good will.

Still, the Internet presents some special problems for the Church.

Among these are the reality that the Internet can at times be hostile to matters of Faith and morals, especially since the modern media culture is so deeply imbued with a sense that the only absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths or that, if there were any, they would be inaccessible to human reason and therefore irrelevant.  

Additionally,  the Internet is vulnerable to the presence of hate sites devoted to defaming and attacking religious and ethnic groups. Some of these target the Catholic Church. 

Moreover, pornography and violence abound in this still evolving medium of mass communication.  In this context, the Internet can reflect the dark side of a human nature wounded by sin.

In recent times, the proliferation of web sites calling themselves Catholic creates a problem of a different sort. 

Church-related groups should be creatively present on the Internet; and well-motivated, well-informed individuals and unofficial groups acting on their own initiative are entitled to be there as well. But it can be confusing, to say the least, not to distinguish eccentric doctrinal interpretations, idiosyncratic devotional practices, and ideological advocacy bearing a ‘Catholic' label from the authentic positions of the Church. 

Certainly, neo-conservative reactionary groups within the Church make ample use of the Internet to promulgate their distorted and defensive view of contemporary Catholicism.

Still, this is a remarkable time in the history of Christianity.  The Internet affords the Church with the most effective means of communicating the Gospel to humanity on a global scale previously unthinkable.

May the Church seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the truth of Christ clearly and in a manner which inspires faith and confidence in the redeeming love of Our Heavenly Father.

IN PRAISE OF POPE FRANCIS

Anyone familiar with this blogsite knows just how much a fan I am of Pope Francis.

This Pontificate has been refreshing and uplifting to the Christian faith in so many wonderful ways.

Yet, I do have a number of reservations when it comes to the Pope's political leanings, from his opposition to life imprisonment (“Life imprisonment is a hidden death penalty”) to his embrace of Palestinian statehood and finally to his enthusiastic embrace of multiculturalism. 

I found particularly disconcerting a 2016 interview with La Croix, in which the Holy Father explained his reluctance to acknowledge European civilization’s roots in Christianity:  “We need to speak of roots in the plural because there are so many. In this sense, when I hear talk of the Christian roots of Europe, I sometimes dread the tone, which can seem triumphalist or even vengeful. It then takes on colonialist overtones.”

In the view of the Pope, it appears that Europe can only redeem itself by accommodating unchecked millions of members of radically different non-Western, even anti-Western, cultures. 

I confess that much of what Pope Francis has to say about geo-politics and contemporary societal influences seems to betray a certain neo-Marxist ideology.

I am particularly distressed whenever the Pope engages in matters pertaining to the environment and global warming.  

But my distress with this Pope is tempered when I remember that it was Pope Benedict who was the first Pontiff to inject morality into environmental debates, making environmental awareness crucial to his Pontificate.  

In 2009, Pope Benedict chided world leaders for inadequate climate change proposals at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen. He envisioned Vatican City a carbon neutral state. He ordered 2,400 solar panels installed on the roof of a new concert hall, and authorized the Vatican Bank to purchase carbon-offsets by funding a dicey scheme to create a forest in Hungary. Benedict even encouraged “environmental stewardship” to be introduced in seminary curricula.

Pope Francis therefore only has continued Benedict’s moral condemnation of those who discredit or ignore environmental concerns and the radical solutions which he and Benedict propose would resolve what they see as a crisis of epic proportion.  An opinion which I and a myriad number of experts in the science of climate and weather do not share.

In my view, Pope Francis’ political and environmental opinions are just a bit too leftist for my liking.  Still, he has a right to his opinion which in these matters clearly is not binding upon my Catholic Faith.  

In a perfect world of my making (my moments of grand delusion), I would simply prefer Pope Francis repeating what I have found to be the most inspirational message to have come from the corridors of the Vatican since the mini-Pontificate of Pope John Paul I:  the simple and beautiful reality that Almighty God is truly in love with us, with a love which knows or admits no limitations, is completely unconditional and eternally faithful.

Pope Francis has a way of enunciating this beautiful message which touches my heart and seemingly the hearts of millions of believers and non-believers alike.

So I can live with my disagreements with the Pope over politics and climate issues.

Simply put:  Pope Francis makes me want to be a better man more in love with the Lord and my brothers and sisters each and everyday.

For this reason and so many others, I say God bless Francis!  Long live the Pope!

REGARDING ADVENT

Admittedly, it is a bit late to reflect upon the history of the Advent Season which is at this writing already halfway over.

Still, I thought it might be interesting to share some little known facts about this wonderful and sacred time of year.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. 

Originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

During the 4th and 5th Centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the Baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s Incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), His Baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and His first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). 

During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration which is now celebrated as the Lenten Season in anticipation of the Solemnity of Easter.

By the 6th Century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. 

But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the Judge of the world. 

It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

According to the modern Liturgical Calendar, the season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Actually, Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year. 

The Nativity Season which follows Advent begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6.  Think of the popular song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Advent itself is a symbol of the present situation of the Church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. 

The Church finds itself in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament. God’s People are in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah.  Just as Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus,  the Church calls for God once again to act for them. 

The Church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry in this sacred moment:  O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

To balance the two elements of remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent (through December 16th) look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays (December 17th – 24th) look backward to remember Christ’s first coming. 

Over the course of the four weeks, Scripture readings move from passages about Christ’s return in judgment, to Old Testament passages about the expectation of the coming Messiah, to New Testament passages about the announcements of Christ’s arrival by John the Baptist and the Angels.

Advent reminds us that our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace leads us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.

We believers live in a time between the fulfilled promise of Christ’s first coming and the  yet-to-be-fulfilled promise of his second coming.

Though it is difficult to keep a spiritual focus during the happy distractions and busy-ness that are all part of this wonderful time of year, it would be beneficial to remember God’s love for us manifested in the Incarnation of Christ Jesus, a promise fulfilled yet still to be fully experienced.

May our hearts be joined to Christ during Advent and all through the days of our lives.