It's Still Working

Jackie (probably out of fear and loathing for my previous bad behavior) has sent me this wonderful award. Very apt bouquet since I just ordered another 25 Stargazer lilies from Henry Fields for $19.99. Use this link as it will take you to the special newletter offer. It's is a phenomenally good deal at 80 cents per 18 cm bulb. Cheap, cheap, cheap. I am not sure they ship overseas and the cost would probably negate any savings anyway, so I guess only my US buddies could take advantage.

Since Angela at Where Angels Go and I take turns with sitting in the corner sniffling and twirling our hair, I must pass this on to her. We must not forget all her hard work discerning our special saints for the year. My saint, Beatrice of Nazareth, has become a good friend and given me much support. Angela also deserves to have a Wonderful Woman of the Web Award from the previous post.

And now I must send this special batch of flowers to other worthy folks.

1. Tom in Vegas deserves to have flowers for being the best cyber-nephew ever.


2. Cathy of Alex - our sometimes cranky, always entertaining Dissident Catholic


3. Carolina Cannonball @the Crescat really knows how to make me think.


4. Terry Nelson @ Abby Roads needs flowers to lift his spirits and 'cause he will, no doubt, whine and whimper if he doesn't get any.


5. Karen @ Gem of the Ocean (why don't you tell us what you really think!)


6. Swiss Miss @ St. Monica's Kneeler. Swiss has had some superior posts lately. Thanks


7. Laura and Christine @ Laura's Place. Not sure why it's not called Laura and Christine's place. I guess Christine just rents.


8. Tara @ Loved Sinner. The cutest blond in cyber-space.


9. Father Longendecker, Father V., and Father Speekman. Priests should get flowers, too.


10. Kelly @ Answering the Call. This Easter Kelly will be entering the church. Welcome home, Kelly


11. Therese @ Aussie Coffee Shop who keeps us amused with her "down under" tales.


12. Paula B52 @ As We Wait in Joyfull Hope.


13. Stephanie @ Digital Hairshirt. We don't hold it against her that she is an attorney one teeny, tiny bit. Really! Just forget all those attorney jokes - they do not apply to this lady. Really?


14. Rita @ tigerish waters.


15. Katie Alender for a great writer's blog.


16. Whitestone Name Seeker - great blog

There are many more wonderful bloggers in my life like Uncle Jim who, I think, was my very first commentor. Others are not being ignored. I just know that they would as soon poke their eyes out with a plastic fork than have to deal with a meme or an award. Know that you are in my heart and my prayers.

And, finally these flowers should go to a very special blogger. Jeffery over at Roving Medievalist maintains about a gazillion photo blogs. He does this for our enjoyment and he deserves appreciation for his hard work. His blog on Russian Art is must place for me to visit every day and when new pictures are up I am a very happy camper. Frozen Music has a fresh batch of pictures up and the links on Back to Dameroshay have literally eaten up whole days for me. Fascinating!! Much time has gone into these links which are intended to inform and lift us up.

Every so often, Jeffrey graces us with a bit of scolding. I, for one, need that. Too often the blogosphere becomes mired in a certain negativity concerning the Church. When we are fed a steady diet of this, it starts to affect everything we think and do. So, Jeffrey - Thanks for your hard work and helping me keep my head screwed on straight.

Obedience

Yesterday’s readings from Mass asked us to give even more of ourselves. We are to empty ourselves in order to receive more grace, more blessings, and more of the promised gifts.

In the readings for today, God is sending us the message of obedience. We have developed a disdain for authority in this country and in our church. The Catholic Church does not run as a democracy. It has a “pecking order” and those of us who are the laity have a place and a purpose in this order.

Imagine how difficult it would be for a large company to run efficiently if all the employees decided, day by day, what position they would hold. An approach like that would lead to chaos. Eventually they would end up in a free-for-all if everyone chose the same position on any given day.

A very nice lady in Minnesota I am acquainted with just passed away at the age of 102. Every day this lovely lady went to Mass, and every day she prayed her rosary. She prayed for those in her life who may have strayed from the path that Jesus had given them. She did not criticize or complain. She understood her place in the church and her mission in the world. If the manner in which the Mass was celebrated was a concern of hers, she never said so. If her priests or Bishops, most of whom she outlived, did not perform up to her expectations, she just prayed more.

People like her are the backbone of the Church. They are obedient and prayerful. They recognize what the readings for today are saying. Walk in humility and obedience, and you can change the world. Guard your thoughts and your actions. A friend in AA is always saying, “I change me, and you get better.” That is the core of the message of Jesus.

"The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest" Matthew 23:11

Catechism of the Catholic Church

901 "Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Hug a Catechist for Lent

Very few catechists command the instant respect of a Scott Hahn or a Marcus Grodi. Most of them are ordinary people with ordinary lives and an extraordinary love of their faith.

The lay catechists in our parishes are seldom afforded the respect and admiration they deserve. In today’s church, when obedience has become a rather rare commodity, the laity fails to understand the authority of the catechist. The parish priest who has chosen this person for the position gives this authority. Their authority is not the same as the priest, whose authority is not the same as the Bishops, and so on. But they do have a position of authority.

Often they are marginalized and ignored. In many cases outright animosity is often the reward for teaching the truths of the faith. Just let their audience hear something they don’t want to hear and they run to the pastor. If the catechist is lucky, the pastor will defend them, assuming, of course, the correct thing was taught.

They also struggle with the issue of “familiarity.” It’s just so-and-so from down the street. What do they know or who do they think they are? I’m guessing that Peter Kreeft is just plain old Pete in his own parish.

Pope Benedict had this to say on February 8 concerning catechists:

"They undoubtedly deserve the gratitude, encouragement, and constant attention of their pastors," he said, "so they always systematically receive a solid Christian formation, taking into account as well that they are called to carry Christian values into the various areas of society: the world of work, of civil society and of politics."

To honor the catechists who give of their time and talent, I’m declaring this Lent a time to hug a catechist. Next time you see a good catechist, thank them for the job they do. It’s much harder than you think it is.

Marks of the Church

About a week ago, Father V. over at Adam’s Ale had a post about the Creeds. It made me reflect on the importance of our most well known prayers; The Lord’s Prayer, The Hail Mary, and The Apostle’s Creed. When St. Thomas Aquinas gave a series of Lenten sermons on these three prayers back in 1273, he recognized that they contain a complete Christian education.

Every Sunday at Mass we stand together and recite the Nicene Creed. We announce to the world what we know to be the unchanging truth professed by the Catholic Church. The Nicene Creed is a summary of the Deposit of Faith as handed on to the Church from Christ Himself through His Apostles. Toward the end are the words, “I believe in the one holy catholic and Apostolic Church.

These words refer to what are traditionally known as the “Four Marks of the Church.” It is these marks that make it possible for us to recognize it as the one true Church, willed by the Father, founded by Jesus Christ, and forever guided and protected by the Holy Spirit.

Because these “marks” of the one true Church are so interrelated, they can be considered inseparable. They form a coherent ideal of what Christ’s Church must be. The unity, or oneness, of the Church is a universal unity of faith and hope; it is apostolic unity and a unity of holiness.

The Church is one whenever we all join together to profess the same faith. We are united through the saving sacrifice of Christ offered during Mass. We celebrate the same sacraments and are joined together under the leadership of the Holy Father.

As the visible sign and sacrament of Christ on earth, The Church is holy because Christ is holy. It teaches what Jesus taught and it calls each of us to holiness. Through the sacraments, instituted by Christ, and celebrated in unity, we receive the graces to live a Christian life.

The Church is “catholic” which means universal. It exists for all people and teaches the same doctrines. Geographical location and local custom do not change the doctrines entrusted to the Church.

Finally, the church is apostolic. The mission of the Church was given to the Apostles. These Apostles in turn appointed successors who appointed more successors and so on, until the present. When we call the Church “apostolic”, we are really saying the teaching of Jesus Christ, given to the apostles who were “sent forth”, is the very same as we teach today.

When reflected upon, these marks of the true Church strengthen our faith and give us hope. Next Sunday, take Father V’s advice and really listen to what you are saying while reciting this profession of our faith, and know that the Holy Spirit is guiding and protecting the Church Christ founded for our salvation.

Called by God

In just a few weeks, the participants in this year’s RCIA classes at our parish will celebrate the Rite of Election. Our Bishop will be here and the Catechumens will sign the Book of the Elect signifying their next step in the journey to becoming a Catholic.

Every Monday night since last Easter, these fine people have spent Monday evenings with our pastor and a team of teachers. I am aware that not all RCIA programs are created equally. As I surf the web, it becomes apparent that many, if not most, RCIA programs place most of the emphasis on feelings, and very little on what I like to call the “nuts and bolts” of Catholicism.

At our church, we believe that a person who actually signs up for RCIA has at least a passing knowledge of what a Christian is, and is not clueless when it comes to how a Christian should live. That being the case, we move rapidly past that period loosely referred to as the “inquiry.” They are given a Catechism and the process becomes twofold - a conversion of heart, and a conversion of the intellect.

Through attendance at Mass and through prayer, having been taught some methods of discernment, their hearts are opened to the mysteries of God and His saving grace. This is the “feeling” part of becoming a Catholic. Feelings are not bad things to have but they are subject to change. If someone were to base their entire conversion experience on feelings, there would not be a lot for them to grab hold of when the first “dark night of the soul” rolled around.

It is the “nuts and bolts” that keep us moving forward when feelings have taken a mid-winter vacation. It is the authority, given by God, to the Catholic Church that allows her (the Church) to say, “I’m sorry if your feelings are not up to par today. That is why I gave you guidelines and rules. You see, I appealed to your intellect in order to win your heart.”

This year, as in years past, when our Catechumens take the next step at the Rite of Election, they will know intellectually why they are signing that book. And they will feel the words of scripture proclaimed that day from John 17;

Lifting up His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name that you have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are one.”

“As you sent Me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate Myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth”.

Is the Church Negative?

If you google “How to improve” you will find things to improve you didn’t even know needed improvement. According to Yahoo there are 2,540,000,000 sites that will help you improve.

One objection that is brought up about the Catholic Church is what some people would refer to as its legalism. People say they don’t want to be told all the things they are not allowed to do. We just learned about the concept of “positive laws” when we reviewed the Precepts of the Church. Positive laws tell us what we should be doing rather than what we shouldn’t be doing.

The Catholic Church was given the authority, in my simple thinking, to “get us to heaven.” It exists to save us and bring us to everlasting life with God. And the way it does this is by teaching us in a positive way how to live. Just as the majority of the teachings of Christ are framed in a positive, such as the Beatitudes and the wisdom of adhering to and practicing the virtues, so also does the Church teach with primarily positive messages.

Someone who comes to the conclusion that the Church consists of a whole bunch of “rules” and “thou shalt nots” is a person who is turning their back on the teachings of Christ. We are taught to practice the Virtues so our consciences will be formed in such a way that it will become second nature for us to choose good over evil. We study the Beatitudes to learn how to live in such a way as to bring peace and freedom into our lives.

The Church recognizes that when we have positive laws, there is a corresponding negative. Sometimes it becomes necessary to explain the flip side to the positive law. That is not legalistic or harmful – that is loving and honest.

So, instead of googling on how to improve your life, try practicing the Virtues or applying the Beatitudes and watch your life improve. Simple? You bet!