Nothing Left Unsaid!

TAPS....the historian's perspective.

2011-05-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Unbridled Grace...a book to read this Memorial Day weekend!

2011-05-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure to read, Unbridled Grace: A True Story about the Power of Choice by Dr. Michael Norman. The book recounts the choices made by Dr. Norman as he begins his chiropractic medical career and the many twists and turns that unfortunately threaten to derail his career, his marriage and family and ultimately his moral convictions.

Dr. Norman recounts the events of his first part -time chiropractic position with an organization that seemingly is too good to be true and after happily working for the medical group it is revealed they are a clandestine front for Russian organized crime. The Russian crime façade is in reality an elaborate operation to launder money, encourage insurance fraud and engage in many other acts of criminal deception and covert acts of conspiracy on an international scale.

The book then recounts the author’s many unfortunate encounters with the criminal justice system as he endures Federal indictment, raids on his home and office by Federal agents and the ever developing risk of incarceration and deprivation of contact with his wife, daughter and closest friends and colleagues. Forced with the difficult decision to either remain silent or serve prison time for criminal felonies he did not commit, the author recounts the long journey both he and his wife encounter in order to vindicate his personal and professional integrity and restore his shattered life and career.

Despite the threat of Dr. Norman’s judicial demise, the author keenly recounts his conscious choice to invoke God’s power as assistance in the struggle against the forces maligned against him and his family. At this point the book really becomes a didactic primer that shows the great power of grace and conversion one experiences when entrusting the destination of personal struggles and difficulties to the miraculous power of God’s power and love.

Without any manifestation of God’s presence through any extraordinary means the author recounts the way God’s presence evolves in his life through prayer, reflection and meditation that brings consolation and finally delivery from Dr. Norman’s multilevel battle between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral actions.

The book shows the reader clearly that all of us can benefit from the power of God’s presence in our lives, and how much we truly need God’s assistance and grace in both difficult times and good ones. While reading Dr. Norman’s book, I was frequently reminded of the biblical stories of Job in the Old Testament; despite every sort of persecution and trial, Job remained faithful to God’s restorative grace and power. Dr. Norman’s experiences recount trials and great tribulations in a manner similar to the great woes of the Prophet Job, and again reveal the ongoing process of conversion to which God calls all of us.

Dr. Norman’s book is well written and very personal. His redaction of the unfortunate events that afflicted his life is intimately connected with examples of prayer and meditation that counter balance the narrative exposition of the unfortunate felonious events that are the center focus of this book. What is most refreshing however from a Christian perspective is the manner I which Dr. Norman develops and shows us his alternative method of dealing with his struggle…through the power of prayer and hope for God’s assistance that is unlimited and unbridled.

Dr. Norman’s book is published by Dog Ear Publishing and is available at their website: www.dogearpublishing.net . Additionally, the book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and booksellers throughout the United States.

Dr. Norman’s book is a great personal recounting of how all Christians struggle with the power of evil on a daily basis, and how sometimes things are not as they first appear to be in our first observations. However, just as Dr. Norman experienced unfortunate series of choices, there is always the hope of conversion towards the power of God’s love and grace, despite whatever offenses we have committed either intentionally or through duped choices.

When reading this book, one realizes the great power of God’s grace and the only thing we need to do as human beings is simply ask for His grace and assistance. Dr. Norman’s book keenly shows all of us that struggle that divine assistance is simply a prayer away….

Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that comments on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Philadelphia’s Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He is currently in an advanced theology degree program at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia. He writes daily at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com , http://catholicsacredarts.blogspot.com . Hugh writes on his Irish Catholic parochial experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com.
He also contributes writings to The Irish Catholic, Dublin, British Broadcasting Company, and provides Catholic book reviews for multiple Catholic periodicals and publishers, including Vatican Publishing House.
Hugh lives in Delaware’s Brandywine Valley with his wife and daughter.
Hugh welcomes your comments via hugh.mcnichol@verizon.net.

2011-04-23T17:42:00.003-07:00

Good Friday...makes me shiver!

2011-04-22T06:36:00.001-07:00

Good Friday...makes me shiver!

2011-04-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Good Friday always make me shiver. When I think of the interior of my Catholic parish on this day, the cold realization of Jesus' suffering and death surrounds me. The Altar is stripped, the sanctuary is bare and the Eucharistic Lord's absence in evident by the open tabernacle doors. The intense sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross is felt keenly in a Church sans Jesus in the tabernacle.

The quietness of the sacred space echoes faint, "Hosannas", and loud shouts of, "Crucify Him."Here in the parish Church ,in the shouting silence of the empty space, We Catholics begin to feel Jesus suffering and death. That is because we participate in His death through our own initiation at Baptism. Our common Baptism unites all of us and permits us to share in Jesus' Eucharistic sacrifice.

Good Friday does not mark the end for Jesus, nor for us…rather it a sign of hopeful expectation. That expectation transcends the historical and harsh reality of Jesus' crucifixion and death. The expectation is felt in Jesus' complete submission to the will of the Father, and the subsequent Father's power that raises Jesus from the dead. Most Catholics don't usually think of death as an expectant resurrection. Most Catholics separate Jesus' total dependence on the will of the Father from His suffering and death. Most Catholics forget to recall it is the Father that raises Jesus from the dead. We are too lost to think of these aspects of redemption. Too surrounded by the cold darkness of the power of evil. Too overcome with the physical death of Jesus. We don't like to think of a Church without a Eucharistic presence, without light and joy.

However as Catholics we need to focus on not just Jesus' death, but His impending resurrection. The impending resurrection is the theological extension of Jesus' faith in the Father. He suffers the Cross, because He believes in the Father's love. We too need to recognize the same in Jesus. We share in the mystery of Jesus' death because we are faithful of resurrection. The harsh reality of death undergoes a transformation in perspective when there is a belief in the resurrection.

God's love and power transforms the cross from a symbol of shame and death, into a true realization and expectation of new life. Jesus knows this. He trusts in the Father. The Father exhibits faithfulness to His Son and raises Jesus from the cold and empty tomb. It is only after I think of the cold reality of Good Friday am I able to sense the Father's incredible warmth and power. That's what makes us believers in faith. We know that we will not be abandoned in the solitude of death, but will participate in the Paschal glory of the warmth of the Resurrection.

When I remember that the Good Friday story has another lesson to communicate, is it possible to understand that my parish Church will be transformed on Easter Sunday morning. The liturgical reenactment of Jesus' passion is the beginning of the story, not the end. As believers, we have hope in God's power. We anticipate God's resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. When we realize this, shivering stops and I am acutely aware that there is life and warmth in the Resurrection, for Jesus, for us all.

2011-04-21T07:22:00.001-07:00

2011-04-21T06:31:00.001-07:00

2011-04-21T06:21:00.003-07:00

Healing and Forgiveness

2011-03-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

Let the Healing Begin!

Catholics on all sides of the pew and the altar need to pray for healing and forgiveness.

by Hugh J.McNichol

The clergy sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church continues to accumulate world wide media attention by the secular press. Catholics worldwide are well aware of the stories of the victims of sexual abuse have made public through many means of social communications. There are support groups for the victims, collective lawsuits and ongoing litigation even as you read this article. One group of victims the clergy sex abuse scandal has not taken into consideration are the many bishops, priests and deacons that have had allegations raised about their conduct and have never had the opportunity to defend themselves in a public forum.

Seemingly, accused clergy are removed from public ministry pending the outcome of an investigation by both Church and civil authorities. Then these ordained men, mysteriously disappear from parish ministry and are never heard from again. For the average Catholic, they are not aware of the disposition of any of the allegations lodged against their former parish priests. In some cases, the accused priests are now laity and permanently removed from ministry in the Catholic Church and are quietly absorbed into the world of academia. In other cases, these priests quietly live in a communal environment, with similarly accused priests and pursue a life of prayer and penance. Regardless of the disposition of the allegations made against them, these men are also victims of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

They are victims because they have never had the opportunity to take advantage of their constitutional rights of the due process of law. In most cases, their priestly ministry, their personal lives and their professional reputations have been destroyed without any civil charges being brought against them. Instead, these men, have suffered as the result of allegations that have never been brought to trial, but have already had punitive actions imposed on these priests and former priests.

While the Church has been quite responsive to allegations of clergy sex abuse in removing priests from active ministry, they have not been as forthcoming in disclosing the final determinations regarding these priests. As a result, the victims continue to accumulate, children victims, priests victims and ultimately parishioner victims.
I call all of these groups of individuals’ victims, because there has not been enough disclosure and transparency afforded by the Catholic Church regarding the whereabouts of priest perpetrators, exonerated priests and priests liaised and removed from active ministry. Catholic parishioners, ultimately continuing victims of this entire scandal continue to support and worship in their parish communities without any real sense of closure and finality to allegations which in most cases they have been unaware.

In order to fully realize and comprehend the vast complexity of the clergy sex abuse scandal, all parties involved need to disclose and acknowledge their collective victimization and fully disclose the status of everyone involved. This full disclosure and full transparency needs to come from the highest levels of Church authority and from the victims among the clergy and the laity. Any continuation of veiled disclosures, sudden disappearances of clergy and the continued practice of developing priestly lives of pseudo-community in prayer and penance will not solve the problems; just offer an extenuation of the scandal.

Victimhood in the clergy sex scandal within the Catholic Church is multifaceted and is an extremely complex topic of clericalism gone wild for too, too long. Now is the time to acknowledge all of the causalities that have resulted from this scandal, acknowledge mutual faults and move on towards healing and reconciliation in Christ Jesus.

Remember all of the victims, the children, the clergy and the entire People of God that need the healing of the Holy Spirit to bring closure and healing to this painful chapter in Catholic Church history.
We have fortunately learned from the scandal as well. We have learned the true insidious nature of sins of the flesh. We have learned there is accountability for everyone after an illicit transgression. We have learned most importantly that the most heinous crimes against humanity in all human history offer an opportunity for forgiveness, healing and rebirth.

It is time for the entire Catholic Church to join together as a living, praying and loving community of faith to resolve not to let this happen again. We have all been victims, now it is time to once again be faithful Catholics.

Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that muse on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Philadelphia’s Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He is currently in an advanced theology degree program at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia. He writes daily at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com , http://catholicsacredarts.blogspot.com . Hugh writes on his Irish Catholic parochial experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com.
He also contributes writings to The Irish Catholic, Dublin, British Broadcasting Company, and provides Catholic book reviews for multiple Catholic periodicals and publishers, including Vatican Publishing House.
Hugh lives in Delaware’s Brandywine Valley with his wife and daughter.
Hugh welcomes your comments via hugh.mcnichol@verizon.net.

Time for conversion and healing.

2011-03-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

The actions by His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali this week in placing 21 priests on administrative leave in response to the ongoing Grand Jury investigation deserve positive commendations from all parties. While the subject of clergy sex abuse is one that continues to haunt Catholic dioceses around the world, it is finally a subject that is receiving proper attention and response.
Collectively, as a Catholic Church, and The People of God we need to devote all of our efforts and prayers towards the eradication of this blemish on the Church's temporal body. While there are many victims of abuse at the hands of a small minority of Catholic priests, we need to remember all of the faithful priests that continue to serve the Church in priestly ministry. They too are victims and deserve not only our prayers, but also our support and continued cooperation.
Our Catholic theology teaches us that we are collectively affected through the individual sins of just one person. As a spiritual body, joined together by Eucharist and the Word we also need to minister to one another for conversion, peace and collective healing.
While I personally know many of the priests named in the Grand Jury report, I help to wonder what has caused this proliferation of carnal offenses among our Catholic clergy. However, the mere fact of this issue's existence clearly indicates there is indeed a presence of evil that indeed is attacking the Catholic Church from all directions. As followers of Christ, Light of the World, we need to ensure that all Catholics, regardless of age, sex and canonical status are positively influenced by the works of not only priest but all Catholics as well.
There have been many Catholic priests that continue as effective role models and inspired ministers of the Church's Sacraments. Lets rally around them and support them, because without them there is no Eucharist.
Numerous priests have positively influenced my life, my education and my choices. Without their counsel and direction only God knows what the outcome might have been. All Catholics have similar recollections of their parish priests. Perhaps in our modern society, with a leaning towards secular humanism we have forgotten the great things our priests, our Catholic Church and our Catholic Faith has provided us in our lives.
In the Sacrament of Penance, the priest begins the form of absolution with the words," God the Father of mercies..." Well, mercy has been shown to us many times by the Father, we in turn have the obligation and responsibility to show that same mercy to all of those that have sinned...priests included.
Lets pray for forgiveness, reconciliation and healing so all of us in the Body of Christ will experience mercy and love from God, the Father of all mercies.
Cardinal Rigali...deserves support and encouragement during this period of great turmoil and pain in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Catholics everywhere need to listen to the words of the priestly prayer of Jesus in John's Gospel, "Father, that they may be one!"

Veni, Veni!

2010-11-27T07:16:00.001-08:00

Every Catholic Parish Has a Story to Tell!

2010-06-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

2nd church of Saint Peters on site, circa 1927.

Over the past few weeks, I have been quite preoccupied with lots of research on matters of Catholic history in the State of New Jersey. About a month ago, I had the opportunity to photograph the interior of a Catholic Church that was slated for suppression in the Diocese of Camden. The former parish of Saint Peter's outside of Atlantic City is destined for greater service to the Church of Camden. There will be multiple social services present at the site, and perhaps an assisted living complex.

Anyhow, while noting the items of decorative stained glass in the current church, I could not help to wonder about the history of this parish that has come into fruition in 1898, survived the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Cold War, the Sixties and endured into the 21st century. Whenever I encounter a Catholic parish that is merging or closing, I am fascinated with the historical aspects the complex brings to the rich tapestry of the Catholic community. Saint Peter Parish does not disappoint when revealing the complex history that sits in Pleasantville, NJ.

The parish was founded in 1898, prior to the Diocese of Camden in 1937. At the time of its founding, Saint Peters Church was part of the Trenton Diocese. In order to serve the spiritual needs of a growing Catholic community in Atlantic County, New Jersey, the parish was established and a wooden frame structure was built for seasonal tourists drawn to Atlantic City. Remember in those days, Atlantic City was just starting its reign as the premier resort on the Eastern Seaboard. The parish, newly established hosted many local Catholics and the summer visitors. However, it was not until the mid 1920's that the parish developed a unique link to American history...the first Catholic American to run for the Office of President of the United States , Governor Alfred E. Smith, became associated with the struggling seasonal parish. According to the biography of Al Smith written by Frank Graham in 1941, the former Governor of New York was familiarized with the parish by Bishop Walsh of Trenton. The bishop mentioned to the parish pastor, Fr. Mc Callion that his old friend, Al Smith would be coming bye the parish whenever he vacationed at the local Seaview Country Club outside of Atlantic City.

The forewarned parish pastor had no idea that the friendship with Governor Al Smith would last for decades and provide many resources that would provide for the financial success of the parish for many years to come. Governor Smith, with his friends and political associates took the parish into their confidence and provided financial aid that built the 1920's era complex to include, a new church, a school, convent, rectory and tourist spiritual center that was a popular attraction on the well traveled Route 40 in Southern New Jersey.

Postcard of Saint Peter's Parish Complex circa 1930's Courtesy of Cardcow.com

In 1937, the parish with the New Jersey Bar Association honored Governor Al Smith, with a memorial during his lifetime of a Saint Thomas More statue on the parish grounds,with commemorative plaques of his political career and accomplishments that included the Laetare Medal from Notre Dame, and his quest for the Presidency of the United States.

The parish complex that was primarily funded by the efforts of Governor Smith and friends is a great example of Spanish Colonial architecture, popular in the United States in the 1920's. It also is extremely reflective of the art-deco movement in the decorations around the exterior of the Church with its heraldic shields of both Catholic bishops and American themes.

In 1937, the parish became part of the newly incorporated Diocese of Camden. It remains part of that diocese today. However, the shifting demographics of the Catholic population in Southern New Jersey has caused an examination of all parishes and their viability. The parish was incorporated into a larger parish and the parish of Saint Peter no longer exists.

While the closing of a Catholic parish is an event that is in part sorrowful, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the historic legacy that continues to survive in the parish's rich history and accomplishments. St. Peter's Parish is destined for a new life in service to the local community through many important social programs. As the former parish begins the transition to a new responsibility of Catholic service, perhaps the readers will appreciate some photos of the parish's past that continue to tell the story every parish has to tell...

The Shroud of Turin...He is Risen as He Said! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2010-05-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Shroud of Turin is once again on display for faithful Catholics and even the non-faithful to visit and contemplate the mystery of the shroud’s origins. In the traditions of Catholic belief, we believe that in some miraculous intervention of God’s power, the Shroud of Turin was infused with the image of the crucified Jesus while it was reposed in the tomb. For secular believers the shroud represents an anomaly of artistic techniques or is even suggested as an example of superlative trickery in the manipulation of the image that is present on the shroud.
Regardless of the inclination non-believers might have regarding the authenticity of the Shroud’s Divine Image, this author believes in the possibility of Divine revelation through a miracle of the Shroud of Turin. Our Catholic faith is established on the foundation of miracles. Namely, the most incomprehensible miracle of the Incarnation provides Christianity with the cornerstone of God’s miraculous intervention into the temporal sphere of man’s existence. As a faithful believer in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, God becoming a man, the Shroud of Turin is just another example of God’s intervention into history to reveal Himself in order for us to have a deeper appreciation and understanding of our Catholic faith. I don’t think I am alone in this belief either. According to the New York Times, the Shroud of Turin has already drawn over two million reservations for visitors to Turin during the period of the Shroud’s exposition.
Of the most prominent visitors already to visit the Shroud, Pope Benedict XVI, made his pilgrimage late last week. The Holy Father said the Shroud is an, “extraordinary icon” with a compelling message for the Church and the world. Such an exclamation by the head of the Catholic Church should not come as any shock or surprise. The Catholic faith is imbued with many signs and symbols that draw the believer to a deepening of religious faith as part of the journey that leads us more deeply to God. The Shroud of Turin, is indeed one of the most sublime but yet visible signs and symbols of the eschatological reality the Catholic faith offers to us as faithful followers.
While most visibly, the Shroud of Turin represents Christ Crucified through the infusion of the image of Jesus, wrapped in a burial cloth. However, the image of Christ’s suffering and death is only part of the miraculous message the Shroud of Turin proclaims by its entire existence. The Shroud also proclaims, the power of the Eternal Father, in raising Jesus from the dead. The Shroud is a sign and indeed a symbol of God’s never ending , paternal affection for the crucified Son and the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit wielded by the Father in raising Jesus to new life through the power of the Resurrection.
While there are those individuals and groups that maintain the Shroud of Turin is a tattered relic of Catholic antiquity in reality it is the visible sign of a transcendent faith that endures beyond physical death and calls everone to eternal life with a loving Father.
Skeptics maintain the Shroud of Turin is an example of artistic manipulation and perhaps even underhanded trickery with the intent to deceive anyone that views the Shroud. On the contrary, the Shroud is a magnificent representation of God’s love, mercy and power manifested through the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Shroud of Turin is a conduit for miraculous transformations of faith in the Church, in Christ and ultimately the love of the Father.
While the Shroud of Turin is on public display for a limited amount of time, the large amount of pilgrims anticipated to visit the Shroud cannot be dismissed as a secular pilgrimage of artistic interest. Those pilgrims are coming to Turin, because they believe in the power of miracles, especially in the miracle of the Paschal Mystery which is the ultimate celebration of our Catholic faith.
The Shroud of Turin is not a tattered relic of Catholic antiquity. It is a sign and symbol of the transformational results of the Sacraments, especially death with Christ in baptism and resurrection in new life through the Sacraments and the life of the Church.
The Shroud of Turin loudly proclaims Christ’s victory over death and echoes our Easter salutation: The Lord is Risen, Alleluia! Alleluia! He is risen as He said, Alleluia! Alleluia!

Legacy: The Origins of Civilization.

2010-04-23T09:29:00.003-07:00

I had the chance to review, Legacy: The Origins of Civilization, hosted by Oxford-educated Michael Wood. The three DVD set takes an in-depth examination of the origins of the worlds most ancient civilizations, and relates the historical connections to present humanity. The collection is a remarkable telling of human history from the most ancient roots in the world’s cradle of civilization, Iraq up through the rise of the Barbarians in Europe.

The entire collection is a superlative collection of great videography, filmed at locations all over the world. What is most interesting about the series is that it reaches out and demands the viewer to intellectually interact with the presentations by challenging the basic premises on which our entire global society is founded.

As part of the narrative, the series follows multiple civilizations, from Iraq to India, to China…the Aztecs and the Maya and finally to the foundations of Western Europe. During the entire documentary, the most basis concepts of religion, social order, eternal life and other fundamental questions shared by all civilizations is explored.

This DVD not only is one that educates the viewer regarding the intrinsic issues that were of prominent concern to our ancestors, but uniquely illustrates how they relate to the modern world as well. Despite the centuries and the distances between all of these unique cultures, the human condition is revealed as quite similar despite the human differences.

Individuals interested in a better understanding of the roots and origins of our global society from our most primitive roots of human evolution will enjoy this DVD series. It is a fresh and challenging look at human civilization, of which we are the inheritors.

The DVD is available from Acorn Media Group. Their website is http://acornonline.com

The 3 DVD set is $59.99

Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal...Multiple Victims Need Healing and Reconcilliation !

2010-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

The clergy sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church continues to accumulate world wide media attention by the secular press. Catholics worldwide are well aware of the stories of the victims of sexual abuse have made public through many means of social communications. There are support groups for the victims, collective lawsuits and ongoing litigations even as you read this article. One group of victims the clergy sex abuse scandal has not taken into consideration are the many bishops, priests and deacons that have had allegations raised about their conduct and have never had the opportunity to defend themselves in a public forum.
Seemingly, accused clergy are removed from public ministry pending the outcome of an investigation by both Church and civil authorities. Then these ordained men, mysteriously disappear from parish ministry and are never heard from again. For the average Catholic, they are not aware of the disposition of any of the allegations lodged against their former parish priests. In some cases, the accused priests are laicized and permanently removed from ministry in the Catholic Church and are quietly absorbed into the world of academia. In other cases, these priests quietly live in a communal environment, with similarly accused priests and pursue a life of prayer and penance. Regardless of the disposition of the allegations made against them, these men are also victims of the clergy sex abuse scandal.
They are victims because they have never had the opportunity to take advantage of their constitutional rights of the due process of law. In most cases, their priestly ministry, their personal lives and their professional reputations have been destroyed without any civil charges being brought against them. Instead, these men, have suffered as the result of allegations that have never been brought to trial, but have already had punitive actions imposed on these priests and former priests.
While the Church has been quite responsive to allegations of clergy sex abuse in removing priests from active ministry, they have not been as forthcoming in disclosing the final determinations regarding these priests. As a result, the victims continue to accumulate, children victims, priests victims and ultimately parishioner victims.
I call all of these groups of individuals’ victims, because there has not been enough disclosure and transparency afforded by the Catholic Church regarding the whereabouts of priest perpetrators, exonerated priests and priests laicized and removed from active ministry. Catholic parishioners, ultimately continuing victims of this entire scandal continue to support and worship in their parish communities without any real sense of closure and finality to allegations which in most cases they have been unaware.
In order to fully realize and comprehend the vast complexity of the clergy sex abuse scandal, all parties involved need to disclose and acknowledge their collective victimization and fully disclose the status of everyone involved. This full disclosure and full transparency needs to come from the highest levels of Church authority and from the victims among the clergy and the laity. Any continuation of veiled disclosures, sudden disappearances of clergy and the continued practice of developing priestly lives of pseudo-community in prayer and penance will not solve the problems; just offer an extenuation of the scandal.
Victimhood in the clergy sex scandal within the Catholic Church is multifaceted and is an extremely complex topic of clericalism gone wild for too, too long. Now is the time to acknowledge all of the causalities that have resulted from this scandal, acknowledge mutual faults and move on towards healing and reconciliation in Christ Jesus.
Remember all of the victims, the children, the clergy and the entire People of God that need the healing of the Holy Spirit to bring closure and healing to this painful chapter in Catholic Church history.
We have fortunately learned from the scandal as well. We have learned the true insidious nature of sins of the flesh. We have learned there is accountability for everyone after an illicit transgression. We have learned most importantly that the most heinous crimes against humanity in all human history offer an opportunity for forgiveness, healing and rebirth.
It is time for the entire Catholic Church to join together as a living, praying and loving community of faith to resolve not to let this happen again. We have all been victims, now it is time to once again be faithful Catholics.

Archbishop Gomez...Coadjutor Sheriff...with Rights of Succession!

2010-04-06T09:52:00.001-07:00

This mornings appointment of Archbishop Jose Gomez as the successor to Los Angeles’ Cardinal Mahoney is a welcome announcement for the Catholic Church in the United States. As Coadjutor-Archbishop of Los Angeles, Gomez will be uniquely poised to take over the total administration of the Archdiocese when the Cardinal reaches the canonical age of retirement in February 2011.

Well regarded and held in high esteem by other members of the Church’s hierarchy, Archbishop Gomez is perhaps the most logical appointment for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles because of his Hispanic heritage, but also because he had consistently shown his pastoral leadership in the Archdioceses of Denver, as an auxiliary bishop and as Archbishop of San Antonio. During his tenure in both of these positions, Archbishop Gomez has diligently applied the Catholic Church’s moral teachings and worked with great zeal in considering the needs of migrants and immigrants of Hispanic origins.

Uniquely, he is also the only member of the American Catholic hierarchy that is a member of the personal prelature of Opus Dei. Initially ordained a priest for the service of the personal prelature of John-Paul II, Archbishop Gomez has risen steadily through the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. With an education that was based in Rome through Opus Dei, Los Angeles Catholics can expect their future Archbishop as one that observes Catholic Church teachings and doctrines from the perspective of Rome and Pope Benedict XVI.

With the appointment of Archbishop Gomez to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Pope Benedict XVI is sending a clear signal to the American Catholic Church that he trusts the future Ordinary of Los Angeles to effectively handle the crisis of clergy sex abuse that took place during the tenure of Cardinal Mahoney. With the appointment of Gomez, Catholics in the Los Angeles Archdiocese can anticipate another Archbishop that will become a member of the College of Cardinals after the retirement of the current incumbent. Most importantly, Benedict XVI is showing pastoral concern for the increasing number of Hispanic Catholics that continues to grow in the American Catholic Church. According to latest figures the Catholic population of Hispanic heritage is over one third of the American Catholic believers’ ranks in the United States. South America continues to develop as the largest Catholic population in the world. The appointment of Archbishop Gomez signals a developing awareness of the Hispanic influences in the Western hemisphere, especially in the Western United States.

With Archbishop Gomez’s ties to Opus Dei, the importance of evangelization and catechesis according to the traditional norms of the Catholic Church marks a strong departure for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which has traditionally had a less than orthodox approach to Catholicism. During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has made appointments of bishops in the United States of those that are mostly conservatives in interpreting Church teachings and directives, much to the disappointment of groups that are in favor of ordination of women and full inclusion of active homosexuals into daily Church life.

Most importantly, Archbishop Gomez at fifty-eight years old presents a new breed of traditional bishops that are obedient to the direction that Rome offers for the Universal Church. The liberal tendencies of the Catholic Church in the United States that developed after the Second Vatican Council are finally on the verge of total demise.

With this significant appointment of Archbishop Gomez, the Catholic Church in the Western United States is moving towards a revival of traditional and orthodox Catholicism, something Los Angeles hasn’t seen in decades.

Thank God for the appointment of Archbishop Gomez to the See of Los Angeles. Ad Multos Annos!

Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist writing on Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Catholic Exchange, Pewsitter.com, Blogger News Network & The Catholic Business Journal,CatholicMom.com. & Catholic.net Comments are always welcome at hjmn4566@gmail.com.

2010-04-04T04:09:00.001-07:00

2010-04-03T05:41:00.001-07:00

2010-04-03T05:30:00.001-07:00

Anticipation...Holy Saturday!

Holy Saturday...anticipation!

Holy Saturday is the period of Holy Week when Catholics remember Jesus' entombment. It is a preparation day. Today is a day of quiet and prayerful reflection on the true gravity of the crucifixion and Jesus' redemptive sacrifice. Throughout the world our Churches are empty of the Blessed Sacrament and quiet in anticipation of Easter's triumph over darkness and evil, sin and death.

The quietness of the day permits us to ponder the implications of physical death and how each of us in life and death, affects others. The day before Easter also permits the Elect and the Catechumens a period of solitude and reflection as they prepare to participate in a most meaningful manner in the Sacraments of Initiation. After the frantic activities of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday & Good Friday…Holy Saturday is a pregnant pause before the realization of the resurrection is realized on Easter Sunday morning.

This period should be prayerful and quiet, as well as contemplative of the chronological and historical events that we call the Passion. This day should also provide anticipatory happiness as we prepare to celebrate the New Passover. Holy Saturday permits us to deeply saturate our parched theological spirits in images of the waters of Baptism, and symbols of restored life. This evening Mother Church will initiate a new fire and the Paschal Candle will stand in our churches providing radiant light and reminding us of Jesus' Easter triumph. We will profess our faith in the Creed, along with our newly initiated brothers and sisters. We will partake in the Eucharistic sacrifice, now the unbloody reenactment of Calvary.

In our Churches, new water will be blessed and there will be a sprinkling over all of us to recount our sacramental incorporation through the living waters of baptism, the warming power of the Holy Spirit in confirmation and the nourishment provided through our Eucharist, Jesus, the Bread of Life. It is a good and appropriate thing that this Holy Saturday period is quiet and contemplative, relaxed and subtly expectant.

The Easter Vigil and all of the subsequent liturgies of Easter will explode our sensual perceptions and provide us with a liturgical extravaganza of auditory, tactile and sensory stimulation. As we participate in the theological burst of liturgical expressions of Jesus' resurrected glory, we are able to closely relate to the Apostles, to Mary and to all the believers in Jerusalem on that first Easter morning. Sorrow turns to joy, darkness is transformed into new light and our joyous expectations of new and eternal life are renewed.

Our faith will again feel the intensity of the Paschal Mystery as the entire communion of the Church proclaims, "Alleluia! Alleluia!" We should most deeply recall the prayer from the blessing of the Paschal candle. "Christ yesterday and today, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. All time belongs to Him and all glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The Chill of Good Friday!

2010-04-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

Good Friday...we prayerfully remember the Passion of the Lord.

2010-04-02T04:44:00.001-07:00

Celebrate the gift of Holy Eucharist and Priesthood!

2010-04-01T05:07:00.001-07:00

Happy Holy Thursday!

Long Live the Pope...just in case you wanted the words!

2010-03-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Long Live The Pope
A Hymn for the Pope
Long live the Pope!
His praises sound
Again and yet again:
His rule is over space and time:
His throne the heart of men:
All hail! The Shepherd Pope of Rome,
The theme of loving song:
Let all the earth his glory sing
And heav’n the strain prolong.

Beleaguered by
By the foes of earth,
Beset by hosts of hell,
He guards the loyal flock of Christ,
A watchful sentinel:
And yet, amid the din and strife,
The clash of mace and sword,
He bears alone the Shepherd Staff,
The champion of the Lord.
Then raise the chant,
With heart and voice,
In Church & school & home:
"Long live the Shepherd of the Flock!
Long live the Pope of Rome!"
Almighty Father bless his work,
Protect him in his ways,
Receive his prayer, fulfill his hopes,
And grant him length of days!

Support Benedict XVI from Secular Journalist Terrorism!

2010-03-30T10:36:00.001-07:00

Perhaps it is the right time for all Catholics worldwide to garner support for the bashing the secular press is giving to Pope Benedict XVI. As the visible head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict is an easy target for the secular press and collective media that has any type of anti-Catholic grudge that offers at opportunity at sensationalism. Some secular journalists are waging a ad hominem attack against the Pope as a larger delivery method of anti-Catholic rhetoric.
The personal attacks aimed at Benedict XVI are not justified and reflect a growing and pervasive attempt to discredit the activities of good priests, bishops and religious of both sexes that faithfully serve the world’s Catholic faithful without any involvement in scandals. While there are quite a few examples of sexual abuse that are surfacing throughout the Catholic world, most of the reported cases are extremely dated and quite frankly old. When these cases are considered, Catholics and indeed all observers need to ask why the allegations of abuse were unreported for decades by scores of allegedly abused victims.
Now before anyone gets miffed at my points, I categorically state that there is never any justification for abuse of any kind towards anyone at the hands of priests, bishops, and religious or for that matter anyone else. My thoughts are simply this, why is so much time and consideration taken for cases involving priests that are long dead? The real concern should be the consideration of the present situation of the Church throughout the world and scrupulously seek out current situations that provide opportunities for sexual abuse in our Catholic facilities.
Anyone that has suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest at any time needs to come forward, present themselves and follow prescribed protocols for civil prosecution of these allegations. Unfortunately, it seems many Catholic priests have been accused of sexual misconduct, but there has not been any follow up with criminal prosecution and judicial disposition.
It is time for both victims of sexual abuse and Catholic Church officials to implement a zero tolerance policy that follows a clear direction that starts with the initial allegations. Namely, if indeed allegations towards a Catholic priest are lodged, civil authorities must be immediately notified and the victim needs to pursue criminal charges against the accused priest.
The system of due process here in the United States needs to be implemented all around the world. If allegations are raised, the priest needs to be removed from active ministry pending the results of criminal investigation and pending criminal charges. If in fact the victim is not willing to file anytime of civil charges against the priest…then the matter needs the utmost investigation on the part of the local diocese and responsible parties for review of the entire situation that forced the allegations to come to light.
However, priests alleged of criminal abuse have the protection of our American system of legal protection. They are indeed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Settlements of any monetary nature that are intended to subvert and evade the American judicial process are not acceptable and should be avoided by all bishops. Many priests have had their religious lives ruined by allegations without any type of due process of law, which has violated their rights and made them victims as well.
In regards to Pope Benedict XVI, global Catholics should rally in support of the Holy Father and not only pray for his continued perseverance in handling this painful scandal, but also visibly support him by our actions and prayers. This author intends to continue to write articles that support the Holy Father. Catholics everywhere need to start flying the papal flag, wear a Support Pope Benedict XVI button and stop the personal attacks on him.
If in fact any other religious leader was publically attacked by the secular media, there would be a religious jihad, a boycott, a stoppage of work or even a military attack by the Israeli air force.
The religious communities of the world’s religions would not tolerate any inappropriate representations of the Great Prophet of Islam, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem would never be subjected to such personal attacks and any number of minor luminaries in the Hollywood sphere of self-proclaimed importance would ever tolerate any degradation of their personal beliefs or behaviors.
Catholics should not tolerate any such activities against our Pope, our Catholic Church or our Catholic faith. Regardless of the allegations of misbehavior lodged against any member of the Catholic Clergy, Pope Benedict bashing is wrong and unjustified.
Catholics defend the Pope, our Faith and our Sacred Beliefs…withdraw support of any means to any group that continues to persecute our Holy Father personally or for any other unjustified reason. Secular journalism should not wage war against the entire Catholic Church by means of journalistic terrorism against Pope Benedict XVI by seeking an end to his pontificate.
If anything, secular journalists with inclinations to sensationalize the use of the press for anti-Catholic purposes need to sit back and consider all of the great contributions the Catholic Church has made to our global community throughout history…starting with the most basic forms of Church journalism that we call, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
In closing, I would like to invoke the phrase first formulated into a musical rendition by the Very Reverend Msgr. Hugh Henry, the Vatican Swan in the 19th century & a fellow St. Charles Borromeo Seminary haunter, “Long Live the Pope of Rome!”

JUST SAY NO....to anti-Catholic Speakers and their Secular Agendas!

2010-02-17T08:16:00.001-08:00

The Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C. has cancelled a book signing event with authors Steve and Cokie Roberts that promoted their new book, From This Day Forward. In scheduling the event the Opus Dei managed Catholic Information Center added another example of incredulity to the ongoing Catholic struggle with individuals that claim Catholicism as their faith, but engage in activities and beliefs that are in contradiction to Church teachings. In this case, Cokie Roberts has frequently spoken and written materials that contradict the Holy Father’s teachings regarding abortion and birth control.

Why is it that Catholic organizations continue to invite speakers and groups to a Catholic environment that are contradictory to our sacred teachings and moral values? The Catholic Information Center has for many years provided superlative speakers and activities that support the moral and ethical teachings of the Catholic Church. However, in this period when organizations like the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops are not diligent about the secular groups and programs they support, the matter of Catholic prudence is even more necessary.

Marginally Catholic individuals, regardless of their media presence and their secular popularity should never be invited to present any of their materials in a Catholic environment under Catholic patronage. The management of the Catholic Information Center used exceptionally good judgment in cancelling the book signing event. However, the event should never have reached that point. Controversial Catholics frankly have no place in events that are offered under the auspices of a Catholic organization. Opus Dei as a worldwide group of Catholic committed to Catholic principles and teachings should be more selective when inviting speakers to its Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C.

The text of the Catholic Information Center’s letter is below:

In inviting Steve and Cokie Roberts to the CIC to present their book, From this Day Forward, we were unaware that some of the positions held by Ms. Cokie Roberts are inimical to the Catholic Faith and the support of our Holy Father that we hold very dear at the Catholic Information Center. We are grateful for those of you who have taken the time to express your concern and inform us. Our apologies go out especially to all who may have been troubled by the scheduling of this event and the confusion it may have occasioned. The event has been cancelled.

Catholic organizations have the responsibility to scrutinize every aspect of a guest speaker’s background and their personal opinions regarding Catholic Church teachings. Most notably, any speaker that offers opinions that are morally and ethically bellicose towards the Holy Father and his teachings are especially not welcome outside of the Sacrament of Reconciliation at any Catholic sponsored activities.

2010-02-17T04:25:00.001-08:00

2010-02-17T04:15:00.001-08:00

Part of Gray's Ferry in Dixie!

2010-02-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Growing up in Gray’s Ferry had its great spiritual benefits. Living within a cluster of 3 parishes, all within walking distance made going to Sunday Mass an easily attainable ritual. With Saint Gabriel Church, King of Peace Church and Saint Aloysius Church all within the boundaries of Saint Gabriel Parish, the other two were designated as an Italian-National Parish, and a German-National Parish respectively.
All of the Gray’s Ferry Diaspora knows the story of urban decay that hit Gray’s Ferry in the 1960’s onward. As a direct result Saint Aloysius Parish & King of Peace Parish were originally, “twinned” with Saint Gabriel Parish. They were both given the politically correct title of “alternative worship sites.” Well, that did not last long and both parishes were closed because of declining parishioners and rising costs of buildings maintenance.
With the closure, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia quite literally, “dry-docked,” these parishes and sold off their interiors for the use of other parishes throughout the United States. The official title of the office at 222 North 17th Street is the Office for Special Projects and Closures. Its purpose is to dispose of religious materials properly, so no Catholic materials end up in a Ruby Tuesday’s, TGI Fridays or some other ridiculous place. One of the companies in the Unites States that works closely with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is King Richard’s (http://kingrichards.com ), located in Georgia. They work with parishes that are closing and try to relocate various materials from suppressed parishes to parishes that are looking to build a new church or are refurbishing their old church.
All of the wandering Catholics from Saint Aloysius Church will be happy to know that their old altar has been recycled into a newly built church in the Arlington Diocese, Saint Theresa’s Parish (http://www.sttheresa-ashburn.com/). On the site are photographs of the newly built church with the former altar and angels from Saint Aloysius prominently serving as the Altar of Reservation for the Blessed Sacrament.
I spoke via email with the pastor yesterday and sent him some photographs of Saint Aloysius Church. He was very happy to know where the materials had come from. I also told him that the Gray’s Ferry, St. Al’s crowd might just be coming to visit the new church to say a few prayers, especially if they travel to Dixie during summer vacation. He was happy to know the Gray’s Ferry bus might be coming!
On a more serious note, I did request that he celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Altar and remember all of the faithful members of Saint Aloysius Parish in Gray’s Ferry that worked very hard to provide such a beautiful altar for their church, which now serves the people of St. Theresa’s Parish.
While I am not making a commercial, if any Gray’s Ferrites are inclined to request Masses at Saint Theresa’s Parish for the departed members of Saint Aloysius’ Parish, I’m sure they would be happy to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy for our past generations of Saint Aloysius most colorful residents. The email and address of Saint Theresa’s is on their website, (http://www.sttheresa-ashburn.com/)
On a point of theology, we as Catholics share in the Mystical Body of Christ through our lives and the Sacraments. This participation is one that transcends our concept of earthly time and space. Our Eucharistic Celebration remembers everyone, from the past, in the present and in the Church future as part of the People of God.
The use of materials from a closed parish, specifically Saint Aloysius in Philadelphia at a new place of Catholic liturgical worship illustrates the true transcendence of our Catholic Sacraments and faith in Christ Jesus. The inclusion of old altars into a new church is a magnificent example of the Church’s constant life and development towards the Kingdom of God.
Reuse of altars from Saint Aloysius Parish unites the parishioners of Saint Theresa’s Parish in Ashburn, Virginia in a mystical manner that gives us all a unique perception of our unity through the Holy Eucharist that survives even when the bricks, mortar and materials used in our old parishes are transformed into new, “living stones” of Catholic faith.
Best wishes to the Parish of Saint Theresa. Hopefully your parish will last over 100 years as Saint Aloysius’ Parish existed. Remember our faithful ancestors of Gray’s Ferry when you celebrate the Eucharist in Ashburn, Virginia. Deo Optimo Maximo!

Catholic Voters ...cast off the myth of a Catholic Kennedy Camelot!

2010-01-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

Catholics in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tomorrow should awaken from the dream induced by the Camelot legacy of Edward Kennedy and vote for a candidate that respects Catholic teachings and principles. The legacy of the Kennedy era is well documented by political pundits, historians and liberal interest groups that kept the minimally Catholic Kennedy in office. However the current race for the vacant seat offers Catholic voters an opportunity to replace liberal democratic ideals with ideals of the Republican Party, keeping more in touch with Catholic moral, social and ethical teachings.

The Democratic candidate Martha Coakley illustrated her indifference of Catholic teachings on contraception and birth control when recently interviewed by a local Boston radio station:

When asked by a Massachusetts radio host about the civil rights of hospital workers who would refuse to administer contraception or abortion inducing drugs, Martha Coakley said:

“You can have religious freedom, but you probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room.”

CatholicVoteAction .org is the source of this quote.

If Attorney General Coakley considers the beliefs of Catholic medical health professionals as something that should exclude them from practicing medicine in harmony with their Catholic beliefs…then the ballot box is the first logical place to exercise the Catholic conscience of Catholic action.

There should be no place in American government for someone that openly discriminates against the moral and ethical teachings of the Catholic Church by excluding them from their professional obligations. This same type of anti-Catholic sentiments was pervasive during the entire period of the late Senator Kennedy’s multidecades terms. Senator Kennedy did not represent the ProLife stance of Catholicism, but rather the ProChoice agenda of liberal politicians on the Democratic ticket. Seemingly, the incumbent Attorney General of the State of Massachusetts has an anti-Catholic stance in her views that are obviously contradictory to our ProLife Catholic teachings.

The emergency room of is not the place to discriminate against Catholic physicians and nurses that provide exceptional care and service to their patients. Their constitutional right of religious freedom should not be part of their career choices and obligations. Most importantly, their Catholic values should never exclude them from publically funded institutions simply because they are opposed to ProChoice rhetoric and liberally supported activities that diminish and destroy the true value of human life.

Obviously, another liberal Democrat is hoping to secure the Senate seat in Massachusetts at the expense of Catholics that are fervent in their moral and ethical beliefs. The political attitude of American Catholics clearly supports candidates that are ProLife and not a continued dynasty of Senator Kennedy’s self imposed legacy that was not supportive of Catholic beliefs and values.

The fact that Senator Kennedy was a baptized Catholic does not mean he integrated his Catholic beliefs into the everyday activities of his personal and political career. Catholics have the chance in this election to elect a senatorial representative that respects the dignity of all human life and not just the political opportunism of a liberal Democratic platform of diminished human rights and morality.

Clearly the election in Massachusetts is indicative of the fact there is no room for a candidate that discriminates against American Catholics. Additionally, there is no room in our Catholic Church for pseudo-Catholic politicians that are only Catholic when it is politically convenient for their tickets platform and agenda.

Vote for Prolife candidates in Massachusetts, and dispel the myth of a Catholic Senator Kennedy who failed to integrate his Catholicism into his everyday life and politics as a holistic lifestyle of a Senator that happened to be a Catholic.

Catholic Crisis of Identity

2009-12-04T08:35:00.001-08:00

"Full participation does not mean that everyone does everything, since this would lead to a clericalizing of the laity and a laicizing of the clergy; and this was not what the Council had in mind. The liturgy, like the Church, is intended to be hierarchical and polyphonic, respecting the different roles assigned by Christ and allowing all the different voices to blend in one great hymn of praise" (Ad limina discourse to the Bishops of the Northwestern United States, 9 October 1998)
Increasingly it seems the observation of Pope John Paul II is disregarded in the liturgical expression of the Church’s ritual. With weekly regularity, at liturgies the priests of parishes are no longer participating in the distribution of Eucharist at Masses where they are not the celebrant. The age-old practice of “helping” with communion by other priests seems to have gone the way of the Model T Ford. Increasingly parishes are relying on Special (incorrectly termed) Ministers of the Eucharist to assist the priest at Mass, while the ordinary ministers of the sacrament are missing in action.
Recently, I experienced a parish that has three resident priests and three deacons assigned to the parish and there are in excess of 50 (correctly termed) Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist that assist in lieu of the priests at Sunday Masses. My question regarding this practice is simple: Where are the parish priests and deacons during the distribution of Communion in our parish Churches? What roles and responsibilities are so engaging that they are unavailable to distribute The Body and Blood of Christ to their pastorally entrusted people? Are indeed the ministries of Priesthood and Deaconate too overloaded to fully utilize the services of those ordained for ordinary ministry in both Word and Sacrament that we need a legion of Extraordinary Ministers of Eucharist to take up the slack for the missing ordinary ministers of the Eucharistic Sacrifice?
Another question is this: What is the rush? Why is it necessary to facilitate Holy Communion at a breakneck speed at each Mass.? In order to accommodate the speed necessary to distribute Communion to the masses, Communion stations of both Species are set up all over the Church. There is even a stealthy Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist that evades the lines and brings communion to the back of the church, where there are individuals that are unable to process to the Communion stations. He/She then darts in and out of the assembly trying to find another line of communicants that needs the services of the stealthy extraordinary minister in order to keep the duration of communion short, in order to clear out the parking lot after Mass.
Perhaps as Catholics we have lost a sense of both the appropriate roles of ordained clergy and faithful people are in the Church. The pervasive and pretentious notion that the role of the clergy can be exercised by laity has developed a Church of confused and often misunderstood obligations and responsibilities among priest and people alike. Priests and deacons in parish communities are abdicating their responsibilities of ministry to a delegated group of liturgical assimilators that call themselves pastoral associates, or pastoral assistants as the tasks of the ordained clergy are diminished. Everyone it seems has a particular Ministry, with a capitol M in each parish that is crucial to the life of the community. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist take Communion to the sick; they visit the hospitals, as well as shut ins. There are more people running around with communion pyxes in some parishes it’s like the distribution of hot dogs at a Phillies game. Everyone has to feel included, in a role and responsibility in our contemporary Catholic parishes that we are overshadowing the dignity of sacramental Holy Orders in each example.
During a recent pseudo celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, namely Evening Prayer I sat amazed as the priest permitted the pastoral associate, to read the Gospel and offer a reflection on the role of the Special Ministers of Eucharist in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament, he just sat there. In addition to usurping the authority to proclaim the Gospel and presume faculties of the diocese from the Bishop to preach , the (of course) female religious pastoral associate expounded on points of Eucharistic theology more in keeping with the notion of liberation theology rather than authentic sacramental theology of the 21st century Catholic Church.
No wonder no one knows what the hell is going on. Clergy are laity, laity are clergy, religious are pastoral associates and religious are well….whatever they claim to be these days. The Catholic Church in the United States is indeed lost in its own campaign of liturgical inclusion for both clergy and laity. As a result it has excluded and alienated the roles and obligations of its clergy to such an extent that everyone has the sense of empowerment and participation in sacramental ministry. Perhaps John Paul II was prophetic in speaking about the convoluted roles that have added additional uncertainty to our Catholic faith and parishes. When considered with the displaced sense of hierarchical Holy Orders, the misconstrued notion of women’s entitlement to ministry, linked with the insurgence of the laity towards sacramental and ministerial equality with Bishops, Priests and Deacons; it is no wonder the People of God are in the middle of an identity crisis that they share with their clergy’s middle age and sexual identity crisis’
We really need to return to the beginning, reread the rules and play the game accordingly. If we do this then all of the confusion regarding roles and responsibilities will fall into place. Priests, Deacons and Religious will once again find their vocational identities. Parishoners will gain a deeper appreciation of their participation in the Priesthood of the Faithful and perhaps then can we get back to spreading God’s Word and Sacrament through the celebration of the Sacraments and the growing faith of the pilgrim People of God.

Union of 2009...ending East-West Schism of 1054!

2009-10-27T07:18:00.001-07:00

Now that the Pope has allowed the former Anglican sects to come back to union with the Roman Church, it is time to extend the dialogue to the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church and end the wounds of the Great Schism. Of course there has been a development of East-West dialogue since the Second Vatican Council; however the process really needs to be escalated. Pope John-Paul II called the Eastern and Western traditions of both entities, “the lungs of the Church.”
Pope Benedict XVI since the inception of his papacy has make reunion with the Orthodox sects of the Church one of the primary goals of his pontificate. The mission to restore unity between East and West is reflected in our own Latin liturgy, in the Eucharistic Prayer, when the priest prays,”…from East to West a perfect offering may be made to the glory of Your Name.” The prayer reminds us that the Church’s mission and ministry are indeed global in scope, including all directions of the cosmological winds.
The Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches are a cultural and ritual example of how the Catholic liturgy of the East developed differently from the rituals of the West (Latin Church). Nonetheless, both branches on the genealogical tree of theology are established in authentic Apostolic Succession. The Eastern Orthodox Church in addition to valid sacraments is part of the great artistic and ritual heritage the West shares with Constantinople. Greater understanding of the theological points that unite us rather than divide us is crucial to our reconciliation with the East.
We share valid Sacraments, rooted with the primitive Church and indeed Jesus and the Apostles at the Last Supper. Disunity between our Churches was more of a political and social series of antagonisms rather than inconsistencies of theology of belief. A component of the disagreement is the Role of the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed a different appreciation of the Pope and his Office. They maintained the Bishop of Rome should be accorded a “Primacy of Honor, “as the Successor to Saint Peter, however the Patriarch of Constantinople was the temporal and moral head of the Orthodox Church.
We have seen since Pope Paul VI’s common visit with the Patriarch of Constantinople in the 1960’s to the Upper Room, site of the Last Supper real movement towards restored dialogue between both East and West. During the Pauline visit to Jerusalem, the reciprocal excommunications between Pope and Patriarch were lifted. Both men prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Greek and Latin. Pope and Patriarch offered each other the Kiss of Peace and enjoyed warm embraces.
Subsequent Popes since that crucial reunion in Jerusalem have all met and embraced with the Patriarch of Constantinople. Benedict XVI even joined the Patriarch in a common profession of faith at Saint Peter’s Basilica, where they both recited the creed in Greek.
Symbolum Nicaeno-Constantinopolitanum
Πιστεύομεν εἰς ἕνα Θεὸν Πατέρα παντοκράτορα, ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων και ἀοράτων.
Και εἰς ἕνα κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων, φῶς ἐκ φωτός, θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ πατρί•δι’ οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο• τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα, σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα, καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα κατὰ τὰς γραφάς, καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ πατρός καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς• οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.
Καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ κύριον, (καὶ) τὸ ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν πατρὶ καὶ υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν. εἰς μίαν, ἁγίαν, καθολικὴν καὶ ἀποστολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν• ὁμολογοῦμεν ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν• προσδοκοῦμεν ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν, καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.

Such joint cooperation between Churches is unprecedented since the unfortunate schism that has endured for centuries. However, with the current trend towards Catholic unity, the responsibility of mutual understanding is incumbent upon all members of both Eastern Orthodox and Western (Latin) Catholics. The most important factor that needs consideration is the wish of Christ in His priestly prayer, “That they may be one!” The roots of unity are very apparent between us and our ritual expressions through the Sacraments. Both East and West celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice on one single freestanding altar. Both Churches recognize the validity of each others’ Holy Orders. Even in extreme cases Orthodox Priests are able to provide the Anointing of the Sick, Absolve Sins and provide Viaticum to Latin Catholics that are dying.
We both recognize the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We embrace a common male clergy and share appreciation of the Blessed Mother and the Saints. With all of the points in common, the process of reunification should prove inevitable.
Most importantly there is a genuine consideration that calls both branches together, joined by faith, theology and ancient rituals. Theological matters such as the filioque question are things that are not insurmountable obstacles to reunion, but rather opportunities to appreciate the Eastern Orthodox’s understanding of the same Triune God.
If indeed anyone were to say that reunion between East and West is that simple does not really have a keen appreciation of the historical, social and political factors that contributed to the split in the first place. What is important however is the desire towards mutual resolution of these points of contention with a prayerful understanding of the developing Mystery of the Body of Christ.
John-Paul II made reference to the Eastern Orthodox branches of the Church as essential to permit the continued breath of the Holy Spirit. With the unity of the Holy Spirit in mind, the time to once again to join East and West has come, and put historical disputes into the realm of ancient but common histories.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation...

2009-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Prodigal Son, by Auguste Rodin c.1884
My commentary on the filing of Chapter 11 protection by the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington ruffled a few feathers. Please be assured that I do not under any circumstances believe there is no money left in the bank accounts, assets and properties of the Church. I believe the Catholic Church is conducting its secular affairs on the counsel of a good law firm, that specializes in Chapter 11 protection, and relying on another fine collection of solicitors for legal counsel on dealing with the liabilities of the clergy sex abuse that just won’t go away.
The scandal just won’t go away because the matter still lacks a comprehensive understanding on the part of both victims and accused. In addition to the issue of financial retribution, I have never heard anyone in either camp mention the notions of forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal. I’m giving away my age, when I make reference to the Baltimore Catechism, which is remarkably “chic,” in understanding our 21st century views of theology. One of the conditions necessary for absolution of a mortal sin, was the resolution of the penitent to avoid committing the sin again! Then the form of absolution over the penitent was completed only after the penitent proclaimed such intent. The same proclamation by the American Catholic Bishops should be shouted here! While many dioceses have implemented the program, For the Sake of God’s Children it is not a pragmatic solution towards institutional acceptance of the gravity of the matter, an admission of guilt and a resolution of intent not to let this happen again.
Unfortunately, the response by the USCCB is now focused on judicial protection that will limit the amount of legal settlements and ensure a fiscal future. The only sentiments being voiced by victims and their counsel are rooted in retribution and retaliation. Both approaches will drag on in a futile attempt of restitution and resolution until forgiveness and Reconciliation are prominently the main considerations. Through this entire downward spiral of the scandal, many individuals, parishes, and dioceses are gravely affected. I have never heard any parties suggest that the Catholic Church, in union with all of its faithful begin to rely on our Sacrament of Reconciliation as an essential component to this ongoing sage. There are of course many reactionary steps that have been taken to ensure the actions never happen again. Mandatory criminal background checks and fingerprinting of everyone involved in the education and development of children is an appropriate beginning.
Both parties need a practical approach to the issue. Parents need to teach their children what behavior is unacceptable when meeting strangers. Priests and clergy need education on avoiding compromising situations. Perhaps all of us would be helped by a reminder of inappropriate actions and gestures that are hurtful to our human family. The restoration of trust and the fervor of our Sacramental and Gospel beliefs are the motivators towards forgiveness and reconciliation. There are multiple examples of dual culpability that have led to this unfortunate saga in our Catholic Church. Persistent references to the Catholic Church’s shortcomings since the Last Supper don’t help. Each and every individual shares responsibility, clergy and laity to restore unity in our Catholic Church and grow in faith and love in Jesus Christ.
We believe as Catholics that our humanity is flawed through original sin and the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) restore our theological relationship with God. Well, we also believe that we are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ, which relies on a constant conversion of all people towards consummate completion in a New Eternal Life.
Part of the process of radical conversion involves unilateral forgiveness before we participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. It is truly time to put the precepts and beliefs of our Catholic faith into action.

…Innocent until proven guilty…fundamental precept of American Law!

2009-10-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

The recent petition of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington for Chapter 11 protection illustrates the real need for resolution in all of the cases throughout the Catholic Church of alleged sexual abuse by priests over the past decades. Remarkably most of the Catholic priests that have been suspended or removed from active ministry have never been charged with any criminal actions. What has seemingly happened is they have not only been denied their American constitutional rights of due process, they have also been denied any vehicle of explanation or defense of any of these alleged charges. Before anyone misunderstand this article, the author believes there are no circumstances that justify any form of sexual abuse on any level. However, the domino effect of these allegations has now caused our Catholic Dioceses to resort to litigation more in keeping with civil law, rather than principles that are inherent to the Gospel message.
Catholic faithful are quite exhausted with the prolonged banter of legalism that has preoccupied much of the past thirty years over this issue. The Catholic Church should propose to civil authorities that when a man is suspected of these sexual abuses, they should be charged by the civil authorities and allow the course of due process to take its course. While criminal charges against these clergy convey the real sense of gravity and urgency attached to this problematic issue of sexual abuse, they also indicate the transparency of the Catholic hierarchy to resolve the problem with the best appreciation of the American rule of law.
While, there is no suggestion there is a particular attempt to demonize only Catholic clergy with these abhorrent charges, the Church needs to work in conjunction with both canonical and civil law. The petition of the various dioceses in the United States of resorting to bankruptcy protection only exacerbates the divisive effects placed on both clergy and faithful Catholics. The secular holdings of the Catholic Church should not be used as the judicial pawn of bishops and barristers. These parishes, schools, hospitals et cetera are held in trust for the Catholic faithful and the development of the Catholic sacramental and evangelical mission to the world. When the Catholic hierarchy resorts to the extremism of bankruptcy protection, it suggests quite honestly that there is still a conspiracy of collusion that continues among the American Catholic hierarchy. It does not solve the issue, it doesn’t promote reconciliation and it only perpetuates the allegations of an institutional cover-up by the Catholic Church.
Allegations against clergy should be investigated by both Church and Civil authorities to the fullest extent possible under our process of juris prudence. Catholic authorities need to ask very fundamental questions regarding the process of discernment used in regards to calling men to Holy Orders. More importantly, the American Catholic Church needs to take a strong view of the total lifestyle of priestly ministry and resolve to make drastic changes in the manner in which priests’ minister on all levels. These men have devoted their lives through many years of educational studies and preparations in order to lead the Catholic parish community in Word and Sacrament. The Catholic Church should at the very least provide a multilevel of balances to assure the priest’s entrusted with sacramental ministry are well rounded, happy and challenged by their ministry.
The use of the assets of the Church to as settlement in lieu of criminal prosecution needs to end immediately. Since the issue of trustees has plagued the Catholic Church in America since the 19th century, the faithful need to proactively engage in dialogues that protect the Church’s assets and provide for the appropriate management of Church assets by the Catholic hierarchy. Bishops traditionally are both the civil and canonical heads of dioceses in the United States. It appears this role is no longer a viable mode of operations regarding the Catholic secular assets. It is time for those educated and proficient in parish plant management work with the clergy to guide and determine the everyday running of the Catholic complexes.
The petition of bankruptcy protection by any Catholic entity should always be the last resort for a Catholic bishop. It protects the tangible assets of the Catholic Church against potential seizure of Church property by one charging clergy with sexual abuse. The charges against Catholic clergy need to be substantiated with empirical proof that goes beyond just allegations. Seemingly the civil authorities need to present objective and clear criminal charges, which will either exonerate or convict the members of the clergy that have been charged with these heinous offenses against young people. The American precept of innocence until proven guilty needs to be extended to all of the Catholic clergy that have been accused of misconduct. Anything less undermines both civil and church laws designed to objectively extricate the entire sequence of events.
Of course always and everywhere the concept of truth needs to guide the entire process of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. When the Catholic hierarchy resolves to pursue the truth only then will the spirit of reconciliation prevail over this terrible period in American Catholic Church history. Catholics need to demand total transparency from our American Bishops along with an assurance of changes that will enhance the Catholic mission and preserve the integrity of the Catholic priesthood in theology and its clergy.

2009-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. The message is really this simple,:"Will we ever know how to love Him!"
Hopefully everyone will enjoy the song, a throwback to 1973 when we were all caughtup in Jesus Christ Superstar. The songs from this musical were even sometimes played at our Catholic parishes in the spirit of the 1960s and Vatican II.

Priestly renewal, parish sanctification, global Catholic sanctification!

2009-07-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the opportunity to become familiar with a newly founded priestly community, The Apostles of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim, which is located in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The community of diocesan priests was given approbation by Cardinal George and operates on principles of Catholic theology and sacraments focused around prayer and Holy Eucharist. What is remarkable about the community is the hinging of the daily routine of priestly ministry around the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Unusually enough, most priests in parochial parish assignments do not have the chance or a limited opportunity to celebrate these rituals communally with other priests. For the most part, due to the increasingly acute priest shortage in the United States, more and more priests are commonly living alone in their priestly assignments. The fraternity and prayerful celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Holy Eucharist very often mandated in our seminal formation at seminaries is abandoned once the ordained priest “hits the parish!”
The community of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim offers an opportunity for a revitalized spirit of priestly service and renewal with a different structure for living for parish priests. In addition to living in common, praying in common and taking time for spiritual renewal, this community provides the chance for inclusion of physical labor on a daily basis as well. Frankly, as a graduate of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, I remember very well the labor of the weekly work crew, where we were dispatched to rid the pastoral lawns of intrusive onion grass, with a butter knife. Honestly, I really disliked the forced work crews which were considered as part of our priestly formation. At the time, I remember thinking that we were just cheap seminarian labor as opposed to the more esoteric ideals of ministry, formation and spiritual satisfaction. However in the decades since my formational experiences, I admit a yearning for communal activities such as Morning and Evening Prayer, a celebration of daily Eucharist and the competitive fraternity of other students engaged in the same race and finish line.
What strikes me as especially important with this priestly community is the central focus on prayer and Eucharist combined with physical service. As one engaged in the secular world, married and the father of one daughter such integration of Catholic spirituality and meditative reflection is something longed for on a daily basis. Perhaps, the rhythm and motion of a parish community that is centered around a neighborhood is the biggest demise of community prayer in the Catholic Church. Even more so, the lack of a communal vitality of sanctification among all aspects of clergy, religious and laity contributes to our noncommittal to the Catholic spiritual life. In light of the reflective and pastoral directives of Benedict XVI maybe all of Christendom needs to pause and take a meditative approach to our global ministry and Catholic mission with more communal prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Eucharistic celebration.
One of the issues I constantly have regarding parish life in my diocese is that the celebration of daily Eucharist is not something one is able to conveniently participate in because of family, work and travelling conditions. Gladly, I would welcome the chance to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours in community with my fellow parishioners however because of obligations of family and work it is not always possible. The constraints of time are the most pressing points that keep most Catholic parishioners away from daily Mass and prayer. Honestly as well, most of our clergy are not aware of the great pressures of daily society which is exerted on most laity. The daily commute, activities of getting children ready and off to school, obligations of work et cetera all compromise the modern Catholics ability to commit themselves to parish prayer on a daily basis. Additionally, there seems to be a considerate lack of understanding by the clergy regarding the preciousness of parishioner’s time due to all sorts of obligations and commitments. In a lot of cases, our parish priests walk across the parking lot as a commute to celebrate daily Mass. However, the working Catholic community at large is not as lucky nor a fortunate in having such a convenience.
Perhaps the most critically important factor that the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim offer for their parish ministry is one of secular and temporal balance. Time to work, time to pray, and time to communicate with each other. If our parish priests could more consistently structure our parish schedules around these three points, perhaps daily celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Holy Eucharist would become more popular.
When the opportunity to spend appropriate time in prayer, study and Eucharistic celebration is part of the life of a parochial community it seems our uniquely Catholic existence comes more completely into focus. Pastoral teams should more astutely determine the spiritual needs of a parish community based on not the conveniences of the parish priests, but the true pastoral and sacramental needs of the people.
In all, meditative and sacramental time is scarce for the average Catholic layperson in our harried 21st century Catholic Church. The development and foundation of a group like The Apostles of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim uniquely presents priestly ministry as a combination of prayer, Sacrament and community in an increasingly secularized and constrained Catholic parish world.
Learn more about the priestly community at http//:apostlesofjesuschrist.org . Pray for their success as well as the success of our entire Catholic global community.

2009-07-08T09:35:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit guides the Catholic Church in very mysterious ways. The Council of Jerusalem provided Catholics with the nonobservance of Jewish dietary laws, The Council of Ephesus clearly gave us the definitive appreciation of Mary, as the Mother of God, Trent contributed transubstantiation, Vatican I bore the theological proclamation of papal infallibility (in matters of faith and morals) and Vatican II provided us with the image of a Pilgrim Church in movement towards our eschatological union with the Heavenly Father. Maybe it is time to see what Vatican III can do to add to the Church’s theological and sociological progression as a divinely instituted Church in the 21st century.

In the 40 plus years since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council the world has changed greatly since the promulgation of Gaudium et Spes. The Church in the Modern World of the 1960’s had never experienced a lunar landing, the creation of the personal computer, the fall of European Communism, the election of a non-Italian Pope and the instant connectivity of the Internet. Since the Fathers of Vatican II our scientific world has cloned human cells, manipulated DNA, lived in space , visited Mars (via Martian Rover) and has even mapped the human genome. Now it is time for the Catholic church to revisit the notion of an ecumenical council that factors the vastly different world into our religious experiences since the turbulent 1960’s.
In the past few weeks, the Holy See has quite honestly stunned the Catholic world as well as the secular world with its openness towards an environmentally sensitive Church, the restoration of the Tridentine Mass and the declaration that the fullness of faith exists within the Catholic Church. Such openness towards Catholic doctrinal clarity really puts Lumen Gentium and other council documents in the need of 21st century revisionism. That of course does not mean that there are any large problems or issues with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, but perhaps an ecumenical council could clarify, tweak and otherwise update the declarations of Vatican II.
The election of John-Paul II (a native of Poland) and the subsequent election of Benedict XVI (a German) are two significant events that show the truly global nature of the Catholic Church’s mission and message. For over 40 years now the Catholic Church has worshipped in the local vernacular of specific countries and peoples, displacing Latin as the universal Mother tongue of the Church, the College of Cardinals is truly a body of international representation, a second non-Italian born Pope, scientific discoveries and Third, Fourth and maybe even Fifth world development are reasons enough to convene a new ecumenical council, just to review the progress of the Catholic People of God over the last 40 or so years.
My suggestion for such a gathering is not to advocate any doctrinal modifications or changes, but rather an opportunity to genuinely understand the direction the Catholic Church needs to pursue in the new millennium. By no means am I suggesting a theological debate on the need for ecclesial modernization or doctrinal adaptation. My suggestion is such a gathering of the world’s Catholic hierarchy for the purpose of clearly defining and proclaiming to the modern world our uniquely Catholic identity.
In the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and onward it was always a very fashionable event to present an “operating statement” whenever someone had any faint representation of an original idea. Perhaps it is time for a Universal Catholic Declaration of Purpose that everyone will know and understand in order to clearly illustrate our Catholic identity. It really isn’t such a preposterous idea, all of the Church’s declarations from Nicaea to Vatican II are really just updates and clarifications of what we have always believed…with modifications of language and historical perspective. It would be nice however to have all of the beliefs and definitions once again compiled in a Vatican III edition.
Whenever there are updates upon updates of anything in life there is an opportunity towards the development of confusion. Institutional confusion in the Catholic Church has really been common since the Dark Ages, but every once in a while there has been a good old fashioned council to reaffirm the obvious. The call to Vatican III is precisely that…lets get everyone together to talk about all of the hot issues from global warming, papal infallibility, the validity of non-Catholic orders, the role of women, the role of clergy and so on. When all of the discussions are over and all of the ripped copes have been mended we can get back to the job of being faithful Catholics anticipating a restoration of the New Jerusalem, the coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the life of the world to come and so on. In the interim perhaps we can just agree to disagree or agree or whatever and live out our apostolic faith as the Apostles would have liked. Simply, one, holy, catholic and apostolic! Can that be too much to ask of a divinely instituted organization?

New building...professional input!

2009-07-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of things that really seem to be popular in the world of liturgical art and architecture. The first thing is to make parishioners and clergy aware of the fact that they both have a responsibility to procure the highest quality of available materials available for use in their sacred liturgical space. Quite frequently, renovation of parish facilities and the decision to make such renovations is made without the input or use of parishioner’s individual expertise. It is really a sorry state of affairs when a community of faith cannot rely on its own individual members and resources to discuss, plan and implement architectural and artistic enhancements in a parish without distractions towards external influences. What I mean by this is quite simple, the parish community with should investigate all of the potential resources available within a local parish or diocese or region to fulfill their artistic needs and expectations. There is no need to go to Italy or Spain or anywhere else to see exceptional examples of artistic works in various mediums. There are quite a few local artists and craftsmen available in our own faith communities. Frequently, there is a misrepresentation made by architects that quality artisans are not easily available in the United States. This is just plainly false. Just about every type of artistic and architectural craftsmen and artisans can be found in our own country. While I am not anti-foreign trade, it just seems that often parishioners and priests alike are misled to believe that if something is commissioned from a European source, it must be better, original and more superlative in every way than the American counterpart. That quite honestly is an example of unsurpassed artistic snobbery and ignorance of what is available throughout the United States.

There are a lot of things that need to be considered when a parish community decides to commission a new statue, or an altar or some other liturgical accessory. One thing that especially and foremost needs to be considered is this…we are an American church, not a Spanish one, or an Italian one and so on. As a faithful community, our worship space, or rather our churches should reflect our American identity. It seems that one of the biggest problems that are faced by American artists and craftsmen is the feigned and often unsupported notion that non-domestic artists must be better trained; more experienced and yes…the ugly word…CHEAPER than their American counterparts. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that foreign labor is less expensive than individually crafted American labor. Well, this is just an underrated untruth with the intent to deceive. In other words, it is a lie.

Quite often American architects and liturgical design studios use the opportunity to travel abroad to visit liturgical guilds and artisans studios as an excuse to use the trip as a professional perk or a fact-finding junket. There is never really an intention to utilize an American artist…these architectural professionals just “pick the brains” of the American artists, solicit drawings and bids from them, and just use the foreign “artistic-factories” because they mass produce drawings and sculpture designed to fit in anywhere with just a few modifications. These modifications, then make, the work an “original” designed and conceived for your church or parish. The only true original feature that results from the studio in Italy or Spain is the packing crate with an original address where the work needs to be shipped.

As a Church, we need to educate everyone about the true value of procuring quality examples of liturgical art that are not only of the highest quality, but truly unique and original to each situation in which they are injected. That is not to say there cannot be a good and acceptable reproduction of an artistic work in a local parish church…but if there is an “original” example of an artistic representation of a saint or patron, why not commission the original work? Really, there is only one…Pieta…and it is in the Vatican. Why not, if your parish wants a Pieta, search for an artist that can provide a new and original interpretation of the image for your parish.

Also, it seems that as always price is the major consideration in all of the artistic endeavors we encounter on a parish level. Our concept is that expensive is best, regardless of the quality of materials or integrity of the artist. Well…that is really not a realistic expectation and appreciation of the purpose of sacred and liturgical art. The monetary factor involved in the commissioning of a piece of statuary or liturgical renovations should be commensurate with the budget your parish community has to allocate to the work of art or the project. Don’t be misled as a parish into purchasing a piece of art for the Church environment that is disproportionately valued in its cost…if the quality is poor. Artists and craftsmen are more than willing to work within a projected budget and will be very thankful for a parish’s honesty regarding their financial resources (or lack there of)!

Finally, I guess the most important thing to consider is that an artistic project or liturgical renovation is intended as a parish’s intention to glorify God, and enhance the prayer experience for a local parish community. We need to always remember that it is about deepening our understanding and appreciation of our ever developing relationship with God that is important here. We are a faithful people that are trying to enhance and develop our communal act of liturgical worship and praise. If we can go about including artistic expressions that keep this point in mind, we are at least at some point towards a deeper theological appreciation through our liturgical art closer to the Deity.

American Catholics...patriots of a nascent United States!

2009-07-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness

It has been 233 years since these words were first proclaimed in Philadelphia as the Thirteen Colonies declared their Independence from Great Britain. Quite a few Americans have valiantly served their country throughout many events in peacetime and in war to secure our unalienable Rights that are demanded in The Declaration of Independence. This year we celebrate the 4th of July in the United States with the usual parades, ceremonies and display of our American flag. However it dawns on me that part of the celebration for Catholics should be the participation in the Mass. Our Founding Fathers went to great lengths to secure religious toleration in the colonies. Philadelphia especially should be considered the cradle of American Catholicism, according to tradition and legend, Old Saint Joseph’s Church was the first site of the public celebration of Mass in 1733. Catholics have been involved in the creation of American history from the very beginning. During the colonial period I always think of Commodore John Barry, considered as the Father of the American Navy. He worshipped at Old Saint Mary’s Church in Philadelphia and was buried there as well. Old Saint Mary’s is critically important in our recollections of American history. It was the location of the first religious commemoration of the Declaration of Independence in 1779. Most of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, John Adams, & Thomas Fitzsimmons met here. During the active conflict of the American Revolution the Continental Congress held session four times within its walls. So when we remember American pursuit of religious freedom, Catholics were right there from America’s inception.

Frequently in our 21st century American political and social activities Catholicism is often criticized for our religious beliefs, our fidelity to the Pope, our staunch Pro-Life defense and our Sacraments. This assault on Catholic teachings is nothing new to American Catholics. From the earliest days of North American settlement, Catholics have been persecuted. Church architecture of the two previously mentioned Catholic Churches was intentionally disguised so from the exterior these houses of worship could not be distinguished as Catholic. Later, when Philadelphia built its Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the cathedral was built without lower levels of windows, lest they be destroyed by the anti-Catholic Know-nothings. When the Washington Monument was constructed every country in the world was asked to contribute a stone to be included in the construction. The Vatican sent a large red marble stone. When it arrived on the Potomac River it was destroyed by anti-Catholic protesters and consigned to the bottom of the river. In the twentieth century, when a Catholic named John F.Kennedy was running for the office of President, there was muted concern of his allegiance to the Pope. Questions were raised regarding his ability to be both an American and a Catholic. Today in our political arena, candidates that practice Catholicism frequently attempt to compartmentalize their personal and political views, often giving Catholicism a back seat.

What is the point of this recollection of American Catholic historical events? The point is simply this; American Catholics regardless of consequences and implications have always faithfully embraced the democratic principles of our American Republic. They served at Valley Forge, at Gettysburg, in the trenches of the Great War, on the beaches of Normandy, in the jungles of Vietnam and in the Islamic deserts of the Persian Gulf. Catholicism in America is historically rooted in our most fundamental beliefs as Americans. That is why Catholic Americans need to celebrate this day in a manner beyond fireworks, parades and hot dogs. They need to celebrate this day as a fundamental celebration of our American rights of freedom of religious expression.

Frequently we nostalgically recall the events that determined our American Revolution and subsequent foundation of our Republic. We think of powered wigs, colonial armies at Williams burg, the Founding Fathers, dancing around the stage in “1776″, the musical and sentimental stories of Betsy Ross and so on. What we really need to recall is the faithful vision of democratic principles our Founding Fathers, and our Founding Catholics accomplished as the American standard for universal religious freedom. We openly and public ally worship as Catholics everywhere in the United States without any fear of reprisal or discrimination against our Apostolic Faith. As Catholics and as Americans every opportunity to practice our religious faith and heritage should be taken regardless of the overwhelming popular desires to consider this 4th of July as a holiday. Our Catholic religious freedom requires our Catholic religious activity especially on this great day. For my part, I am distinctly aware of the significant sacrifices and contributions our Founding Catholic Americans made to the American vision of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s why the 4th of July is not only for me a civil holiday, but a day to celebrate the unique ability to be homogeneously Catholic and American.

As I celebrate the 4th of July, I remember all of the great men and women of all denominations that have worked to ensure our religious freedom and American democracy since 1776. I will especially remember all of those faithful Catholics that have banded together for over two centuries to protect, defend and preserve our American principles of democracy and religious freedom. God bless them, and God bless America.

Easter Joy

2009-04-12T08:30:00.001-07:00

Stations of the Cross

2009-04-10T05:18:00.001-07:00

Passover and Holy Week...Common Heritages for The People of God!

2009-04-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Catholics worldwide should really celebrate our common heritages of faith with the Jewish people. Our pre-Vatican II liturgy might have had some anti-Semitic rhetoric for the celebration of Good Friday, and there was also misplaced blame against the Children of Israel for the death of Christ. However in the forty plus years since the close of the Second Vatican Council Catholics have universally developed a new and revealed understanding of our ancient relationship with the Jewish faith. We have come to realize in our liturgical celebrations and in our prayers our common ancestry with the God of Abraham, the biblical development of the Old Testament and the essential relationship the Old Covenant offers in light of the New Covenant of Christ. Now it is time in our modern society not to keep visiting the old texts that were used in the Liturgy prior to the ecumenical council, but concentrate on the successful theological appreciation Catholicism and Judaism have developed over the last four decades.

Our ancient Roman liturgy itself has evolved from the celebration of the Word of God in the Jewish synagogue services. Jesus Christ was a faithful Jew and lived His life in observation of the Jewish Torah. Our Eucharistic celebration of bread and wine is rooted in the ancient observation of Passover and some of our rituals are rooted in the traditions of the priestly tribe of Israel. We are not anti-Semites in the Catholic Church, but rather cousins to the Jewish liturgical life and traditions that influenced not only Jesus Christ, but the early Church as an offshoot sect of Judaism in the early Christian era. The perceived attack by Jewish faithful believers is wrongly motivated by a secular attempt to reignite a dispute among Catholics and Jews that has been extinguished long ago.

The 20th century offered an opportunity for Catholics and Jewish faithful believers to celebrate their common heritage and forgive each other of old transgressions. The Catholic Church in its activities during the Second World War abhorred the deportation and execution of European Jews by the Nazi regime, and strongly worked in many manners to save countless lives during the Holocaust. Historical records are daily revealing actions by Pius XII and the Catholic Church that attempted to give shelter provide food and safety and even baptismal certificates to persecuted Jewish refugees. Subsequent Popes, John XXIII had derogatory references to the Jewish people struck from our Sacred Liturgies, Paul VI went to the Holy Land as a pilgrim and John Paul II prayed at the Great Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem. Benedict XVI has also led the movement towards a conscious and prayerful appreciation of our, “Jewish” roots in Catholicism and is reportedly rewriting the offensive reintroduced prayer from Holy Week.

As Catholics, we need to strongly affirm and defend the Catholic Church’s continued effort towards theological harmony with our Jewish cousins and speak out against any anti-Semitic rhetoric that might be implied towards our relationship by antagonistic members of various media outlets. The light of revelation, through the Word of God has clearly and visibly shown us that our Catholic relationship with the Jewish faithful is one that has been nurtured and treasured in recent memory. Let’s join together as believers in the monotheistic God, Yahweh to contemplate the things that unite us in faith rather than open healed wounds of things that once set each faith against each other. The Catholic people and the Jewish faithful are both rightful heirs to the title People of God.

Catholic moral relativism...mortuus est!

2009-04-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

All of the unnecessary negative attention that is being directed at Bishop Joseph Martino of the Diocese of Scranton misses the mark when it comes to the positions of the local Catholic colleges in that diocese. The point that should be readily and consistently recalled is the fact that Bishop Martino is rightly exercising his obligations as both priest and teacher to his faithful Catholic population. Over the past few weeks there have been various media sources that have constantly complained over Bishop Martino’s “hard-line,” enforcement of Catholic moral and ethical teachings. Frankly, Bishop Marino’s plain old guts and convictions in this author’s mind make him a Catholic bishop that teaches authentic Catholic teachings, without regard to the negative responses. Perhaps as Catholics we have become accustomed to hearing our Bishops teaching on moral and ethical matters over the past 40 years or so with the lack of definitive authority behind their rhetoric. The often quoted and overused phrase, “in the Spirit of Vatican II,” has always been the Modernist’s battle cry. As a direct result some bishops and priests, and the infamous militant female religious have used this misinterpretation of the directives of the Second Vatican Council to advocate social, moral and ethical points of view that are in direct opposition to the teaching Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.
Deo Gratias! Thank God the Catholic Church of Scranton has a Shepherd that has no fear of raising a bit of dust in the proper Catholic appreciation of moral and sexual issues. It should be no great surprise that the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church are intended to promote healthy marital relationships, the development of mutual love among married couples and the appropriate use of our sexual gifts for procreation. Humanae Vitae, the much maligned encyclical of Pope Paul VI reaffirmed these points in 1968. Unfortunately, ever since the publication of the document, the secular media and science has scoffed at the moral teachings of our Catholic Holy Father. Even more unfortunate is the consistent campaign of misinformation promoted by some in the American Catholic hierarchy and our clergy to create a spirit of moral relativism among Catholics while downplaying the objective reality of the nature of mortal sin. Since the 1960’s there has been a legalistic minimalism pervading Catholic interpretations of what exactly is morally right and wrong. Directly resulting from the nebulous foundation of moral certitude, Catholics have been confused by ineffective Catholic leadership and “feel-good” theology since Pope Paul VI relaxed the rules for abstinence on Fridays and truncated the period of fasting before reception of the Holy Eucharist.
Now of course, when a Catholic Bishop once again makes authentic following of Catholic educational principles, with the correct teachings on Catholic morality appropriately heard, every part time, Palm Sunday, material relativist Catholic comes out of the illicit sexual closet. What seems most evident is that Catholics have become morally complacent and legalistically selective in their choices of Catholic moral, social and ethical orthodoxy. The Bishop of Scranton is indeed correct about …everything he has publically made pastoral statements about from Joseph Biden, inappropriate content at Catholic educational facilities, incompatibility of artificial methods of birth control to Catholic teachings & the inappropriate incorporation of homosexual rights and activities in the curriculum of Catholic Colleges.
The past four decades or so have often watched the teaching authority of the local Catholic bishop diminish in favor of,”pastoral guidelines,” and “liturgical options.” Realistically, the pursuit of democratic choices in the Catholic Church over just about every issue from birth control to married clergy hasn’t really worked too well. The byproduct of the socialization of Catholicism resulted in lower church attendance, fewer vocations, consolidated or closed parishes, female religious that engage in secular occupations, emasculated clergy, empowered laity and all inclusive translations of our most sacred rites.
Additionally, the adherence to Catholic teachings on sexuality are half-heartedly taught in Catholic schools, smirked at by Catholic clergy and religious, ignored by “faithful” Catholics and considered just a “personal choice,” by teenagers.
The pastoral method of Catholic education and evangelization really does not seem too successful. Bishop Martino on the contrary publically and clearly tells Catholics in his diocese what is authentically and acceptably Catholic, without a sugar, Splenda, Equal or Truvia secular humanist coating! We need 200 more Catholic bishops in the United States with the intestinal and testicular fortitude of Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton.
Perhaps other members of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops will more publically and loudly support his Catholic position. Catholics in America are thirsting for strong and authentic leadership and definitive Catholic activities.
Perhaps with the incentive and example of Scranton’s Bishop all American Catholics will embrace authentic and orthodox Catholicism, based on 2000 years of consistent and legitimate teaching authority from the Bishop of Rome and his local Episcopal representatives.
Bishop Martino, Ad Multos Annos!

Contradiction of Catholic Purposes, Xavier University hosts "Queer Week!"

2009-04-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

FLAGS ON LAWN AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY TO CELEBRATE, "QUEER WEEK!"
Photo by atp_tyreseus' photostream
This entire week at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio the Jesuit Catholic University has engaged in observing, what they call, “Queer Week!” Today, April 3 marks the end of the week’s programs and special events that are intended as “A week to embrace and celebrate the use of queer as an inclusive, unifying socio-political term for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight, transsexual, intersexual, gender queer, or anyone else who supports the equality of all identities and expressions.” The quoted text is taken directly from the University’s web site.
When trying to call the University to ask someone how this campus observation of, “Queer Week,” appropriately fit into the context of Catholic moral teachings on the matter of homosexuality, the number called only provided an automated voice mailbox on which to leave a message or request a call back. The issue really is two-fold: How does a reportedly Catholic University promote, support and endorse a week of seminars and activities regarding a lifestyle that is contrary to Catholic moral and sexual teachings. Secondly, the question needs to be considered is how can any institution of higher learning consider itself authentically Catholic with such initiatives?
Part of the continuously emerging concern in the American Catholic Church is the insistence of Catholic educational facilities to sponsor speakers, events and activities that are contrary to Catholic Church principles and teachings. The matter spills over into multiple topics, from (Pseudo) Catholics that are ProChoice, to the proverbial Quasi (Catholic) that endorses same-sex relationships, marriages and even gay civil rights. It seemingly looks as if modern secularism is not only infiltrating the foundational teachings of Catholic moral and ethical teachings, but is actively eroding the theological and moral principles from within: namely Catholic institutions, clergy and faithful that are erroneous in their understanding of what the Catholic Church precisely teaches. Additionally erroneous on the part of these groups is what the Catholic Church believes in living a lifestyle that is in accordance to the message of the Gospels & the teachings of the Apostles.
Entities such as Xavier University engaged in discussion, development and fostering of activities such as,”Queer Week, “are indeed not in compliance to the four necessary components that are consistent for an educational facility of higher learning to maintain its Catholic identity. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities clearly states:
1 .A Christian inspiration not only of individuals but of the university community
as such;
2 .A continuing reflection in the light of the Catholic faith upon the growing
treasury of human knowledge, to which it seeks to contribute by its own
research;
3. Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church;
4. An institutional commitment to the service of the people of God and of the
human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning
to life.
Xavier University does not appear to provide a consistent vision in their application of these four points as stated by the Apostolic Constitution. As a direct result of this obstructed vision on the Church’s points, Xavier University is indeed not properly functioning as an institution of higher Catholic learning. They should immediately cease referencing themselves as a Catholic University. The promotion of activities and events that are not consistent with the Church’s teachings quite frankly help to the disintegration and misunderstanding of authentic Catholic principles. The ersatz juxtaposition implied by, “Queer Week,” implies a tacit moral approval of alternative lifestyles as consistent with Catholic moral and ethical teachings.
Any semblance of approval as illustrated at Xavier University to alternative lifestyles alienated from the authentic Catholic marriage and family pursuit indeed promotes a contrary to Catholic cultural traditions and should not be tolerated by the American Catholic hierarchy, and orthodox faithful Catholics in the United States.
If indeed any Catholic university wants to discuss the topic of homosexuality and the moral lifestyle implications, it should never be contemplated from a, “unified socio-political view,” but in the proper and correct context of authentic adherence to the Catholic Church’s guidelines set forth for the proper functioning of a Catholic University, and the proper implementation of Catholic social and sexual norms of appropriate behavior.
Xavier University…stop advocating political correctness and start observing Catholic morality!

We kneel...during the Creed!

2009-03-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. There are only 2 times during the Roman liturgy throughout the year when we are commanded to kneel during the proclamation of the Creed. The Feast of the Annunciation and the Solemnity of Christmas are both times we pause to recall the moment of the Incarnation, the Eternal Word of God become flesh among us.
Most of the time there is very little attention paid to this solemn moment. It is often just part of rubric observation. However, the homage the Church's liturgy pays to the greatest moment in salvation history is also the most sublime and simple in it's praise of Jesus' Incarnation.
As you kneel today during the proclamation of the Creed, remember the Word becomming flesh and dwelling among us. This moment by Mary and her unconditional acceptance of God's will is the greatest, "Yes," in all of the history of salvation.
Mary's acceptance of God's will shows the infinite love and mercy our eternal God has for his created people.
By offering Mary the chance to say, "Yes," to God...the entire cosmological symphony of Jesus' Messianic life, ministry,suffering, death and resurrection all hinged on the simple assent of a young Virgin.

Popes visit to Holy Land: Sign of continued desire for peace and unity!

2009-03-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Holy See announced today that the Pope is going to Jerusalem in May. That announcement is especially good news for the diplomatic relationship between the Vatican and Israel. In recent months there have been multiple points of contention between the Holy See and the Israeli government, specifically over the lifting of the excommunication of a schismatic bishop that denied the Holocaust and the ongoing disputes related to the papacy of Pius XII during World War II.
This trip as well might present difficulties. Just this morning the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmed Rabinovitch suggested the Pope should not wear the traditional pectoral cross while visiting the surviving wall of the Great Temple. The Rabbi indicated that the symbol of the cross was an insulting symbol to the many Jewish people that have suffered persecution at the hands of Catholics over the centuries.
There is more at stake here than the simple matter of a pectoral cross during Pope Benedict’s visit. It appears the Rabbi of the Western Wall is forgetting the theological heritage Catholics share with the People of the Old Testament. While the Pope traditionally wears a pectoral cross, the symbol in no way diminishes the real appreciation the Catholic Church continues to develop for our cousins in monotheism…the Jewish people. The protest raised by the rabbi undermines the purpose of the apostolic visit, which is to publically exhibit the close theological and political unity between the Catholic Church and the Government of Israel. Additionally, the intrinsically sacred nature of the entire Holy Land makes it a place of pilgrimage for Catholics, Jews and Islamic faiths equally. The important treasured nature of Israel’s sacred shrines should be a model not only for diplomatic balancing, but also religious tolerance between three great monotheistic religions that share heritages at the sites in Jerusalem.
Pope Benedict XVI during his pontificate continues to make remarkable progress in relationship to Israeli-Catholic dialogue. Repeatedly opponents to Pope Benedict’s continued desire to deepen Catholic relationships with the Jews make reference to already well discussed and deeply studied topics. Really, it is time to move forward in our theological appreciations of each others religions and stop debating the already exhausted previous debates. From a Catholic historical perspective, there are many aspects of our 2000 years relationship with the Jewish people that should have been handled differently. The important thing is that we are now understanding our symbiotic relationship of monotheistic faith between our two religions. Any dispute over papal attire and sartorial accessories just continues to feed sentiments of anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic inflammatory rhetoric.

Pope John-Paul II visited Israel in 2000. His trip was considered as a remarkable triumph of theological understanding as well as diplomatic craftsmanship. Pope Benedict XVI’s visit will result in the same accomplishments, only if both Jewish and Catholic observers set appropriate expectations. The issue of a papal pectoral cross was not part of the John-Paul journey to the holiest sites of Jewish and Christian antiquity. A pectoral cross should not make any difference on this journey either. The Pope wants to visit Israel as not only the Head of the Vatican State, the Bishop of Rome but as a faithful and devout Catholic to venerate a sacred place where salvation history unfolded for Catholics and Jews.
The overwhelming message of the Benedictine pontificate has been the continued desire for unity among all peoples of the world, despite our social, political and theological differences. Benedict’s quest for global harmony and unity is another positive action that the Church under his leadership hopes to continue well into the 21st century with all faithful denominations including our cousins in faith, the Jewish people.

Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on uniquely Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Pewsitter.com, Blogger News Network & The Catholic Business Journal.

Irish Contributions to global society!

2009-03-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Irish contributions to the world!
Taken from Irish Patents Office Homepage :
Throughout the centuries Ireland has proven itself as a nation of inventors with many of its natives having made important contributions to their particular fields of endeavor. Outlined below is a selection of just some of the many Irish contributors to the world of science and innovation.
• Barry, Vincent (1908 - 1975) Cork man Vincent Barry led a medical research team that discovered a compound (B663) that ultimately led to a treatment for leprosy. The team were working on a cure for tuberculosis at the time.
• Beaufort, Sir Francis (1774 - 1857) In 1805 Navan man, Sir Francis Beaufort, conceived the wind force scale that now bears his name. A distinguished naval commander, Sir Francis' 13-point 'Beaufort Scale' was adopted by the British navy in 1838.
• Boyle, Robert (1627 - 1691) Robert Boyle, one of the original modern chemists, made many key contributions in the scientific revolution of the 1600's. His most famous discovery, which examined the pressure-volume relationship in laboratory conditions, now bears his name (Boyle's Law) and was to prove fundamental to our understanding of gases and atmospheric pressure.
• Brennan, Louis (1852 - 1932) From, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, inventor of the world's first guided missile - a torpedo like device which was used as an early coastal defense mechanism. Brennan also designed a monorail and helicopter.
• Bull, Lucien (1876 - 1972) Prolific Dublin innovator responsible for pioneering high speed photography in order to view images in slow motion. Bull was also patented an improved version of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in 1938.
• Callan, Rev. Nicholas (1799 - 1864) Born in Dromiskin, Co. Louth, Rev. Callan invented both the induction coil (1836) and the self exacting dynamo (1838), both of which are still being used today.
• Clerke, Agnes (1842 - 1907) Clerke, a Skibbereen woman, was a prolific astronomical writer who's esteemed reputation earned her the distinction of having a crater on the moon named after her in 1881 - Clerke Crater, at the edge of the sea of Serenity.
• Coffey, Aeneas (1780 - 1852) Dublin man Aeneas Coffey invented the world's first heat-exchange device in 1830. Coffey's patent still was a very efficient apparatus that led to many advances in whiskey distilling.
• Collis, Robert (1900 - 1975) Dublin doctor who pioneered the technique for feeding premature infants via a nasal tube as opposed to spoon feeding. He also invented a simple, but affordable incubator for premature infants.
• Davidson, Sir Samuel (1846 - 1921) Belfast's Sir Samuel Davidson was accredited with many inventions such as tea-drying equipment, the forward bladed centrifugal fan and even a hand held Howitzer gun.
• Dixon, Henry Horatio (1869 - 1953) Dublin native who was the first person to explain how sap was pulled from the roots of tall trees, as opposed to being pumped from the roots - which was commonly and incorrectly believed at the time.
• Drumm, Dr. James (1896 - 1974) County Down man, Dr. James Drumm invented the nickel-zinc rechargeable battery in 1930. Having been successfully tested on a train in 1931, Drumm's traction batteries had many advantages over their predecessors - especially their ability to discharge and recharge rapidly.
• Fitzgerald, George Francis (1851 - 1901) A physics professor at TCD, he was the first person to suggest the possibility of producing radio waves in laboratory conditions - his theory was successfully tested in 1888 by Heinrich.
• Ferguson, Harry (1884 - 1960) Nicknamed the 'mad mechanic', Harry Ferguson designed and built a new plough which was coupled to the tractor in three-point linkage, so that both formed a single unit. This Ferguson System, patented in 1926, was to revolutionise farming. Ferguson also designed and built his own motor cycle, racing car and plane - becoming the first Irish man to fly in 1909.
• Gregg, John Robert (1868 - 1948) Monaghan man who invented the shorthand system of speed writing in 1888. The Gregg system modeled the mechanics and positioning of traditional writing and was later adapted to several languages.
• Hamilton, William Rowan (1805 - 1865) Irish mathematician (and child prodigy) who made many important contributions to the world of mathematics such as predicting conical infraction in biaxial crystals, extending the least action principle, and developing the theory of quaternions which was later found to have important applications in quantum physics and mechanics.
• Holland, John Phillip (1841-1914) Liscanner man, John Phillips Holland, is accredited with launching the world's first successful submarine, the 'Fenian Ram', in 1881. He also invented a mechanism for submariners to evacuate their sinking vessel.
• Jellet, Rev, John (1817-1888) From Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Rev. Jellet invented an instrument, which he called a saccharimeter, to measure the sugar content of liquids using polarised light.
• Joly, John (1857 - 1933) A native of Hollywood, Co. Offaly, John Joly lays claim to many inventions including: the meldometer for measuring the melting points of minerals, the steam calorimeter for measuring specific heats, and the photometer for measuring light intensity. He also co-pioneered the use of radiation for cancer treatment, and was responsible for the first successful method of producing colour photographs from a single plate.
• Kyan, John (1774 - 1850) Inventor of an early wood preservative used in various timbers. Patented in 1832, the technique still bears his name today - 'kyanisation'.
• Leared, Arthur (1822 - 1879) Wexford doctor who invented the modern binaural (double earpiece) stethoscope in 1851. He also later discovered the importance of pancreatic juices in the digestion of fats.
• Mallet, Robert (1810 - 1881) Explosion seismology was born in 1851, when Dublin man Robert Mallet used dynamite explosions to measure the speed of elastic waves in surface rocks - pioneering and coining the word 'seismology'.
• Martin, Sir James (1893 - 1981) Sir James Martin, an engineer from Co. Down, invented the world's first ejector seat. His device was first tested using a crash dummy in 1945, and the following year Bernard Lynch became first person to participate in a live test. His invention was soon adopted by the RAF as a standard safety device.
• Mitchell, Alexander (1780 - 1868) Dublin born blind engineer Alexander Mitchell was the inventor and patentee of the 'Mitchell Screwpile and Mooring' - a simple yet effective means of constructing durable lighthouses and ship moorings in deep water, mud banks and shifting sands.
• Parsons, Sir Charles (1854 - 1931) From Birr, Co. Offaly, Charles Parsons invented the world's first steam turbine using vapourised water to power a rotor directly, as opposed to driving pistons. Parson's technological innovation not only spurred further developments in powering ships, but also in generating electricity.
• Preston, Thomas (1860 - 1900) In 1897, Thomas Preston from Kilmore, discovered the Anomalous Zeeman Effect which is the name given to the Zeeman Effect (splitting of spectral lines in a a magnetic field) whenever it departs from the simple triplet form which classical theory predicted.
• Rynd, Francis (1811 -1861) In 1844, Francis Rynd, a Dublin-based doctor, invented the hypodermic syringe and administered the world's first subcutaneous injection at the Meath hospital.
• Stokes, George (1819 - 1903) Born in Skreen, Co. Sligo, it was in Cambridge between 1845 and 1850 that he determined the movement of a body through viscous fluids of various densities - Stokes' law. (Between 1909 and 1913 an American physicist Robert Millikan used Stokes' law as a basis for solving his experiment involving the charge on the electron). In 1852 George Stokes received the Rumford Medal for the first explanation of fluorescence. In the same year, he produced one of his most important contributions to mathematics while analysing elliptically polarised light - Stokes parameters. To this day Stokes parameters is used to describe light emitted in an experiment within atomic and optical physics.
• Tyndall, John (1820 - 1893) The founding father of nephelometry and a native of Leighlin Bridge, Carlow, John Tyndall was one of the first scientists to recognise the greenhouse effect, and his invention of the light pipe also laid the foundation for developments in fiber optics.
• Walker, John (1841 - 1901) A native of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, John Walker invented a prototype of the caterpillar track to assist him in transporting logs over rough terrain to his saw mills.
• Walton, Earnest (1903 - 1995) In 1932, Earnest Walton (from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford) in collaboration with John Cockcroft, became the first people in history to artificially split the atom, thus ushering the nuclear age. Walton and Cockcroft had vindicated Einstein's famous equation (E=mc2) and successfully converted matter into energy. In 1951 they were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics - making Walton Ireland's first and only Nobel science laureate.

Happy Birthday, Vatican City State

2009-02-18T06:35:00.001-08:00

Freedom of Choice Act diminishes American Freedom!

2009-01-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Freedom of Choice Act which threatens the Catholic Pro-Life Movement strikingly invokes the American cause of freedom towards government sanctioned infanticide. What a peculiar contradiction that’s presented…freedom of choice for the pregnant mother, but no freedom of choice for the in utero developing child. This is clearly not a proposition that encourages either life, nor freedom nor even choice. American Catholics need to especially make note of the doublespeak that surrounds the new administration that carelessly abandons principles which foster the sanctity of all human life and suggests there is any type of moral and ethical freedom in choices that embrace government sanctioned homicide.
The right to life begins at the moment of conception and it is the responsibility of our American republic to provide protection and sanction for ALL human life, including the life that is confined to the nurturing environment of a mother’s womb. Unusually, there is popular support for this legislation which effectively permits all existing checks and balances on the process of terminating the life of an unborn child. America Catholics should be rightly be inflamed at this legislation that continues to demean the integrity and dignity of the greatest gift ever given, the right to life and its fulfillment.
What unfortunately surrounds this growing culture of choice is the sad fact that self professed Catholics subscribe to this erroneous moral conclusion and proudly proclaim their “choice” as an alternative to Catholic moral, social and ethical teachings. The Obama administration seems to present a rallying point for Catholic dissidents to join a movement that promotes an American culture that is antithetical to qualitative human life and happiness. What furthermore infuriates the situation is the lack of loud protest and admonition against these popular beliefs on the part of the American Catholic hierarchy.
The silence screams the message, “Moral injustice & legalized murder!” It is time for all American Catholics to start bombarding their congressional representatives with Catholic protests against the foolishly termed, Freedom of Choice Act! In the same manner, it is time to shake up the sacerdotal purple in each and every Catholic institution in the United States. Silence on the part of the American Catholic hierarchy lends even more credence to the belief…that silence gives consent!
The fundamental principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness encapsulate the American ideals of a living and fully functional society with the preservation and proclamation of human life as the focus of our united common good. Our principles of American government are established on the precepts that include the choice to live without restrictions on our natural human lives. It is of particular note that the terms, Life and Liberty were foremost in the thoughts of the Founding Fathers, not choice and death.
The struggle incumbent on all American Catholics is living our properly informed Catholic faith in a society that is secularized and divorced from an appreciation of the sacred life that God extends to all human beings. The simple fact that there are some American Catholics that believe our Catholicism is a selection of multiple choice beliefs and observations makes us more like a fast food religion, than one of the oldest monotheistic institutions in history. So called American-Catholic politicians use the secular arena to incorrectly provide a platform for their own interpretation of Catholic morality and theology. As previously stated the Obama administration is filled with Catholics that erroneously use their faith and sacraments as a spiritual seal of approval on their misguided legislative and political agendas. The guiding principles for Catholic politicians should not be the popularity of the legislative content that is placed into the secular deposit of legislative laws and congressional bills. What should be the most important issue for Catholic politicians is the legislation conforms to all of the moral and ethical norms of their Catholic faith as well as the implementation of moral and ethical principles that protect and foster all human life.
The Freedom of Choice Act should be considered by Catholics and all peoples that seek to pursue a qualitative human life no less heinous than the Nuremburg laws of 20th century Germany or the proclamations against the Christians in Diocletian’s Rome. If indeed we sanction the disregard for human life through legislation such as the Freedom of Choice Act, it logically follows that such immoral actions afforded to life in the gestational stages will subsequently be applied to all dimensions of life from conception to the geriatric stage, that will be prematurely be interrupted by the infamous freedom of immoral choice.

Hugh J.McNichol is a freelance Catholic author that writes on uniquely Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Pewsitter.com and Blogger News Network.

Catholics called to revolution against Roe vs Wade in the spirit of American Change!

2009-01-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

The American Republic has been swept into s pseudo-sense of euphoria since the election of President Obama. The continued surge of these emotions is indicative of the fact that there is indeed a need for radical change in the American way of life. The newly sworn President quite frankly has a good feel on the pulse of the sentiments of the American people and this author hopes every expectation he has for success is realized.
However, we need to remember the work that still needs to continue in our appreciation of the rights of the unborn and their inalienable right to life from the moment of conception. Today marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortions in this country over 35 years ago. Despite decades of concentrated efforts and marches and protests and letter writing, the Catholic Church in the United States has been unable to successfully mitigate an overturning of this egregious decision of the high court. In effect the Pro-Life Movement is itself in desperate need of a renewal of intent and purpose in the manner with which they pursue the overturning of this monumental decision against human life and dignity.
American Catholics need to pursue the overturn of Roe vrs Wade with a new zeal and enthusiasm in the same manner the early Church experienced the event of Pentecost with the coming of the power of the Holy Spirit. In our late 20th century history, Catholics have experienced so many events that have introduced significant change in the global society. We have experienced an ecumenical council (Vatican II), watched the office of the Pope grow into an international platform that heralds universal human rights and freedoms, witnessed the demise of Communism in Eastern Europe and watched the world shrink as technological innovations have networked us into a true internet village. With this in mind, it is time to take the battle against Roe vrs Wade to a new level of protest, one that embraces the moral certainity of the Catholic Church’s unchanged traditions that uphold the rights of the unborn to a new level of personal and collective consciousness.
Especially important is the need for our hierarchy of bishops to strongly and publically manifest clearly the message of life at every opportunity that presents itself. While public marches and petitions are sometimes effective, the American Catholic Bishops should invoke the rights of law as well as the rights of public speech and protest in the effort to eradicate Roe vs. Wade. Every avenue should be exploited by the American Catholic hierarchy to mount a judicial and legal campaign to topple this decision with all of the resources available. While there is a politically separate division of Church and State in our country…we should always remember that the intention of the Founding Fathers was to establish a government and society that existed, with the inclusion of the Deity of Judeo-Christian tradition. From the heights of the Enlightenment, the Founding Fathers realized in exalted humanist sentiments the intrinsic rights granted by our Creator to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Over the last two centuries, Americans have developed an appreciation of what it means to live in the American experience. Slavery, formerly an institution sanctioned by our government is abolished, the right to vote for African-Americans and women has been established, and the application of Civil Rights for all Americans regardless of color or creed was realized in 1965. The perpetual struggles of our American society are the touchstones of our judicial and legislative processes. Thankfully, the right to appeal is also a critically important piece of our system of due process. In the Catholic tradition this right of appeal is correctly called grace. Namely, the continued call to conversion towards a theocentric moral and ethical life is the cornerstone of the Catholic American’s pursuit of the balanced responsibilities of citizenship and inclusion into a spiritual entity of faith. With the renewal of the spirit of American “can do” sentiments, American Catholics need to wholeheartedly adopt the “can do” attitude in regards to our campaign against laws that are contradictory to the sanctity and dignity of human life.
During the presidential campaign of 2008, Mr.Obama repeatedly invoked the revolutionary ideals of the Founding Fathers and the justness of the cause which constituted the American Revolution. Catholic Americans with their spiritual leaders, namely the American Bishops need to declare and invoke the Catholic right to revolution in correcting the injustices of legislative and judicial anomalies. Perhaps in the ongoing Catholic struggle against the legal stature of Roe vs. Wade, Catholics need not only to make a stance with thoughts and prayers but also in the fiduciary support of government sponsored programs that pay for abortion services. The American Revolution was steeped with overtaxed British tea; well our Federal bureaucracy indeed is the financial tea that supports the maintenance and existence of abortion facilities. Through peaceful and forceful protest, every Catholic American should demand the end of financial support by the government for programs that foster the continuance of abortive services. What has not successfully worked in the past, such as marching in the streets of Washington, D.C. should make room for an alternative form of protest through the Catholic Americans withholding of financial subsidies that continue to feed the anti-Life movement.
Our concept of equal representation under law extends to those born and unborn, those in the process of life and those on the precipice of human gestation. Civil rights and liberties rightly belong to all human beings and should be protected accordingly. Indeed as American Catholics we must make our moral and ethical principles correctly heard through our Bishops and their moral teachings. It becomes especially difficult for faithful Catholics to understand the civil responsibilities that are incumbent upon their American citizenship, when individuals are incorrectly formed in the Catholic traditions of life and the preservation of its sanctity. Catholics in the United States should not look to the political arena for moral and ethical guidance, especially when a malformed Catholic is part of the Executive branch of government. They need to rely on the consistent and faithful teachings of the Bishop of Rome, correctly interpreted as inspired examples of God’s Word and part of His salvific plan.
Human rights, civil rights, voting rights, animal rights et cetra, et cetera are all uniquely formed as part of the human condition that has been unfortunately corrupted by original sin. As Catholic Americans we continue the process of conversion which unceasingly continues not only the message of the American Revolution, but the revolution proclaimed by Jesus Christ Himself namely the vocational call towards a human society that incorporates, love of God, love of neighbor and love of self. When we effectively integrate the message of Christ’s examples to our American way of living…when indeed can all Americans proclaim tolerance for all of God’s people, living and unborn.
Roe vs. Wade the blasting trumpet that calls all Catholic to an age of renewed protest and revolution against injustices across all segments of our society.
Hugh J.McNichol is a freelance Catholic author that writes on uniquely Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the BBC and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Pewsitter.com and Blogger News Network.

2008-06-19T06:15:00.002-07:00

Columns: Nothing Left Unsaid
Sons and daughters of God…equally!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

There is a need towards a deeper appreciation and clear direction to the liturgical music aspect of our sacred celebrations. Prior to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council most of the music that was familiar to Catholics was in the form of Gregorian Chant, or popular parish hymns that were usually sung by both people and choir with great devotion and fervor. However since the years after the Council, there has been a large movement within the Catholic community not only to make musical accompaniment more prominent in the Liturgy, there are also times where Catholic theology and teachings have been distorted for the sake of musical interpretation, rather than theological accuracy.

The most familiar aspect of these changes was the popular custom of replacing all of the descriptive pronouns for male and female with generic equivalents which made Father, Son and Holy Spirit equally gender neutral and therefore politically correct. Throughout the 1960's through the late 1990's musicians, liturgists, incorrectly motivated activists and the gender sensitive cognoscenti all busied themselves with editorial powers and reworded and rearranged most of our Catholic songs to modify human nature into a pseudo-she-male that lived a perfectly balanced androgynous Catholic life and did not politically offend anyone's social, sexual or political inclinations. Not only did this happen with the references to the Triune God in our songs, scriptures and liturgy…phrases like…"sons of God, and brothers in faith" were routinely cast aside for the generic equivalent of linguistic asexuality…everyone, fellow worshipers and even at times…peoples of God!" Something it seems went drastically wrong with the emasculation of the Deity and the attempted desire to make the matters of politically correct and incorrect titles as part of our Catholic heritage.

Quite a few times I have often heard it said by individuals that are always replacing male and female descriptions of people, places and things in our Scriptures and our Sacred Liturgies that they feel this is the way God would intend all of us to speak, act and respond…in a gender neutral manner which could neither offend nor injure anyone's inclination to be either male or female, pro or con, or so on. If this indeed were the case, there would be no scriptural references to Jesus, as the Son of God…as opposed to the politically correct "offspring of God" that linguistic revisionists would much rather prefer.

Perhaps the papal attention to the role of music in the liturgical life of the Church is something that is part of the overall larger plan that seems to be part of the ministry of this pontificate. That is…a reformation of the reformation that took place during the changes of the Second Vatican Council. Increasingly in our global village that we used to call the world, there is always some type of movement to depersonalize the human individual and reduce one's intrinsic humanity to a shadow of institutional generic conformity. However, the Holy Father's initiative in asking for careful consideration of appropriate pronouns in our music and liturgy shows truly the acutely critical recognition this issue deserves. Our sacred music is a reflection of the uniquely male and female aspects of our humanity and quite frankly should celebrate this uniqueness of our human creation. When the nature of the Deity is reduced to an expression of gender neutrality no one really gains a deeper theological and philosophical appreciation of our human pursuit to understand God's sacred life and nature.

It does not offend me to hear Jesus called a "man" in Sacred Scripture, nor does it bother me that He is, "the Son of God!" What really bothers me is when individuals and groups take it upon themselves to neutralize gender identity within all of our hymns, prayers, liturgies and songs. Not only is such an attempt contemptuous of the understanding of the truly magnificent nature of human creation, it is also an ignorant attempt to ignore all of the gender sensitive nuances that are contained in Sacred Scripture and Church tradition.

Increasingly as the Church develops a keener sense of musical integrity, and deeper appreciation of its musical heritage…the Church is more aware of the dignity and nature of the human individual, either male or female, called equally to sacramental life in our Church. Our music and liturgy need to reflect the transcendence of our universal call to prayer and holiness, not linguistic banter over the correct use of pronouns and personal prepositions. Equally, we are all created in the image and likeness of God our Father. Our musical praise of God needs to aspire and inspire both males and females alike to develop a true sense of praise and thanksgiving for God's many blessings on both his Sons and Daughters in faith.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:15:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Vestments…tools of the liturgical trade
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Something that most people don't consider while attending Mass are the liturgical vestments of the priest and deacon. The chasuble and dalmatic are proper vestments to the order of priest and deacon respectively. Also, common to those ordained ministers is the stole, which in the case of the priest is placed over the shoulders and around the neck, for the deacon, the stole is draped diagonally from the left shoulder. For the most part, their purpose today is just significant to identify which role the celebrants and assistants of the Sacraments are playing. In our Catholic parishes, most of the time, there is never an explanation of the significance of the stole; it is just taken for granted. However it is important to understand that the stole of priest, bishop and deacon is a symbol of the authority they possess as part of the sacrament of Holy Orders.

The most recognizable vestment we encounter each Sunday is the chasuble. It is the main vestment of the priest while celebrating Mass. With the recent revival of the Mass of Blessed John XXIII, one most likely is unfamiliar with the style of vestment worn for this celebration. The chasuble and dalmatic and tunic worn by the priest, deacon and sub-deacon are called "Roman" vestments, and are the normal vestments worn for Mass. Their style and appearance is based upon clothing and ceremonial clothing that was worn in the Roman Empire, especially by the ruling aristocracy and important civil dignitaries.

Roman vestments are usually ornately designed on the back, simply because the congregation sees the back of the priest while he is celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
With the advent of the Second Vatican Council and the practice of celebrating the liturgy ad populum, vestments that had their historical roots in "Gothic" countries became more common and prevalent. Gothic chasubles and dalmatics are cut fuller and are more like a garment that resembles a cape or our modern poncho. These are the vestments we are most used to seeing since the 1960's. However both varieties can be worn for liturgical celebrations.

With this brief description made, my goal is to suggest that parishioners and priests alike pay particular attention to the quality of the materials and the detail to craftsmanship of all of these vestments. They are very visible signs and symbols of our efforts to praise God and to worship as a faithful community.

Very often, parishes are always getting various donations of vestments from different sources. For example, at times when an individual dies, the relatives and friend purchase a set of vestments for the parish. This is an extremely admirable practice. However it might be better for pastors and parishes to institute a specific "fund" in their parish that is designed for the procurement and designing of sacred liturgical vestments and instruments. If a parish "fund" were established, pastors and priests would no longer be surprised and shocked with the gift that a parishioner has made. Just like Christmas morning, even our parish priest's open gifts that they would like to hastily return! If indeed, a specific fund were set up for sacred materials, then the pastor in conjunction with the parish liturgical committee could research artisans that provide liturgical vestments. To commission vestments so to speak for a parish should always be something that the parish can afford and should accomplish on a regular basis. Vestments are not just accessories for ordained ministers, they are essential to the fulfillment of their sacred obligations. Just like other professions, the necessary tools and instruments should be part of a professional's daily wardrobe and routine.

The commissioning of sacred vestments for a parish is something that is starting to occur on a more regular basis. Craftsmen and artisans that work in the fabric arts are quite happy to provide their services and help parishes design visually attractive and materially qualitative vestments for use during the Sacred Liturgy.

For the most part, designing and having liturgical vestments made to order is like having a new suit made especially for an individual. The fabrics are chosen, the style of vestment is determined, the color and even the quantity of vestments to be made. When a parish looks to add tailored vestments to its liturgical closet, they need to remember concelebrants and large groups of priests that sometimes join a parish in a special celebration. Multiple sets of vestments lend a distinctive harmony and consistent visual appeal to everyone during the Liturgy. It makes sense to balance all of the aspects of the liturgy, so that the visual and the spoken and the musical aspects of the Mass all come together for one significant event of worship and praise.

Once again it is always a question of providing "quality" resources in our parishes for all of our sacred celebrations. In a technological age, when most everything we use on a daily basis are mass produced…it is a nice change to experience something that is uniquely and individually made for our parish community. Our celebration of the liturgy expresses our communal appreciation and communal expressions of our most sacred sentiments. We utilize our liturgical vestments as an instrument to convey our sense of sacredness and holiness during our rituals. As Catholics we need to be ever mindful of the assent of our spiritual expectations to our heavenly Father. Our sacred vestments not only help us to focus on the spiritual actions that are taking place at our Liturgies, they enhance our abilities to actively appreciate the rituals and symbols of our ancient Catholic liturgy that occur in the transubstantiation of bread and wine, into the Body and Blood of Christ.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Birthdays are a celebration of temporal and eternal life!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Today, June 12, 2008 my late brother would have been 43 years old. Every year when his birthday rolls around, I think of him and how many times he made me laugh during his lifetime. Additionally, I also think of the many pains and issues that compounded my brother’s life that resulted in his death by suicide. The death of a sibling is a very difficult thing to accept, especially when the death is unexpected and sudden. My brother’s death happened on a cold December 7th and he was gone from our lives in the blink of an eye. Often I think about the sudden flash that brings one from living life to suddenly being part of the kairotic grip of death. As a Catholic, we believe that suicide is morally wrong. However, when it comes to knowing the reasons and purposes for a tragic death are often unanswered forever.

My brother Stephen was five years younger than I was, three years younger than my sister Karen was. When he was born both my sister and I waited in great anticipation of our new baby brother. My Mom and Dad even let us pick out a name for our new sibling…we named him after another Stephen that lived in the house beside my paternal grandparents…his name was Stephen Marakowski. Both Karen and I liked the name and the kid that lived next to my grandparents, so Stephen it was. I often think of the great individuality and personal fortitude that comes with the choice of a name when a baby was born. In addition to having admiration for the neighbor’s Steve, we associated our brother Stephen with the first martyr of the Catholic Church, Saint Stephen and always reminded our brother to celebrate that feast day and the strength of his spiritual patron.

Birthdays celebrate life. Whenever I think of my brother on his birthday, I celebrate his life. He was full of mischievous energy, enjoyed every party and stayed out way past when the cows came home. He always went to Church, even if going to Church and Mass meant attending Mass from the entrance of the Church, where he could have a cigarette and worship in his own liturgical space. He lived for times and opportunities to make me crazy…like jumping out on me from a closet, scaring me in bed or just telling me to “Chill Out!”

My real point in writing about his life is to remember to tell everyone to enjoy and appreciate each moment we have with our loved ones. We never know when the time we have together will be cut short, and we return to our heavenly Father. In the same manner, it helps to recall the good times and the things you learned from people that are no longer with us. My brother and I liked to go swimming at the New Jersey shore after the lifeguards departed. My brother was the better swimmer, and in much better shape physically than me…and in a strange juxtaposition of roles…I always felt safe when swimming with him. I have not gone into the Atlantic Ocean after hours since his death, because I lost a strong companion that would “save me” regardless of our sibling differences.

An important lesson here is this, each one of us has a purpose given to us by God. We don’t always know what it is in life. However, as a Christian people, we need to celebrate all aspects of our lives from conception until death…even if that death is sudden and premature. To this day, I have no idea what motivated my brother’s sudden self-inflicted death, but I do know that all of us wrestle with the powers of the Evil One in our lives. Our sacramental participation in Eucharist strengthens us in this adversarial battle with the many guises and vices that afflict our human society. That is why we need to always be especially supportive to all of our brothers and sisters in faith that are tormented by temporal and spiritual demons.

I miss my brother more each year. Maybe it is because when we all become middle-aged we recall the events of our lives that should have or could have happened differently. Always present in my thoughts is the notion of hope in God regardless of how terrible things seem to get. I know that my brother hoped in God, especially in God’s mercy even though he was plagued with issues and problems. As Catholics we should always pray for the departed, because they are still with us, only transformed into a new existence with God.

I don’t think I will ever swim after hours again in my lifetime. My swimming companion that knew no fear is gone. However Stephen is here in a mystical way that still makes me laugh at his antics, check under the bed and behind doors looking for his pranks.

Celebrate life, celebrate the memories of those who have lived and touched your lives and celebrate our mysterious journey of life to death and rebirth in Jesus’ eternal life.

Happy Birthday Stephen!

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:13:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
…Perhaps a “leisure suit!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

As a kid my experiences of Father's Day always involved some sort of sign of appreciation to my Dad for being a great Dad. However, we were not a family that often had outward expressions of familial emotions. Usually gifts for my Dad were always something that we figured he would like. My sister and brother always tended to get my Dad a new bathing suit for the summer season. I would usually get him something he would never in a million years want or need. A good example of this is the year that I gave my father a long silk robe for Father's Day. It was a really beautiful silk robe, burgundy colored with paisley accents. I thought it was the perfect gift. After my father opened the gift he thanked me and I guess we all had dinner. I never saw the robe again until about a year later I asked him about the robe.

He said yes it was nice. Yes he liked it. But, being a smoker (at the time) he didn't want to risk having ashes ruin the silk. Besides, I really think he thought I was trying to incinerate him in such a highly flammable garment. Really that wasn't true. The real issue was this…I thought it would be something he would like. Well that was the problem. When choosing Father's Day presents or Christmas gifts or birthday presents it is really best not to buy things for others that you would like to have yourself. Yes, my intentions were good. But my Dad is a retired policeman…not really the silk and paisley sort. More like heavy flannel or terrycloth but definitely not the silk type. I really don't know what I was thinking except perhaps my Dad would look like Noel Coward in such a great and tasteful dressing gown.

I suppose we do things like this all of the time. Try to give people things that we think they should have. Father's Day is really not about forcing gifts on Dad that he would never wear. My sister and brother have over the years come up with a lot of ugly plaid bathing suits as well. My Dad really never showed any distaste or disappointment with any gifts we gave him. He always used them and appreciated our thoughts as well as gifts…no matter how ugly or unseemly they were.

Well my daughter is eight years old and she is always giving me some type of drawing as a gift. On Father's Day, I anticipate another Katie original and I am really glad to get new works of her art. I know some day in the future she will try to dress me in a silk robe, or an ugly plaid bathing suit…like we tried with our father. But really, I now know that it isn't about the gift. It is about paying homage and giving thanks for a father that always provided and continues to provide for me.

This Father's Day I am going to try to give my father something he really wants. That is some real…undisturbed time in-front of his television watching B movies on the sci-fi channel. I am going to make sure he gets that time. Of course it is really no different from any other day in his channel surfing afternoons, but this Sunday perhaps I will even watch the B movies with him and give him the ultimate gift…no complaining about the B movies he is watching on the sci-fi network. While it’s not really as snazzy as a silk robe accentuated with paisley, I have finally learned that the best gift is just being there…and letting my father be there as well…no matter how he chooses to celebrate the day.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone out there. Appreciate your dads - you never know how much longer you will have with them to teach you about the better parts of life, and to humor you when you give him gifts like silk, burgundy with paisley accented robes!

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:13:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Liturgical Design requires Prayer and Special Considerations
By Hugh J. McNichol *

When it comes to the design and architecture of a sacred space for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy there should always be considerable amount of time, consideration and prayer that is incorporated into making the decision. Additionally, if the Church is being "retro" renovated, perhaps to provide for an oversight in the building process, or modernization of an antiquated structure, or for that matter, the redesign of an overly modern space into something more traditional priests and people need to pay particular attention and respect to the architectural details and the proper context in which the Church was originally designed.

It has recently been noted in the secular press, (The News Journal of Wilmington) that Saint Cornelius Church in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania is undergoing a "liturgical" makeover. What that means is that this church, designed and built in the early 1990's, is receiving a transformation of sorts into a pre-Vatican II church. This is a change from its intended modern industrial design that was conceived by the original architect and parishioners when the building was constructed.

In its inception, Saint Cornelius Church in Chadds Ford was perhaps one of the finest examples of liturgical design that was heralded by the Second Vatican Council, and by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. The church reflected the needs of a living and growing parish community. There was a large baptismal font, a singular stone altar for the Eucharistic celebration, a chapel of the Blessed Sacrament completely apart from the active space of liturgical worship and a large area of plain white walls intended to focus the attention on the altar, around which the entire assembly was gathered.

Recently in the past few years, the space proper to the celebration of the Eucharist has received a refit, complete with catalogue ordered statues of Mary and Joseph, a raised platform to elevate the sanctuary, a dislocated and reworked tabernacle, a series of wooden partitions behind the altar and faux marble painting throughout the structure. A faux Florentine style crucifix has replaced a very well-detailed representation of Christ on the Cross, and local Philadelphia and American Saints are portrayed each in their own panel as additional distractions in a rather busy and now cluttered sanctuary.

When the Church was designed by Philadelphia architect George Yu, the space was intentionally designed to avoid visual noise around the Eucharistic Altar of Sacrifice. It is a magnificent stone altar that sat prominently in the sanctuary and clearly was the focus of all sacred celebrations. The presidents' chair was also placed on the same axis as the altar and the baptismal font and there was a clear indication that the Sacraments of Initiation placed at the entrance of the Church lead us to participation in the Eucharistic Celebration, with the Celebrant, the presiding minister directing the entire liturgy. The space was quiet, void of too much furniture or statues or images. The clear indication of the space reflected the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, two manners in which Christ Jesus reveals himself in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

One aspect of the Church that was unique was the lack of a physical tabernacle in the large body of the Church. The Blessed Sacrament was reserved in an atrium like area in a tabernacle that was starkly placed on a column. The area of reservation was accessible even if there was a Mass going on in the Church, people could spend meditative time with the Eucharistic Lord, without attending the celebration of the Eucharist. The space was clearly designed to accentuate the ancient tradition of the Church of reserving the Blessed Sacrament in an area for private prayer as well as a repository for the Eucharistic species, as well as Viaticum.

Today the Church has the tabernacle placed in the center of the sanctuary. The altar is surrounded with a raised floor, images of saints and statues have been introduced into the liturgical space and the entire Church has been redesigned to reflect a Catholic Church of long ago. Respect for the intrinsic design and function of the original structure has quite literally been lost…if not destroyed or to say the least vandalized by pastoral intentions to "warm" up the space.

The points that really need a consideration are these:

Should a parish community be allowed to redesign or retro fit its liturgical space without the counsel and direction of qualified architects, designers and artists?

Should sacred space be determined by at the discretion of the pastor?

What objective norms are used to determine this renovation?

Is there professional planning and design involved?

IWhat was or how was the space designed to function?

Of course, since 1991 this Church has seen quite a few changes to the liturgy. Even the American Conference of Bishops has expressed opposing points of view among themselves regarding the position and placement of the tabernacle in the Church. Traditionalists (namely architectural) have opposed Modernists (sometimes reactionary) throughout the history of ecclesial design and implementation.

However the real matter here is not one that concerns itself with traditional verses modernistic, but rather a question of artistic design and functional integrity for our most sacred of spaces, our Catholic Churches. My biggest concern is not simply that the liturgical space has been altered or amended. My greatest concern is by what objective and normative architectural, artistic and liturgical guidelines have these changes been made?

What would stop a parish pastor from making more changes again in 15 years? Perhaps we could lower the ceilings and Astroturf the sanctuary in 2020 if the latest pastor really feels this necessary!

Catholic parishioners need to pay careful attention to the activities that are going on in their parishes. While the bishop is the chief liturgical agent in a diocese, with the local parish pastor as his representative, parishioners should not just blindly let liturgical renovations happen without serious discussion and debate about the intended results. What I precisely mean by this is that while the bishop and priests of the parish are the theological and liturgical end points that decide the project under our Code of Canon law, parishioners need to acquaint themselves with the nature and scope of the project.

Factors that additionally need to be considered include the choice of artisans and craftsmen that are engaged to complete this renovation. If there are local craftsmen and artisans that are able to provide the parish community with quality artistic presentations, they really should be considered.

In our local area as well, there are numerous talented and trained artists and craftsmen that could provide idea-services to renovate a parish church. However I do believe that the integrity of a building’s design should be respected and preserved. For example, one would hope the columns of Bernini at Saint Peters in Rome, would not be replaced with arbitrary columns of concrete. It is the same way in a parish church, the design and architecture needs to work properly with the function of the celebration. If indeed there needs to be an inclusion of something missing (for example a centrally located tabernacle), that project should really be completed with the highest consideration and respect for the original design of the Church. Just plopping a tabernacle into the central praxis of the church is not the best esthetical practice. Nor would it help the situation to just randomly pick a tabernacle from stock, when a uniquely modern design was needed for the liturgical space. It would be akin to placing a Victorian sofa in a home surrounded with Chippendale chairs! The two just don't work together.

Finally, as always, we need to utilize the best design and materials that a parish can afford when they renovate, redesign or replace a sacred space. After all, we are talking about our liturgical expressions of prayer and sacraments destined to glorify almighty God. Only after careful prayer, planning and exceptional implementation should we be satisfied with offering our highest praise to God in our just as exceptional sacred spaces.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc

2008-06-19T06:12:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Enter, Rejoice, Recycle your paper consumables
By Hugh J. McNichol *

It is always rewarding to think that we are contributing to the legacy of a particular person, place or thing. As Catholics we have the obligation to contribute much more than a legacy to our descendents, we have the opportunity to join the Church in an enduring mission of both theological and ecological proportions. We have always been a Church that prided itself on good missionary and evangelization activities to those that have not yet experienced the faith. In the 21st century we are being called upon to spread a similar message for God's creation, namely that the Catholic Church is eco-friendly and considers all of the resources God has placed on the planet as valuable parts of His Creation.

Over the past few months, the press has reported the interest of Benedict XVI in making the Vatican aware of what being, "green" means to the Church. The Paul VI audience hall is undergoing a transformation that will enable the building to lower costs of environmental systems, namely heating and air-conditioning with the inclusion of new solar fueled panels. Additionally, each papal trip that happens is a catalyst for the Bishop of Rome to have trees planted somewhere on the planet to reverse, or at least neutralize the "carbon-footprint" his trip has cased or at least generated. New trees provide a restored method of replenishing natural sources that might have been used to provide support for any papal trip (e.g. Air travel, use of gasoline etc.). This movement is to say the least an exceptional example of the Church's ability to raise global awareness about the precious nature of all of earth's natural resources. It is also a pivotal topic that will help the Church's evangelization efforts and humanitarian aid projects as it recognizes the truly universal need for a positively sustained natural environment.

What can the local parish community do to achieve conformity with the global movement towards eco-friendly communities? Well for the most part it can contribute quite a bit, starting with just a few small things. My parish community, Saint John the Beloved has instituted a program of recycling around the parish campus. Throughout the parish buildings there are containers to hold discarded paper products that can be recycled. I have for quite a long time thought that parish communities generated quite a bit of paper and they should be encouraged to conserve on this resource. The parish's plan to raise awareness of the need to recycle is great.

Our Catholic schools are perfect places to begin projects of environmental conservation. Not only can we have a paper drive that raises needed funds for parish and school activities, the classroom is the perfect environment to teach eco-sensitive subjects as part of our religion and science classes. The unique blend of science and religion can equally apply principles of ecology and salvation history all in the same lesson. After all the writings of Teilhard DeChardin, S.J. provided us with a primer of cosmological integration with theology and religion, we can attribute the earth sciences to the manifestation of Genesis' stories as well.

Frequently we look to examples of individuals that best express our common beliefs in eco-sensitivity. We don't need to recall Gandhi, or any other colorful figure from the American ecological movement. We really only need to look to the life and image of Saint Francis for an example of an ecological Catholic. St. Francis looked at the world around him as a treasury of God's gifts and resources. We in the 21st century as well, need to extol St.Francis' simplicity of life and his desire for organic living in our own lives. In all aspects of our spiritual and temporal lives, perhaps we need to begin living in a less ostentatious manner, stop brutally consuming natural resources and begin to view all of the earthly creation around us as a finite and special gift that reflects the bountiful goodness of God's majestic creation. Catholics, Moslems, our Jewish cousins and everyone else that share this planet…need to slow down, recycle and replenish the resources we consume daily. It is not only good spiritually; it is good globally…after all the Earth is the only planet God created for us his human creatures.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:11:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
The Modern need for Transfiguration of place and time
By Hugh J. McNichol *

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Feast of the Transfiguration, namely because the feast is really underappreciated and examined in our harried and busied 21st century lives. The celebration is really the zenith point in Jesus' earthly ministry, whereas Jesus is actually transformed by the power of the Father and offers us believers an anticipated view of the glory of the Resurrection.

There is a lot going on here with Jesus on Mount Tabor. Jesus is actually revealed in the fullness of his humanity and divinity by the power of the Father and we are witnesses to the transformation of Jesus into the embodiment of the God/Man as the physical embodiment of the Deity. God's light shines in Jesus Christ and the light brightens the world and our cognitive reality of what it means to be forever changed through our faith in the life of the Father. Just as Jesus' natures of God/Man are fully revealed, our own humanity meets the life of God through the sacramental transformation of Jesus' body and blood into the sacred Body and Blood that sustains all of us in our Catholic Sacramental life and journey. Bread and wine are transformed into Body and Blood and God Himself gives us God Himself as the embodiment of his love.

Transfiguration for Jesus is a metanoia, a complete and remarkable change that allows Him to offer Himself fully to the process of transfiguration, that is freely and without any reservations. As Catholic Christian believers, we sometimes have a difficult time with freely and fully offering ourselves to the Father in order to be transformed. We are afraid of what will happen to us if we abandon ourselves to prayer and allow ourselves to be transformed into a new creation. Part of the difficulty arises with the fact that we are not quite comfortable in yielding up our entire essence of existence to an unknown God, so we might be recreated in a glorified form. However we do this every time we participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we offer our most intimate selves to the power of Jesus' unconditional beliefs in the Father's love, mercy and power and through his offering of himself to God, and we are also transformed through bread and wine, Body and Blood into participants in God's life and light. This process of offering ourselves to Christ, who in turn offers us to the Father, is the perpetual transfiguration that happens in our lifelong process of transfiguration and conversion. Each time we partake of Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharist, God is again and again transforming us through his divine love.

If this process of metanoia and conversion is such a positive experience for the life of the Catholic through our sacramental participation, why is it so difficult to experience? It seems that part of the human condition we call sin keeps us from committing ourselves fully to the life, light and love the Father offers us through Jesus Christ. Our nature as finite human beings sometimes does not lend itself to the positive development of a totally trusting and open relationship with each other and God. This I suppose is the direct result of the transgressions of Adam and Eve, original sin, which while forgiven through Baptism still partially obscures our objective comprehension of the Father's love and mercy. In a sense, while it is forgiven, we never fully recover from the effects of original sin and wage an internal and external battle with its results throughout our entire faith inspired lives. However the Eucharist offers us a source that assists us in our constant progression towards the light of the Father's love in so far as it offers both nourishment and participation…even for just a brief moment in the life of the Father.

We also participate in a material sort of Transfiguration when we enter into our Catholic Churches, our Sacred Spaces that permit us to "go aside" from the secular world and spend time in the kairotic or grace filled world of God through our sacramental rituals. One of the main reasons, I believe that we are constantly looking for a better form of our expression of faith is our desire to build churches that offer us a "sacred place" in which we might transform and be transformed through our ritual actions and sacramental observations as Catholics. Simply put, our physical Church buildings are themselves a lasting example of our desire to achieve a personal and ontological transfiguration which brings us closer to God. That is why it is critical for us as Catholics, and as faithful believers to design, build and maintain great places of worship that evoke both God's life and His mystery in our ecclesial buildings.

The 20th century embodiment of our Catholic Churches neglected wholly or in part to appreciate this deeply seated theological pursuit of an appreciation of God's sacred light and life. Maybe that's why we lost a strong sense of the sacred in our Church buildings and architecture, God's life was secularized through our inclusion of secular art and architecture in our Churches, our sacred buildings became merely gathering places for religious activities. What we need in our Catholic life in this new millennium is a restoration of a sense that God's light and life is inexplicit ably powerful and consumes all of our human senses with our inability to adequately describe and illustrate our place of Transfiguration, our local Catholic Churches. Frequently when I write about issues and Catholic issues specifically, the entire notion of renewal and Transfiguration always comes to mind. As a practicing Catholic I am convinced that the renewal of the Catholic Church in the United States and the world will be successful only if we have a personal and institutional transfiguration that identifies us Catholics as a people set apart, just like on Mount Tabor and are willing and desire a complete Transfiguration of our Catholic identity to a participation in God's sacred life and light.

During the past few years there have been many attempts in the American Catholic Church to rekindle the Catholic sense of the sacred in our liturgical art and ecclesial architecture. In particular, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin comes most clearly to mind, as a place where the sacred life of God and the tangible human expression of faith meet in one place. This magnificent church is intended as a place of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over the world to experience the majesty and solitude of Mount Tabor, and at the same time is infused with Catholic expressions and signs of our faith and sacramental love. Initially, this project was conceived by Archbishop Raymond Burke, now Archbishop of Saint Louis. The project is still under construction and the plans are still evolving around how this Catholic Church might serve as a catalyst for personal and institutional conversion and transfiguration.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin is in this author's opinion a significant undertaking of resources all directed toward a prayerful reemergence of our Catholic social image and institutional commitment to not only prayer and sacraments, but to the ongoing call to Catholic conversion and Transfiguration towards a deepening understanding of the Church's Sacraments, it's Mission and it's global Ministry.

Ideally, if we as a Catholic community of faith are inspired to transfigure the collective beliefs of the secular world, then we should begin with the place so important and sacred to us, our Catholic Churches of worship. It is really critically essential that we design and build Catholic Churches to reflect, not only our artistic and cultural heritage as Catholics, but churches that resonate our daily need for reflective and prayerful places in which to worship. It seems that the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine encapsulates these motives most correctly and with great artistic detail. If indeed, the Catholic evangelization of the world is going to effectively occur, then we need to ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit in our sacred spaces, our Churches, which are our temporal Mount Tabors. The Transfiguration of the Lord not only implies a conversion of heart and mind, but also manifests a conversion of place and time through which we can celebrate and meditate on the Sacred Mysteries of our faith.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:11:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Quamdiu Domine?
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Saint Augustine - one of the greatest teachers, bishops and doctors of the Church. He was a prolific writer, a deep thinker and an avid sinner in his early days that really needed the grace of God's conversion. St. Augustine was the poster boy for high living and the party life in his the days of his youth and St. Monica his mother, added quite a few gray hairs to her head chasing him around and praying for his conversion. This is the simple beauty of the whole story. Augustine, wrapped up in all kinds of things that were contrary to the Catholic moral life and the message of the Gospels is an excellent example of the process that conversion often takes. While he was a member of the faith at an early age, his baptismal commitments really just gathered dust while he "found" himself in all types of illicit activities. But the power of God's conversion is persistent and powerful. Often when writing I allude to the famous example of, "Tolle lege, Tolle lege!" in explanations of the conversion of Augustine. Simply said, the phrase means, "Take and read, take and read!" which was the prompting Augustine received to read Sacred Scripture and begin the cathartic journey of his radical conversion. It was a subtle manner in which the power of God reached Augustine, through the words of children chanting a nursery rhyme. In the same manner, the call to conversion today takes simple forms that are not contained in verbose readings of long documents or extensive dissertations…the power of God's Word comes to us in subtle messages, through actions of others, in simple phrases and activities in our daily lives.

So often we are always looking for the theological metanoia of Saint Paul, or Saint Augustine or any of the other great saints that had a historically dramatic incident that led to their conversion. However God's Word works constantly through the natural activities and events that surround us everyday. The next time one looks for a radical transformation, perhaps it will be found in a few verses of Sacred Scripture, in the observations of a young child, or in the sage advice of a grandparent or even in the chance meeting of a stranger. The point is, God's call to conversion takes multiple forms and shapes, and we never know when God will strike.

Another final point is the power of constant prayer. Saint Monica was always running around praying, badgering, and checking up on Augustine. Today we would give her the title of Patroness of Pests as well in addition to all of her other great titles. However, her perseverance and deep faith in the power of God's grace kept her going in both her own life, and in her prayers for the conversion of Augustine. I am quite certain Saint Monica also uttered the words that Augustine cried out, "Quamdieu Domine , Quamdieu Domine! (How long Lord, How long Lord!)

The response given back to Augustine and most likely to Monica as well was, “Tomorrow and tomorrow!” That is really the way it is with God, He works on his own timeframe of theological transformation, not ours. So however long it takes our own journey of salvation will often echo the calls of the saints…How long Lord, How long Lord? In our good faith we should savor and appreciate the response of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow!"

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Papist...a rallying cry!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

I have been called a lot of things in my 47 years, however the phrase, "Papist," is perhaps the nicest one right after being called a "Catholic."

It seems there are many Catholics that are starting to "come around" to the spirit of the new evangelizing of Benedict XVI.

What is really reassuring is simply this, there is nothing really new in this phase of evangelization, it is really all included in Gaudium et Spes and Lumen Gentium. It just happens that there are generations of Catholics that have never really become familiar with the Council's documents and their long term applications.

The power of the Holy Spirit is amazing in the fact that you never quite know when, how and where the ecumenical spirit will hit. It seems that after 40 years of trying to come to an understanding of Vatican II, Catholics are receiving a refresher course in the spirit of the Council from the actions and teachings of Benedict XVI.

Earlier in the month, I noted how Vatican II was still alive and present in our Catholic Church. While it seems that Vatican II was intended as a replacement for the pre-Council Church it was really a vehicle for reformation of the pre-Council Church. What I specifically mean by this is that Vatican II really never intended to replace the doctrinal aspects of the Council of Trent, it really intended to reform the reformers, and make Church life more appealing to the modern world.

In all of this updating and reforming, it is slowly becoming evident that the primacy of the Bishop of Rome is a belief that is strongly reestablishing itself throughout the Catholic world. Vatican II did focus on the hierarchy and its relationship to the People of God, those fully incorporated into the faith, those less than fully incorporated into the faith, the non-Christians, the non-believers and the atheists. However in the post-Council years it seems that our entire Catholic concept of hierarchy is beginning to reestablish the Bishop of Rome as the central teaching focal point for a global Church, now rooted in a new global evangelization.

Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Church was still in the reactionary mode of the Council of Trent. Now it seems that the Church, quite realistically has gotten over the Reformation and the subsequent...anathemas lodged against the reformers and heretics and the rest. In the spirit of Vatican II, we tried an ecumenical approach and tried to distinguish all types of "degrees of incorporation" into the Catholic Church, and tried to be the most politically correct in our descriptions.

Now it seems that the era of ecumenical political correctness is over and the Holy See is not only reaffirming the directives of the Council of Trent, but it is very precisely extrapolating on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council since the dust has settled in the past four decades. That does not mean we are in a period of returning to a Church that is anti-ecumenical, anti-Jewish, anti-Islamic or anti-anything. It appears that the Church and its papal leadership is beginning to affirm Catholic primacy as the legitimate and logical heir to salvation history, and is ramping up its membership campaign.

For decades we have as a Church tried in the spirit of ecumenism and ecumenical brotherhood tried to provide a sort of theological melting pot for everyone that was just a bit...well, put off by our papist roles and rituals. Finally, after years of minimizing our liturgical rituals and hierarchical beliefs the Pontifex Maximus is once again flexing the papal vocal chords and teaching in a defined, clear and Catholic manner and message. Benedict XVI clearly understands that the future of the Church's development in the modern world is the strong evangelizing of new believers and followers in a world that is increasingly attacked by secular humanism, and Islam. If in fact the Catholic Church intends to be a theocentric player on the global world stage, then our beliefs and unique Catholic identity needs to be proclaimed.

It is no longer an issue that Catholics and other Christian denominations have philosophical and theological differences. It appears that Benedict XVI is holding out a papal olive branch to all of these groups with his ardent desire for continued dialogue; however our Catholic dialogue seems to be strongly supportive of maintaining Catholic identity and dignity. The papal teachings are not indicting non Catholics as heretics and non believers, but rather as groups of faithful followers that have strayed a bit from the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic family.

The rhetoric that reaffirms all of our Catholic beliefs, and the re institution of a liturgy that reaffirms our Catholic Roman identity are positive moves that clearly indicate being, "Catholic" is a good and positive thing.

Not only is being Catholic a good and positive thing...having a Pope as the central spokesman for theological truths and teachings is also a good thing and for us Catholics the greatest thing that we have realized over the past 500 or so years since the Reformation. Trent, Vatican I and Vatican II have not changed anything, but rather have clarified and solidified the true importance and value of the ministry of the Prince of the Apostles. Each time the Pope reaches out to the four corners of our global village and makes a proclamation, it's purpose is to reignite a new evangelizing movement that pivots the future life of the Catholic Church against religious extremism and political zealots throughout the world.

Papist, I am! Catholic, I am! Newly inspired towards evangelizing, yes...not because the Catholic Church is always right...but because it is on the right path towards global realization of theological and philosophical unity against threats of Islamic and political extremism!

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:09:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Happy Saint Norbert Day!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

June 6th is usually remembered in the United States as the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Europe during the Second World War. However the date usually has a more important meaning for me, it is the feast day of Saint Norbert. Having experienced the Norbertine influence as a high school student, and during my seminary years (they staff my home parish of Saint Gabriel in Philadelphia) the qualities of the community have greatly influenced my perception of life and faith.

The Canons Regular of Premontre, (O.Praem) have a long history within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The former Southeast Catholic, Bishop Neumann, Saint John Neumann High School was staffed by this community throughout its existence. Many students from this high school remember the familiar Norbertine Fathers from DePere, Wisconsin that taught for decades and were a central part of life in South Philadelphia. Often these priests glided through the halls of the high school or throughout the neighborhoods in their distinctive white habits. In Philadelphia, the community still staffs Saint Gabriel and Saint Edmund Parishes.

What most people never quite realize is that the Norbertine community is one of the most ancient orders in the Church. Founded by Saint Norbert in 1120. Saint Norbert was later the Archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany. The community follows the Rule of Saint Augustine with modifications added by Saint Norbert. Saint Norbert was a friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Norbertine community was greatly influenced by Cistercian ideals of life and community government. From the earliest days of the community, they have been involved in the works of preaching, pastoral ministry and education.

The Premonstratensians are also the first community in the Church to have a branch of their community that is devoted to a lay ministry. The Third Order of the Premonstratensians is a lay order that incorporates the precepts of Saint Norbert and the Augustinian rule into a ministry for laypersons. They life and work in the secular community, but are professed to live the Norbertine manner of community prayer and pastoral service. The local Abbey of the Norbertines is Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pa.
Today the Norbertine Community spreads around the world but on a local level in addition to pastoral responsibilities, they staff Archmere Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, provide hospital ministry at Mercy Catholic Medical Center and offer educational and spiritual exercises at Daylesford Abbey.

One aspect of the Order that is usually not known is their great devotion to the Eucharist. The importance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and its proper celebration is so important that they have their own Norbertine Rite for the celebration of Mass. In addition to this rite, the Norbertine Fathers are known for their unique form of Gregorian Chant during the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Of course as a Bishop Neumann High School graduate, I am uniquely indebted because they provided me with a great religious education in terms of theology and example. Many Norbertine Fathers were greatly influential in my personal and academic life.
Thank you for a great example of religious community and Catholic lifestyle.

Happy Feast of Saint Norbert Day! The Norbertine Community continues the vision of Saint Norbert into the 21st century.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:09:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
The Elderly Among Us...Great Resources of Recalling our Faith and Catholic Identity!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

The topic of the elderly in society immediately draws my mind to a place of positive memories of my grandparents, great-grandparents and even my great-great grandmother. I was extremely fortunate to have experienced these individuals in my life. They were and are sources of inspiration that defines the texture of the fabric of society. The elderly among us are vast resources of knowledge, experiences and insights that should be cherished by all of us. After all, we are all potentially members of the silver-haired gentry that will hopefully contribute more pleasant memories of our generation to future posterity. The role of the elderly in our modern society is usually misconstrued as one that is antiquated as well as unrelated to modern experiences. As is the case, most of our elderly are considered to be rusting relics of times gone by. This critical lack of understanding and appreciation for our senior brothers and sisters really provides a denial point of our own humanity as well as our own mortality.

We as a society need to revere and comprehend the elderly in society, not as persons that are no longer viable in mind and body; but as a national resource that is to be actively engaged for their expertise and opinions. After all, whatever activity in which we are involved today, they have done. These ladies and gentlemen are the senior sages on which the foundations of our modern life and industry are built. The elderly in our society have persevered through two world wars, the rise and fall of communism, the construction and destruction of the Berlin Wall as well as the arrival and demise of the Beatles. Our elderly ran the spectrum of all age groups as they fought in global conflicts, experimented with the Hula-hoop, protested the Vietnam War in the sixties and endured the leisure suit. Not only have they persisted and endured but survived social, economic and political upheaval but surprisingly lived to tell the tale. During their lifetimes, in addition to dealing with a chaotic and changing world, they had time to raise families, provide college education for their children and continue civilized life for all of us to appreciate and understand. Their counsel should not be taken lightly. Their experiences are the equivalent of platinum ingots to those of us still striving to senior stage of our lives. We forget they were there when Kennedy was shot, man landed on the moon and Woodstock retreated into a muddy, distant memory. The elderly in our society taught us how to laugh, live, work, worship and love throughout all types of experiences and occupations, from the blue-collar worker to the Wall Street wizard. They quite simply were younger versions of ourselves with the same hopes, dreams and aspirations for themselves and their families.

When I think of the collective experiences that my grandparents encountered it overloads my mind. They worked hard, provided for their families and gave all of us the future we now call the present. The issue is how we can help these now gentle mavericks of society enjoy full inclusion in our modern society. The elderly are pillars of society. We should do all that is possible to enhance their lives and preserve their experiences. Simple things will accomplish this goal. Sit with World War II era seniors. Ask them about life during that time; get them to explain their lives and experiences during this chaotic period of history. Have them identify individuals in old photos, recount their life experiences, record them, photograph them and write it down. You are dealing with living history. When they are gone, the photographs will remain nameless faces of times and events gone by.

Foster your children and grandchildren to get to know someone that is now elderly. Ask them to teach your children about their lives, as well as have your children teach Grand mom and Grand pop how an iPod works, and how to burn a CD. Believe me the elderly can tell everyone about that vinyl disk we used to call an LP.

Educate a child that growing old is the natural progression of being human. We will all get to be the silver-haired fox hopefully with the right mentors as our guides. And finally in our society we need to show appreciation for the elderly in our society in some small manner. It could be opening a door, helping out with a heavy package or not using profanities when following a senior on the highway. Check on seniors that live alone, and invite them to share a meal with your family. We will all be in their places at some point in our lives. When we come to appreciate their lives and experiences, our own appreciation of what is important will focus our views through their eyes. Remember the elderly in our society have not only traveled the road on which we drive...they built it.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:08:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Just say, YES to God and turn off all of the gadgets!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Over the past few weeks, I have been quite busy, reading some books for reviews, developing new topics to write about, working at a normal job and trying to be a father, a husband and all in all just a human being. The last point brings me specifically to my point today. Juggling all of these things makes it very difficult for Catholic human beings to be well grounded in time for faith, family and work obligations…not to mention time for relaxation and rejuvenation. Perhaps this is part of the foundational issues of why as a society we don't always seem to be well inclined towards becoming a kinder, gentler and Catholic society. When you watch the morning news, even at 5:00 am, the roads are filled with people making their commute to work, in the course of overnight there are additional political tensions in the Middle East, domestic issues include wildfires in California, the perpetual campaign for the White House in 2008 and again lead contamination in products from the Peoples Republic of China.

On a daily basis I have noticed that the work day is becoming longer, people are making less money, their jobs are tenuous because of the developing global economy and there is a trend towards overall secularization in every aspect of our modern society. With that said, I suppose it is time to recognize that as faithful Catholics who are always aware of the dignity of life and the importance of the nature of the human person need to step back and say, “stop!” Is the lifestyle that we are developing in our global society making any contributions to the overall increase in the quality of our human appreciation of life!?

The theological journey that we try to integrate in all of our lives is being smothered by all of the instant technologies and communications methods that we employ on a daily basis to make our lives more productive, more efficient and more effective. As a matter of fact, our lives are becoming so much more productive that Americans are working more, resting less, vacationing even less and less each year and as a direct result of all of this productivity are getting deeper in debt, heavier in weight and more medicated for stress, sleep and blood pressure disorders. Where and when are we going to slow down and savor the magnificence of God's creation that is our true inheritance?

Perhaps we need to start with setting limits. Having been a technological type of guy for the past 30 years it is hard for me to turn off my cellular phone, silence my Blackberry, shut down my email and turn off my instant messaging. However in order to just get a few minutes to compile my thoughts and communicate with my God and my inner soul. Even in Church people are talking on their cellular phones, instead of praying with the Eucharistic Lord. What is so critically important that the Creator of the Universe needs to take second place to a cellular phone call about inane topics and mundane concerns? Let's wake up, smell the coffee and realize that our own spiritual and sacramental integrity is being compromised by the technologies that claim to make our lives more enjoyable. Perhaps the real immorality at work here is that our aspiring human nature is becoming enslaved with technological gadgets that entrap us and divide us from the pursuit of a spiritual life.

Please don't get me wrong…technological innovations since the Second World War have revolutionized the entire way we live and work on planet earth. However maybe it is time to find the, "off-button" with some or all of these technologies and take back some human solitude to our lives. When there are signs at the entrances to our churches that remind Catholic worshipers, "Please turn off your cellular phones!" we need to step back and take a deep breath of reality and say…enough! If you are on your way to Church, turn off the phone, the car radio, the appendage called an I-pod and develop a sense of prayer and sacred anticipation for the Eucharistic Mystery you are about to celebrate.

Then take a moment to engage in a uniquely human aspect of life…face to face conversation with all of your brothers and sisters in Christ before, during and after the Eucharistic liturgy. I promise that if you turn off the cellular extension of your life, you will enjoy becoming reacquainted with God and your fellow Catholic believers in faith. Perhaps if you permit all of the technological static to remain off for a while, the prayerful silence and quiet of the Holy Spirit will return to all of our hearts and direct all peoples back to a path that leads to a kinder, gentler and more sacred society with human life and dignity as the main concern and universal peace as the global goal.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:08:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Developing Catholic artistic quality!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

In July of this year, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is set to be dedicated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The project has been underway for quite some time, under the patronage of Archbishop Raymond Burke of Saint Louis. Archbishop Burke began the project prior to his transfer from the Diocese of La Crosse to Saint Louis. The construction project is a remarkable endeavor that includes all sorts of artisans and artists from around the United States, and incidentally, quite a few from the Philadelphia area. The Church is designed by the architect Duncan Stroik and incorporates traditional representations of Catholic art and architecture in the design. Most obvious in this Church is the fact that it looks like a Catholic Church and incorporates Catholic signs, symbols and images crafted by contemporary American artists that specialize in Sacred Art as the mainstay of their artistic careers.

The monumental shrine utilizes the materials of permanence that one would expect in a Catholic Church. This edifice is built to last, with arched columns, marble floors and a quarried stone exterior. Some of the noted projects include notable plasterwork of columns, pilasters, cherubs all created by Felber’s Studios in Norristown, Pa.

An artist from the Brandwine Valley, Neil Carlin, is painting original artwork of Saint Gianna Molla, Blessed Miguel Pro, Saint Therese and Saint Peregrine.

The Philadelphia connection continues with artist Noah Buchanan responsible for the paintings of Saint Maria Goretti and the Divine Mercy.

Painter Brett Edenton, educated in the Philadelphia area, now living in New York is the artist that portrays three Venerables for the Church’s lower narthex. They depict Bishop Baraga, Solanus Casey, OFM and a Dominican priest and architect Fr.Mazzuchelli.
Anthony Visco of Philadelphia did the Stations of the Cross, the 4 Angels mounted on the baldicchino, the four pendentives surrounding the dome of the Shrine and the narthex ceiling that portray, “The Visions of Guadalupe.”

Finally two other local connection professionals should be mentioned as well, Chris Smith, a Philadelphia sculptor completed the symbols of the Virgin Mary in a relief that surround the nave of the Church and the heraldic shields that surround the altar’s baldicchino.

Duncan Stroik is the architect and overall designer of the shrine. He was born in Philadelphia.

With such great local artistic representation in LaCrosse, Wisconsin it makes me once again raise the question…why aren’t we making use of these accomplished craftsmen and artists in our Philadelphia Catholic Churches? Why do they need to travel to the Midwestern United States to have their creations installed and admired? Finally, why are we not building Catholic Churches of similar materialistic and artistic quality in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas? It seems while the shifting demographics of Catholicism in the Northeast are causing the closing, merging, and consolidation of many parishes and Catholic Churches, we are still mired in the habits of designing and building structures for Catholic worship that are merely utilitarian in their purposes and intended not to reflect artistic quality and architectural quality.

Developing Catholic artistic quality!The Catholic Church historically is the leader in the construction of high quality Churches that will endure for many generations. However, in the past forty years or so, the Catholic Churches built locally are little more than consecrated bus stops that offer no physical space of transcendence or institutional permanence. This type of squandering of material resources that permits our Catholic Churches to look like Protestant houses of worship need to stop. Our Catholic Church is the deposit of too many artistic and architectural heritages to allow our Churches to reflect the transitory and minimalist presence of architectural modernism and secularism.
Archbishop Burke seems to understand the fact that the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe represents an opportunity for American Catholics to shatter the artistic complacency that has been forced on Catholics since the Second Vatican Council. It is indeed the right time to design, build and successfully maintain Catholic Churches of material quality that provide a legacy for future Catholic generations.

If we have learned, anything from the pontificate of John Paul II is the great emphasis he placed on the need for the development of quality artistic accessories for our Catholic Churches and sacred liturgies. Noticing the same theme, Pope Benedict as well has also indicated the strong need to provide artistic and liturgical continuity with our Catholic spiritual and artistic heritages. I am looking forward to watching the continued completion of the Shrine in La Crosse, Wisconsin because it gives all American Catholics the opportunity to experience an identifiable Catholic Church constructed with quality and attention to details. In the meanwhile, locally our Catholic parishioners need to pay close attention to the great resources of artisans and artisans that reside here and provide them with opportunities to sanctify our local Catholic Churches with their vocational works of Sacred Art.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Catholics, we need to remember to be on time
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Punctuality is a character trait that seems to be sorely missing with peoples of all generations. People are perpetually running late. I have this policy of a fifteen minute lead time when I go to an event. At Church, it is best to get there early. God knows you don't want to struggle for the best pew.

It sounds funny, but lateness is a global pandemic.

For example, if you were going to see Madonna in concert, you would not arrive late - you might miss some of her antics. Why then are we late for Mass, Sacraments and religious educational classes? Perhaps there is a sublime message of malcontent at work here. Being late tells people around us that we are not especially content with what's on the program for the day.

“Church is not really that important.” “I'll get there for the Gospel.” “Parking is easier and I won't have to listen to the readings!” It is amazing that people think that. In contrast, if you watch Action News on a Sunday morning they usually cover the "tailgaters" waiting for the Eagles' game.

The boob tube is filled with images of people laughing it up, cooking it up and yucking it up...just to be early for the tossing of a pigskin elliptical object.

Perhaps the solution is tailgating at Church. It's better than being late! You can be there for the kickoff of the Mass, you won't lose your seat and when it’s time for communion the lines won't be long.

Anyhow, you can see where this is going.

Common courtesy is central to the practice of our common Catholic faith. That means...BEING ON TIME.

When was the last time the 9:00 Mass started at 9:16. Be real. The celebrant is there. The altar servers are there. The candles are burning. We need to "be there" to properly worship with the Church community.

Lateness is an epidemic that spreads to undermine the success of our solitude with God. It's rude to your fellow Catholics. It conveys the message that, "this is not that important to me." Well, guys and girls, it's not always about YOU. Grow up and burst the bubble that isolates you from everyone else. The next time you pause in prayer to God, instead of Him being there, He might just be late.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:06:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Catholic bishops deserve, "respect, obedience and good counsel," not journalistic criticism!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

The use of Catholic journalism to “bishop-bash!” is just plainly wrong. For that matter, the use of Catholic journalism in any “bashing” capacity is equally wrong. There are discussions that beg an answer to the question, “Can Catholics publically disagree with their bishops?” Well, my thoughts on the matter are very simply put, yes; Catholics have the right to disagree with their local bishops on matters that are not part of the Catholic deposit of faith. When it comes to administrative activities or any activities that pertain to the proper administration of assets of a diocese, there should involve some degree of praise and criticism of the bishop’s handling of administrative affairs.

The Catholic Church, regardless of the perspective one wishes to view, maintains and administers not only a spiritual community of Catholic believers, it also has the responsibility of efficiently managing a large infrastructure of facilities to accomplish the spiritual mission of the Church. It seems very clear that the role and responsibility of the bishop is to be a spiritual leader to the flock with which he is entrusted. However, Church canon law also entrusts the bishop with the proper disposition of the temporal materials that make up the Church’s other persona, namely a functional and administrative top-heavy conglomerate which includes real estate, properties, staff, vehicles and all of the concerns that go along with secular obligations. Frankly, this author believes most of our bishops would gladly abdicate responsibility for all of these things if given the choice of responsibilities. Most bishops with which I am familiar consider administration of temporal responsibilities a burden that is part of the package of being a Catholic bishop. Historically there are quite a few points that have led us into this role of secular administration for the Office of Bishop. Most notably, especially in the United States the difficulties experienced with lay trustees in the 19th century (especially the Hogan Schism, in Philadelphia) prompted the development of juridical safeguards written into the Code of Canon law to protect the temporal assets of the Church. Administration by individuals, especially non-clergy is still a concept that eludes the administrative structure of the Catholic Church, and in light of the litigious settlements against the Church in regards to the clergy sex scandal, this will not likely change in the immediate future.

However, it brings up the point again regarding the right of Catholic faithful to openly criticize and contradict their bishops when it comes to the proper administration of a diocese. Perhaps the course in this regard is to consider very keenly and carefully the position of honor as a Successor to the Apostles we give to our hierarchy. As a Catholic faithful, we believe the bishops of a local Church in union with the Successor of Saint Peter constitute the living embodiment of the sacramental and spiritual authority of the Catholic Church. In this sense, the most Catholic perspective we can take regarding our Successors to the Apostles is to unconditionally provide both respect and obedience to them when it comes to spiritual and moral matters of ecclesial concern. In terms of the administrative “hat” they unfortunately wear as part of their administrative responsibilities, we need to provide prayer, support and constructive counsel and criticism when it is appropriate. Bishop bashing…as it is called is never acceptable. For that matter, our Catholic principles of fellowship and our communal sense of responsibility needs to become more strongly at work here. As a community of believers, the bishop to make administrative decisions for the welfare of his diocese should use every method of advice and counsel and faithful entrusted to his care.

Unfortunately, not all administrative decisions made by our bishops are correct or cognitive of the desires of the community of the faithful. The sheer natures of the administrative responsibilities required of a diocesan bishop are indeed enormous. That is precisely the reason for consultative groups of both clergy and laity that are incorporated to advise the local Ordinary. If indeed any criticisms are lodged against the administrative effectiveness of a local bishop, they should always be considered in terms of disagreement associated with the temporal administration of the diocese and not a personal affront to the person of the bishop himself.

We have of course seen many instances of administrative questioning regarding the temporal activities of bishops. However, we need to support and guide all bishops in their temporal responsibilities by forming a consultative college of consultors that will appropriately advise and make temporal business recommendations that enable a bishop to focus on the responsibility of being a spiritual leader and not a corporate chief financial officer. As Catholics, we do not have the right to criticize the occupant of the local cathedra. We have the obligation and responsibility to help the bishop with all of the venues open to our disposal to assist the administrative and temporal running of a diocese. As a Church, we are still quite a long way from achieving this goal; we still have the baggage of Trusteeism in the 19th century, as well as the clergy scandal of the 20th century. However, as a faithful Church we are indeed making progress with the “deadministration” of the office of bishop and are starting to make positive inroads to sharing the temporal responsibilities. Most importantly rather than criticize our shepherds, we need to publically support and guide them in secular affairs…and free them up to be the High Priests and Successors to the Apostles that we believe they truly are. No bishop bashing, just constructive criticism offered in a spirit of respect and obedience in deference to their sacred responsibilities, often burdened with secular issues of confusion.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:06:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
A new dawn of Bonaventurian mysticism
By Hugh J. McNichol *

We do not frequently hear much about Saint Bonaventure. However, he is a noted Doctor of the Church and a pupil in the schools of Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Francis of Assisi. His writings have influenced the Scholastic age of the Church and perhaps the thoughts and pontificate of Benedict XVI. It seems the evolving papacy of Pope Benedict XVI is incorporating insights from Bonaventure into our modern Church, while at the same time emphasizing the need to develop global harmony.

If we consider the ministry of Benedict XVI since his canonical election, perhaps the phrase used to describe Saint Bonaventure by St. Francis of Assisi is most appropriate, “O buona ventura!” The good fortune exclaimed by Francis regarding Bonaventure is indeed good fortune for the life of the Universal Church. In Bonaventurian theology there is a great appreciation of the desire to achieve harmony and unity among disparate peoples, Christian’s contra Judaism, Platonists contra Neo-Platonist, and so on. In all of his writings and actions, Bonaventure maintained the notion that there is an evolution constantly developing in terms of human harmony. Benedict XVI it seems also advocates such a cosmology of thought.

In the pastoral activities of Benedict, the Church has witnessed the nascent dawn of the age of reconciliation and harmony, while rooted in Catholic tradition. However, it seems the papal epistemology of harmony concentrates very heavily on the teachings and lifestyle of Saint Francis of Assisi and the interpretations of Saint Bonaventure. So far, in the Benedictine papacy the movement towards ideological harmony and theological compromise is far from what was expected of Cardinal Ratzinger.

Benedict XVI has exhibited a paternal call to the great religions of the world to seek out and discuss common beliefs, called for restored conversations on Christian/Jewish and Christian/Islamic dialogues and has even sought to heal the great schism between East and West within our own Catholicism. His theological demeanor is a truly welcome approach to religious harmony and global peace and sanctification through a spiritual foundation based upon the transcendent law of Christian love as compared to an institutional formality of rites and rituals. Even in permitting the restored use of the Mass of Blessed John XXIII, the Holy Father seems to be indicating that there is indeed a sacramental unity that transcends ritual and that fact is what is critically important.

In the Bonaventure thought there is a stage of harmony and universal peace that takes place in the life of the Church. Truly, in our Catholic world we are experiencing a definitive message from the Successor of Saint Peter that calls the Catholic world, and indeed all peoples to an era of cooperation and understanding. O buona ventura! Benedict XVI indeed is a herald of the new age of restored humanity in the Holy Spirit.

*

Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. Hugh studied both philosophy and theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He writes daily at: http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://catholicsacredarts.com

Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com

Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

2008-06-19T06:05:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Holy Hermeneutics!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

We seem to always use large, foreign rooted words from Latin or Greek to make even the most basic matter complex and highly intellectual. When I hear the term hermeneutics, I think of the campy Batman television series that was popular in the 1960’s. The Boy Wonder, aka Robin would often come up with such exclamatory phrases such as “Holy hooligans Batman,” or “Holy High-Jinx,” or some other use of alliteration. Well I can just imagine the Boy Wonder using the term, “Holy Hermeneutics!” when describing the recent flurry of the revisiting of Vatican II by Benedict XVI.

Strictly speaking hermeneutics is a term derived from 'Ερμηνεύς, the Greek word for interpreter. The Greek word has the basic meaning of one who makes the meaning clear. Well, clarity is precisely what Benedict XVI hopes will be achieved as the Church reexamines the teachings and documents of the Second Vatican Council. Four decades have elapsed since the last ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, and four decades have passed without a reevaluation of the council’s core purpose and teachings. Now that we have passed all of the theological and liturgical “bumps” in the road, it is a great thing to reexamine the path we have been travelling.

One of the major concerns by the so called, “Traditionalists” in the Catholic Church is the introduction of the Novus Ordo of Paul VI as a liturgical discontinuity, which did not quite appreciate the organic development and historical significance of the Tridentine Liturgy. Anti-Novus Ordo followers keenly indicated that the new liturgy completely dissuaded the rituals and traditions of the former rite with a new form that was not really a representation of the axiom of “lex orandi, lex credendi.”

In the same manner, the advocates of the Novus Ordo of Paul VI were quick to realize that the document Gaudium et Spes, (The Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) seemed to indicate that the Catholic Church needed a dramatic change in its ritual form and function in order to be relevant to a changing modern society. As a result the comfortable and familiar Mass of Pius V, held so sacred since the Council of Trent was seen as the object of reform and not the object of organic growth and development. Out went Trent and in came Vatican II. Well now that all of the options and changes have been realized since 1970, perhaps the true meaning of the word, hermeneutics can be honestly reconsidered.

Hermeneutics is the study of the “true” or “clear” interpretation of a particular religious text and or event. With Vatican II out of the distance of the rear view mirror, perhaps now we can examine its intent and expectations with a more objective view.

My suggestion is that we look at the hermeneutics of Vatican II, not as an exercise that called for liturgical discontinuity, but rather a council that sought our hermeneutical reform. That is to say, the council fathers understood that there were things within the life and the liturgy of the Church that needed to be properly repaired, not entirely dissuaded. If we look at the council from the perspective of hermeneutical reform, the recent permission to permit the celebration of the Tridentine Rite makes sense. We’re trying to fix, not replace the issues. There are a lot of similar examples. For example, when my car needs new tires, I don’t replace the car. I replace the tires.

Vatican II perhaps overzealously replaced the liturgical automobile, without considering that the car might have just needed a new set of all weather radials. The liturgical automobile of Trent was still capable of transportation, however it was not as sleek, and fast, and new as the proposed convertible coupe of Paul VI. As human beings we do this with just about every material object we possess. Madison Avenue is always in pursuit of whiter teeth, fresher breath, brighter whites and longer lasting flavor in our chewing gum. Well 20th century Catholics quite honestly believed the marketing tactics of the Ecclesiastical Spin Doctors and purchased the new model. The old model was still perfectly functional, but not as desirable as the new model.

There might be an over simplification of this entire matter with these examples, but I don’t think we should not consider Vatican II as such a possibility.

I’m constantly hearing myself, and others around me talk about the better “old” things of their childhood. Old Coke was better than New Coke, penny candy was better than the fifty cents candy, sugar tasted better than Splenda and so on. Well, fifty percent of that discussion is correct. Some of the old things in our nostalgic appreciation of the past, were better. However there is another fifty percent that clearly indicates that the innovations of the late 20th and early 21st century are better as well.

The Tridentine Mass is no better or no worse than the Novus Ordo of Paul VI. Both forms are liturgical expressions of the Catholic Church’s appreciation of, lex orandi, lex credendi. Both forms have good points as well as bad points. However the main point is that we begin to hermeneutically see more clearly that the Fathers of Vatican II wanted to both fix and replace aspects of our Catholic faith that had nothing to do with doctrinal consistency, but the manner through which we express our doctrinal beliefs.

We should really not be polarized with the reintroduction of the pre-Vatican II liturgy. It is a perfect opportunity not only to appreciate the good points of the past, but also the good points of the present. Vatican II, while not perfect, was at least a true attempt to reform problems and not just discard them. We need to look at both sides of the event with hermeneutical clarity and not hermeneutical nostalgia.

Holy hermeneutics Batman! We just bought this new Batmobile!

*

2008-06-19T06:05:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Humane Vitae at 40!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

July 25 1968 was a significant event in the life of the Catholic Church throughout the world. Pope Paul VI released his encyclical, Humane Vitae on this day. The papal promulgation was revolutionary and not really expected by Catholics throughout the world, especially in the United States. The 1960’s were a decade of substantial political unrest, unsurpassed social experimentation in the areas of race relations and sexual identity and the whole world was in the midst of a global social revolution. Paul VI released on the global village, a reaffirmation of the Catholic Church’s teaching on birth control and the sanctity of human life as properly contained within the marital relationship. Any such revelation by the Church or Pope was unheard of in previous papal tenures and in Church history.

However, Humane Vitae proved to be controversial with the world’s Catholic population because some believers felt it was a form of Papal interference in the conjugal world of marital relationships and sexual activities.

On the whole, the document reaffirmed the Church’s teachings against artificial methods of birth control. In the 1960’s such a promulgation against the practical applications of pharmaceutical sciences was unheard of. Catholics throughout the world not only dismissed the doctrinal persuasions from the Catholic Church, but in some cases blatantly disregarded the Vatican’s teachings.

Today, 40 years since the proclamation of Humane Vitae, some Catholics throughout the world still consider this document as a controversial teaching by the Catholic Church that has faithful Catholics confused and confounded as they morally struggle with questions related to the procreation of human life and the Church’s ban against artificial methods of birth control.

What Humane Vitae has done however, has clearly stated the Universal Church’s unwavering position that defends all aspects of the sanctity of human life. Since the famous proclamation of Paul VI, the Church has increasingly become aware of the many aspects of life and death that characterize human life as we have come to know and understand it. Since that summer of 1968, scientific progress has revolutionized the way in which we view the examination of human life. The discovery of DNA and the double helix of Watson and Crick, the development of the destructive AIDS virus, the agony of Alzheimer’s and the perpetual questions surrounding human reproduction and development are joined with the teachings of Humane Vitae that made its debut in the summer of 1968. We as Catholics have come quite a long way since this monumental encyclical was released. However, the fact that all of the medical technologies and developments the world has experienced since 1968 shows clearly that Humane Vitae is still the consistent Catholic standard by which all moral and ethical decisions regarding the evaluation of the dignities of human life are measured. Humane Vitae transcends not only the turmoil of the radical 1960s but it defines and clarifies for Catholics and the world our unwavering values concerning the sanctity of human life. Humane Vitae preceded Roe vs. Wade, but still applies to the moral injustice and intrinsic evil contained in abortion and that horrific decision to legalize the act by the United States Supreme Court. However the doctrinal clarity associated with Humane Vitae can only today be fully appreciated and understood. The document clearly defines the obligations of conjugal love as procreation and the education of children. There is no other manner of interpretation. Forty years since this declaration the Church still proclaims a special mandate towards the development of mutual love between a married couple and the openness to the procreation of children as an activity that is paramount to the proper relationship between a man and a woman, a husband and a wife, a Church and Her Spouse. Regardless of the changing world and its technological wonders the Church has consistently advocated and defended human life against all adversaries, in all of their forms that have tried to undermine and destroy human capacity to procreate and flourish in the human condition.

This consistency and continuity of Catholic moral teaching regarding the sanctity of human life and the sacred union between a man and a woman clearly testifies to the fact that the Catholic Church promotes a living and vibrant faith that is firmly rooted in the human family and the awesome appreciation for the remarkable gift of human life that we hold so precious and special.

Humane Vitae might have been written 40 years ago but the message of respect for the human person, the marital relationship, the family life and the respect for the essential dignity of all human life is still clearly heard throughout the world by all types of believers, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other sects as well daily testify to the world and each other that human life is indeed sacred…and should be always and everywhere preserved and defended.

*

2008-06-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Always know your sacramental options
By Hugh J. McNichol *

In the United States, the permission of the Holy See was received in June of 1977 to permit the reception of, “communion in the hand.” Since that time it has always been a legitimate manner and option to receive the Eucharistic species in this way. Prior to the permission of the Holy See, the only permissible manner of reception of Holy Communion in the United States was to receive the Sacred Species on the tongue.

When granting the permission to allow reception in the hand, the Holy See was emphatic that the choice to receive communion “on the tongue” should not be compromised. Namely, that the faithful would exercise a choice for the reception of communion by either stretching out their hands, or opening their mouths to receive Eucharist. The greater concern however is the lack of appropriate education for all of the faithful regarding their legitimate option to choose their method of reception.

Recently, my daughter was the recipient of her First Communion. Throughout the entire educational process and preparation for the reception of Eucharist, I asked my daughter if she had the option to receive her first communion on her tongue. Consistently, her response was in negative to this question. It seems that they (the first communicants) are not given the option to choose the method of reception of Communion and that the method of receiving communion on the tongue is never explained and never offered as an option to first communicants. While popular method has clearly gravitated towards reception of Eucharist in the hand over the last twenty-five years in the United States, I am certain it was never intended to dismiss the former method with the Holy See’s permission.

The lack of choice and the lack of education towards offering the faithful legitimate freedom to choose is the primary concern here. Frequently those educated in the Catholic faith are asked if they believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. On a quite regular basis, the response is surprising…young Catholics increasingly believe that Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is symbolic. Perhaps part of the problem that confronts faithful believers in the Real Presence is the lack of proper catechesis by religious educators as to what exactly the Church believes about this matter. Compounding the problem the laze-faire dismissal of reception of Communion on the tongue is viewed as wrong and no longer an option. This lack of correct education regarding legitimate options that might be exercised by the faithful not only helps to exacerbate the misconception in “Real Presence,” it advances such doctrinal error. While it is not this author’s intention to advocate any preference for the methods of the reception of Eucharist, it is the author’s intention to raise the question loudly…about the options. Children and indeed all of the faithful in areas of the world with the appropriate ecclesiastical approbation should have the right of choice. Reception of Holy Communion in the United States is permitted either in a person’s hand, or on the tongue. The lack of education regarding the options to receive is suspicious. It appears that if the option to receive Communion on the tongue is suppressed by educators it de facto ceases to exist and Communion in the hand becomes the sole norm.

As Catholics in the 21st century, we need to concern ourselves with this misinterpretation of the option offered to Catholics. If we continue to permit incorrect education regarding the valid exercise of permissible options in this matter, we contribute to an increased understanding of the Real Presence. The matter involves more than a human tongue or hand; it involves deeply seated beliefs regarding respect and honor for the Eucharistic Lord. For my part, I explained to my daughter the existence of both options for Eucharistic reception. I want her to be an informed and educated believer that expresses her faith freely, and not under constraints developed by peer pressure, and the ultimate injustice…the inability to choose.

While many might consider my reasons extreme, my purpose is to offer my daughter the true diversity of Catholic ritual and expressions that are available to all of us. This is not a matter of traditional Catholicism versus Post-Vatican II Catholicism. The matter is an issue of knowledge and choice. As long as the Church permits different methods for the reception of the Eucharist, everyone should know their options. In the same manner, while the reception of Eucharist may be offered under both species, Catholics should realize that reception of either species constitutes valid Eucharistic reception. Any suggestion that both species (bread and wine) are required for valid reception of Communion is in direct opposition to the teachings of the Council of Trent, and subsequent councils. The danger that is developing throughout our Church in the modern interpretation of Eucharistic theology is that it borders on the theological misconceptions of the Protestant reformers. Catholics are in peril of losing the true understanding of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, while at the same time losing “sacramental” identity in order to obtain “ecumenical” similarity. Such developments might start as erroneous exercising of liturgical options; however the theological implications are potentially devastating to our sacramental reality. It seems that individuals capable of faithful ascent at the age of reason should be able to make a choice in their manner of Eucharistic reception. The lack of attention and details given to this omission of teachings constitutes a serious, yet sublime, attack on the deposit of faith.

As a parent, and an educator, nothing is more important to me than the correct transmission of the Catholic faith to my daughter. The rest of us faithful Catholics should take notice at the subliminal attempts to undermine our traditional belief in Real Presence. Proper sacramental preparation for our children means proper instructions regarding the legitimate use of options. If we permit this continued omission of knowledge, then our option to believe in Jesus’ Eucharistic presence will be the next omission heralded by misinformed subliminal Reformers. Then the ghosts of people like, Calvin, Know, Luther and Henry VIII will reside not just in our history, but in the misunderstanding of our ecclesial reality.

*

2008-06-19T06:03:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
A place for the Sacred Arts
By Hugh J. McNichol *

I suppose there is a theme emerging here. Over the past few writings, I have called for the development of a Sacred Art Institute within the Catholic Church in the United States. Perhaps the foundation of this educational facility would be best placed here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which is one of the four original dioceses (Boston, Philadelphia, New York & Bardstown), carved from the Primal See of Baltimore, two hundred years ago. Such a location would make a lot of sense. Not only is Philadelphia rich in its artistic heritage, it also offers quite a few artisans and artists that make the area their home.

Now I am not really talking about a new art school, but rather a unique collective space that could be devoted to the study and development of sacred and liturgical arts. One of the best places I could imagine would be to house such an institute in a former Catholic school with an adjacent church. I could think of half a dozen such examples of such sites within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that would make perfect spots for an arts campus. Quite a few urban parishes with changing population shifts come first to mind. The site could be leased to artists at a reasonable cost and developed into a studio complex where the sharing of artistic skills and intellectual curiosity could be freely exchanged. In the same manner, such a gathering of individuals might also stimulate new life into a parish community that is in a state of urban flux.

There are quite a few points that would justify such an institution. The first point should be a revitalization of good quality and artistic works for our sacred spaces. This community would be exclusively designated as a “Catholic” Sacred Art Institute, so there would be no confusion of artists, patrons and sponsors of its singular purpose.

Secondly, the endeavor would provide good reutilization of parish resources in a period when quite a bit of existing church real estate sits cavernously vacant. Old classrooms not only seem appropriate for the space required by artists, but I would think the quality of natural light would be excellent. If the Catholic parish needs to continue providing minimal heat and electricity to keep a vacant building in “dry-dock” state, then it should not be wasted.

Next the message would be abundantly clear that the Bishop, or in this case Cardinal Archbishop, takes the entire notion of quality art and architecture for Catholic worship seriously and is intent on the success of such a collective group within their jurisdiction. We commonly as a Church provide space to other groups, such as AAA, Knights of Columbus; Red Cross etc…why not provide a permanent and reasonably available place for artisans and artisans. Most importantly, the institute should be adjacent to a living and active parish community. This way the artisan community can truly begin to incorporate the axiom, Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi into their sacred art and ministry.

Recently in the Catholic press there has been some interesting reflections on parishes of historical significance within the Philadelphia Archdiocese. When we think of parishes, one usually associates lots of activity within a parish community. However, this is not the case with some of the older and historic churches of Philadelphia. Most are closed on a regular basis and the Eucharistic Sacrifice is only offered on a monthly basis. It is really unfortunate that historical sites such as Holy Trinity in Philadelphia are celebrated as “architectural jewels,” when in reality they are no longer the active expression of the Sacred Mysteries, but just dead buildings. Old churches especially those with American historical significance should be vibrant, living parish communities regardless of their neighborhoods or ethnic populations. Anything less than an active Catholic Church in the community frankly says to the local community…you are too poor for sacraments.

Twenty-first century believers can coexist and even flourish in eighteenth century buildings. Such a disregard for the spiritual integrity of a local community is elitist and at times racist. Church buildings and sites exist for worship and praise of God, not the historical highlighting of antiquated historical accessories. Perhaps the area around this parish church would benefit from a living group of artisans and faithful Catholics. Think about the great influence an arts community would have on the spiritual life of a quasi-existent parish structure.

The catechetical importance of the establishment of such a site would be an invaluable resource to Catholics everywhere as well. Not only would the knowledge and expertise of Catholic artists be preserved and passed on to new generations, such a site would be a shining example of the importance Catholic art and architecture in every age. The availability and fluidity towards an appreciation and experience of “works in progress” would enable educators and faithful to experience “living” artists’ expressions of faith. Such a place could also serve as a showcase for priests and parishioners that are considering the acquisition of new liturgical accessories for their sacred spaces. Priests could speak with artists and watch the entire process of artistic revelation as pieces are created. At the same time, the mistaken concept of mass produced religious articles would be discouraged, and execution of qualitative art would occur. Perhaps even this “studio” would serve as a catalyst for artists and artisans to consider religious art as a Catholic vocation, through which they might serve Christ’s Church. Regardless of the effect, such a place would enable the story of Catholic faith to be promoted and taught through sacred and liturgical art. That has to be a great catechetical effect.

Finally, consider the need for evangelization. Msgr. Michael Carroll, an old seminary professor, used to say that, “catechesis and evangelization go hand in hand!” There is a lot of significance in this statement. Artistic expression in a parish community really teaches Catholics about their past, present and future as a worshiping community. The visual arts also communicate the pervasive power of God’s Word, as we try to understand and appreciate God in our artistic expressions and symbols. In turn, we try to share and communicate this faith to others in hopes that they might experience the Catholic faith. Such a vehicle for theological evangelization really does exist in the simple paintbrush of an artist. If that were not the case, why would anyone visit the Sistine Chapel?

Sacred and liturgical arts are perhaps a very broad phrase meant to describe those artisans and artisans that embrace their faith in their artistic works. For all of us a Catholics the phrase really should signify the need to teach and spread the Gospel message through the visual arts. Not all art is Catholic. Not all art is worth mentioning. However, sacred art is something, which has had little attention paid to it. It is long overdue. After all, it is only a human expression of our human condition that seeks to know God.

Saint Augustine is appropriate here, “…our hearts are restless until they rest in You. Fulfill this longing through Jesus the Bread of Life.” Confessions of Saint Augustine & partial prayer of the 41st International Congress, Philadelphia 1976

*

2008-06-19T06:03:00.001-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
The real reason for Memorial Day
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Well it is another Memorial Day weekend. I am at the undisclosed shore location that has provided happy respite for me all of my life. However, the weekend pause is about more than a sojourn to the New Jersey shore. The meaning of the holiday is to remember all of those that fought and died for our American freedom and lifestyle.

When I was a kid, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day. People wore small red, poppies to remember the fallen of the First World War. Today you don't see a lot of poppy flowers worn to recall our war dead. Most likely you see people in flip-flops and baseball caps on their way to a long weekend break at the beach, the shore or the mountains. Parades of World War II veterans were popular when I was a kid as well. Veterans from many conflicts dusted off their old uniforms, sucked in their guts and proceeded to parade the Colors to a community park or churchyard. Of course, the parade concluded with the mournful playing of "Taps" and the cracking volley of gunshots as a salute was rendered to the military dead. Most of the World War II veterans are now gone, or going quickly. When you see a Memorial Day celebration most people just continue on with their lives and don't even notice the ritual that honors our war dead. There was a time when men (not in military uniform) removed their hats, military personnel saluted and everyone else placed their hand on their hearts and paid homage to our American Flag. Today there is a half hearted and convoluted mixture of gestures that I watch people perform. Usually the perpetually placed, reverse baseball cap is never removed, no one stops for the passing of the flag, and in a lot of cases there is no observation of military honors for the Flag or the war dead. Memorial Day for most Americans means complaining about the price of gasoline, traffic jams, rushing to a vacation destination and lots of alcoholic beverage consumption.

Maybe as we all get older, we recall other times. Especially times of celebration and solemnity. Memorial Day makes me remember hot early summer days that cooled off at night, closed businesses, local hot dog picnics and root beer in the keg. I fondly remember veterans paying homage to the war dead, Taps and rifle shots. Then, lots of men who had a day off (Memorial Day) was not always a long holiday weekend, carrying blocks of ice to keep libations that included beer ...cold. Most of the time there was a block party...which for those that live in the modern cul-de-sac meant that the linear block was literally blocked from traffic. People moved their cars, turned on the fire plug, washed down the street and had covered dishes of food for everyone to enjoy. Most Americans today never have lived on a "block" and would never party with their neighbors.

These days were pre-Disney, pre-cable, pre-long weekend-travel and pre-yuppies. Today we go off to the shore, the beach or the mountains or multiple foreign destinations to play on our Memorial Day vacations.

But the most important thing we always remembered was Memorial Day was specifically that. A day of memorial for all of those men and women that fought and died for America's liberty and freedom. So while you are out there this weekend driving in traffic, filling up your SUV, getting sunburned on the beach, having steaks on the barbecue grill, or even camping in a pristine mountain environment...take some time to say, THANK YOU for the men and women that made it all possible. Those who answered their country's call to service and paid for the privilege with their lives. Also, remember ALL of our nation's soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen that actively serve our country all over the globe. They are answering the age old call of service to their country...so we can enjoy that hot dog, picnic or beach stroll.

Let's hope next Memorial Day will see them safely home...joining the rest of us in a long weekend. God Bless America! God bless our troops.

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2008-06-19T06:02:00.002-07:00

Returning to a "grass-roots" parish community
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Call me old fashioned or even nostalgic but the Catholic Church has been going environmentally “green” for centuries. They are called “parishes.” Having grown up in the city of Philadelphia in the Irish-centric enclave called Gray’s Ferry…we were environmentally conscious and did not even know it. We walked to church, there was no need to drive to our parish church, it was only a few blocks over one way or the other. Not only did growing up Catholic in the city provide “eco-friendly” elimination of the need to use automobiles and consuming gas, it also contributed to the much advocated by physicians, the aerobic activity called walking. Even better, when walking to and from Church…we were usually with other individuals and we held conversations, which contributed even more to the entire well being of our solipsistic parish community were we all lived, prayed and went through life together.

Aside from the obvious need to cut down on our carbon footprints, perhaps the return to a structure that is central to a neighborhood is the more obvious adaptation that is needed in the Church. When Catholics exited the urban environment in the United States, they were caught in this misnomer that “bigger is better…even bigger is best….and biggest is well….the biggest and bestest.” Now of course we realize that the notion is not always true or beneficial to a parish community of prayerful intimacy within our parish communities. Liturgies are sometimes more like the weekly shopping frenzy at Wal-Mart, parish parking lots are jammed with single driver cars, traffic police and parish priest alike direct mobile confusion and there is a need to” get them in” and “get them out” before the next Mass.

When we think about parish planning and development of the manner in which the Catholic Church serves its communities…maybe it is time to take a retro look at the old neighborhood parish type of planning and structure. Additionally, perhaps as a society we should encourage architects and urban planners to look back and reconsider the positive aspects that “parish” and “neighborhood” settings offered to a community.

When we plan a parish community, perhaps it would be wise to develop a plan of “micro-parishes,” where the overall parish complex and overhead is more manageable for the community. Especially true is the need for a location for the Church that is within an ambulational distance from homes and work environments. This is perhaps where the dialogue needs to come into play. As we regentrify, or renovate our city areas the parish church is already a central focus to the neighborhood. It is the suburban communities that need to especially realize the benefits of Catholic micro communities as more beneficial to the entire spiritual and theological development of a Catholic parish.

Micro-parishes I suppose used to be called, “missions,” but there was a very pragmatic and sensitive aspect to the structure that made sense…namely…Don’t go overboard, and keep the parish structure manageable. Perhaps there would be a better response to our parish spirituality if the parish priests did not have to minister to the Mega-parish of 2500 families.

In the 21st century our Catholic Church is called to not only a spiritual, but also an ecological response to the world’s issues and crisises. There is no better way to participate in the community of global faith than for the Catholic Church to embark on an ecological “skinny” plan to conserve and preserve resources, spaces and materials. As we plan new parishes, let’s use the best architectural planning to utilize all of our natural resources to the best advantages. Build parishes that are organically a part of the community and not just another structure that is inaccessible except with planes, trains or automobiles, and finally make our parishes ecologically responsible for the conservation of all resources, especially those that are environmentally friendly.

Going green in a parish might mean the development of a neighborhood community garden, where parishioners might learn about the planting and consumption of health foods and vegetables. It also might mean planning our liturgies around cycles of “natural” light and not exploiting electricity or carbon fuels. Whatever it is means that the Church is called to good stewardship and preservation of natural resources and we need to begin on a local parish level.

The spread of Christianity was initially a “grass-roots” movement. Today more than ever the Church needs to recognize the need to return to spiritual, economic and social grass roots values so that our culture and environment might be preserved.

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2008-06-19T06:02:00.001-07:00

Catholic education...remembering the Palmer Method!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

When we were in grade school at Saint Gabriel’s we really took a lot for granted. In the 40’s through the 70’s we were a part of the largest expansion of a private educational system, namely Catholic schools. Of course we didn’t know this. We were too busy buying 3 for a penny candy and soft pretzels for a nickel. Our lives were quite utopian as we marched off to school in our white shirts, ties and plaid uniforms. But really, we were the “inheritors” of a legacy - Catholic education.

In the United States the Council of Baltimore in the nineteenth century set forth the standards of educational measurement for primary and secondary grade schools. The famous, “Baltimore Catechism” was the norm and interrogatory questions about God and His relationship to His Church were standard. I remember being questioned in first grade while I was walking down the hall by an IHM sister that pulled me into her classroom. She wanted to show her 3rd grade class, how important knowledge of the sacraments was. She questioned me and wanted me to name the seven sacraments, and to tell her the “matter and form” for each one. I remember telling her everything she wanted to know. My urgent sense of relief was fully realized when I got to “Extreme Unction,” which today we do not rank as the last sacrament, because it is not exclusively reserved for “last out” Catholics. Somehow I had managed to skip through the Thomistic minefield of matter and form, survived what I thought was an excruciating examination and got my reward for the effort. A holy card which depicted St.Jude. Well for a first grader, Saint Jude was the equivalent of getting a Mickey Mantle, or a Willie Mays baseball card. I didn’t quite know anything about Saint Jude, but I figured he was important if he was the reward for such an interrogation. I think Sister Alphonsus Ligouri would be proud that I still have the iconoclastic image of Saint Jude in my Liturgy of the Hours. It dawns on me, that Sister Alphonsus Ligouri really wasn’t as old as I thought she was at the time. But, heck…when your six years old, every nun I had looked …well at least 40.

The great legacy of Catholic education in the United States was handed on to millions of Catholic school children through the efforts of Sr. Alphonsus Ligouri, and Sr. Rose Perpetua and Sr. Francis Joseph and Sr. Geraldine Marie and hundreds of other female religious that gave their lives and “brains” to teaching all of us kids, reading, THE PALMER METHOD, and most importantly the Catholic faith. This year in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Saint Louis (formerly Bardstown) we are celebrating the bicentennial of each local church’s founding. We really have a lot to be proud of in the course of two hundred years. Even more so, we have millions of people that have gone through Catholic schools and have become “Good Catholic, men and women” because of the inspiration and activities of female religious from all congregations across the Church. I was fortunate to have the Mighty Macs as grade-school educators. Their form of education was somewhere between Parris Island and Fort Bragg for its discipline and training. But guess what, 40 years after the fact, I can still recall the Baltimore Catechism and quote it as needed. Education transcends time and place, and the true accomplishments of these women transcend parish and religious community.

While we celebrate our heritage of 200 years, we need to thank our educators…most of who are gone, and exhibit good Catholic manners and theology as we pass our faith along to new generations of believers.

2008-06-19T06:01:00.002-07:00

Celebrating First Eucharist on Sunday! The time has come!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

April and May are months that frequently present Catholic families with a need for logistical flexibility. The calendar is filled with First Communions, Baptisms, Confirmations and ordinations to a specific Order in the hierarchy of Holy Orders. It is really quite a refreshing flurry of activity as the liturgical rites reflect new initiations to the faith, new recipients of Eucharist and new priests, deacons and bishops for active ministry in the Church. However, one always needs to juggle weekend activities to participate in these multi-liturgical events. These events are really good things, because they reflect the vibrancy of the local community of faith as well as the positive growth of the faith throughout an area as well. One of the things I wish would occur more frequently is the celebration of these sacraments within a parish community’s weekly celebration of the Eucharist. What better a place to foster vocations, display paternal pride, and establish theological and liturgical continuity than within the parish’s celebration of these events at the Sunday liturgy? Most places, namely parishes schedule these happy events at an off time from the Sunday liturgy. I suspect part of the reason is our age old Catholic parochial tradition of keeping things neatly segregated into ritual masses, and other significant observations.

It is time to stop partitioning these celebrations of sacramental events and celebrate all of them with inclusion into the primary Sunday liturgy. Our Liturgy of the Eucharist as celebrated on a Sunday in our parishes offers a valuable time to not only share Eucharist, but also to educate our fellow Catholics in the execution of the Sacraments.

Furthermore…the link to Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our belief and worship, is the focal point for liturgical catechesis and instruction. Since the development of the rites for the celebration of the Sacraments in a post-Vatican II era, it has always been preferred to celebrate sacramental rituals within Holy Mass. There is a great message in this very sensible method of Eucharistic participation. All of the sacraments are reflective and inclusive to all members of the faithful community. A baptism celebration without participation by the “living stones” of the local community might present some sort of theological and sacramental caste system, a development of the “haves and the have not’s and alienation of others that share our beliefs and sacramental joy. It especially makes me recall the sacramental milestones in my life, when I watch infants being baptized, catechumens confirmed and men ordained to Holy Orders. These events are public and communal representations of Jesus Christ among us, and a deep expression of our mystical journey in the Catholic faith. In the perceptive of our modern society our Catholic Church needs to quite honestly stand out in the secular environment as a highly visible sign and symbol of our theological beliefs and our enculturation with modern society. Our activities of prayer, worship and celebration are the best tools of evangelization to those that are seeking a life in faith experience.

Finally, and on a reasonable level…incorporation of the celebrations of these sacraments during the primary Sunday Mass would eliminate the sometimes sense of spectacle that often accompanies them. Important events they are, but the materialistic marketing of sacramental accessories and Carvel designed themes quite honestly reduces the theological impact of these important sacramental moments and at times reduces them to secular events. During a recent first communion liturgy…which took place on a Saturday afternoon the emphasis was not on the proper appreciation of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, but rather liturgical positioning for the best cinematic Kodak moments. We aren’t about Cecil B.DeMille productions. We are a community of faith that participates in a united celebration of our faith and sacraments. When we stop the rush of secular inclusion of our Sacraments to the civil calendar, perhaps we will have a different appreciation of our sacred participation of the Sacraments. The Sacraments are outside of calendar and chronological events that reside on our laptops, and in our Daytimers. These events are participation in God’s divine plan of creation. There is no better reason for appropriate and joyful liturgical celebrations than this.

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2008-06-19T06:01:00.001-07:00

Vatican website...now in Latin!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Last week the Vatican announced it modified its official website to include documentation of releases in Latin in addition to other languages. It appears there is a resurgence of use for Latin in the current administration of the Catholic Church. While I have written on the subject multiple times before, Latin really has never left the administrative center of the Church’s hierarchy. Official papal documents are written in Latin, appointments of Bishops and Cardinals are officially announced in Latin and the universal language of the Roman Church is Latin. This author really does not understand the preoccupation with the resurgence of Latin usage, or rather the public usage of Latin in the Church.

While the post-Vatican II age in the United States usually defined individuals and groups that preferred the use of Latin as Traditionalists, quietly behind the scenes the language of the Roman Empire was the mainstay of the administrative activities of the Holy See. The decision to restore the Liturgy of Blessed John XXIII is perhaps the most noticeable announcement regarding the sacramental use of Latin in the past 40 years; however, its use as the universally recognized administrative language of Catholicism has been unchanged.

All of the documents of the Second Vatican Council were officially proclaimed in Latin. This seems quite a contradiction, considering Vatican II is the catalyst of usage of vernacular languages in the Liturgy. However, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council never quite intended that the Latin language be entirely displaced as the universally favored tongue of liturgy and Church correspondence. The misnomer is the inclusion of local languages was misconstrued as an absolute proclamation and prerequisite for the proper completion of the Second Vatican Council. The reality is simply that the various conferences of bishops throughout the world responded to the inclusion of the local vernacular as extremists. As a result, Latin was out and the local language was in.
The development of a Latin section on the Vatican’s website is indicative of how truly unifying the Latin language is for the Catholic Church. Perhaps in establishing the Latin section of the website, faithful Catholics and religious observers’ worldwide can reference the official Latin text while comparing it to the local vernacular texts. This enables the Church to communicate most effectively with everyone in the world, while maintaining a consistent and pure version of the Church’s documents in their Latin form. If indeed, there are then any issues or questions, the Latin text will provide the definitive source for modern language translators and scholars.

Of course, revival of the use of Latin means hopefully a resurgence of Latin educational courses in our Catholic educational facilities worldwide. Such courses would be especially beneficial in order to better understand and celebrate the Sacraments in Latin and (in our case) English as a living appreciation of the spiritual and historical significance Latin hold in our Roman Church. Opponents of the restoration of the use of Latin sometimes maintain that its use will further polarize groups in the Church. Quite correctly, the use of Latin in harmony with the local vernacular languages will fulfill the hopes of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council that the faithful be able to participate in the Holy Eucharist in both Latin and the local language in order to exemplify the unity of the universal Church. Additionally, an appreciation of Latin will permit the reintroduction of Gregorian Chant and other forms of the Church’s ancient liturgy, not as a vehicle for liturgical regression, but rather a living and viable means of understanding the collective development of the Catholic liturgy.

Pope Benedict XVI clearly states that Vatican II should not be seen as a moment of “rupture” in the historical development of the Catholic liturgy. He maintains the Novus Ordo of Pope Paul VI should be viewed as the spiritual bridge that links both forms of celebration together into an ordinary and extraordinary form of celebrating the same Eucharist.

While the Vatican’s official website now contains a Latin language section, such a development is clearly an appreciation of our Catholic liturgical and social traditions that are rooted in effective global communications. Latin should be viewed as a familiar linguistic friend and an unambiguous tool for Catholic catechesis and evangelization. In a similar manner, Catholics worldwide should appreciate the deep roots of the use of Latin in our Church and celebrate our linguistic and social heritages as an asset of 21st century unity and Catholic identity. While the Latin section of the Vatican’s website might not have many readers initially, perhaps the site will spark a new spirit of educational and linguistic curiosity that extends to every aspect of our living and spiritually growing Church. Welcome back to the Latin language, Catholics of all ages look forward to learning more about our historical and linguistic roots in Latin.

*

2008-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Restoring a Catholic Presence in the Persian Gulf!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Catholicism had migrated to the area of the Persian Gulf in the early 4th century. However, the history of the Catholic Church in this area has always been difficult. Nestorianism rose as a heretical movement among the faithful followers regarding the person of Jesus Christ. Nestorians believed Jesus had two distinct persons, one as Jesus the Man and the other as Jesus, the Word of God.

Correct Catholic belief on this issue believes that Jesus was one person with two distinct natures, both God and Man. Further issues developed as well in regards to Nestorius. He maintained that Mary was only the Mother of Jesus and not the mother of the Divine Word. Of course, the Church believes Mary was the Mother of Jesus, the God/Man and the two natures are not both independent of each other.

Then of course, the development and the spread of Islam marked the true period of persecution and oppression for the Church of the East. Islamic law forbade the public display of symbols other than Islamic symbols and the Catholic Church was forced into an underground existence of faith.

A few months ago the Vatican announced active negotiations between the Saudi Arabian government and the Holy See directed towards the establishment of a legally sanctioned Catholic presence in the peninsula. This announcement of ongoing Vatican diplomacy is indeed remarkable news for the worshipping Catholics of the Muslim controlled state. It also marks an unprecedented sign of anticipated cooperation between Vatican and Islamic leaders. While it appears the negotiations are still in a nascent stage, their existence indicates a true desire for both religions to start an effort towards religious tolerance in the area.

At the current time, the public display of Christian articles of faith is forbidden, and the Saudi military and religious leaders zealously guard against any non-Islamic worship. Some observers indicate the development of reciprocal freedom of worship for Saudi Christians is a sign of the desire for the Islamic world to develop a new understanding of the faith of Muhammad. Others maintain religious freedom is extended to Muslim worshipers throughout most of the world, and Islamic countries should offer the same guarantee of religious freedom. However, one really needs to take into consideration the motivations of this offer towards free religious worship. In Saudi Arabia there are always concerns of global perceptions and global image when dealing with the Western religions and nations. It seems that the foundation for this religious dialogue is not rooted in the teachings of the Prophet or the teachings of Jesus, but rather with the potential of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games in this oil rich country.

Regardless of the reason for this gesture of dialogue towards religious toleration in the Middle East, the revelation of potential Christian presence is a remarkable development. Perhaps this type of government permission towards free expression of Christianity will lead the Saudi government to conclude that not all religious forms of worship are a threat to Islam, and the Middle Eastern theological convictions. The result of this unfolding dialogue only underscores the evolving realization on the part of the Catholic Church and Islamic fundamentalists that sectarian violence and bloodshed over religious principles needs to stop immediately.

The announcement of discussion between the Holy See and the Saudi government does not erase the centuries of mutual persecutions committed by peoples of all faiths in this region, but it is a place to start the process of religious tolerance and social healing. Key to the evolving doctrines of Benedict’s papacy is the reemergence of a relationship between both monotheistic religions of Christianity and Islam. For Benedict, global harmony and a reawakening of universal goodwill is the hallmark of all religious faith and dialogue. Restoration of lawful Christian celebrations in Saudi Arabia indeed is the heralding of a new era of understanding between followers of Christ and the prophet Muhammad.

Perhaps this drastic and monumental announcement regarding religious freedom between opposing theological parties is the dawn of a different and critical role for the Vatican and the Islamic world. What has unfortunately failed in terms of harmony and religious understanding over the centuries these discussions will provide the results Crusades, war and violence could not accomplish.

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2008-06-19T05:59:00.002-07:00

Nothing Left Unsaid
Christianity...religious conversion of personal choice!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Contrary to the popular public opinion, Islamic faithful believers are converting to the practice of Christianity in record numbers. This is perhaps the reason for the deeply seated animosity and religious antagonism directed towards the Catholic Church and all of its associated teachings. A principle that underlies all of the Catholic teachings and practices regarding an individual’s practice of faith is essentially freedom of choice. Catholic’s choose freely to follow Christ and His Church not because of religious extremism or fear of personal reprisal, but because they freely choose to become members of the Body of Christ. In stark contrast, Islamic teachings on the aspects of individual conversion are usually associated with forced acceptance of Islam, under the immediate threat of personal and physical harm.

Christianity calls its members to the development of the Kingdom of God through the nurturing of love between peoples, nations and God. Islamic notions that spread the teachings of the Prophet are based upon a perpetual struggle and violent conversion of unwilling peoples to Muslin subjugation. A most evident reason for the growing conversion movement from Islam to Christianity should be clear, namely a religion that advocates and fosters violence and social upheaval does not reflect Divine plans for universal peace and harmony. Members of the Islamic world just might be tired of the ritual extremism and fanatical call to religious chaos offered under the guise of religion in the Islamic world.

Centuries of political, social and religious chaos have afflicted the Islamic world because of the religious message that provides religious insurgency against Western theology. Even when considering the Eastern religious thought of the Crusades, there was always the aspect of violence and undivided acceptance that marked the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic laws are not complimentary to individual freedoms of religious liberty, but rather alienate and fearfully call believers to the Islamic worship of the One True God. Islamic law is based on unconditional conformity and acceptance, personal freedom is not something that is considered on an individual basis. On the other hand Christianity is a faith of personal choice, joined together with others as an acceptance of their personal choices of faith. Collectively, each individual builds up the Body of Christ and the relationship is based upon love and religious beliefs. Christ does not threaten his followers to live the “law of love” with coercion of individual freedoms and personal safety.

As the struggle intensifies between the two great religions of Christianity and Islam, global observers need to point out the vastly different motivational approaches employed by each faith. Christianity offers a religion based upon freedom of choice, and the ability to personally express faithful worship. Islam offers a message of political and social violence against non-Islamic believers that will culminate only when the entire populace is brought under Islamic religious domination. Islamic law constricts freedom of expression, and freedom to worship in a personal manner, and human ability to freely choose is forbidden.

The Islamic crisis, which causes its members to convert to Christianity, is indeed rooted in the continued spread of religious violence in the name of Allah by Islamic followers.

The crisis of faith experienced by former Islamic believers has been stimulated by the peaceful teachings and practical expressions of the Gospel teachings. In order for Islam to stabilize itself as a faithful religion, it first needs to recognize that the precepts on which it bases its faith are fundamentally contrary to the positive development of a global people in faith, because the foundation is violence and religious anarchy. Catholicism and indeed Western civilization has the opportunity to take the Islamic discontent and convert it to religious harmony that will literally recreate the world’s social, political and religious order. Not because the message is motivated by violence, but because the message is lived through development of global peace and harmony.

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2008-06-19T05:59:00.001-07:00

The Importance of the Lord's Prayer
By Hugh J. McNichol *

I look around Church each week during the celebration of the Lord's Prayer and stand in fascination while everyone prays. The posture of praying the Lord's Prayer is standing. When I was a child you kept your hands folded and did not join in the priestly position of "orate fratres" during the prayer. Namely, hands outstretched to the Father.

My daughter is a third grader. She prays the Lord's Prayer with hands and arms extended. Now that I think about it...all of the children at Saint John the Beloved School use the same posture for the prayer.

Sometimes there are members of the older generations that have adapted this stance for prayer. It seems so unusual to watch older men and women with their hands extended to the Lord in prayer. It seems perfectly natural for this "extendibus manibus" in children. Because of the intrinsic age and nature of being "a child", they are always reaching out to fill all types of need. It could be the need for food, for prayer, for help or even for friendship. As adults we have lost ourselves in pride and do not always ask others for help when we need it.

Theologically speaking however...the posture of the children should be more common in the posture of the adults. We are never too old to be children of the Father. Our extended hands cry out to a loving Father that has offered the world redemption and freedom from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary.

Most times we take for granted, “the prayer that Jesus taught us." It is recited sometimes without too much thought as we race through the Liturgy of the Eucharist towards communion, the final prayers and ultimately a family breakfast or late dinner.

The Lord's Prayer is special. In the primitive church it was only spoken by those fully initiated into the faith. Namely...the baptized and confirmed. In the Liturgy before the Second Vatican Council, the non-initiated were not permitted to remain in Church during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It was too important and too special for the not fully incorporated into the faith. The catechumens were not even taught this prayer until the final weeks before their baptism during Lent.

The Lord's Prayer was revealed to them. Yes, revealed to them as if it were a secret. That is the importance the Church places on the words that we pray at each Eucharistic celebration. The Fifth Sunday of Lent is the time when the third series of scrutinizes takes place. That is, those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist are examined in Church before the entire assembly and "tested" so to speak before they continue towards the great celebration of new faith and new life at the Easter Vigil.

The Lord's Prayer is given to those in preparation. The faith community transmits another piece of sacred tradition to its newest "candidate" members.

In a similar way, we treat initiation into college fraternities or sororities with similar secrecy. Catholicism however is not based upon secrecy. Our foundation rests in our common participation in the Eucharistic sacrifice, our Daily Bread...for which we pray in the Pater Noster.

The Lord's Prayer unites us with all of our faithful brothers and sisters, throughout all of the ages that have participated and shared the Eucharistic banquet.

That is why it is special. That is why it is sacred. Our family of faith prays in a united manner to the Father of all Creation that who has provided us with ALL life and sustenance. I am sure most of us do not think of the implications that are attached to this most sacred prayer.

It is however a prayer that most basically asks for Divine integration and assistance into our daily lives.

The prayer with its position of "orate", hands reaching out to God emphasizes on multiple levels of our existential dependence on the Father, and our theological relationships between each other.

As Lent has ended and we remember the great celebration of Easter, we as faithful believers need to slow down and take a moment to reflect on the theological journey of faith in which we are all enjoined.

We believe as one Church, we worship as one Church and we ask the Father for His love and sustenance as on Church. During our celebration of the Lord's Prayer, remember the traditions that are associated with the prayer, mindfully recall that the prayer unites us in faith and leads new generations of believers to a life in Christ Jesus.

However you choose to say the prayer...with folded hands, with hands reaching out to God the Lord's Prayer proclaims our faith and dependence on God, and our hope for eschatological union with him.

The Prayer To Our Father

(in the original Aramaic)

Abwûn

"Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,

d'bwaschmâja

who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.

Nethkâdasch schmach

May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.

Têtê malkuthach.

Your Heavenly Domain approaches.

Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d'bwaschmâja af b'arha.

Let Your will come true - in the universe (all that vibrates)

just as on earth (that is material and dense).

Hawvlân lachma d'sûnkanân jaomâna.

Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,

Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna

daf chnân schwoken l'chaijabên.

detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma)

like we let go the guilt of others.

Wela tachlân l'nesjuna

Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),

ela patzân min bischa.

but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.

Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l'ahlâm almîn.

From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act,

the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.

Amên.

Sealed in trust, faith and truth.

(I confirm with my entire being)

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2008-06-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

Daily Prayer for Contemporary Catholics!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

On a daily basis there are many events for the Catholic believer to express faith. We know of the obvious…celebration of the Eucharist with the parish community. However what if the individual cannot attend Mass because of personal and professional obligations on a daily basis? The Liturgy of the Hours is the solution. The celebration of the Hours is something, which all Catholics are able to fit into a hectic schedule.

During the week, I celebrate Morning Prayer and Night prayer. Both of these Offices sort of anchor my day and set the expectations for the busy routine ahead of me.

Weekends are another story, with a different schedule and more time (at least perceived). On these days I like to add the Office of Readings. The readings offer an opportunity to contemplate scriptural writings as well as other writings by Church patricians and scholars. The rhythm of the Liturgy of the Hours is something that cannot be expressed without feeling its intense depth of movement. The Psalms lead the individual to reflect on the mystery of salvation history as revealed in the Old Testament.

There is nothing more striking than the orations of the psalmist, which reflect everyday situations that we all find ourselves experiencing in our lives. Praise, wonder, grief and hope are the central ponderings of the psalmist. Throughout the Psalms the psalmist asks God for assistance, proclaims His power and majesty, ponders his earthly and eschatological fate. We are the modern Psalmist. When we take time to pray, the ancient invocations of the Old Testament psalmist fall perfectly into line with our needs, hopes and desires as modern believers.

When we pray the Liturgy of the Hours we are indeed celebrating a Liturgy that mirrors the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Our prayers transcend time and space. We are joined in communion with believers throughout the world, the Body of Christ as we pray for the Church, each other and the manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

Even the structure of the Hours is parallel to that of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The proclamation of the Word, Christ present in logos becomes sublimely clear when we pray the Lord’s Prayer and pray the intercessions for the welfare of the Universal Church.

The prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours unites the individual in “communio” with the rest of our fellow believers, past, present and future members of the Body of Christ. It is precisely in this spiritual and metaphysical unity that we experience Christ in prayer. We experience our common humanity, are touched intimately by Christ’s Incarnation and unite our hopes to the Mystical Body of Christ.

We are tempted daily to neglect prayer. The reasons are many. However the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours unites us with others in prayer, even when our harried schedules and lives conspire to keep us from daily praise.

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2008-06-19T05:57:00.002-07:00

Angels...special messengers of God in a world of fragile peace and broken promises!
By Hugh J. McNichol *

Angels of the Lord are always special messengers of God’s message to the world and indeed all of humanity. I have always had a certain appreciation for the Archangel Gabriel; He is the patron of the parish where I was educated and raised. Later in life, I found that Gabriel was also the patron of those involved in telecommunications indeed any occupation of communications.

It has always been my belief that teaching, writing, technologies consulting and just even the pursuit of a good Catholic life are the actions of someone involved in evangelization and catechesis. We really cannot expect better examples of theological messengers than all of the choirs of angels. Usually when we think of angels, we have the vision of angelic beings, with wings and beautiful appearances, like the angels that calorically appear in the Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese commercials, or the middle aged and bumbling, Clarence that is earning his wings in Capra’s, It’s a Wonderful Life.

However the reality of angelic manifestations are much more deeply rooted in the transmission of the Word of God…the Divine Logos which calls us all to a fuller participation in the spiritual life. Most of the stories we know about angels is usually dramatically told in some narrative form, remember Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that she was to become the mother of the Messiah, or the chorus of angels that provide Lucan heraldry to announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields on the first celebration of the Incarnation.

Angels though in my estimation are more subtle messengers of God’s message and actions. Anything ostentatious or glitzy is really too much for the magnificently complex creational complexity of angels. They too are created by God, and assist Him in his interactions with us humans…quite frankly, so we can understand what God intends for our own benefit. They are gentle, quiet manifestations of Divine Words that give us an insight into the pastorally gentle and complex transcendence of God’s actions.

Perhaps as Catholics we are used to the portrayal of angels in light of events such as the Annunciation, or the Incarnation, or even the prophetic images of the Book of Revelation when angels of the Lord are portrayed as “heavenly- heavies” in bring the eschatological plan of Creation to its logical end. But really, we shortchange the nature of angels and we diminish their critically important work in our world when we are taken in with images of angels as corporeal perfect beings that float around on Charmin all day and wait for the next expectant soul to reach the heavenly gates. Angels are hard working day to day participants in God’s unfolding plan of the mystery of salvation. They get into the earthly trenches right there with mankind and participate as our allies against the evil Dominions that might attempt to lead us from the truly Sacramental direction of the Catholic life. They are also present not only in extraordinary events in our lives, but they are there to provide fortitude and counsel at every pivotal moment we have in our earthly journey towards eternal life.

I have a special affinity towards angels, of all denominations, whether they are Thrones, Dominions, Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim and so on…they are all critically important in helping us understand the Divine Messages they are entrusted to convey. So rather than think of angels in the sense of billowy, suave creatures with golden hair and white wings and a penchant for cream cheese, think of them as our constant companions that journey with us through life, trying to provide tutorial information on how we can better understand the nature and being of the Boss…God, the Big Guy!

Remember, they are always here in a subtly gentle manner, as in a breeze, to bring God to the World, and they expect us each individual to bring that same message to others in a world that is seeking peaceful resolution to chaos and Divine guidance in a world that is sometimes filled with fragile moments of peace and often broken promises. Angels are not there as theatrical entertainment, but rather as active participants in the revelation of God’s eternal Being.

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