The Shepherd's Staff
I have heard the explanation for the shape of a bishop's staff. It has a curved end to hook around things (namely, sheep) in order to draw them back, and a pointed end in order to prod and push away. Now, as a parish pastor, I don't literally have a shepherd's staff, but I am a shepherd and so "hook end" and "pointed end" functions are fulfilled by my words and actions, most especially in the three-fold ministry of teaching, sanctifying, and governing.

It felt as if the Lord was giving me plenty of opportunities to use both ends of our metaphorical staff this Sunday. I was hearing confessions in the back sacristy during one of the Masses today. I wasn't getting many visitors, so I began to notice all the traffic in the back of church: kids running about, back and forth, without parental guidance. In particular, I saw two teenagers in the back foyer or narthex area move toward the exit doors. They had already been hanging around in the back and so I became immediately suspicious of what was going on. They piously made the sign of the cross and then walked out of church. So, I left my confessional post, ever so briefly, to methodically walk around outside. As I suspected, I found the two girls on the side of the church, chatting. I asked them if they were supposed to be attending Mass. They answered yes. I told them to get inside and sit with their families. I also told them they need to go to confession for skipping out on Jesus. As we walked back to the church, I asked them which year of confirmation preparation they were in (we have two years in this diocese). They answered, "First year." I told them, as I had already explained before, that the Holy Mass is the foundation of all we do in the faith and in preparation for other Sacraments. "If you are not attending Mass, you will not be confirmed," I said. They walked back inside. Before I could get back in, a lady stopped me with a question. I then walked inside only to find the same two girls now sitting in the foyer area, chatting, with Mass going on the other side of the foyer wall. I had had it! I walked up to them and I said, "What are you doing out here? Mass is in THERE (pointing to the body of the church). I was nice the first time. Now get in there. If I see you out here again, you will not be confirmed." Likewise, I later found a young fifth grader wandering around outside and eating candy. He said his parents were inside but he didn't want to be there. I began to quiz him, since he had books in his hand from RE class, about whether he was preparing for a Sacrament this year, if he had been baptized, etc. He didn't know what a Sacrament is, what Mass is, or what Baptism is. So, I took his name and phone number, told him to get inside, throw out his candy and tell his parents they were to see me before they departed from Mass. They did and I told them they should be responsible to see their children grow in the faith and to watch over them -- this kid was wandering around outside totally unsupervised.

In the midst of all this, clearly rather flustered, I noticed a van parked directly outside the entrance to the church. A medallion of the Blessed Virgin Mary was hanging from the rear view mirror and, suction-cupped on the center of the windshield was the small shape of a nude woman (you know those kind you see in silver on the mud flaps of semi-trucks) designed to shake back and forth as the car moves. I couldn't believe it. So, yours truly took out a piece of paper and wrote the following message, sticking the paper under the windshield wiper:

What a shame and what a sin! A pornographic image of a nude woman placed on the glass together with the Virgin Mother of God. Get rid of it immediately. -- Fr. Hamilton

I don't want people to be mad at me. But some things need correcting and when your duty carries with it just such a responsibility, I firmly believe you had better do it or face punishment yourself.

Mountains out of molehills
I had a thoroughly enjoyable time last week visiting a class mate and dear friend at his parish, set in a fabulous display of deciduous fall color. And, yes, I enjoyed myself knowing full well that there would be attacks and cheap shots against me on the blog. I am man enough to turn my back, knowing that will happen, and knowing just as certainly that there is no real threat at all.

One night at supper in a wonderful lodge with great food, I overheard a man at another table speak what just might be the most idiotic comment I have heard. I will hope that the comment reflects his having had too much alcohol, and not what would otherwise be a cause to revoke his right to procreate! The man and the others at his table were discussing being in the Eastern Time Zone on their trip. He said, "Gee, after all these years in the Central Time Zone, it would be rather odd to live here. I'm not sure how I would do it."

I looked across the table at my priest-classmate and said (so that only he could hear), "Yes, how ever could one do it? I imagine it would be akin to -- oh, I don't know -- when we all have to turn our clocks forward: we do it once, we adjust, move on, and get over it!" How hard can it be?

"He's Legit, Folks!"

As if there was any doubt in my mind...

SOME OF YOU WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ME

For those of you who wanted to know what I look like, and more about my background check out the above link. JUST KIDDING! I don't really work for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Actually, I will post more about me (for real), but it is late now. Oh, for Tech-Monkey Dave and his able asst., Steph, I found out why all my Blogger editting stuff disappeared. Blogger is not Mac-friendly. I hope I got the above link right.

This is the sort of law suit folks should be afraid of...



Have a festive quasi-Pagan candy snarf. For the Catholics, Happy All Saints and All Souls Day.

Fall Home Tour
With the delightful backdrop of the color display put on by the trees of fall, the annual Fall Home Tour in Alva, Oklahoma, actually made a stop at Fr. Tharp's rectory. Fr. Tharp's rectory is an annual stop on the home tour and a site listed on tourist maps because it carries the distinction of being Alva's only glass house. What's that they say about those who live in glass houses? Apparently, the message hasn't gotten through to Fr. Tharp, as we can see from this lame stone he tossed our direction.

I will simply observe that it was Fr. Tharp who was actually watching Regis and Kathie Lee, or Kelly Lee, or Gelman Lee, whatever it is called these days! How's that for making a POINT?! He's OUT OF CONTROL!

WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN?
I just got back today from a visit to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, in Philadelphia -- where Fr. Tharp and I met. I will admit, I did not leave the seminary with good feelings. I thought, for a variety of reasons, that they were very screwed up, psychologically. In fact, it took me nearly a year to go back there, and even then I had sickening feelings.

However, I have several friends studying there (including a truly wonderful deacon who, God willing, will be a wonderful addition to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City), and they have been asking when I would come, now as a priest alumni, to visit them. So I spent my one "over-night" per month to visit the little troopers at the seminary. Ahhhh, it was just like I never left -- They treated me like crap while I was there, and they still do.

When Fr. Tharp visits the seminary, they place him in a suite in the faculty wing. They give him a sitting room with a TV, a fully stock refrig (yes, even with booze), and a beautiful fruit basket. When I arrived yesterday I was told I would be staying in the dormitory (actually in the room right next to Fr. Tharp's old room), on the 4th floor. They told me that they did not have a key for me, but the room would be open. When I got to Vianney Hall (the dorm for theologians) I discovered that the elevator has been out of service for over a month. Offering it up for sinners, I started the long march up to the 4th floor from the basement. Huffing and puffing I get up there only to find that the door is locked. So it is back downstairs to get security to open it up. Then when I get back up to the 4th floor (Oh yeah, I'm carrying a suit bag and a small duffle bag) and security lets me in I find that the bed has been slept in, and used (dirty) towels are on the bathroom floor. I leave my bags, and it is back downstairs to see if I can at least get some clean linens, even if they will not make up the room. When the seminarian guest master (a friend) hears of this, he blows a gasket and gets me switched to the retreat master suite (OK, no TV, refrig or fruit basket, but at least a sitting room and clean linens). I had asked that housekeeping, since I did not have a key to Rm 430, leave the room unlock. I go up there to get my things to take them to the suite on the 2nd floor only to find that they have locked 430 so I cannot get my bags. It is back to security, get my bags, take them to 201-202 and then off to celebrate Mass. On my way to Mass they tell me that they have made a mistake and I cannot stay in the suite so it is back up to 430, still without a key.

While they did allow me to concelebrate, it was far cry from the warm welcome that Fr. Tharp receives. Well, ... I tried to "kiss and make up" with the place. It makes me sick to visit. Next time I will just meet my friends and fellow Trenton seminarians someplace close and buy they fancy coffees to drink as we visit. I just have to warn another close friend of mine not to go back to the seminary. While they did not like me, they made him their "whipping boy." He is now, thank God a priest, but if he goes back there I fear how they would treat him, based on how they treated me, whom they merely disliked.

Minion in Training

People have been raving about this blog for a couple of weeks now, but I have been running about like a raving loony, so no new links or new blogs for yours truly. It is the last line of this post that shows her true brillance. Name the movie it comes from for bonus points.

BOSTON RED SOX

2004 WORLD CHAMPS

Love, Steph

This Blog From a Morning Show Perspective

So, I was loafing the a.m. over a bowl of Wheaties, watching Regis and Kelly. As I watched the show, I noticed how my speech patterns and Regis's were very similar. In essence, I make a point by shouting at the end of the sentence. That would mean that if this blog were a morning show, I would be Regis. But what does that make the other two contributors to this blog?

Clearly, Fr. Hamilton cannot be Kelly. She is too perky and happy with the world. That only means that Fr. Hamilton is the Kathy Lee Gifford of the blog. It really does fit. Without warning, Fr. H is liable, during a phone conversation, to break into song, usually a show tune. Also, I wouldn't put it past him to run a super secret Honduran sweat shop that works night and day to manufacture all those fancy clerical duds he wears. He called it a flood in the basement; I call it a surprise inspection by INS.

That leaves Fr. Garrett who must be the Kelly Ripa of the Blog. This is not an insult. First, given the number of children she has already had, 3 in total, 2 while on the show, she is clearly not contracepting. She and her husband are practicing Catholics. This would fit with his goal to promote Christian families. Also, Father frequently regales us with tales from the Garden State that are loaded with insights useful for the Christian life. Kelly, while not always talking about the kids, does give us enough information to be a credible stalker if we so chose.

The lesson of this post is clear. If you are going to leave town to visit friends elsewhere, make sure you have internet access.

The First Insert: First Friday Devotions

The idea behind these bulletin inserts is to fire a highly concentrated block of catechetical information right into the homes of my parishioners. So, the emphasis here is brevity. The first insert is about First Friday Devotions, which we will begin to observe starting next week. Savor the tasty catechesis!

Where did the First Friday Devotion come from?
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be traced back to as early as the 13th century through the writings of St. Bonaventure. Commenting on the Passion as found in St. John’s Gospel, he noted that the blood and water flowing from the Heart of Jesus after it is pierced with a lance shows that Christ holds nothing back from
us in order to redeem us. Other saints, like St. John Eudes, help to promote and
develop this devotion to the Sacred Heart. However, it was the singular
experience of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that cemented this devotion into the
general life of the Church. In 1675, St. Margaret Mary received a vision of the
Lord who promised to bestow special graces, the grace of perseverance in the
Faith through the whole of their life, who observed the First Fridays as a
reparation.

Why practice the First Friday Devotion?
Imagine if you had a good friend who was knocked down by some inconsiderate person rushing off down the street. What would your reaction be? You would go to the friend, pick him up, brush him off, and take him to get something to calm his nerves. In short, you would find some way to repay the unkindness handed to him by the stranger with a kindness of your own. This is the same principle behind the First Friday Devotion.

No matter how observant a Catholic we think ourselves to be, we all fall short of the respect and love that God deserves. Add in the abuses our Lord must suffer at the hands of unbelievers and the ignorant and it becomes readily apparent how much disgrace our Lord is subjected to.

Knowing this situation calls all of us to make reparation for the insults that we or others have given to our Lord. The First Friday Devotion is a time set apart for us to sincerely ask Jesus’s forgiveness and to make amends for all the faults and sins of the world as an act of reparation.

How does one observe the First Friday?
The First Friday devotion is observed in the following fashion: 1. Receive
Holy Communion worthily on nine consecutive Fridays, 2. Have the intention of
honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of reaching final perseverance, 3. Offer
each holy Communion as an act of atonement for offenses against the Blessed
Sacrament3. It is also fitting on First Fridays, therefore, to go to Confession
and to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament as an act of reparation for
sin.

Here at Sacred Heart Parish, on First Fridays, the Holy Mass will
be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. with Exposition to follow. At 7:00 p.m., the Litany of the Sacred Heart will be recited. Confessions will be heard from the conclusion of the Litany until 8:45 p.m. The extended period of adoration will continue with night prayer and Benediction. Also, because the Blessed Sacrament cannot be exposed and left unattended, a sign up sheet will be provided so that a sufficient number of adorers are available.

Not Sure What He's Getting At

It is a function of my musical immaturity that I can't enjoy a song fully unless I can comprehend the artistic genesis of the piece. In short, I need to understand what the song's "point" is.

So, do me a favor, won't you? Go look at the lyrics I've linked and see if you can translate what the song is getting at. I think I know but I am not certain. I'll keep my interpretation a secret so as not to bias the crowd.

Exploiting a Teachable Moment

Last weekend, I was away from my parish as most of you know. When I got back I found out, that the coverage priest had done some fairly unorthodox things during Mass. I won't go into detail, because the actions themselves are not relevant nor did they invalidate the sacrament, but I do want to show you how Tharp-Kwon-Do can be helpful in lots of situations.

My first instinct was to retaliate with a JUDO CHOP followed by the WHIRLING SPIN KICK OF CHARITY, but I thought better of it. Added is the fact that the parish has had a history of liturgical nuttiness, so going after the priest alone was not going to be enough. The parishioners who told me about it reminded me of small children who "rat" on the substitute teacher when the regular teacher returns. They could barely suppress their glee at the thought they had done something that I wouldn't approve of, as though the changes I made were only my idea. Thank GOD for the GIRM. So I re-directed their energy and created the teachable moment.

Next weekend, this blurb will appear in the bulletin:

From the Pastor’s Desk:
It came to my attention that some unorthodox
events occurred during the celebration of the Holy Mass last weekend. I want to
apologize for their taking place. The Catholic laity deserve to have the liturgy
of the Church celebrated without adulteration or modification of the whims of a
particular presider. After all, "For this reason no sacramental rite may be
modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community. Even the
supreme authority in the Church may not change the liturgy arbitrarily, but only
in the obedience of faith and with religious respect for the mystery of the
liturgy" (CCC #1125). Be assured that I have already addressed this matter with
both Fr. X’s superior and the Archbishop. Thank you to those who approached me
about this matter.

Subtlety is not my strong suit, but I can use it when I need it. Dave says, "You can be charming when you really want to be." I'll keep you posted.

SORRY FOR THE SILENCE
After reading about the concern for the where-abouts of Fr. Tharp when he did not post in a while, I thought I should explain why I have been so quiet.

We had Confirmation this week, and as the parish's Sacramental Moderator (not to be confused with the Sacramental Coordinator or Sacramental Secretary -- OK, its a little confusing), it was my show to get ready for. I had to make sure that the gym was turned into a reasonable and somewhat reverent "worship space." Hey, you can only do so much with a gym, but there were too many people (118 Confirmandi, plus their families) to fit in the Church, and splitting them into two Confirmation groups I was told was not an option. Actually I am most blessed by an extremely competent staff who are also well experienced. They tell me what has been tried in the past, what has worked, what has not, and ALWAYS asks me what does the Church want us to do. I am very proud of them. After a lot of planning and work, everything was set up.

The Confirmandi (this was the smallest class in several years, at 118) were one of the most difficult groups to work with. Basically they would not shut up and listen to what they were suppose to do. We had rehearsals both on Monday and Tuesday. Since I had to go visit a dying person, I walked into the Monday rehearsal about 30 minutes late to find that it took that long for the DRE and Sacramental Coordinator (both very good lay women) to get them lined up properly because the Confirmandi were uncooperative. I walked in to hear the DRE saying to them, "if I have to tell you to be quiet and listen one more time I will cancel Confirmation." When she saw me she looked a bit sheepish, but I told her that I would back her up. By the end of the rehearsal I had told two of the Confirmandi that if they did not shut up and act more respectfully they would not get Confirmed until next year when they might be more mature. Sadly, the students from our Catholic grammar school were the worse offenders. Fortunately the Tuesday rehearsal went MUCH better. Have the principal of our grammar school patroling around helped tremendously.

Everyone, most importantly the pastor and episcopal vicar (who did the Confirmation), said that all went very well; though the one altar server, who stood in the middle of the stage, infront of the altar, shrugging his shoulders saying, "I don't know what to do" despite my telling him 3 times confirmed for me that if the servers are not there for rehearsal, they will not serve. It was a long day; up for the 6:25 a.m. Mass, then a breakfast meeting with my team, followed by hours of set up. I finally plopped in my recliner after 9 p.m.

I was up the next day for 6:25 a.m. Mass, then home for my day off to see my Mom who was having her knee scoped (she is home and doing fine). My pastor told me to take Friday off too, but I came back for my private Latin lesson, and since I was back, there were calls to handle. Again, Saturday I had the 6:25 a.m. Mass (not typical to have it 3 times in one week), then was on call for the hospital. About an hour and a half after falling asleep last night the ER called for me to give "Last Rites." The man was a wonderful doctor who established a clinic for the poor in town.

Today was Mass, Religious Education, and tonight I host the monthly Vocations Discernment meeting. As I began reading Fulton Sheen's book, "The Priest is Not His Own," in which he takes up the theme that as Christ was both Priest and Victim therefore priests today must also be victims, offering their bodies and blood when they offer "This is My Body" and "This is My Blood" I could relate to his idea of my physical tiredness (fessa in Latin, see, I'm learning!) as part of that. Oh well, I am going to try to catch some sleep before this evening's meeting.

Locked in a Conclave
Friends, I will be locked in a Conclave until my Cardinals win the World Series, so I won't be blogging for several days. Once the white smoke puffs into the open air, then I will... Well, actually, I'll be taking a few days of rest visiting a seminary classmate and good friend in Maryland. I'll have a report perhaps as early as the end of this week.

Cardinals, Red Sox, and Peking Duck
Well, I joined Game One of the 2004 World Series late (because I had Mass as the game started) and I am going to have to leave it early (I need sleep for tomorrow's early rise and drive to the mission church an hour away) but are we going to walk this thing to victory? I can't remember the last time I saw so many walks in a game. I mean, there were more walks in that game than in a Chinese restaurant supply store!

Wichita Orphaned: Day 333
Yes, this is the 333rd day of the Diocese of Wichita being without a bishop, and the Vatican STILL has not named Fr. Tharp to that post! It's kind of sad, because Fr. Tharp keeps looking into houses in Wichita for himself, but until he gets the appointment he can't lock into a lower interest rate on a home loan -- and the rates are rising.

History's Second Papal Encyclical
In other words, the Second Letter of St. Peter in the Bible. It happened again this morning. Occasionally I come across this Scripture passage and I try to imagine how a Protestant could possibly read it and still think the "once saved, always saved" idea makes any sense. This morning I came across the passage in the Liturgy of the Hours, morning prayer. It is 2 Peter 1:10-11. I am going to provide two translations of it.

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible reads: "Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

So let me get this straight. God has called us, elected us (i.e., chosen us), to share in His divine life, to reject godless "corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). But that call is apparently NOT ONLY the action of God who calls, BUT ALSO MUST BE the response of man who is called. In other words, if our call and election were simply a one-time, static, once saved, always saved, sort of arrangement, it would make no sense for St. Peter to exhort his readers to DO something, to "be the more zealous to CONFIRM your call and election." Furthermore, what's at stake with God's call, what is the thing to which we must make a response and for which me must care and protect? It is precisely our "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"

Here is the translation from the Liturgy of the Hours. It comes across even more strongly, in my opinion: "Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, brothers; surely those who do so will never be lost. On the contrary, your entry into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for."

Once saved, always saved? I'd be rather nervous right now if I proposed such an idea.

Edmondson enlists stylists in abuse fight

I found this article in the OKC newspaper about probably a week or so ago, but the age won't affect the quality of the report. Our district attorney in OKC, in an effort to curb domestic abuse, is enlisting hair stylists in the effort. They are being trained to recognize the signs of domestic abuse in their customers and ways to encourage the women to get out of these environments.

At first blush, this can seem silly. But the more I thought it over, I realized it made perfect sense. After all, a stylist would be able to see fading bruises on the scalp, places where the hair has been yanked out, and the other tell-tale signs that other folks would miss simply because they don't get the chance to look closely at the scalp and other regions.

The program is called "Cut it Out" and more information can be found here.

Exigencies & Spirituality
When I became pastor I promised occasional reflections on the experience of being a new pastor. From time to time, I have shared certain happenings in the parish -- some disappointing things and plenty of exciting things. Yesterday something happened at the parish that reminded me of a lesson I had already learned. But, I think this was the first experience of it as pastor. The lesson has to do with the exigencies of life in the body -- our proper existence as a unity of body and soul -- and how that seems to compete with the spiritual life.

On Thursday, I got up nice and early and enjoyed some quiet prayer before heading over to the chapel for the Holy Mass. I was excited. Yes, because of Mass, but also because I had a great start on the day. Immediately after completing Holy Mass, I was going to throw one day's change of clothing in my car and head down to Oklahoma City for the monthly meeting of my priest support group. It is a welcome relief in a busy life to stop, even if just briefly, to enjoy the fraternity of other priests and to unload a bit of the burden. Well, God decided, I guess, that I hadn't yet reached my burden limit for the month. I found a small lagoon just outside the main entrance to the church. Suddenly, the prayerful preparation I normally undergo for Holy Mass, which begins by washing the hands, found me instead with my hand poking around a muddy hole, trying to find the source of our own little version of the fountain at Lourdes! [No, I didn't plant my face in it and drink. If Our Lady was there directing me to do so, I missed her!] I offered the Holy Mass, took off the vestments and got right back to the lagoon, determined to call the city, turn off the water, call a plumber and still leave for my support group. After all, I'm not a plumber and they certainly don't need me looking over their shoulder in order to adequately fix such a problem. All was on track, until I discovered that the lagoon had a twin in the basement Kindergarten RE classroom. I cancelled my attendance at the support group, envisioning the entire church disappearing into an enormous sinkhole were I to be away. [Not that our church being swallowed up by a sinkhole wouldn't be welcome, I just wanted to make sure to be here so that immediate plans could be announced for a glorious gothic cathedral in its place! OH, okay, I'll be honest, I would have wanted to open a bottle of champagne too!]

Such is life in the flesh. We have the best plans to set time aside for God. We are going to finish earthly tasks early so as to devote attention to the spiritual life. We are going to pray, go to confession, keep the TV off, stop sitting around the recliner night after night... But life throws many unforeseen exigencies in our path. And, as the meaning of exigency communicates, these distractions must be attended to immediately. I suppose the recognition that exigencies will happen ought to mean that we take even that much more care to nourish our souls now. We must be even that much more disciplined in earthly pleasures so that our souls move toward perfection. Because, let's face it, if we don't exercise care in this regard, the exigencies of life will deplete the focus our souls deserve. And that will be time and effort we cannot regain when the exigency of death and our particular judgment invite themselves into our plans!

And if you, dear reader, are just now returning to this post in a huff because you had begun reading it, but were distracted by a crying baby, a phone caller making back-to-back calls when you didn't answer the first time, or a buzzer reminding you that dinner is about to burn, you have just experienced the very thing about which I write! God bless you.

Could it be?
A parishioner recently asked me a question that sort of stopped me in my tracks. I had never really stopped to think of the matter before her question. I invite the reflection of all of our readers and, of course, anyone who can provide any hints of official Church teaching. Her question was "Does God ever punish other people for someone else's sin?"

I think the question stopped me in my tracks because, as I quickly evaluated the question (gotta love that out-of-the-blue, need-an-answer-now, kind of situation!), the response I arrived at was a qualified yes. Of course, the answer I so much wanted to give was, "Well, no." But it would seem that biblical examples can be found where the evil, the sin, of the leader of a certain people, brings God's punishment upon the whole people. [Would anyone care to provide some good references here?] Another category of example is King David (cf. 2 Samuel 12:13-18). His sin with Bathsheba and his sin against Uriah the Hittite is forgiven, but God still declares that the child conceived in Bathsheba must die.

But then again, and trying to keep in balance the WHOLE of Scriptural Revelation (as the Church requires of any good scriptural interpretation), we have plenty of accounts of a righteous leader of God's people interceding for them such that God's wrath is calmed. We can think of Abraham (cf. Gen. 18:16-32) who repeatedly "reminded" God of the divine quality of merciful justice before His stated intention to destroy the whole towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. By such intercession, God declared that he would spare the towns if even only ten righteous people could be found within them. There is the example of Moses, that powerful mediator between God and His Chosen People. The People sinned greatly in making and worshipping a golden calf when Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain (cf. Ex. 32:1-10). However, Moses implored the Lord God not to let His wrath flare up against the whole People and God repented of the destruction He thought to do (cf. Ex. 32:11-14, 30-35). [Notice the last section cited here, Ex. 32:30-35, also seems to show a large number of people being punished. Aaron was responsible for fashioning the golden calf, but the people who donated their gold for its manufacture were certainly cooperators (formally?) in the sin.] Another example of God intending mass punishment, but then relenting, comes in Numbers 21:4-9. Here God sends the seraph serpents to bite and kill complaining Israel. But, again, Moses intercession on behalf of the People is met with God's mercy dispensed through a visible sign, the bronze serpent lifted high on a pole (Oh, yes, folks, hints of the Sacraments even in the Old Testament. I LOVE IT!!!). Yes the power of a holy intercessor, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (James 5:16).

So, it seems in this brief reflection (certainly a more profound treatment is needed), that answers both in the affirmative and the negative can be found to the question: "Does God ever punish other people for someone else's sin?" Thus, the reason I said my response was a qualified yes. What else can you add to this study? What answer, based in God's Word (both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, please), would you give to such a question?

Guarding Tereza

For those who are advocating the coming of Kerry, Otto of Otto-da-Fe shows a sign of the future.

Filthy, Godless Communists, One and All

I liked Mark Shea's comment that he lacked the gene for interest in sports. I "suffer" much the same affliction except when it comes to soccer and American football, assuming I am with someone who has a good grasp of tactics. With the victories of the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, we have the next World Series shaping up, but I note a curious feature of the celebrations. I am shocked to see how much vile venom is being sprayed Manhattan way. However, all of this opprobrium directed at the New York Yankees is completely uncalled for. Why? Here are my reasons.

1. They are America's team. Say what you will about Washington, D.C., being the nation's capital, New York City is the nation's identity. It is the hub of culture, fashion, society, etc. The Yankees are an American as apple pie. They represent the greatest of American cities and stand as an accidental symbol of American endurance when we were attacked.

2. They are a solid team. I guess it is the phenomenon of hating a winner, but you cannot argue with Yankee success. There are some out there who will say, "well, they (meaning management) were able to buy all that talent." How is this different from any other team? I seem to remember a less than stellar analysis of both the Rockies and the Diamondbacks when they began, principally based on this same issue. Why is it that the Yankees are singled out when EVERY team finds ways to press, to stretch, to fold, spindle, and/or mutilate the salary cap? If they haven't broken the rules, they shouldn't be scorned for better spending practices.

3. Great Uniforms. Okay, so this is kind of frivolous but you have to admit the combo of blue pinstripes and cream, off-white jerseys is hard to beat. I would have more respect for the Cardinals if their official logo included the red hat given to Cardinals. After all, they are in a town named for a SAINT! At least the angels kept a halo in the design.

So there you have it. Enjoy the fact that the Curse of the Bambino hasn't run its course yet, Red Sox fans. I am predicting the Cards in four straight.

Ecce Manus Magnus!

Since this post is transitioning from bishop to cardinals, I thought I would maintain a Latin title! What a great day yesterday was! A great new bishop named and a bunch of cardinals victorious! The St. Louis Cardinals are your 2004 National League Champions. Behold the Great Team! I hear the Cardinals are going to celebrate by releasing a Pastoral Letter to the faithful.

Ecce Sacerdos Magnus!

The midwest contingency of the blog would like to express its "All, Hail" Award to His Excellency, Bishop-designate Paul S. Coakley, Bishop-elect of Salina, Kansas. We congratulate him and we promise our prayers for him as he begins his new ministry for the Church. We expect great things from his episcopal leadership. Early word has it that his episcopal motto will be "transiam ad rubricam." Enjoy the photo posted here -- it will surely be one of the last of him in simple priest attire.

Things to make you say "Bleeargh!"

I know the Brits go in for this sort of humor, but not me. I need to find some bleach to spritz in my eyes.

Lightning Strikes Close to Home

Many readers of this blog know of my continuing interest in the situation in the diocese of Wichita, KS. Okay, don't panic. It's just that the diocese has been without a bishop for about a year and change now. I maintain my interest because of the many friends, lay and cleric alike, I have in that diocese. Well, they didn't receive a bishop. Instead, one of their own has been named bishop. Fr. Paul Coakley, the administrator of the Church of the Magdalen, has been named bishop of Salina, KS. All congratulations to him, and if you think of it, remember him in your prayers. This will be a very difficult transition for the parish, who are losing their second pastor after only a brief term, for the diocese, who hate to lose a talented, excellent priest, and for the diocese he goes to, as they adjust to a new man at the helm.

Pope Makes Gesture to Orthodox Church

While I dread the reporting on Yahoo! I do appreciate at least the news being there. This story makes me smile for two reasons. One, it shows the solicitude of the Holy Father for ALL Christians. He's their Pope too, even if they refuse to acknowledge him. Two, the inset picture is of a squadron of very POD looking nuns. Hmmm....religious habits....

Bad Music meets Good Work

I will let you figure out the irony of this article on your own. However, I applaud his efforts and wish him much success. I just wish he would get wound up about the child in the womb...

Cuban President Fidel Castro falls leaving stage after TV speech

Could this be a metaphor in our midst?

Inmates 'have a plan' to run the asylum

I don't normally listen to/read political punditry simply because it seems like they are too interested in making a cheap point instead of engaging an issue. But when I found this link on E-Pression, the line about the Coalition of the Fabulous demanded greater circulation.

And speaking of circulation, the great mantis at E-pression is entering the last trimester. This was, as my sister referred to it, the great expansion phase. Remember to pray for her and her little mantis.

As my Hispanic friends might say, "No Tienen Verguenza?"

Pro-Life Group Condemns UNICEF Halloween Fundraiser Over
Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Halloween is just around
the corner and for another year UNICEF is urging children to collect funds when
they go trick-or-treating. However, a pro-life group that monitors abortion on
an international scale says the United Nation's agency is pro-abortion and
shouldn't receive support. For decades, UNICEF has used children to raise
hundreds of millions of dollars in funds by collecting spare change. The idea is
seen as a way for children in industrialized nations like the United States to
help children living in impoverished countries. However, Steven Mosher,
president of Population Research International says the UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) promotes abortion. Instead of focusing on ending world hunger or
increasing health care for children, UNICEF now spends a considerable amount of
time on population control and family planning, efforts the normally involve
abortion. "UNICEF denies promoting abortion, but it has endorsed, and even
helped to draft, documents that call for the legalization of abortion," Mosher
says.http://www.lifenews.com/nat888.html

Inside the Vatican
I just received a Press Release this morning from Inside the Vatican (ITV) about their special October issue dossier on Catholics and voting. They have compiled several contributions on this topic, and apparently I am somehow listed in the dossier for my Pastoral Letter to my parishes. I don't know what portion of my letter, if any, is in the dossier, but I guess my name is listed and, I would imagine, a link to my blog is probably given so that the letter can be accessed. I guess I should really subscribe to ITV so I can know for myself!

Off to a great start
You might recall from an earlier post I mentioned some ideas I am implementing in my parish to observe the special Year of the Holy Eucharist. For the past two weekends I have been pushing the idea of having Adoration on all Fridays (currently we have it only on First Fridays of each month). I announced it two weekends ago and asked people to spend the week praying about what sacrifice they might make to attend Adoration on Fridays. This past weekend I announced it again, but this time I had a sign-up sheet in the back of church telling people I needed to see the interest level and commitment from parishioners so that I could know whether we could pull this off. Well, after all of the Masses last weekend I walked up to that sign-up sheet, not really knowing what to expect: Thirty-six people had signed-up! I am going to push it hard again this weekend, especially asking the youth to make a commitment. I am planning on starting this endeavor after the Mark Shea talk on the Holy Eucharist on November 15.

Today was also the beginning of our new confession hours. Previously, this parish had one hour and five minutes of scheduled confessions per week. I figure that our new schedule provides two hours and fifteen minutes of confessions per week! It is a bit hard to get an exact number on, because we will now be hearing confessions during weekend Masses (stopping just before the Consecration), meaning the exact start and stop time is a bit nebulous. But I figure that confessions during each Mass will add at least another thirty minutes of confessions, if not more. So, two hours and fifteen minutes is probably a reasonable figure to claim. Tonight, may have been a bit of a fluke, but we heard confessions for an hour and a half! In fact, I had planned to concelebrate Mass with my Associate Pastor after helping him hear confessions. However, at the time Mass was supposed to begin, there were still people in line, so I decided to remain in the confessional, figuring I could make a bit of a sacrifice myself by having a private Mass later on (which I am just about to go and do). All in all, I heard about 15 confessions. My associate probably heard anywhere from 5-7. A great turnout and a great start to this new schedule. Now, it may have been a bit of a fluke tonight because many people came to confession as part of preparation for a quinceañera on Saturday. (For those not in the know, a quinceañera is a special celebration among Hispanics when a girl turns 15.) The kids who participate in it tend to come for confession beforehand. Perhaps next Wednesday evening will be a better indication of what kind of regular/normal traffic we might expect. We shall see.

Blogger Fraud

There was a time when I called upon Fr. H to get off his duff and get back to blogging. Apparently, he decided to return the favor. As most reasonable people know, I have been out and about doing this and that. I have been away from the Rectory of Solitude for about a week now. At the time, I reported that I was away because I was assisting with Cursillo and my support group. But after consultation with His Excellency, Eusebius J. Beltran, I am able to reveal my actual location for the last week. I have been engaged in a covert mission for the Archbishop, progressively inflitrating remote rural parishes, disguised as a large, confused, prairie dog. But because Fr. H's controlling nature, and suspected ties to CBS and TBN, I have had to make this information known. I just hope he had that memo rechecked before he reported that I have left the blog because he has totally compromised my mission. I hope he is happy. As of this writing, I have filed a report with the local TV station about the HAM-Gate Memos. Watch the news for more coverage.

As to turning this incident against Fr. H as a demonstration of his own ego and paranoia, I don't think that is necessary. You see, this whole "Fr. Tharp-is-gone" post (and it does make me wonder if I am Paul McCartney in this little arrangement), demonstrates Fr. H's humility. Fr. H is not comfortable with his PC or any technology that came after manuscript illumination; last night, it was making a weird noise and scared the little trooper so badly he had to call me. It was cute and a little sad at the same time. This recent post simply demonstrates in all humility Fr. H's fear of computers. He needs someone like me to hold his hand and help him navigate this brave new digital world. So, buck up, little trooper, all will be well.

So, no, I would never turn this posting cycle against Fr. H. By manifesting his weakness, we see that the power of his blogging posts come from the Lord, who makes power the weak. Mine clearly comes from some other source ... you know, Beezelbub. But don't concern yourself over my being an agent of Satan. The duties are largely ceremonial.

Vatican Says Anti-Kerry Lawyer Hoodwinked Them

Just when I was getting used to confusion...

In Tribute to Our 75,000th Visitor
Well, this week, we surpassed 75,000 visitors to our blog, now in its ninth month. Hhhmmm. Nine months into this blogging... Are we fully developed and ready for the next stage of blog life? You can send birthday presents to each of us when you get a chance.

Anyway, it has been our habit to celebrate significant milestones with the number of visitors we get. So, to celebrate the 75,000th visitor [Drumroll please...]

Fr. Tharp has departed the blog!

Sooner or later you all were going to figure out why he has not been posting. His ego needs just could no longer be met by sharing a blog with at least two other writers, and sometimes four other writers. He was well on his way to developing his own entire blog universe but he became too demanding and it all fell apart. Yes, he tried to demand that Google rename itself to Tharp. When that didn't happen, his entire evil plot to abandon us for his own blog universe came to nothing. Can you imagine if Google had agreed? What would we have said about searching on Google: I "Tharped" something on the internet? Yyyyyiiiiikkkkkeeeesssss!!!!!

There are conflicting reports about where Fr. Tharp has gone. However, two stories have surfaced repeatedly. Could they have some basis in reality? The first account claims that Fr. Tharp needed time to take inventory of his life, so to speak. He needed to retreat from his frantic grasping at media attention and desire for name recognition, so he has gone off to join an isolationist, radical group called the PLO: Primate Liberation Organization. A picture from that group can be seen here. The second report is, I think, even more disturbing. It is said that Fr. Tharp has found the one consistent organization that will stroke his ego. He has joined a cult devoted to remaking the 1970's Japanese classic program "Monkey." That group's latest efforts can be seen here. Whichever is the case, we wish Fr. Tharp much luck and happiness in his new endeavors!

Anyway, thank to you all for visiting us, for reading, for commenting, and, we hope, for praying for us! God bless you all!

Code cracked!
Okay, after bringing in teams of consultants, FBI analysts, and Navajo windtalkers I have cracked the mysterious code of the identities used by two recent commentors. It was clear from their comments that they knew me, but I couldn't recognize their "call letters." Indeed my first supposition, that the string of letters was from the first name of each person in the family, was incorrect and led me astray. Then the commentors got punchy and began leaving hints. Thank you, ladies, they were very helpful (at least, CLCAMN's was). Actually, CLCAMN's "hint" was basically a full disclosure. After reading her comment, I knew immediately who it was. Her mention of eating stuffed pumpkin blossoms was the full revelatory key. However, I still didn't understand her call letters, though I knew who she was. LCTGSM remained a mystery. I was still lost with her reference to my childhood pet turtle Rosebud (because several people know of that Fr. Hamilton factoid). I had some good guesses since the two mystery people are obviously friends (they mentioned being on the phone with one another), but, again, the strange code letters -- I just couldn't break through it. But, now I have it!

I will now post clues to each mystery person so that they know that I know who they are. I won't mention their names because they may not want that in the public domain.

CLCAMN: How's the agnus Dei?

LCTGSM: Still in Oklahoma are we? How's Philip?

There we go. Geez, another busy day, and code cracking to top it all off!

SENATOR KERRY'S "GOD"
Well, it looks like Blogger is finally letting me login again, although in the "Posting: Create" tab all the dandy editting aides are gone (like, BOLD, Italics, and most importantly, linking). A friend of mine sent me the following link, which seems to explain where Senator Kerry and his ilk get their "theology". I believe the readers of CRM will be amused: http://www.theologyonline.com/newgod/. I think you are going to need to copy and paste the http address because Blogger is not liking me the past few days. I wonder if it has anything to do with switching to Mac.

Also, have the readers of CRM heard about the letter, concerning Senator Kerry's possible excommunication? Several months ago, a canon lawyer filed heresy charges against the Senator in the tribunal of the Archdiocese of Boston. The same lawyer submitted a "dubia" or question to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) asking if dissenting from the Church's teaching on abortion constituted heresy. The CDF's undersecretary, Fr. J. Augustine DiNoia, OP, officially delegated the question to an American theologian, Fr. Basil Cole, OP who answered the "dubia" in the affirmative (meaning that it would be an act of heresy to publicly support abortion, and would carry the automatic excommunication). I have a copy of Fr. Cole's letter, interestingly dated September 11, 2004, but Blogger will not allow me to attach it. I'm sure our readers are wise enough to find it on the Net. It will be interesting to see what the Tribunal in Boston does now. The lawyer who filed the charge is planning to file similar charges against other promenient "Catholic" politicians, both Democrats and Republicans.

I'm hurt and offended!
For two reasons. (1) I am convinced that Fr. Tharp, though he could have, has not posted anything during his day off simply because I suggested that he would post something. This is yet another lame attempt to make me look the fool before the blogosphere and our loyal readers. When will the cheap attempts to appear superior end? (2) This morning I got an early start on the day. I was innocently drinking fresh ground coffee this morning, watching the TV for the day's first news, when I saw the commercial. It was so hurtful and offensive. It was a Sylvan Learning Center commercial. It showed some young, probably junior high, boy who FINALLY was able to appease his mother with a report card she would be proud of. What got under my skin? As the commercial showed the learning challenged lad at work, the observant viewer could clearly detect that he is LEFT-HANDED! Yes, I get it, ruthless, money-grubbing companies: The lefties are the wierdos, the underdeveloped Neanderthals that must be helped along by the right-handed world just to get by remedial education. It is the same old, tired, stereotype that finds its origin in the Latin term for "left," "sinister, sinistra" from which we get the term "sinister." When will the persecution end? We know Catholicism is the "last" acceptable prejudice, but no one ever mentions prejudice against the left-handed. Catholic AND left-handed: a double strike to my advancement in this evil world. Can't people understand that I'm a left-hander that just happens to be Catholic?

Oh, come now!
Fr. Tharp, I know where you are. There is simply no excuse for your not having made at least a quick, brief post. You are on your day off in the Oklahoma City metroplex. You probably enjoyed a well-deserved bit more of sleep today. By now (I hope) you have rolled out of bed and have made today's first visit to Starbucks. Well-slept and well-coffee'd (?), there is simply no excuse for not sitting down in front of the computer and offering your pearls of wisdom.

HE'S BA-ACK!
And, folks, he's crowing like a rooster. Fr. Tharp has completed his work on this past weekend's Cursillo and he is nearer now to modern means of communication. Something tells me he will be posting very soon, before his next activities keep him away from the blog again.

Hello, Darkness, my old friend...
Fr. Tharp is still on the Cursillo weekend. Something tells me he will be breaking his silence when he returns from Support Group but before he heads off to Wichita for spiritual direction. I was east of Oklahoma City in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Shawnee is home to St. Gregory Abbey and University. The monks there have an annual priest appreciation dinner. I went to that on Thursday and stayed in Shawnee for another dinner event on Friday night with many old friends from my first parish assignment. It was all great fun, especially Friday's dinner with so many wonderful families -- or should I say Domestic Churches!

My words like silent raindrops fell...

Thus, have I broken my silence.

A Humble Request & A Explanation of Silence

For the next couple of days, you shouldn't hear much from the three men of Monkey Central. For me, I will be away from Thursday to Sunday assisting with the Women's Cursillo in Weatherford, OK. If you think of it, please pray for those who will take part in this weekend retreat. Cursillo is a wonderful lay ecclesial movement that has helped many people take their responsibilities before Christ more seriously. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I will be in Altus, OK at my priest's support group. Then I turn around and go to Wichita for Spiritual Direction on Friday. So don't expect much from me.

I will let the other boys kick around the reasons for their silence...

Further Pastoral Planning for the Year of the Holy Eucharist

I began the implementation of the new observances for the Holy Year and so far so good. I have a coverage priest coming in this weekend, so I have to leave him a note to say the Prayer of Saint Michael after each Sunday Mass.

In this week's bulletin, this article features the "Big Events" to inculcate greater devotion to Jesus Present in the Blessed Sacrament. Also in deference to Dave-o I will block quote rather than italicize.

Feasting at the Table of The Lord, Part Two
By Father Shane Tharp.

Last week, we considered some of the little ways that we could honor
our Lord present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This week, we can look at some
major ways our parishes are going to celebrate this Holy Year.

1. Additional Masses in the Mission Parishes. If the
Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian Faith, then it follows
that our lives must revolve around the Mass, especially in the Sunday
celebration. Sunday is like a "mini-Easter" in which we are re-presented with
the merits of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. But what if you are
saying, "I want more to my Christian life"? In Alva, Holy Mass is celebrated,
Tuesday through Friday, at 8:00 a.m. and Saturday at 9:00 a..m. For the
missions, though, their experience of Mass is hampered by not having a resident
pastor. So additional Masses will be celebrated in the missions as soon as a
workable day and time can be arranged.

2. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass.
If what the Church proposes for belief concerning the Most Blessed Sacrament,
that it is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
under the appearances of Bread and Wine, then it follows that we should give
adoration and praise to Him in this most wonderful sacrament. The Church, from
at least the 8th century, has had special prayer services to take advantage of
His Presence and to spend time before Him. For the Year of the Holy Eucharist
there will be adoration with exposition on Wednesday and First Friday evenings
in Alva. Watch the bulletin for more details.

3. Guest Speakers and Special Events. In addition, to
these opportunities, we will be having a guest speaker come to our parish and
lead us into a greater appreciation of the Most Blessed Sacrament. In November,
the parish will be hosting Mr. Mark Shea. I hope that all of you will make an
effort to be there. In the spring, I hope to bring in Mr. Michael Poirier, but
the details are still being worked out.

4. Visits To the Blessed Sacrament. When all the smoke
from the incense clears, we all should recognize that these special events are
simply the beginning. The parish also needs time to simply be with the Lord. So
on Tuesdays through Sundays, the church will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00
p.m. for times of private adoration. Please use the front doors for access to
the Church.

Of course, I am willing to entertain other ideas. If you have a way to
encourage Eucharistic Devotion in the parish, don’t hesitate to stop by and see
me. Let our hearts swell with life and vitality as we draw close to love
undiluted which pours out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the Most
Blessed Sacrament.

I have also some other evil plans like a constant barrage of bulleting inserts from myself and others and the column I write for the diocesan newspaper is going to take on a whole new slant.

Literary Either/Or

From the Thinklings, via Summa Mommas.

Hardback or Paperback Hardback
Highlight or Underline Highlight
Lewis or Tolkien Tolkien
E.B. White or A.A. Milne E.B. White
T.S. Eliot or e.e. cummings T.S. Eliot
Stephen King or Dean Koontz Dean Koontz
Barnes & Noble or Borders Barnes and Noble
Waldenbooks or B. Dalton Waldenbooks
Fantasy or Science Fiction Science Fiction
Horror or Suspense Horror
Bookmark or Dogear Bookmark
Large Print or Fine Print Fine Print
Hemingway or Faulkner Faulkner
Fitzgerald or Steinbeck Steinbeck
Homer or Plato Homer
Geoffrey Chaucer or Edmund Spenser Geoffrey Chaucer
Pen or Pencil Pen
Looseleaf or Notepad Notepad
Alphabetize: By Author or By Title By Author
Shelve: By Genre/Subject or All Books Together By Genre/Subject
Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off Take it Off
Novella or Epic Epic
John Grisham or Scott Turow Scott Turow
J.K. Rowling or Lemony Snicket Lemony Snicket
John Irving or John Updike John Irving
Salman Rushdie or Don Delillo Don Delillo
Fiction or Non-fiction Non-fiction
Historical Biography or Historical Romance Historical Biography
Reading Pace: A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter Finish the Chapter
Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay Short Story
Blah Blah Blah or Yada Yada Yada Blah Blah Blah
"It was a dark and stormy night…" or "Once upon a time…" "Once upon a time..."
Books: Buy or Borrow Buy
Book Reviews or Word of Mouth Book Reviews

Anyone surprised?

10-5-21
Folks, Fr. Tharp and I (and, we hope, the other Catholic pastors of northwest Oklahoma) are getting very excited about Mark Shea's upcoming visit. Fr. Tharp put together an excellent flier and sent it out to all of the parishes Mark is to visit. That helps with the local publicity. I have posted the flier all over my three parishes and I have put a "freeze" on all other parish activities for the night of Mark's visit. I don't want anything competing with his talk. Today, I began an all out media blitz to prepare for Mark's visit. I prepared a Press Release and e-mailed it to my brother priests who are also hosting Mark. That ought to cut down on their own need to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. They can simply modify my press release for their parish and send it out. So, what's up with the title of this post? No, I am not playing American Legion Football. That number sequence represents my media blitz:

10 Newspapers in the Oklahoma, Texas, & Kansas area have been sent the Press Release;

5 Radio Stations have received the Press Release; and,

21 One of the radio stations has 21 different affiliates in the region who will also be fed the release from the home office station.

10, 5, 21!!! Mark Shea media blitz [read with Transylvanian accent]. Bwah, ha, ha, ha!

Apostolic Letter Mane nobiscum Domine

For those who love English and love the Year of the Holy Eucharist, here is the link you have been waiting for. Buhwahahahahaha...more evil machinations for my parishes. Now, I can place excerpts EVERY WEEK in my bulletin. Excuse me while I finish this post while rolling around on my back, giggling and kicking my feet in the air.

Thanks to the guys at Catholic Light for the linkage.

As we all suspected...



You are mRNA. You're brilliant, full of important,
interesting information and you're a great
friend to the people you care about. You may
have sides to you that no one understands. But
while you understand more than most people,
you're only half-there most of the time.

Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to the very pregnant mantis at E-Pression for the Blog. And O.O. should stay away from her if she expresses anything related to "sudden cravings"...

What the World calls "Wisdom," Christ calls "Foolishness"

Check out the fruits of conversion. Feel free to fisk about reporter's ineptitude.

From my "Generates Mixed Feelings" File

Living in an oil producing state, I get a little giddy when prices rise because I know this will be of benefit to the state and to local producers, not mention the mineral rights the parish has holding on as well.

On the other hand, as someone who spends half of his life in a car, when gas prices rise it means that more of my meager salary goes only one place, into the tank and then into the atmosphere. I guess I will have to buy one of those hybrid cars the next time around, but of course, if I break down out here in the country, will anyone know how to fix it?

Mmmm...smells like tolerance...

What was that line from Chesterton? "Tolerance is the virtue for those who believe in nothing..." Correct quote, please, if my addled brain has managed to scramble it.

Beltran gives Houston what it needed in win

Wow! I didn't realize that our Archbishop here in Oklahoma City was so talented. Not only does he possess the fullness of ministerial priesthood through the sacrament of Holy Orders, it turns out he's a wicked clean-up batter as well.

I'm sorry if this seems disrespectful to some, but I couldn't help it. I literally did a double take when I saw the headline. That would be pretty hysterical if you discovered that your ordinary was playing major league sports incognito. Or not.

Dig out the Dramamine, Kids...

This is going to be a bumpy ride. I was only familiar with Cardinal Mahoney's tenure as the shepherd of Los Angeles; I had no idea that he had been the prelate in two other dioceses in California. I am going to make some sandwiches and crawl under my bed until the coverage is over.

On a happier note, does this mean Bishop Olmstead of Pheonix should see his tailor?

The Beginning of NLN

After the enthusiatic response to yesterday's red alert, I thought it fitting a further consideration of the Natural Law, in the form of Natural Law Notes (NLN) be included. So as I can run across helpful notes and ideas I will bring them here and to Apologize and Don't Be Sorry.

Today's selection comes from Fr. John Hardon, S. J. (don't flinch; there are good Jesuits out there) as found in The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism(pgs. 119-120).

526. What is the Natural Law?
The natural law is the law by which man comes to know the eternal law from
created nature through the light of his native reason.

527. Where does the natural law manifest itself?
Natural law manifests itself to each person's conscience in the world of
natural creation. It is knowable by the light of man's reason. Thus
we know that lying is wrong because it tends to break down the mutual confidence
between human beings, and that obedience to just authority is good because
otherwise society would be impossible. "For instance, pagans who never
heard of the Law but are led by reason to do what the Law commands, may not
actually 'possess' the Law, but they can be said to 'be' the Law. They can
point to the substance of the Law engraved on their hearts -- they can call a
witness, that is, their own conscience."

528. What are the marks of the natural law?
Natural law is universal because it applies to all human beings. Thus
we are all obliged to be honest and chaste. It is immutable because it is
not subject to basic change. So we cannot say that adultery might have
been wrong in former days but is now permissible; or the murder of unborn
children is allowed where legalized by the State. It is absolute because
it must be observed at all costs; so that I may not lie, no matter how
embarassing I may find it to tell the truth.

Ragemonkey Red Alert: A Necessary Revival

I had been kicking around this article for a couple of weeks, but I had no "crisis" in the media or in the world to inspire it. Until today, that is. Today, in the news, we heard the report that Christopher Reeve is dead. It was a sudden death brought on by an opportunistic infection that probably led to a heart attack. For people my age, he is the quintessential Superman and will be for a long time. What finally got me off my keister was the attached commentary that accompanied his death. Every news report that I saw included a blurb concerning his advocacy of stem cell research, both varieties. While watching the Daily Buzz, a nationally syndicated morning news program, they had viewers writing in and no one was able to say embryonic stem cell research was wrong. Because the research could, in theory, provide, every comment that was read endorsed it. One person, and I am paraphrasing, said that only the radical Christian nut could have a problem with this sort of research.

The problem at the heart of the Christian engagement of the world is that we have largely abandoned the language of the natural law. As St. Augustine points out in De Catechesi Rudibus, you must tailor your catechesis to the intellect and the person to whom you are addressing it. Too often we get the cart before the horse and mistakenly, in my humble opinion, try to engage people with the Christian faith, when they may need engagement in basic logic and philosophy.

I oppose embryonic stem cell research because it destroys a human life. The stem cells are the fundamental building blocks of the embryo. If you take them out, the embryonic person will die because it will never achieve its potential; it won’t have its necessary biological foundation. Since existence is preferable to non-existence, it follows that to destroy a human life to enhance another existing life is not ethical. For those who would dispute that the embryo is a human person, I would ask, "well, what makes you a human person?" Hopefully, they would recognize that they are a person not because someone extends that "privilege" to them but because it is the nature of who they are. In addition, hopefully, folks will realize how dangerous it is to expect a government or medical board to give them their personhood. As a former embryo, I would hope this would convince them not to support embryonic stem cell research.

Notice, please, faithful reader, that I posed this argument without reference to Christian theology. The Christian Faith, as grace builds on nature, makes this argument even more beautiful by recognizing that the human person is created in the image and likeness of God. At the same time, I can also make a case that this research is wrong just from the natural law. You can see how this applies to other matters like euthanasia or abortion.

As Christians, we have to learn how to talk to everyone, regardless of religious or philosophical foundations. Immersing ourselves in philosophy and a firm foundation in the natural law we gain the tools by which we can marshal all people of good will.

7-Foot Robot Used in Black Sea Expedition

I hate to break this to everyone, but that wasn't a robot. I was trying on Halloween costumes.

"THERESE" THE MOVIE
I had an opportunity to see the movie by Luke Films, on the life of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. I had been looking forward to seeing this film for nearly two years, after going to see Leonardo Defilippis, who directed and produced it (and acted in it), in his one man play, Maximilian. After the play he showed a clip for the movie, and it looked like a very professional production. As I said, I was very eagar to see it for society really does need movies which inspire us to be all that God has created us to be.

In short, the movie was very disappointing. Visually the film is very well done; some scenes are nearly breath-taking, and the editting between scenes was smooth, though in the beginning of the film it had a bit too much of a "snap-shot" feel for my taste. My parents saw it a few days before me, and when asked my nearly revered mother about it, she said "it is too Catholic for the general public; they won't get it." Funny thing is that the mother and 19-year-old daughter who was in the theater when I saw it said the same thing. All three women are correct. Unless you know the story of the Little Flower you probably will not understand it, and will write the Martin family off as unrealistically pietistic.

The major flaw of the film is the poor script, written by Mr. Defilippis wife who drew heavily from St. Therese's The Story of a Soul. While The Story of a Soul is a modern spirital classic, this script just took "snippets" from it which left the viewer wondering what it all meant. Of course, it must be incredibly difficult to capture in words and in film the interior working of the soul, especially Therese's inner conversion from being a rather spoiled child; though very devoted and something of a prodigy in theology, she wanted people to take care of her and notice her. From that she moved to become a little child of God; doing things for others, submitting her will to God through putting up with small inconveniences and sacrifices for others. All of this was interior movement, but if you are going to make a movie about it you need to exteriorize it in a way that is not just making pious statements. There just was very little content that would grap an audience. People who have read The Story of a Soul would find more content and depth, but that is probably more because of pulling out what they had already read previously. The general audience cannot do that.

The other major flaw in the film (IMHO) was the acting. I have seen Leonardo Defilippis twice live; once for Maximilian and once for Francis of Assisi. Both times I was drawn by his facial expressions, his use of his voice and body to make you believe he is the character. In this movie his timing seemed off, like he was surprised by the dialogue. The actress you plays St. Therese, Lindsay Younce, was fine as an actress, especially once in the convent, but it was impossible for me to believe that she was a 15-year-old girl, like when Therese entered the convent. The scenes in the convent lent themselves to be easier to understand her spiritual growth, but seemed too short -- her 9 years in the convent went by in maybe 10 minutes. If you want a better view of life in a convent in those days watch, The Nun Story.

I would have a difficult time telling people NOT to see this film, since it is a wonderful subject and there is no objectionable material. At the same time I would have a difficult time recommending it, especially since it is a limited release so many people would have to travel a long distance to see it (I traveled over an hour to get to a theater showing it as did the mother and daughter I mentioned). If you get a chance to rent (note I did not say "buy") the DVD, you might want to consider it. Overall, a disappointment.

You asked for it; You got it! Pt. 1

As Fr. H mentioned I am beginning a full scale assualt on people's ignorance of the wondrous gift of the Holy Eucharist. I include my own ignorance and laxity in this assualt as well, just so you won't think that I am playing favorites. Here is the bulletin insert I put in this week.

On this year’s feast of Corpus Christi, the Holy Father declared, that from October 2004 to October 2005, the Church would celebrate a Holy Year dedicated to the Most Holy Eucharist. As the Second Vatican Council pointed out, the Holy Eucharist is the source and the summit of our Christian Faith. It is the source because Christ is truly, really, and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. It is the summit because in the Holy Eucharist we have our union with Christ made more perfect. It is this union that we were made by God, to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven. The Holy Eucharist is the sacramental foretaste of this.

To that end, here in the parishes of Sacred Heart, St. Cornelius, Our Mother of Mercy, there will be many events, small and large, that will lead us to a greater appreciation of the gift of the Most Holy Eucharist.

First, the small things. One of the key elements to fostering Eucharistic devotion is silence. The most recent General Instruction for the Roman Missal (2000) reminded us of this fact. We all have to bear in mind that our churches are places of encounter. Even if there is no one else present in the church, Christ’s presence abides in the Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, we are never alone and we should maintain a respectful silence in deference to the One who is present to us. Also, during the celebration of the Holy Mass, the liturgy re-presents to us the Paschal Mystery, the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the liturgy is punctuated with silence so that we may unite ourselves to the Mystery at the heart of the Holy Mass. We hope to make this more apparent during the parishes’ Holy Masses. The other small thing we are going to do as a parish is to recite together a prayer of thanksgiving after Holy Mass. I am always appreciative when people thank me for celebrating Mass. When I hear this though, I am reminded of the fact that I am not the source of the Holy Mass; Christ is. The priest is only the unprofitable servant who is doing what he is obliged to do (Luke 17:10). Therefore, we are doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t spend time in thanksgiving both after Communion and after the Holy Mass. After Mass, at the conclusion of the concluding hymn, the assembled congregation will recite together the Prayer to Saint Michael. The prayer is included in the blue hymnal.
Next week, we will go over the big events for this Holy Year.

When my parishioners come into the church this weekend and throughout the year of the Holy Eucharist, they will be greeted with the following sign:

This is the threshold of Heaven
and the very House of God.
-------------------------------------
Please Maintain Respectful Silence
in the Church in deference
to those who are praying and
to Our Lord
in the Blessed Sacrament.

I put those who are praying first because most people will have difficulty abstracting the notion that Christ is present in a real way in the Tabernacle. Call it playing to their strengths...

Should I make a gentle call?
The local paper carries an interview of a local person from time to time. This weekend's interview was of a parishioner, a convert of a few years ago, who is very helpful and who just completed his service as Chairman of this parish's Pastoral Council. At one point in the interview, he makes a very good statement about defending the unborn and quite simply rejecting the craziness of abortion. Great. The problem came after the quotes on his statement closed and the journalist tried (with good intentions, I am sure) to make a transition. Keep in mind, these are not the words of the parishioner interviewed, but of the article's writer. The writer wrote: "It is evident that he is very passionate about this topic [abortion]. Bob and his wife are both Catholics, but the passion seems to come from deeper than that."

Now, I really believe the poor lady who wrote the article meant no disrespect or condescension. However, that is an extremely careless comment and people of other faiths ought to be worried too. Does she mean that apparent values or strong opinions and positions are ultimately shallow if they are motivated by Catholic faith in particular, Christianity in general, or religion at large? So, my question is: Should I call the newspaper and VERY GENTLY just say that the article was most welcome, but that the one part can be viewed as dismissive and careless?

Year of the Holy Eucharist: Pastoral ideas
We have had past posts regarding ideas to mark and celebrate this Year of the Holy Eucharist. Thanks for the many ideas. More frequent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is an obvious idea, which I am hoping to institute in my parish (the push to get people to commit to it begins this weekend). I am also looking at adding many more confession times. Borrowing the Holy Father's use of Luke 24 (the story of the walk to Emmaus), it occurs to me that just as the disciples on that road had some obstacles to their ability to recognize Jesus, so do we. Our obstacles are, among many things, our sins. So, if our eyes are to be opened more fully at the breaking of the bread, which is Jesus' true Body and Blood, then we need those obstacles removed. Currently, my parish has two scheduled confession times per week: Wednesday evening for about 25 minutes (before an evening Mass) and Saturday afternoon for about 45 minutes. I am planning on expanding the Wednesday confessions to one hour, adding a Friday evening time (from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.), and beginning to hear confessions during the weekend Masses (stopping just before the Consecration). Expanding Wednesday's schedule and adding a Friday time will already add an hour and a half to what we have now. Hearing confessions during the weekend Masses (when most of our people are here) will, I bet, give untold numbers an opportunity to go.

Fr. Tharp and I were discussing pastoral plans yesterday. He is doing something rather clever, something which I will probably borrow. I'll let him give the details so that he may bask in the glory or our corporate flattery! But as we spoke, another idea came to my mind -- a quite simple one. Since the Holy Father employs the Emmaus story in his new Apostolic Letter to mark this special year, entitled "Stay with us, Lord," a quote from that very gospel story, why not frequently use that phrase (Stay with us, Lord!) as a response to the general intercessions?! It might be a nice change of pace from the all-too-familiar, "Lord, hear our prayer." It seems to me it would be a simple and easy thing which would, at the very same time, point out that something is different about this year.

Pastoral Letter: Update
My Pastoral Letter has been translated into Spanish, copies are being made, and mailings are being prepared. I have added a link to the Pastoral Letter in our side bar on the right side of the screen under "Stuff We're Proud Of". Direct friends and others to the link for easier access to the letter on my blog, Pastor of the Panhandle. I will leave that link up for several weeks and then remove it. Thanks for all the support of the letter; it has generated much good and needed discussion! FURTHER UPDATE: I doubt readers of this blog would prefer the Pastoral Letter in Spanish, but I have posted it under the English version. Perhaps readers may know others who would need it in Spanish, in which case they can copy it from my blog and pass it along in Spanish-friendly format!

A much needed public service

So, I am looking through my email today and I get this bogus email from Ebay concerning their Halloween costume sale. Now, at the outset, I am here to say that I am not necessarily a big fan of Halloween. I love costume parties; I hate Halloween principally because it takes focus off of All Saints' Day. Yes, I know you can throw a saints' based costume party, but to my mind, that is a thin coating on a whole different problem. But I don't want to argue that point here.

As someone who has enjoyed taken a big bite out of life, and more than my fair share of the snacks in the process, I have never enjoyed the process of costume design and shopping for myself. It's not a lack of creativity; I want to be people thinner than myself. Although I did think that dressing up in a Batman costume a couple sizes too small, letting my gut protrude from under the shirt, and going as "Batman after 40" was inspired. There would certainly be plenty of snacks for me as no one beholding that sight could keep food down.

And that's when it hit me. Someone should come up with a list of fictional and historical figures and correlate them to sex and physical features. Then the picture would come up and give a list of all the things needed for the costume, from "gets the point across" to "break the bank" to "pass for separated at birth."

And back to the saints' day party, I have always wanted to create a St. John the Baptist costume where a fake arm would hold a platter, my actual head would stick through the "chest," and fake shoulders would end in a blunted neck. It's very medieval artwork I know; however, the kids would never forget who St. John the Baptist was.

The sure signs of fall...
Yep, high school football on Friday nights, college football on Saturday, a slight chill in the air, leaves turning color, and a special year proclaimed by the Holy Father with companion document -- all sure signs of fall! I love it! Love it! I guess the document only exists in Italian for the time being.

LOSE OF FAITH AND CONVERSION
Here is an email I just sent to a group of friends that I though the readers of CRM might enjoy:

"My dear friends who have been through so much with me -- the spiritual disillusionment after my experience with the Dominicans, my years of study for the priesthood, the postponement of my ordination by a year -- I must inform you of my loss of faith and conversion to what I anticipate will be a new, authentic freedom. The last few months have been very trying, starting new programs which would just crash. It has caused a lot of discernment of spirits. Last night was my 'dark night' which led to a new ephiphany; one which even when things seemed at its darkest, still left me with a deep sense of calm and peace. This morning after more prayer I finally decided what my heart has been calling me to do for so long, and I made a call...
"My new eMac should be here next week! The dark reign of Windows and Bill Gates has been ended. I have joined the catholic counter-revolution."

Background: after struggling for several months, off and on, with Windows XP, last night I tried installing Xandros/Linux on a partition of my harddrive. Bad things started to happen. After a long and valiant fight until 2:30 a.m. I could do nothing else. My entire HDD was wiped. All my data -- GONE. I had forgotten one of the most basic principles of our Christian Faith, to follow Jesus, and Jesus Saves. While I have a recovery disk, so can restore the computer back to the factory settings with the factory installed software, all my data files are lost -- digital pictures of my ordination, friends, old homilies, talks I have given on various topics, etc. Right now I am using Linux on this computer, which will not recognize my USB ports, so much of my peripherals are paperweights for now. But last night was the last straw, so I ordered a Mac.

L.A. Urges Porn Producers to Use Condoms

Right, because we could never insist that virtue is the better route to take.

Food for Thought

You all know the saying, "To err is human; to forgive, divine." Question: Does sin make us more human or less human? For those who need a hint, think about how the Blessed Virgin Mary would answer it.

Something's rotten in...
FRANCE! Remember that French ban of Moslem head scarves? Yeah, you know, that law they had to pass because little girls wearing head scarves in schools is an incredibly dangerous matter. Well, Fr. Tucker over at Dappled Things found an article that shows just how progressive that ban is already becoming. I guess this means that in France there is Liberte, Egalite, but NO Fraternite (of St. Peter)!

Funny (Ha Ha) & Funny (Strange)
Okay, folks, go figure this one out. For the first time ever today I called up the EWTN catalog phone number to order a video tape series for use here in the parish. Given the nature of EWTN and what I have seen on their TV programs and their web site, I expected that I would be greeted with pious, angelic music or chanting as I waited for an operator to attend to my call. NOPE! That's not what was playing, folks! It was "The City of New Orleans". Yes, that song about a train named after the Big Easy. I was scratching my head on that one. Whad up wit dat?!

Uhmmm, a crazed monkey took over my body?
I don't know what has come over me. Perhaps it is the excitement I get from teaching and that I am still on a "teaching high" with 17 people in my RCIA class. More likely than not, it is simply because I am operating on very little sleep the last few days. Last night, after meeting with parents who have children in the parish Religious Education program, I stepped into the classroom of our first year confirmation students (31 in all!) for the final thirty minutes of their class. I hadn't planned to take over the class, to teach the material, but it just happened. I walked in and they were on the topic of Divine Revelation. The next thing I knew I was pacing around the room, waving my hands, reading from Sacred Scripture, explaining Revelation and its two principle components (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition), foaming at the mouth and picking lice from... oh, wait, sorry, I carried the monkey analogy too far there. The kids were participating, smiling and laughing when I would make jokes, and asking questions. I took a few questions not directly on the topic, but related. The main question was why do Catholics baptize infants (remember we are deep within the good 'ol Bible belt here!), or why didn't the kids get to choose Christ for themselves when they were older. Well, I was on a roll already, and that question was like serving me up an enormous, lazy, won't-get-out-of-your-face softball -- in other words, it was ripe for blasting out of the park. I explained the Jewish custom, that many of the earliest Christians were formerly Jews and brought the custom of bringing even small children into God's covenant. I explained Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them; he did NOT say go out and wait until they are 18 years old and then preach to them so they can make up their own minds! I pulled out passages in Scripture that talk about whole households (presumably more than just adults or old people!) being baptized after hearing the preaching of the apostles and then I connected it back to Revelation, specifically that component of Revelation known as Sacred Tradition (the practices and teaching passed on, handed over from Jesus to the Apostles, to their successors, and so on, and still guarded, preserved, interpreted, and, yes, passed on by the Church today). I said, "so it has never been foreign to Christ's Church to bring even infants into the New Covenant of Christ. Why?, because that has been the Tradition from the beginning. This has been handed on from the early Church to our present day and there was no problem with it [at this point I had my hand raised in the air, making the gesture of passing on from one hand to another the marker I was holding] until some time after the late 1500's when someone decided to abandon the Tradition, failing to grasp it and failing to hand it on to others [at this point I dropped the marker from my hand, letting it hit the floor]. And so, [here was the culmination of my being on a roll, and this is exactly how I concluded] when it comes to infant baptism, it ain't the Catholic Church that has some 'splaining to do! Rather, those people who abandoned the Tradition received from Jewish custom and from Christ, they are the ones who have some 'splaining to do. The next time one of your non-Catholic friends tries to tell you infant baptism is wrong, you tell them that they are wrong and that Father said so."

Actor Fox Films Campaign Ad for Kerry

Ah, yes, the new universal snake oil masquerading as a catch-all panacea, embryonic stem cell research. Clearly, this marks Michael J. Fox as the greatest actor of our time. To be able to play Alex P. Keaton, uber-"greed-is-good"-80's-prosperity-Republican while at the same time being a Democratic campaigner demonstrates a true ability to hide himself in the role he plays.

Again, this is more grist for my mill that Hollywood and the entertainment industry thinks we are remarkably stupid. "Ooooooh, Alex said to vote for John Kerry." Sad to say it, but I suspect the vast majority of people are dumb enough to say, I like his movies; I must like his politics. I wish people could understand that the destruction of the unborn to harvest stem cells in the hopes of curing illness, even though current research continues to suggest that adult stem cells work better, still is a grave moral evil. If a married couple wants to have children, but currently are infertile, this doesn't justify their kidnapping the cutest kid on the playground. In the same way, people suffer from terrible illness and we should do what we can to ease their suffering or even cure the illness, but we cannot do it if it cost the life of another person in the process. A Faustian deal like that leads us nowhere.