The drive to relate to others
I promised a report on the Clergy Continuing Education Seminar we have had this week. It has been really excellent. The presenter is very knowledgeable, experienced, balanced, and an engaging speaker. I obviously can't get into all the details and specifics, but the topic has been well-presented. The discussion these days has focused on human sexuality and the priest's commitment to celibacy. The bottom line is that sexuality, far from being reduced to mere genital activity, is that drive within each one of us to relate to others, to share ourselves and our talents with others, to be completed by means of giving ourselves to another. This reality of sexuality is operative in every human life and, if the priest's celibacy is to be truly a gift, healthy, and productive, he needs to integrate the reality of human sexuality without ignoring it or repressing it. Rather, celibacy is a gifted response to human sexuality because it brings about unity and community (life-giving), it serves others (self-gift), and it shares with a profoundly lonely world just how the celibate finds God present in the midst of the loneliness that he encounters within the boundaries of a sexual life lived in celibate fashion.

Well, that was probably too much to try to share in this medium and it was a pretty bad summary of the seminar days. Anyway, it has been a very good continuing education event, especially given that truly authentic talk of human sexuality hasn't always been done well in seminary, not to mention that a veil of silence hangs over the topic in many a person's family upbringing.

He fits right in with the Culture of Death these awards celebrate.

If you don't believe me, think it through. Two movies up for Oscars are positive endorsements of assisted suicide, another is the "abortion-as-sacrament-of-the-heroic", and a third for "Tri-Sexuals United" (tri-sexual because they will try anything once). Ah, for the days when art was about something true, good, and beautiful.

It kills germs without any buzzkill...

Usually when someone is drinking Listerine for the alcohol, they are at the end of a very ugly process.

Ruins Support Myth of Rome's Founding

Isn't interesting how we moderns are so quick dismiss that which came before. Of course, I am still hard pressed to figure out how Mars fathered these children or how they convinced that she-wolf to give up her milk...

A Sorrowful State of Affairs.

It should go without saying that this generates feelings of great sadness for this man and his family. The part that the reality TV monster plays in this bothers me (it buzzes about my head like a hornet). Further, I am preparing not to be surprised when NBC heroically notes that they have decided to go ahead and show the program anyway.

From the Bulletin to You

I started providing CDs of various conversion stories as an effort at evangelization. But then, I realized that most folks don't know what evangelization is, so I tried to boil it down to one paragraph. Enjoy!

From the Pastor’s Desk:
After Sunday Mass, someone stopped and asked me what the word "evangelization" means. Evangelization is nothing other than sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. What is that Good News? That despite sin, suffering, and death, Christ, by His death and Resurrection, has freed us to live eternal life. Evangelization then is the groundwork, the beginning for all the other works of the Church and our parish. The most essential work of evangelization, however, is our good example in practicing the Faith. Our daily striving to be true disciples awakens in others a curiosity about the Catholic Faith and invites them to receive Christ’s gift of eternal life. Unfortunately, people who are strangers to the Faith often turn away because we don't practice what we preach, the logic being, "If you profess it but don't live it, what is it worth?" The CDs the parish has provided are another good way to evangelize your neighbors as are the many magazines and pamphlets that are available. So, get out there and spread the Word!

In Christ, Our True Savior,
Fr. Shane Tharp.

It's another beautiful day here in the Village

Ten points to the first one who knows what I am referring to.

Self-Definitions and Self-Revelations

I was over at Church of the Masses reading Barbara's review of the movie Hitch. Normally, romantic comedies are not my speed, but I might make room for this one. It was something she mentioned in this review that made me think of the following quote for myself. I don't know if I am cribbing (which means making alterations to someone else's work) or out and out stealing (which means well, ... I stole it and don't know who to credit), but here it is.

Barbara mentioned how the film's sensibilities reflected an earlier time, namely that of the 1840's. Then she followed with the question how far back might we indeed go in the movie industry. Now, many of my fellow priests accuse me, usually in jest, of being this "draconian, cro-magnon, retrograde throwback." Thrown back to what I am not entirely certain. Then this quote popped into my mind:

"I might be thrown back. But sometimes being backward looking is exactly what is needed. If you find yourself on a dead-end street, and you realize that you can't go forward for all those pesky houses and fences, there is only one solution: you must turn around and back track to the actual mistake in the directions that you made. Progress is not a dirty word in my vocabulary; it's just not the most important one. It's not even in the top ten. For myself, the first four important words (which in fact are the same word at essence) are: true, beautiful, good, and love. If that's what I am being thrown back to, then sling shot away."

Also, appropos to this post is a quote that Techmonkey Dave and I fashioned to describe me: "Oh, yes, I am a man of the '80s...the 1380s."

Headline: Charles and Camilla wedding 'could be illegal'

Okay, I'll bite. Which law? Natural? Christian Moral? Catholic Moral? Civil? I think it is time for yet another INSIGHT FROM THE CATECHISM! The following is paragraphs 1950-1953:

1950 The moral law is the work of divine Wisdom. Its biblical meaning can be defined as fatherly instruction, God's pedagogy. It prescribes for man the ways, the rules of conduct that lead to the promised beatitude; it proscribes the ways of evil which turn him away from God and his love. It is at once firm in its precepts and, in its promises, worthy of love.
1951 Law is a rule of conduct enacted by competent authority for the sake of the common good. the moral law presupposes the rational order, established among creatures for their good and to serve their final end, by the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator. All law finds its first and ultimate truth in the eternal law. Law is declared and established by reason as a participation in the providence of the living God, Creator and Redeemer of all. "Such an ordinance of reason is what one calls law."
Alone among all animate beings, man can boast of having been counted worthy to receive a law from God: as an animal endowed with reason, capable of understanding and discernment, he is to govern his conduct by using his freedom and reason, in obedience to the One who has entrusted everything to him.
1952 There are different expressions of the moral law, all of them interrelated: eternal law - the source, in God, of all law; natural law; revealed law, comprising the Old Law and the New Law, or Law of the Gospel; finally, civil and ecclesiastical laws.
1953 The moral law finds its fullness and its unity in Christ. Jesus Christ is in person the way of perfection. He is the end of the law, for only he teaches and bestows the justice of God: "For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified."

Now the goal for readers is figure out why these paragraphs leapt to my mind as I read this article. Poor Queen Elizabeth must spend d-a-y-s gazing into the finely crafted bone china tea cup, as she sips at her Earl Grey, thinking "Where the deuce did I go wrong with that boy?!"

Bodies in Rest, Bodies in Motion

I never quite know how to feel about the announcement of new translations of the Lectionary and the Missal. On the one hand, I am all for accuracy of translation and beauty of language. If that is what the adaptions are after, then more power to you. On the other hand, new translations mean months of explanation, months of listening to complaints of "I don't like this..." as though one's personal preferences were a valid criterion for the analysis of liturgical language, months of stumbling through the half-remember former text and the currently being assimilated new text. So, you can color me ambivalent.

However, with all that said, and tipping my hand as someone who took 2 years of Latin in high school and 1 semester of Vergil in college, that whatever is produced has got to be an improvement over the banal and superficial translation of the Canons and Collects we currently suffer with.

Did they get the idea from us?

I would hate to think that anyone thought we might support such "opposition" candidates...

Continuing Education Seminar
I can't recall if I have previously mentioned on the blog that I am a member of the Clergy Continuing Education Committee for the diocese. I joined on in, I think, October 2004, so I haven't been on it too long (the meetings are, at most, once a month). Anyway, today through Wednesday is the first continuing education offering for the priests of 2005. I am anxious to see how it turns out. The topic is on human sexuality and priestly celibacy. Many of the priests thought that, since human sexuality and a serious treatment of celibacy were lacking from their seminary formation decades ago, it would be a good topic to offer some continuing education on. I agree and I hope the presenter is good. Reports to follow.

Social Isolation, Guns and a 'Culture of Suicide'

Commentors are free to reflect upon the power of the theological virtues and their relationship to despair.

This would explain the Valentine's Sale at the Ammo Dump...

Step One: Anger Management Classes

Where and when can I get mine?

It always happens virtually in your own back yard.

For those who like to nuke Terry Schiavo and others like her, please take this article to a comfy chair, read it and reflect. Just because you can't speak, you can't act, you can't respond, it doesn't mean that you ARE DEAD YET! To quote my favorite pro-life philosopher, Dr. Theodore Geisel, (link here for other books), "a person's a person no matter how small."

Smallness and weakness are spurned and shunned by a culture that demands big, powerful, and almost necessarily, therefore, impersonal. When we see the weakness of others, we almost never think to share in their suffering. We would happily have empathy, sympathy, or pity but authentic compassion (literally from the Latin, to suffer with another) is awfully hard to come. I should know. I have a hard time coming by it most days. You can only go to the hospital a number of times before the wearying ennui of persistnent pain breaks through.

This is where the Cross comes in. Think through the Stations of the Cross and what do you have? You have the icon of compassion. Jesus willingly suffers every ridiculous element of folly that the human heart can create. He suffers it because all of us will have to suffer it, one way or another. For some, you will walk the Stations dragging a IV cart behind you. For others, you will have your blood circulated out of your body to clean it. For yet others, you will find yourself in a wrecked car with people too stunned or too paralyzed with fear to save you from the wreck. Or you might just walk years of toil, only to lose your memory -- all of your memory.

I would like to believe that those who suffer greatly do great work for the world. Perhaps, they, with weakest hands of all, because they have been conformed to the Passion, and have accepted this conformation, they have held back the justice of God, Abraham begging for Sodom and its residents, for one more day so that you and I may repent. I suspect that in Heaven, we will discover this was the case. And it all happened right under our noses, practically in our own backyards.

Looking for Recommendations

Last night, after the common celebrationi of the Stations of the Cross, I was feeling a little bit dissatisfied with the version we were using. It's not that they are bad editions or goofy meditations. I would hope folks would know me better than that by now. No goofy crap in Alva!

I would be curious to find out which versions other people are using and which ones you all have found the most profitable. Remember, I am looking for editions appropriate for use in a parish. Just because it's in your prayerbook, doesn't mean I can buy 209 copies of that prayerbook and hand it out. Think portable, durable, and cheap.

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent, Year A
(By way of explanation, Amy Wellborn over at Open Book has been sponsoring a sort of Monday Morning Liturgical Quarterback Session. She asked priests to post their homilies and lay people to try to recall what they heard this weekend. In the interest of building up the blogosphere, I thought I would add my hurried thoughts. This is not exactly the homily you will hear in Alva, Waynoka, and Cherokee, because I try to tune it as I go through the weekend. But it is the gist...)

Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalm 51; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

What is the fastest way to ruin a perfectly good tool? Use it in a way that it was not designed to be used. For example, you can swat flies with a flyswatter or with a hammer. You'll get the job. That fly will be dead just in time for you to repair the walls. Or what would happen if you used a kitchen knife to cut 2X4's for a new house? The house will be finished about the third time through a full set of Ginsu ... if you are lucky. It's funny, but this applies to the Spiritual Life as well.

Let's start with the temptation of our first parents. Notice what Satan draws them into. He moves Eve through a minefield of sorts. He starts by introducing doubt through a truthful observation. It is right that God said, "You shall not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." The nasty trick comes when Satan explains why. This stricture is not for your benefit, he claims; it's to guard God's perogatives. Therefore, you can be only what you are meant to be if you turn against God.

When we look at the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert, you will notice that the tempter's tricks haven't changed much from that first encounter. Satan poses each temptation in the form of a truth, "If you are the Son of God,...." Each temptation is meant, not so much to discredit Jesus's claims, as, it seems to me, to disqualify Jesus's work at the outset. Satan wants to guide Jesus into the same trap he took our first parents; being Son of God, as Satan conceives it, is an opportunity to exploit power. Being Son of God, as Jesus conceives it, is the opportunity to be exactly what He is, who He is, as His Father demands.

This is the moment in the Temptation in the Desert when we must resist the tempation to trivialize this moment. Because we accept that Jesus is God, we automatically assume, correctly I might add, that these temptations can't succeed. Nothing Satan can offer will take the place of the Beatific Vision that Jesus enjoys. At the same time though this doesn't detract from the forcefulness of Christ's "no" to temptation and Christ's "yes" to the Father. It is a word, a resounding command, a voice echoing from the deep recesses of Creation and Eternity that demands, "Let my people go! No longer will you hold them bound in slavery." That voice rings to the foundations of human nature calling us to live not as erstwhile slaves of sin, but to live as we were actually made to be, sons of God in the Son of God.

On the First Sunday of Lent, we have to stand in the light of these temptations of Jesus and examine a basic question: How have we lived thus far? We are created for nothing less than to love God, to serve Him, and to live with Him in this life and in the life to come. When we examine our thoughts, our words, our actions, though a different picture appears. Looking at that picture, we see someone who believes that he is created for mere gratification of his senses, his hungers, his passions, in short, something that is far inferior to the grandeur of God. And more damning that that, we are completely satisfied with that which is inferior. Real conversion then would suggest that we must choose again. we must return the vain things which will never satisfy and find our way back to the Father. We have to return to basic issue: what am I made for? The human person is created to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life and in the life to come.

On Monday, most of us will go about the business of exchanging notes and signs of affection. It's called Valentine's Day and has become a veritible orgy of romance. Valentine's Day's origins are actually Christian, and not Hallmark. It was a chance to exchange notes of love and encouragement to live the Christian life in a time of persecution. This is my Valentine then to you. "God loves you so much that you should never be satisfied with loving anything or anyone in such a way that you lose sight of the one who made you and loves you even now."

UPDATE
A few days ago I made a post about background checks and "Safe Environment" training for Confirmation sponsors (which I have since deleted). I had been told that from the perspective of the diocese, Confirmation sponsors had to undergo training just like anyone else who has frequent contact with minors due to Church related functions. The intent of my post was to ask how it would be practically possible for a parish to ensure that Confirmation sponsors (often arriving from out of parish, out of town, and even out of state) would be trained, when they usually simply arrive for the ceremony of Confirmation itself.

I learned today that I had been given incomplete information about the diocesan policy regarding Confirmation sponsors. So, in the interest of truth and clarity, I want to make this post so that readers also won't continue to have incorrect information. Apparently, the original question to the diocese regarding Confirmation sponsors came from a parish where the sponsors are asked and expected to be with the Confirmation candidate throughout the entire preparation process (of 2 years). In that case, the diocesan policy is that, yes, such frequent participation in Church programs with minors would require that sponsors also undergo "Safe Environment" training and background checks. I had only been told previously that all Confirmation sponsors had to undergo training and I didn't see how that was even practically possible. This diocese also agrees with that observation and understands that requiring training and background checks for sponsors who are only involved toward the end of the preparation program, at the ceremony itself, is not practically possible.

I regret that complete information was not passed on to me, but I am pleased that this matter has been clarified. As I mentioned before in the original post, I fully support the necessary measures being taken by the Church to ensure that the terrible sin and crime of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and Church personnel, as well as the scandal of negligent Church leadership, never happens again. I also agree that people, be they paid staff or volunteers, who have frequent contact with minors need to undergo background checks so we are more sure who is near our youth, and need to undergo training to help identity potential problems or spot the signs of abuse.

And, let me preempt the rumors and conspiracy theorists: I deleted the original post and have made this post completely of my own decision and free will. I was in no way commanded to delete it by anyone in the diocese, in fact, there was never a suggestion made that I needed to delete it. Recognizing now that I was not given complete information on this matter, I decided I needed to take these steps in the interest of justice and truth. Please don't waste anyone's time leaving conspiracy theories or remarks about censorship in the comment box.

Best Group Blog 2005
Thank you readers and voters for bestowing upon us the 2005 award for Best Group Blog. We are deeply honored and we have a renewed sense that this past year of furious blogging has all been worth it. Look for more hilarity and award-winning posting from your friends here at CRM! We also cannot neglect the CRM technical staff that have made so much of this blog possible. From setting up the blog and template, to showing us how to link and how to post pictures, to dragging Fr. Hamilton, kicking and screaming, into the 18th century (perhaps next year we can leap into the 20's) -- we thank you so much! This award is as much yours as it ours!

Liturgical Footnote #5
By Fr. J.C. Garrett


After the opening Sign of the Cross, and the Greeting, the next part of the Mass is the Penitential Rite. Some people often wonder why we have such a “down note” at the beginning of Mass, after all Mass is suppose to be a joyful expression of thanksgiving. But why do we have such joyful thanksgiving? Certainly it is because of the redemption and salvation won for us by the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the intention of the Penitential Rite is show our need to break away from sin so to be ready to enter into the real action of the Mass.

The priest introduces the rite by inviting all present to recall their sins, and reminding them of God’s loving mercy. This is followed by a short period of silence so that all present, priest and people, can recall their sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Note well that the priest is not merely leading the people in the Penitential Rite; he is participating in it himself. No one is fit to stand before the Lord in righteousness, for all have sinned. Yet Christ Jesus redeems all. In the old Mass this was shown by the priest turning to face the people and confessing his sinfulness first, then the people would respond by confessing their sinfulness. In the New Mass priest and people confess their sinfulness together.

The Penitential Rite has four forms. The most common is the Confiteor (Latin for the first two words, “I confess”). We actually use a shorten form of an ancient prayer in which we confess not only to God but to each other and the angels and saints so that we can all pray for each other. When we get to the words, “through my fault” we should gently strike our breast. The second form is not used often, not for any particular reason, and is very short, being composed of two invocations with a response. The other very common one is also an ancient liturgical form, and combines the Penitential Rite with the Kyrie, and is a troped Kyrie, using the invocations, “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” Each verse (“tropes”), which introduces the invocation, expresses faith in Jesus, our appreciation of His work of salvation, and our confidence in being forgiven. Some of the most beautiful pieces of Western music are various Chant forms of the Kyrie, and the preference is still for this to be sung, although it can be recited. Strictly speaking the Kyrie is a separate part of the Opening Rites of Mass, thus it is not omitted when one of the other forms of the Penitential rites, which does not incorporate it, is used. The Kyrie, being Greek, unites us with the Greek foundation of our faith, after all the New Testament was first written in Greek.

The fourth option for the Penitential Rite is the Asperges, or Sprinkling Rite. This is most commonly only used during the Easter season, although it can be used during Ordinary Time as well. We are only baptized once, but the Church wants us to be regularly reminded of our baptismal promises to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. That is why we use Holy Water so often, to remind us of our baptism, when we first were freed from sin, and became children of God. During the Sprinkling Rite it is appropriate for an appropriate chant to be sung as the priest sprinkles the congregation with Holy Water.

The Penitential Rite concludes with the priest reciting a prayer of absolution. This absolution does NOT have the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance as it only absolves venial sins. Even though many people do so, you should not make the Sign of the Cross as the priest says this prayer of absolution.

Big changes in Paris
I had forgotten that the Archbishop of Paris was approaching retirement age. The Pope has accepted his resignation and has appointed the successor. May God bless Cardinal Lustiger for his faithful work in a very secular city.

Rock the vote!
Just a few hours remain folks for you to vote in the 2005 Catholic Blog Awards. Since we are sure that you want to vote for Catholic Ragemonkey in all of the categories in which it has been nominated, we just thought we'd remind you to vote and tell your friends to vote for us too.

By the way, I think it is a travesty of justice that CRM was not nominated in the "Best New Blog" category -- we came into being after last year's awards and are only one week away from the one year anniversary. So we are still new.

I suppose I should try to look at the bright side of things: I guess we have taken the blogosphere by such storm that no one considers us "new" or "novices" anymore. That is very flattering, but we need ego feeding here folks! Come on! Vote for CRM before time runs out!

It worked!
A big "thank you" to the many readers who shared their suggestions for how to burn palm branches for today's ashes! I am happy to report that the project produced more than enough ash for my three parishes. And, it is working! They look like ashes and they stick to people's foreheads! Yeah! Sorry, I guess after inhaling quite a bit of the stuff the first two times I burned palms, I am happy to see that it is all worth it and that it works. I think, too, the symbolism is neat that all the people provided something that became the item we use to mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent. Before the Masses began today, I had a cleaned out Cool Whip container full of ash. NO! I didn't use the Cool Whip container ceremonially -- it was simply a place to keep them until I put some in little dishes for distribution at the Masses.

Food for Thought For Lent

Since most Catholics, those who fall into the proper age category, are restricting their food intake, I thought I would give you something to chew on. Here is the editorial by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. from the Magnificat Lenten Companion, Bread in the Desert.

What is "self-denial"? We presume it means using our will power to
give up things. But that could be deadly. Because such success could
make us proud. This conceit is what God wants us to
renounce. Self-denial means denying the sway of the "false self" in our life. Self-denial means denying the urge to take self-congratulatory
delight in our ego-concocted goodness. Authentic self-denial means denying the lie that I am the source of the happiness I desire. It means denying the delusion that I am the source of the truth in my life. Then we possess the key to self-mastery.

Lots of folks are posting what they are sacrificing for Lent, and I would encourage hearing what has pushed you further than you suspected it would. There might be a good suggestion for one of our readers lurking there. But, based on what we read above, we should pray first for the grace to know what God wants you to sacrifice.

Burn, baby, burn!
I just got back from the hardware store where I bought a dust mask. I have one last batch of palm branches to burn and I have finally learned that I do not need to breathe in any more black dust. The occupational hazards of priesthood!

Huzzah! Alva is moving up in the world!

Today, I bring good news of great rejoicing for the city of Alva. We have a new grocery store. This new store brings the total of grocery stores in Alva to ... 2. But, at least, I have a choice between it and Wal-Mart. I am very hopeful that the store will survive and provide a better selection and better quality foodstuffs for the city.

Please do me a favor

Hey there, Ponca City Readers. Yes, both of you. Would you do me a favor and send my best wishes to Mark Shea at his presentation this evening? I really wanted to be there, but I don't think I can make it work out. Also, if he has a copy of the book of essays on Tolkien with him, may I ask the further favor of your purchasing it for me, getting it signed, and I will re-pay you at the earliest convenience?

Blog Awards in quagmire?
I'm worried anew about the 2005 Catholic Blog Awards. The nominating process ended at 12 noon EST on Friday. A message on the blog indicated that the top 5 nominees in each category would be up "later tonight." There was nothing to be had on Friday evening and again, nothing yesterday. Voting is supposed to begin today at 12 noon EST. Is there a problem? What is the hold up? Did my little post earlier open an investigation into nominating procedures? Is an internal audit being performed? Has Jimmy Carter arrived to oversee procedures?

Oh, the suspense!

NOT THEOLOGICALLY CORRECT. . . BUT FUNNY
It is usually Fr. Tharp and his theatrical bunnies, but a friend sent me the above link and it got my feet 'a-tapping' and me chuckling. Now, I'm not endorsing this theological tradition, but enjoy. (In case I did not hook the link up right the address is: http://www.dreamcloud.net/dreamer/squirrel/squirrel.html)

Liturgical Footnote #4
By Fr. J.C. Garrett


During the singing of the Entrance Antiphon/Hymn (Introit), the priest and other liturgical ministers process to front of the church. As they reach the Sanctuary, if they are not carrying anything, they make a sign of reverence before entering the Sanctuary. If the Tabernacle, which contains the physical presence of our Eucharistic Lord, is behind the main Altar, as it is here at St. James, all should genuflect (if they are able) before our Lord. If the Tabernacle is at another prominent place besides directly behind the Altar, then all the ministers should reverence the Altar by making a profound bow.

Each person in the congregation should make these same acts of reverence when they enter the church. As we first enter the church, by each of the doors, there are the small Holy Water dishes, which we should use to bless ourselves with the Sign of the Cross, reminding ourselves of our Baptismal call. As we reach the pew where we will be sitting, again, if the Tabernacle with the Presence of the Lord is behind the main Altar we should genuflect. Genuflection is a sign of reverence and honor that dates to the earliest times. When a person entered the presence of the Roman Emperor they were required to genuflect on their left knee. Recognizing the greater presence of Christ Jesus, the Church adopted this gesture for giving reverence and honor to Christ the King; altering it slightly so that one genuflects on one’s right knee (bending the left knee so that the right knee touches the ground). We should NEVER enter a church without recognizing the personal presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle. If the Tabernacle is off to the side (or if we cannot physically genuflect), then we reverence the Altar before entering the pew by a profound bow that is a bow from the waist.

As the priest (and deacon, if one is present) enters the Sanctuary, they further reverence the Altar by kissing it. The Altar, as the place of sacrifice, reminds us of Christ Jesus, and just as we might kiss a photograph of a loved one, the priest kisses the Altar as a sign of his affection for Jesus. However, the Altar does not represent only Jesus; it also represents all of the Church – Militant (those still on earth), Suffering (those in Purgatory), and Triumphant (those in Heaven) – so by kissing the Altar the priest is also showing his love for the Church.

After kissing the Altar, the priest moves to the chair and begins the Mass with the Sign of the Cross, which all the people copy. Then he uses one of three greetings; the shortest is “The Lord be with you,” and the longest invokes the whole Trinity. To the greeting the people respond “And also with you.” This greeting is a sign of the mutual goodwill between the priest and the people, and the desire to build a friendship between them. After all, as we enter into the celebration of the Mass we are entering into the work of salvation done by Jesus so that we can enter into the friendship of the Trinity.

I love it!
Last week Fr. Sibley posted a picture from Austria of some man dressed as a deacon (he may be a real deacon) simulating a "Mass". Let me just go ahead and answer the question for you, folks. No, it certainly wasn't a High Mass! Well, it may have been "high," but that would still present a problem... Anyway, Fr. Sibley now posts that the original photo of liturgical nuttiness has been taken down from the particular parish website in Austria and there may even be a diocesan investigation starting up! I just love this! I mean for how long has this sort of stuff been going on undetected or unresponded to by diocesan authorities and finally, after some attention is given by a blog, someone gets off his keester and appears to be doing something. Oh, the power of blog!

This Year?

Okay, that's it. Next year, I will be America's Clerical Idol!

I almost hesitate
to say anything, because I don't want to start trouble; but... I am wondering if the 2005 Catholic Blog Awards are as "above board," as transparent as they should be. I was just reading over the guidelines and I noticed that a few blogs are mentioned by name as examples of a nominating procedure. In particular, "A Saintly Salmagundi" is named at least a couple of times. Is that a good idea, I wonder? I mean, couldn't that be taken as a suggestion by Awards personnel regarding who to nominate? Could that be viewed as Awards personnel revealing their leanings and trying to influence the nomination process?

I mean what would the world say if election ballots, upon being given to voters, were already filled for a particular candidate, or were already checked in affirmation of a particular proposal? Nevermind. I guess that has been tried in Iraq in the past and I guess we know what some of the world says about that.

What if Simon put aside his normal snarking bitterness and just lavished praise upon a particular American idol candidate from start to finish, never even giving another candidate a chance?

What if male judges at the Miss American Pageant didn't even acknowledge the talent (baton twirling routine) and intelligence ("How I plan to save the world" speech) of contestants and simply chose the one that had most sex appeal, looked best in a skimpy bathing suit, and seemed most likely to sleep with them?

I mean wouldn't we call in Jimmy Carter to monitor these election/selection processes? I just don't want the Catholic Blog Awards to be viewed as the trumped up party of some Banana Republic.

I suppose the only solution is for all of you to overwhelmingly nominate CRM for the appropriate categories and then to rally the voters to keep it all above board!

Tag Team Tonsils
Well, folks, there must be something going on in the Catholic world regarding ordained ministers and throat problems. I just got back from the doctor's office. I called the doctor up because after three full days of antibiotic treatment, the pain in my throat and the swelling is still severe. Although, the inflammation has seemed to switch sides -- sort of like tag team tonsils. I didn't know if that was unusual or not. I sort of expected that by now the pain would have gone away and that I could get off the Advil (which, by the way, has done marvelously in masking the pain). Anyway, the doctor said it was unusual and that perhaps the bacteria was resistant to the amoxicillen (875 mg) I had been taking. He said I have a tonsillar abscess and so I got a shot in the rear of very, very strong antibiotic (Rocephin), a new oral antibiotic (Omnicef), as well as a prescription for pain relief. The doctor, one of my parishioners, told me that the Rosefin was the same antibiotic the Pope was administered. I asked the doctor, "Will it be okay for me to have Mass this evening?" His answer got me chuckling as I considered how the medical and Catholic world collided in that one moment. He responded, "You have to. Especially since it is the eve of the Feast of St. Blaise and I think we need some throat blessings."

Vote Early, Vote Often

Now, I know what all of you are going to say. I shouldn't have gotten into blogging for the fame or adulation. Well, what else are these cybernetic experiments meant to do if not feed one's ego while building a global community?

I wanted to notify you that the nominations for the 2005 Catholic Blog Awards are open. What the good Fathers here at CRM attempt to do, with the assistance of our crack Monkey Tech Staff, is lighten your day and hopefully form the vanguard wavefront of the New Evangelization. If you have appreciated what you have found here, then take a moment and nominate us for the appropriate category.

And if we win, I'll see if I can find a Sally Field wig I can wear while saying, "You like us...today, you really like us."

A Most Cultured Individual

I have resisted to the limits of my endurance. I can resist no further. I have to talk about an interesting overlap involving Fr. H's Strep Throat.

Many viruses and bacteria developed a survival strategy that is so clever that it smacks of intelligent design. Many of these infections create areas of pustulation at the back of the throat, usually in the form of pus blisters. To name a few that comes to mind, smallpox, black plague, strep throat, ebola (all four varities) use the victim's coughing to help create an infective spray which insures the survival of the organism.

So, as Fr. H is resting up, I would suggest an occasional visual check by him for things like centrifugal rash, raised bumps, or large flea bearing rats running around the rectory.

It's not that I am a "glass-half-empty" pessimist. The glass is half full, sure, ... of syrichine.

Pray for the Pope
My local NBC affiliate is reporting that Vatican officials are reporting that Pope John Paul II has been rushed to a hospital with some type of "respiratory crisis". He had to cancel his activities yesterday due to the flu. The affiliate mentioned that there would be more information on the national NBC news. Let us pray for His Holiness. May God strenghten him and prepare him for whatever this may be.

But who's playing the lead?

I hosted a dinner party as part of my vacation away from the parish. In the course of the dinner, someone mentioned how they always thought that it was fun to figure out who would play yourself in the movie of your life. For example, for mine, I think that it would be super if Chris Farley could have played the younger me, and then John Goodman play the more mature Msgr. Tharp. One of the dinner guests suggested Paul Giamatti for myself, once I am elected pope. (Let's just collectively pray that never happens, the pope part, not the Giamatti connection.) Of course, if this weight loss thing goes as planned, he could very well play me. However, the first person who suggests any role in this movie for Jack Black will be beaten...severely...repeatedly. I can track you via your IP address, bear in mind.

This whole game goes to show how the film is the new novel. Rather than envisioning ourselves through the memorable characters of literature, it is the seen celebrity becomes the point of comparision. So feel free to flood the comments box with your picks for yourself or for any of the staff here at CRM. It will help to put a face with the name.

Variations on a Theme

In my younger days, I was very involved in music and theater. In high school, I was in at least 2 choirs from 8th through 11th grade. I performed with the show and jazz choirs and was featured in many productions. Even in the seminary, I spent a fair amount of time in choir and theater productions. There is an unfortunate story concerning my involvement in 1776 which will have to wait for another post, assuming I can work up the emotional fortitude to tell it.

One of the great losses for myself as a priest has been losing that outlet. I still love the theater and set aside time to go to Shakespeare, when it's presented, and I am developing a taste for opera. My satellite radio pretty much stays pinned on the Broadway channel. One aspect of my giving up on the theater had to do with a lack of talent. I think I have a great amount of skill at music et cetera. I don't possess that effortless, almost flawless quality real talent showcases. Also, it didn't help that I wouldn't do anything or any show to get ahead. One time through Bye, Bye Birdie taught me that. To add to this, I have a funny voice, in the sense that it is neither a true tenor or a real baritone. It hovers between those two realms and so I could never find music that fit my voice. I convinced myself that it would be hard to find parts that would fit my particular vocal talents. My discovery of Bryn Terfel changed much of that.

Terfel is a Welsh-born Bass-Baritone Opera god. After listening to his rendition of various pieces by Wagner, Elijah by Mendelsohn, and Verdi's Falstaff, he epitomizes what the fusion of talent and skill sound like. It brought home to me that having a voice that is hard to categorize is a good thing. It adds diversity and depth to one's performance options. When I think back I, in part, sold myself a lie. I think now that I could have very easily gone on to do theater professionally, but that is not to be.

I reflected one afternoon, listening to the Broadway channel, how much we, speaking generically, want to know that we are doing well. In a sense, the whole of life is a drama that stars us, at least in our particular chapter and part of the stage. Perhaps, this explains why drama, theater, and storytelling are primordial instincts of man. We sense the "largeness" of what surrounds us, but lack the way to speak of it, and so we perform plays, sing songs, and tell stories. It is about expressing the hope that Someone else is writing the script that we are playing.

Part of the joy of being on stage was that sense of achievement, of skillful performance, and that skillful performance being appreciated by others who see it. I thought that was lost because I could never again create something beautiful for the stage. And then it came to me, another variation on the theme that Bl. Mother Teresa introduced through her life of heroic witness.

"Through Love, anyone can create something beautiful for God." Instead of playing to rave reviews and sold out shows, the Christian creates beautiful "art" for God and for His Church. By living what is good and moral, the Christian soul reads the lines as God has written them in our nature, clothes himself in the costume of the disciple, a costume knit together from the good deeds he performs in Faith. By learning the true, the Christian knows how to play a scene or even improvise and draws others into the scene. By the desire to see the beautiful, the Christian co-operates with Him who is true Beauty, a beauty which fades not the moment the show closes. And in the end, we hope to hear that the review of our performance was good. "Good and faithful servant, come, share your master's joy.

In high school, a girl that I was very attracted to compared me to Sir John Falstaff, a famous figure in Shakespeare. Having read the histories, I thought it was the hero she was comparing me to. When I finally saw The Merry Wives of Windsor, I realized there is another side to Falstaff. In this play, John is cast as the comic relief who in attempting to woo several women in the town, gets his come-uppance in the end.

It is only recently though that I have come to accept both sides of Falstaff. For all of our pretensions, we are a bit comic at times. We play at our great schemes and plans, only to discover that we are being played by some other person on stage with us. After the kicks and the rolling in the mud, and whatever indignities we must bear, we can only laugh and hope to see the rest of the cast laughing with us. Falstaff is a man of conversion. Yes, he starts out the hero, but every hero has a shadow cast across his face. It's that shadow we hope to put aside and let the true person, the one that hides behind the various masks we present, stand in the spotlight.

I am John Falstaff. I am a man of many and varied good things who then also has a host of things that make mock of me. I suspect that a good many of those who love me "show not their teeth, though they find the jest be laughable." Given the wide range of faces and characters in Shakespeare, I would far rather be the laughable Falstaff, than the Hamlet or Polonius.

Man of culture
Bacteria culture, that is! Between the two Masses I had this morning, I rushed over to the emergency room of the local hospital to have a doctor look at the inflamation in my throat. I had checked myself with a flashlight this morning and I was pretty sure it was strep throat. The doctor agreed. I got professional, courteous, and very rapid service at the ER this morning (in and out in probably 15 minutes) so that I could make it back for the next Mass. So, the doctor has told me to cancel activities in public for the next few days. We'll see if that means more blogging than I have done the past few days.

Liturgical Footnote #3
By Fr. J.C. Garrett

The Mass is for everyone. To try to exclude anyone from the Mass would be to deny that the Church is really Catholic. We should never try to form close-knit, closed “worshipping community,” made up of only like-minded people. We also have think beyond just “my parish” for each parish is part of the Universal Church, forming the One Mystical Body of Christ. Even though we come to church each week as a large number of individuals, we need to come together in prayer. One of the most effective ways to do this is with music.

Once the people have gathered, as the priest and other liturgical ministers enter, the gathered community begins the Introit, better known as the Entrance Hymn. The Introit sets the tone for the Mass and states the theme of the celebration. We express our willingness to come together, in love and acceptance of all those around us, for the celebration of Mass. Closed mouths and crossed arms suggest hearts and minds that are close to the love God is offering us and calling us to participate in. In others words – SING! God does not care how well you sing, He just wants us to give all of ourselves to the praise of His Name, just as He gave all of Himself in the sacrifice of Christ for our sins.

Believe it or not, there is a proper Introit for each Mass. In the United States there are four options (generally considered in this order of preference) for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon, taken from the Roman Missal, or the Psalm of the Roman Gradual is set to music (all things being equal, place of pride and preference is given to Gregorian Chant accompanied by the organ); (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm from the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the Bishops’ Conference or the local bishop; (4) a suitable liturgical song approved by the Bishop’s Conference or the local bishop. If options (3) or (4) is used, the song should reflect the theme for the Mass.

If the Introit is not sung, as is often done during the daily Mass, the antiphon for that day’s Mass is to be recited either by the congregation, the lector, or the priest.

The Day of the Jackal!
FINALLY...FINALLY...FINALLY!!!!! Folks, it has been joked about so many times on this blog, but today the new bishop of Wichita was announced by the Vatican. He is Bishop-designate Michael Owen Jackels. Since he is a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and up-to-now an official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), I can hear certain naysayers comparing his motives to this. Actually, though, Wichita is blessedly free such high profile dissent. From his biography on the Vatican web site, it appears he came to Rome to work in the CDF while I was there as a student. I don't ever remember meeting him or even hearing of him. Oh well. We here at CRM congratulate the Diocese of Wichita. We congratulate Bishop-designate Jackels and we encourage him to continue the good work already begun in the Church of Wichita!

Looking at the stats, I see something rather interesting:
Bishop Paul Coakley:
1978-1979 attended St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Kentucky
1979-1983 attended Mt. St. Mary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Ordained priest 1983
1985-1987 Licentiate degree in Rome

Bishop-designate Michael Jackels:
1974-1977 attended St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Kentucky
1977-1981 attended Mt. St. Mary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Ordained priest 1981
1985-1989 Doctorate degree in Rome

Notice any overlap there? I am sure both St. Pius X and Mt. St. Mary are proud to have another alumnus-son named bishop only a few months since the last nomination.

TURN-ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY
Wednesday I went for my radiation treatment for my thyroid cancer. The body scan I had just prior was interesting, it looks like I have a star right at the top, middle of my chest -- kind of like ET's glowing heart. This treatment is unlike what most cancer patients go through. They are zapped, in other words, irradiated. I actually swallowed a pill containing I-131, radioactive iodine; 102 mCi worth. This means that I am not only being irradiated, but am contaminated. If I vomit, they need to call a HazMat team to come clean it up. When a geiger counter is held up to me, I pin it. In other words I am RADIOACTIVE PRIEST!!!!

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission made me sign papers which allows me to leave the hospital (I had to certify that I have my own bedroom and bathroom, and that I can keep myself isolated from other people for 3-4 days). As I sit here in front of my computer, which is trying its best to irradiate me, I am irradiating it right back. Turn-about is fair play.

The housekeeper is a little afraid of me, and she will not do my laundry now that it is "radioactive." I keep telling her it only needs to be double washed. Oh well, I am stuck in my suite, finally having the time to watch "Band of Brothers." Saturday I will be back in action. Another body scan tomorrow, and hopefully next week I will see my endocrinologist and get on synthyroid so that I can start to feel like normal again.

OK, WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN?
More than one person has accused me of being crazy, and some have even called me stupid, but something just happened to me which made me ask, "Do you really think me that soft in the head?"

My parents have a Toyota Prius, first generation. I actually talked them into it, and they love it -- especially the navigation system. This past summer, now being a recently ordained priest, I decided to order a Prius for myself. Since my little Hyundai Accent is operating just fine, thus I am not in an immediate need for a car, it did not matter to me that there was more than a year's wait for the car. One of the priests I live with is friends with the sales manager of a Toyota dealership and said he could help me get the best deal possible. Of all the various options, the one I really wanted was the navigation system; which unfortunately only comes in the top option package, and at the time I ordered it, you could not add it solo. So I placed the order, with no obligation to buy, and I was told that the price (before negotiations) would be $26,400 (before taxes & tags).

Today I was shuffling the papers on my desk and noticed my Prius brochure and decide to call to see how far down the waiting list I was. While they told me that it would still be 5-6 months, the salesman asked if I would be interested in a pre-owned (I still think of it as "used") 2004. I said maybe, asking the price and whether it has the navigation system. He told me that the price was $24,000 and that while it did not have the navigation system, they are now able to add that option by itself for $3,000. OK, do the math. I can get a brand new, fully loaded Prius for $26,400 or a "pre-owned," not as loaded one for $27,000. Am I the only one who thinks this is nuts?

The good news, however, is that now I do not need to hold out for the fully loaded Prius; I can get one of the lower, middle option packages (still brand new) which is cheaper and add the navigation for $3000 and it would still be cheaper than $26,400. Even more exciting, these lower, middle option packages they get in faster -- in fact he might have two right now for me, so I could be getting a new car soon. YIPEEE!

XM and Sirius Merger?

Just when I thought my luck couldn't get any better.

Why I love and hate logic

Logic allows one to give structure to their thought. But the content is as equally important. Allow me to demonstrate.

1. Beans = good for your heart (cf. convential wisdom)
2. Viagra = good for your heart (apparently, V can help those with enlarged hearts. No comments on other possible enlargements.)
3. Therefore, Viagra is made of beans.

The real goal is to make a catchy jingle. Just don't publish that here.

I guess it's a vacation after all...

So, I am sitting here at St. Monica's parish in Edmond, OK, preparing to wow or bore to tears the kids of the parish with a presentation upon apologetics. Hopefully, I can create a proper sense of excitement for the Faith in the process.

To think, that for a priest, just getting away from the parish for a couple of days and offering some presentations passes for vacation...at least it does in my book.

Pray that I don't sound like a total knob.

UPDATE: The talk went off well. The game served its purpose of reminding the kids of how much they actually need to learn. The youth leaders thought it was well-received, and I must agree. Also, bumped into a fellow Okie blogger whose name has already eluded me. Songbird, don't take offense -- my brain hurts...

Nerd Quiz
I saw this quiz via Fr. Sibley's A Saintly Salmagundi and I just had to take it. I have to share a story that helps explain why I had to take this quiz. Growing up, when "nerd" was a word in vogue, my dad got an idea to pull a prank on some friends from our parish. Having observed plenty of "nerdy" activity among me and my friends, he decided to send out a letter alerting the neighborhood to the presence of disturbing nerd activity in the area. He called it a "Nerd Alert." We even had a stamp made that we stamped on letterhead and envelopes. We wrote the letter and included all sorts of things observed in the Catholic ghetto, the neighborhood surrounding our parish. One of the highlights or evidence of nerd activity was the gathering of me and my friends in various front yards, breakdancing on large pieces of cardboard. (Yes, we all have embarrassing pasts!) Anyway, so we sent the letter out from our fake "Nerd Alert" Office (i.e., we didn't put our family name on it) and many people got a good laugh out of it. However, it quickly came to our attention that one mother mistook the letter. From the evidence provided in the letter, it had clearly been written by someone who had been observing kids in the neighborhood. She thought a stalker or a child abductor had been canvassing the area and had written a letter before "striking"! No kidding! Luckily, we put that fire out before legal authorities became involved. Anyway, we followed the letter up with "Nerd-O-Grams," trite little poems, rhymes and statements to send to nerd friends. It was sort of the Hallmark of nerd greetings. Yes, we had a stamp printed for that one too. Anyway, that being said, you can see why I had to test my own nerdiness. It seems I survived. Luckily, the quiz didn't have any questions about how often you check to see if Wichita has a bishop and how often you post about that subject. If that had been asked, I can only imagine how "nerdy" my score would have been!

BLIZZARDLY WEEKEND
Well New Jersey got hit with its first real snow of the winter. And it kind of shows how interesting people can be. Now, it was not only the 12+ inches of snow (I've lived in the Midwest, so I know that's not huge), but it was the high winds, up to 50 mph gusts, which made things very dangerous. The Governor of NJ issued a Snow Emergency, which basically means, "only emergency vehicles and plows are allowed on the road, so if we see anyone else we will give you a big fine." Just as he issued it last night the hospital called saying that they had someone who was dying and the family wanted them anointed. Yours truly was on duty. There was no way I was going to drive in the mess (I have a puny Hyundai Accent, but even with my big bulk, I feared it would be blown all over the road), so I started to dress up like Commodore Perry to walk the 6 blocks to the hospital, hoping I could get there and back in time to celebrate the 7:30 pm Mass (it really does not pay, at least not in an urban parish, to cancel Mass because there will always be a few people who will come anyway and then complain, "well we made it. You priests live right next door, so come say the Mass."). My pastor told me, "No way." He suggested that I get our maintenance guy, who was ploughing our parking lot in his 4x4 to drive me, but then he said we would not make any more hospital runs because of the weather. As I was walking into the hospital the beeper went off again, with another call (this was more irksome because the hospital had given the beeper number to a family member in FL, so they could plead with Father to go anoint their father despite the blizzard. Giving the beeper number away is a BIG NO-NO). So I did both and rushed back to say Mass. Eight people showed up. For the first four Masses this morning we had less than 50 people combined. This was really low, given we are a parish of 4000 families. However, given the horrendous weather, it was most understandable. One lady, who came into my 10:45am Mass right at the beginning of the Our Father, stopped me after Mass to explain that it took her (and her 9 year-old daughter) longer to walk to church then she expected, and wanted to know if it would still count for their Sunday obligation. I told her that in normal circumstances it wouldn't, but given the most unusually weather I thought it would because their intention was good. I told her to take a Missalette home and read the Readings to her daughter and talk about them if she was really worried about it, but to get home safe and enjoy some hot chocolate. See, another sign that I am not the heartless, rubricist that some accuse me of being.

What is that in "ape" years?
Today we mark Fr. Tharp's thirty-second birthday. He's on some well-deserved time off. Happy Birthday, Fr. Tharp! This means that I am currently the only priest in our archdiocese who is 31.

Johnny Carson, R.I.P.
I am saddened to hear of the news of Johnny Carson's death today. May he rest in peace.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FR. SHANE!

Don't get in my way or I'll run ya down!

Officially, the vacation begins today. It begins with a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat in OKC, and then some presentations around the city and metro, an auction dinner, and then some time to sleep, read, and pray.

In short, don't go looking for me around these parts. The other two will have to pull their own weight for awhile.

Liturgical Footnote #2
By Fr. J.C. Garrett

Mass, especially Sunday Mass, is not something that one should “just show up at.” Rather, it is important for the person to be prepared to enter into the celebration of the Mass. So how does one get ready for Mass?

It begins with recognizing that Sunday is not like the other days of the week. Sunday is the Lord’s Day, and therefore the Lord should be our central focus for Sundays. The Sabbath rest is God’s gift to us because He knows that we can be prone to overwhelm ourselves with busyness. He wants us to rest, to be renewed, and to spend time with Him who is the source of our lives and the goal of our lives. This means that we should not “fit Mass” into our Sunday schedule, but rather Sunday Mass should be our first priority, and anything else is arranged around it.

Next we should make ourselves hunger for the Lord. In the “good old days” this meant that we had to fast from food and drink (except water) from Midnight (Sunday) until we went to Mass on Sunday morning. This extended period of going without physical food helped us really hunger for the Food from Heaven, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. While the Church has relaxed this extended fast before Mass, it did not eliminate it. All Catholics, especially those who plan to receive Holy Communion, are suppose to fast for one hour prior to Mass. This means one hour before the start of Mass, not when you think you will be receiving Communion. Obviously those who, due to age or medical condition, are excused from fasting in general are also excused from the Sunday fast as well.

Another thing that we should do to prepare ourselves for Mass is to make an examination of conscience. The Holy Father, in his 2003 Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia (On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church), and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in its 2004 Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum (The Eucharist, the Sacrament of Redemption) both says that just attending Mass is not sufficient reason for receiving Holy Communion. Rather all Catholics are to make a conscious, deliberate examination of conscience to be sure that they are in a State of Grace (have not committed a mortal sin), and to beware of their venial sins so to ask forgiveness for them in their prayer at Mass. Such a deliberate examination of conscience before Mass helps prevent developing a too casual attitude towards the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our lives.

Finally each Catholic should bring their intentions, their spiritual sacrifices, to the altar at Mass. In our baptism we were all made “Priest, Prophet and King,” and while the Ministerial Priesthood is distinct from the Priesthood of the Baptized, both, in their proper ways, are a participation in the One Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Just as the priest makes a specific intention before each Mass he celebrates, each member of the congregation should also make a specific intention for the Mass they are attending. They can bring a special need of their family, their friends, community, or workplace to the Altar, lifting them up in prayer to our one Mediator, Jesus Christ. The reason why it is important to arrive at church early is so that we can take some time for quiet prayer to examine our consciences, ask the Lord of Mercy for forgiveness, and to form our personal Mass intention. With this done, we are ready to begin the celebration of God’s love for us.

(happily posted on behalf of Fr. Garrett. due topreviously mentioned Blogger vs. Mac issues)

Let's take a vote!

Okay, kids. Get ready to exercise your democratic powers. Is this consciousness raising or extreme bad taste? You be the judge! And yes, we will take comments from Simon Cowell wannabes.

Woman Gives Birth to Giant Baby

Okay, so let's think this through. The child was born in Brazil so that eliminates the frost giants. Given the sultry wealthy down there, it could be a fire giant, except that the mother didn't burst into flames, so they're out. Hmmm, cloud giants don't normally fraternize in areas not surrounded by mountains. So, I guess we have to go with stone giants.

Okay, so this is the evidence of long-term brain damage rendered by Dungeons and Dragons. Beg your pardon.

Would you adopt me, Stan Lee?

Are you ready, kiddos?!
I believe tomorrow, Wednesday, is the day when Wichita will get its new bishop!

Update: Or maybe not. But it was fun to be excited for them, wasn't it?

Grotesque Self-Promotion

Doesn't it make you want to subscribe?

Liturgical Footnote #1
By Fr. J.C. Garrett

As we mentioned when we told you about the “changes” in the Mass as we implement the Third Edition of the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM), this is an opportunity for all of us to reflect more deeply on the liturgy so that we can have a better understanding of the various signs and gestures used during the Mass. The hope of this little column is to go step by step through the liturgy of the Mass, explaining why we do what we do.

The proper celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is central to our lives as Catholics. In fact, the first document issued by the Second Vatican Council was on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. One of the key phrases from that document is that all the people attending the Mass should have a “full, conscious, active participation” in the liturgy, each according to their proper order (as an aside, this English translation is a little inaccurate, for in the official Latin the word “actuoso” is used which is more correctly translated as “actual” not “active”. This is important because we Americans often take the word “active” to mean to be doing something, but the Church considers being attentively silent, say in reflecting on God’s Word, as “doing something.”).

For all of us to participate in the Mass as the Church wants us to we need to have an understanding of the gestures, the symbols, even the environment that makes up the Liturgy. This understanding allows us to join ourselves more fully with all that is happening during the Mass. And what, you might ask, is happening at Mass? Fr. Francis Randolph, in his guide to the Mass entitled, Know Him in the Breaking of the Bread, beautifully puts it, “Here in the Mass we meet our Lord Jesus Christ; we share in his birth, death, and Resurrection; we are nourished with his Body so that we may become the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church. Be aware of that, and whether the Mass is in the new rite or the old or another yet to come will not matter.”

(poster's note: Fr. Garrett has Blogger vs. Mac issues so I will be posting these Liturgical Footnotes for him weekly. - Steph)

Collateral Damage

This is the problem with war in general. Eventually someone decides that there are no innocent parties; everyone is a viable target.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Rising Anxieties and Preparations

This is going to be one of those weeks. A lot to arrange before I slip away for a couple 10 days of R & R in the Oklahoma City arena. On top of that, it is getting to be time that I heard back from Our Sunday Visitor about my submission of the Borromeo Project for publication. So, what I am going about in a circle to say is, "Don't expect much from me in the way of blogging."

However, to give you all something to do, I thought I might share a sample of the Borromeo Project's goodness. It's just a little something to ponder on.

Step One: Read paragraphs 2168-2231 in your Catechism. Then consider the following questions.
1. Based upon what you read about the Sabbath, why would we want to say that the Sabbath is the high point of the act of Creation? What does that say about Sunday in relation?
2. Many Catholics think that once they have attended Sunday or Holy Day Mass, their job as Catholics is complete. How are they both correct and incorrect? What can be done to allow Sunday to reach its intended purpose?
3. Complaints are often made about how much our society has declined in recent years. Explain how failure to observe the Fourth Commandment has played into this and how observance of the Fourth Commandment can lead us out of these problems.
4. Describe, in concrete ways, how the Christian home should reflect its nature as a domestic church.

Enjoy.

Have you been made a "fresh wineskin"?
There is an integral continuity from the Old Covenant to the New. We do not artificially compartmentalize them or dispose of the Old as if it had no value. Nonetheless, there is definitely something new with the onset of the Incarnation and ministry of Jesus. He himself makes this clear. The gospel at today's Mass highlights this tension between old and new: "Jesus answered them, ...'Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins'."

Ask yourself today, How new and fresh is my skin? Is it up to the task of containing the new wine of God's revelation, Jesus the Christ? This is no dermatological inquiry, rather, a look at how new, clean, and fresh the soul is! Do I make a good confession frequently enough? Do I have serious sin on my soul that needs the grace of the confessional? Consider these questions before the next reception of Holy Communion. These were the thoughts running through my mind as I peered down into the chalice this morning during the consecration. I only wish I had had these thoughts to share at the homily!

Yes, Pat, I'd like to buy an "I"
Last night I typed a post using "irks," but spelling it "urkes". This morning, I misused the same word in a comment on the same post. And, for some reason, the instant I posted the comment, my brain suddenly recalled, "Wait a minute! Urk is spelled irk." Maybe I was too tired last night and my brain finally woke up this morning, I don't know. Pat, I'd like to buy a vowel. An "I"....

That's precisely the point
I had an odd happening at Holy Mass this morning during the distribution of Holy Communion. A lady I did not recognize as a parishioner approached in the line and had that slightly uncertain look on her face that is usually a sign that the person is not Catholic and so ought not be coming forward in the line for Holy Communion. That uncertain look on the face, however, is no certain guarantee and is in no way sufficient evidence for denying Holy Communion. So, I presented the Sacred Host and said, "The Body of Christ." At this point, she reached out her hand as if to grab the Host with her thumb and forefinger. When this happens I always draw the Host back a bit and say, "No. Open your hand flat or stick out your tongue" [to briefly teach the two acceptable modes of reception]. After I told her this, she opened her hand flat and I again presented her the Host, placing it on her hand. This time after I said, "The Body of Christ," she responded, "Thank you." At this point, I put my hand back on the Host in her hand and asked, "Are you Catholic." "No," she said. I said, "Okay, please move on. You have to be Catholic to receive Holy Communion," and I removed the Host from her hand. She stepped to my side and continued the conversation, responding to my previous question ("Are you Catholic?"), by adding, "Does it matter? [Pause] It is still Holy Communion." With this going on in my ear as I had moved on to other communicants, I wanted to stop again, look at her, and say "Yes, it is still Holy Communion and that's precisely the point."

Keep in mind, none of the quotes I report above had a nasty, ugly tone about them. There was nothing vindictive about the exchange, but it was something that needed further explanation. It really irks me when things like this happen in the midst of Mass because there is no time at such points for finesse. I have to be direct and to the point. In the line for Holy Communion is not the time to enter a discussion and I cannot explain the finer points of Church teaching. I am certain that this lady probably left the church feeling hurt and rejected and will forever associate this episode (though it wasn't particularly ugly) with her notion of Catholicism. Was she considering learning more about Catholicism, perhaps to join? If so, will this dissuade her? Or, if so, will this awkward episode reinforce for her that there is something different about Holy Communion in the Catholic Church -- perhaps this will be a catalyst for further conversion and study. However, given the "I'm okay; you're okay" sentimentalism of our modern times, I bet she leaves with a bad taste in her mouth about Catholicism.

As I greeted people after Mass, I made a point to search for this woman (and she was still there as I recessed out of Mass), however, she must have exited through a side door. I really wanted to offer to spend some time with her explaining what had happened in the line and why I couldn't give her Holy Communion. Alas, I didn't get that opportunity. I suppose the only way to avoid such things (though I am sure it won't be fullproof) is to inform my parishioners and to put signs in the back of church that declare that the line for Holy Communion is only for those actually receiving Holy Communion (together with an explanation of who may receive Holy Communion). In other words, the line for Holy Communion is not for blessings of kids or RCIA people or non-Catholic visitors, but only for the reception of Holy Communion.

I promised some photos from this year's class reunion. We meet up every first week of January at a tree farm in Alabama. It seems an unlikely place for a group of priests to gather. Our connection to it is that it is owned by the parents of one classmate. It has plenty of lodge space and a chapel. (Here is a link to earlier posts with photos from last year's reunion.) It is perfect for our time together. We truly get away from modernity and simply enjoy some good ol' outdoors time. I hope nobody is scandalized that we are not in Roman collars. By the way, I'm in the back group, fourth from the left. There were fourteen of us in attendance this year, out of a class of thirty-three.

Here is a wonderful example of why I love my class so much. This priest holds a Ph.D. from Yale in neuroscience. Of course, he also holds advanced degrees in theology and bioethics. He is currently the Director of Education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center. And here he is shooting a rifle. The rifle range slopes downward some and he is aiming for some targets (beer & soda cans - is this backwoods Alabama or what?!) near the ground. That's why he appears to be aiming too low.

Here is another classmate. Is this a classic "priest on vacation" look or what?! This priest was getting ready to go out on a hike; he only had black socks! I have cropped the photo to protect his identity: I don't want him ending up on a "worst dressed list" and given that he is a formator in a seminary, I don't want any seminarians from his place getting undo ammo to use against him! Oh, and to any wise guys who think they have figured out this priest's identity: No, it is not the guy in the yellow shirt from the first photo (above), though that priest, too, is a seminary formator. Oh, and let me take a pre-emptive strike from Fr. Tharp's cheap shots: I'm not the priest in this photo either. I mean, give me a break, my skin is much more sickeningly white than that!

Here is the deer stand that I climbed into, patiently waiting for Bambi. 

I'm not sure if this will show up well, but here is the field where I hunted the first evening. I was using the outdoor setting on my camera -- it may be too dark for you to see much. 

Here is the view of the same field from inside the deer stand's slit for a window. Since no deer showed up this evening, there was no need to put a rifle in the window. Instead I put my camera near it, thinking of you dear readers and how you might like to see photos!

I only saw one deer in the field the entire three evenings of hunting (and I didn't take the shot). Other than that one deer, these turkeys were the only things that crossed my path. I didn't have the right gun to bag a turkey (at least not if the goal was to have anything left to actually eat). 

The workers at the tree farm were doing controlled burns near the houses where we all stay. It was neat to watch the method for the burn. Due to the consistent drumbeat of Smokey the Bear during my childhood, every fiber of my being wanted to run sreaming "Fire" as I watched the forest ground go up in flames. But this really is a necessary practice to prevent worse catastrophes; also, after the grass pops up again, it makes the forest ground look really neat and clean. You can see the burned area is the black part in the center of the photo.

Too Perky at Any Network