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"dear Padre" - 2009 |
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"dear Padre" - 2009 |
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December 27, 2009 How do I explain unanswered prayers? - My son and his wife recently separated. My eight-year-old granddaughter has been praying for their reconciliation and recently asked me why God “won’t make them love each other again.” What do I tell her? - Heartbroken Dear Heartbroken, I’m sure your granddaughter has heard people, maybe even you, talk about having their prayers answered. Therefore, it’s logical that she would question why God hasn’t quickly answered a prayer as important as this one. Explain to your granddaughter that God doesn’t “make” us do anything. He gave us the Ten Commandments and told us how to live our lives in the best way possible, but it’s completely up to us to live our lives the best we can. Make it clear to your granddaughter that if her parents don’t get back together it won’t be God’s fault, nor will it be her fault. It may not even be her parents’ “fault.” You will probably need to remind her of this more than once. Encourage your granddaughter to continue praying, but instead of asking God to make her parents reconcile, she should ask God to give her and the rest of her family the strength to accept whatever changes lie ahead. She may be a little young to understand that, while prayers should be very specific in some circumstances, at other times the best prayer opens us up and places our trust in God’s hands. |
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December 20, 2009 How should parents discipline children at Mass? - How should parents discipline children during Mass? Children sliding around in the pews, fidgeting constantly, loud outbursts—how would the priest like parents to handle these situations during Mass? - Marlo Dear Marlo, It’s better to have fidgeting kids at Mass than no kids at all. Children are a sign of life and a blessing to our parish community—sometimes even more to the community than to parents who have to worry and take care of them during Mass. I presume you mean children around the ages of two to five. It’s important for kids to be at Mass and to learn how to be quiet for an hour. They can begin to learn this at home, before they even arrive at church, by explaining there is something different about where they are going. Then, when children come to Mass, they slowly get used to the idea that they’re expected to behave and be reasonably quiet for a limited amount of time. Parents might want to bring books or soft toys—anything that won’t make more noise—to keep the kids entertained. They shouldn’t let their kids bring musical toys, electronic games with sound effects, or toy trucks that can be run up and down the pews. If children continue to be disruptive, parents should take them outside for a short time and then bring them back. If your parish has a nursery or a cry room, you might use them until the child understands they need to be quite if they are in the main church. Bottom line: Priests want children to come to Mass. We want them to learn to behave now so when they get older they’re ready to deepen their participation in the Mass. |
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December 13, 2009 What are “O Antiphons?” - I have a friend who says that singing the “O Antiphons” is her favorite part of Advent. I was too embarrassed to tell her I didn’t know what she was talking about. Can you help? - Janel Dear Janel, Most Roman Catholics have heard and sung the “O Antiphons” for years even if they don’t know it. An antiphon is a brief refrain, usually from the Bible, either sung or said during worship. An “O” antiphon is an antiphon that starts with O, as in “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”— each verse of that song is made up of an “O Antiphon.” The antiphons are most at home in the Liturgy of the Hours, the collection of psalms, hymns, prayers and readings that make up the regular rhythm of the Church’s prayer at morning, midday, evening, and night. The “O Antiphons” your friend refers to are verses used during the Church’s evening prayer from December 17–23. With one verse spoken or sung before Mary’s Magnificat each evening, these antiphons call on the Lord to come to his people using titles taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. When the “O Antiphons” are sung in Latin, they present a sort of acrostic with a hidden message. The first letter of each title in the antiphon spells sarcore, which is ero cras spelled backward. In Latin, ero cras means “tomorrow I come” or “tomorrow I shall be.” In their original language and context, the “O Antiphons” have a particularly rich significance, but they remain beautiful even when sung simply in English as the verses of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” |
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November 29, 2009 When did Advent start? - When did the Church start celebrating Advent? - Oliver Dear Oliver, It’s a little complicated. Our Western Church’s celebration of Advent grew up over time in different areas of Europe rather than beginning all at once in one particular spot. Some of the earliest references we have to special pre-Christmas practices for Christians come from Spain and Gaul (modern France) in the fourth and fifth centuries, but we also have evidence of a pre-Christmas fast at the end of the fourth century in Rome. The shape and flavor of these local Advent celebrations were different, with some running as long as six weeks and some being much shorter. And in Gaul they emphasized penance and the final coming of Christ in judgment at the end of time, while in Rome there was more of an emphasis on the coming celebration of Jesus’ birth. The Roman four-week Advent eventually carried the day and shaped the rhythm of our Church’s calendar. But if you pay attention to the readings and prayers offered in our Advent Masses, you’ll see elements of both the Roman and Gallican Advents in our modern-day celebrations. In general, during the earlier days of Advent we emphasize the final coming of Christ in judgment. Then we turn to focus more closely on the commemoration of his birth at Bethlehem. |
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November 15, 2009 I just read a version of the Bible in which the Fifth Commandment says “Thou shall not murder” instead of “Thou shall not kill.” What’s the difference? - Reed Dear Reed, Killing is the taking of any life. You can kill a plant by not watering it. But you wouldn’t normally say you “murdered” a plant. Killing is a general term; murder is more specific. Murder, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, is “direct and intentional killing [of human beings and is] gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance” (2268). Different versions of the Bible use different words, but it seems to me that killing is truer to the original intent of the Ten Commandments. Killing is a better word because it talks about more than that you cannot take another life; instead, it says we are called to respect –human life in all of its forms. Therefore, the section of the Catechism devoted to the Fifth Commandment [2259–2330] teaches a wide understanding of the value of human life. That’s why the better translation is “Thou shall not kill” [emphasis added]—it reminds us there is much more to not killing than simply not taking a human life; it’s a call to respect all human life. |
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November 1, 2009 How are the Ten Commandments numbered? - The Catholic Ten Commandments are numbered differently from the Protestant Commandments. Why? And are the Jewish Commandments like the Protestants’? - Jeff Dear Jeff, The Bible says there are Ten Commandments: “He proclaimed to you his covenant, which he commanded you to keep: the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two tablets of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:13; also see 10:4). But that passage actually contains fourteen statements, and different traditions have grouped those statements differently. In Judaism, the First Commandment is “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. The Second is “You shall have no other gods before me.” The Catholic and Protestant lists combine them into the First Commandment. The Catholic Church’s list was developed by Saint Augustine in the fifth century (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2065). The Bible wasn’t divided into chapters and verses until the thirteenth century, so this could account for the differences in the lists. What’s important is that Scripture specifically refers to Ten Commandments and that all lists of the Commandments contain the same commands. This is a wonderful example that, despite our many differences, commonality does exist between Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. |
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October 25, 2009 Does the Bible favor the death penalty? - How can the Catholic Church be against the death penalty when the Bible gives death as the punishment for many crimes? - Al Dear Al, The Catechism of the Catholic Church doesn’t specifically exclude the use of capital punishment, but it gives us an important caution: “If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions” (2267). In another words, if possible, we should use means that don’t require us to take a life to protect people. We need to remember the Fifth Commandment, which tells us “Thou shall not kill.” The taking of a human life is something that should never be taken lightly. While the Church does not prohibit capital punishment outright, in the words of John Paul II, the need to use capital punishment is “very rare, if not practically non-existent” (On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life [Evangelium Vitae], 56). The Church believes firmly in a criminal justice system. We’re called to forgive, but we also must protect ourselves, so people are called to justice, punished, and sent to jail. But as Christians, we never want to be harsher than we need to. That wouldn’t be justice, but vengeance, and we must remember that “Vengeance is mine…says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). |
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October 18, 2009 Must we lend money? - My daughter is $30,000 in debt. On her last payday, a friend asked to borrow $600 for his house payment. My daughter lent him the money because she heard a reading in church that if you have money and your friend needs it, you should lend it. Is that what Jesus would have my daughter do in her current situation? - Ellen Dear Ellen, If your daughter had $600 she didn’t need immediately and was quite sure her friend would pay it back in a timely fashion, then yes, it was good for your daughter to have lent the money in that situation. It’s a sign of your daughter’s generosity and kindness. But there are a lot of “ifs” in the above scenario. If someone had lent that money to your daughter and, because she then lent it to her friend, the lender was denied her payment in a timely fashion; your daughter shouldn’t have lent the money. Putting the question in simpler terms, if I have two chickens and I need only one for supper and someone asks for something to eat, I should give him the extra chicken. But I needn’t give away all that I have to feed the hungry, thus becoming hungry myself, so if I have only one chicken I don’t have to give it away. We’re always called to be generous, but not at the expense of our own well-being. Lending money is a different issue because it seems everyone owes money. People have mortgages on their homes, loans on their cars, and debt on their credit cards. If your daughter is paying her debts in a timely fashion, she’s not obligated to pay more, and she can continue to be generous. |
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October 4, 2009 How long should Mass be? - Is there a rule about how long Mass is supposed to last? My daughter gets up and leaves after an hour whether the priest is still talking or not. I say she should stay put until Mass is officially over. Who is right? - Leah Dear Leah,
Mother is always right. At least
that’s what my mother told me. There’s no rule about how long Mass should
last, and it’s not appropriate to arrive late or leave before the final
blessing or the end of the recessional song. People do have to leave
early if they get sick, and doctors, police officers, and fire fighters
are sometimes called away. But in general, your weekend activities should
be scheduled around Mass. Saturday night Masses were designed for people
who have to work Sundays and for parishes with too few priests or too many
parishioners to accommodate everyone on Sunday— they weren’t designed to
make it easier to get a good tee time Sunday morning. It’s also important
to remember that local customs and traditions affect the length of Mass.
When I worked as a missionary in Brazil, Sunday Mass could go on for
nearly three hours. When I celebrated Mass in Scotland, the pastor said I
had to be done in a half hour. Most areas have more than one church.
Encourage your daughter to either grow accustomed to the tradition of the
parish she attends or look for another church. As a rule, I don’t think
it’s good to “shop around” for Mass, but if your daughter is that bothered
by the length of the Mass at her current church, it might be better for
her to go elsewhere. |
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September 27, 2009 What are sins against the Holy Spirit? - Which sins are considered to be “sins against the Holy Spirit”? - RebeccaDear Rebecca, In Luke 12:10, Jesus says, “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” A similar saying of Jesus’ is also found in Mark 3:29 and Matthew 12:32. Reflection on these passages has led Christians to speak of “the sin against the Holy Spirit.” Note that it is in the singular; there is no list of sins (plural) against the Holy Spirit. Commenting on this saying of Jesus’, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit” (1864). In the sacrament of reconciliation, the formula of absolution begins, “God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins.” To refuse that forgiveness is the sin against the Holy Spirit. |
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September 13, 2009 What are the Shroud of Turin and Veronica’s veil? - What is the difference between the Shroud of Turin and Veronica’s veil? - Ed Dear Ed, The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth that bears the image of a man who appears to have suffered crucifixion. Many believe it’s the shroud the body of Jesus was wrapped in before he was placed in the tomb, in which case the image is that of Jesus. As the name suggests, the shroud is kept in the cathedral of Turin, Italy. In spite of various scientific tests, the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin is not universally accepted. Veronica’s veil is a smaller piece of cloth imprinted with an image of a man’s face. The legend says that as Jesus was carrying his cross to Calvary, a woman named Veronica wiped his face with her veil. In gratitude, Jesus left his image on it. This event isn’t recorded in any of the Gospels, and there’s no way to know whether it actually took place. However, the sixth Station of the Cross recalls this event in Christ’s passion. The original Veronica’s veil has disappeared, although images of the “Holy Face” appear on cloths in many places in Europe. Both the Bible (Psalm 27:8, for example) and the early Church speak of God’s face in the mystery of God’s closeness to us. Authentic or not, both the Shroud of Turin and Veronica’s veil are objects of devotion that have helped many people meditate on the suffering and death of Jesus and so deepen their personal relationship with him. |
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August 30, 2009 What is a mystic? ~ I read an article about Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and someone referred to her as a mystic. What does that mean? ~ Mystified Dear Mystified, Mysticism is notoriously hard to define, and so is the question of what makes a person a mystic. I believe a certain amount of flexibility is permitted in our Catholic culture when we describe a person as a mystic. On the most basic level, to describe a person as a mystic is to claim for them a deep and intimate prayer life, full of contact with the divine presence of the Trinity. However, describing a person as a mystic often carries a connotation of extraordinary spiritual phenomena like visions or ecstasies. In his entry on mysticism in The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality (Liturgical Press, 1993), James Wiseman cites an 1899 study that found twenty-six different definitions of mysticism and mystical theology. Wiseman goes on to describe how two well-respected spiritual writers of the twentieth century, Hans Urs von Balthasar and Louis Bouyer, disagreed over whether the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, was a mystic. Von Balthasar said no, that Thérèse’s life was free of extraordinary mystical phenomena, while Bouyer said yes, that mysticism was not a matter of visions or ecstasies, but of total abandonment in faith to the love of God. |
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August 23, 2009 Do all priests take a vow of poverty? ~ A priest died and left my father some money. How could a priest have had money if he took a vow of poverty? ~ Ann Dear Ann, Not all priests take a vow of poverty. Diocesan priests don’t, and they’re allowed to personally possess and use money, goods, and property. The Code of Canon Law calls members of the diocesan clergy to material simplicity, but it does not bind them to a vow of poverty: “Clerics are to foster simplicity of life and are to refrain from all things that have a semblance of vanity” (282). Other priests do take a vow of poverty, however. These priests are members of religious communities who profess the classic evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Redemptorists, the Franciscans, and the Jesuits are examples of such communities. Religious communities differ, however, on the nature of their vows. Some require members to profess a solemn vow of poverty, while others require only a simple vow. Those who take a solemn vow of poverty cannot acquire or use property for themselves, while those who take a simple vow can acquire property but not use it. For example, a Franciscan priest takes a solemn vow of poverty and can never hold or inherit property of his own. In contrast, a Redemptorist priest takes a simple vow, so while he cannot make use of personal property (that is, spend money he inherits on himself), he can hold or inherit such property and eventually pass it on in his will to his community or to someone else. |
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August 16, 2009 How can a human pope be infallible? - I’ve always heard the pope is infallible. I find it hard to believe he never makes mistakes. If he’s human, how can he be perfect? ~~ Diane Dear Diane, We don’t claim the pope is perfect. From the Church’s earliest centuries, Catholic Christians have acknowledged that Saint Peter and his successors, the bishops of Rome, have had a special role as teachers within the Church. But the way we speak of that role has developed over time. Likewise, Christians have long acknowledged that the Holy Spirit can and does preserve the Church from error in teaching about faith and morals. Yet exactly how this happens and the nature of the pope’s role in the process were subjects of debate among Christians for centuries. The Church achieved some resolution to the debate in 1870 at the First Vatican Council, which produced the document Pastor Aeternus, also known as the First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ. That document finally gave an official description of how a pope could exercise infallibility in the Church. That description remains in force today. We Catholics believe the pope speaks infallibly when he acts as the pastor and teacher of all Christians and when, with the help of divine assistance, he defines a matter of faith or morals to be held by the universal Church. We believe the pope can exercise infallibility when he teaches, but only about faith and morals and only in union with the Church. ~~ Matthew Allman, C.Ss. August 9, 2009 What is an interdict? Is it the same as excommunication? ~~ Janice Dear Janice, The two penalties are similar, but not identical. Both are disciplinary measures the Church can impose on people who have strayed from Church teaching or a Catholic Christian way of life. Neither measure is imposed lightly. Both penalties are designed to awaken the consciences of those on whom they’re applied. Canons 1331 and 1332 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law give the effects of excommunication and interdict. Under both penalties, a person isn’t allowed to participate in the sacramental life of the Church in any way. A person who has been excommunicated may not occupy any Church office or ministry, but a person under interdict may take part in Church governance and be eligible for offices. For example, a pastor who has been excommunicated can’t give or receive the sacraments or continue in his role as pastor. However, a pastor who is under interdict may not celebrate the Eucharist but may continue to hold the role of pastor within the parish church. This would be a strange and difficult situation for sure, but it’s not unheard of in Church history. The Church’s goal in applying either penalty is ultimately healing and reconciliation. Even as it imposes penalties, the desire of the Church is to lead its brothers and sisters who have strayed back into the fullness of communion. July 19, 2009 Should I report non-Catholics who take Communion? ~ For the last two Sundays, an acquaintance that isn’t Catholic has attended Mass at my church. Both times, he has taken Communion. Should I report it to my pastor? ~ Bob The bishops are quite clear that, in general, only members of the Catholic faith in the state of grace can receive Holy Communion, and pastors are obliged to make that known to parishioners. Catholic Missalettes and hymnals have these guidelines clearly printed in their books. If a church has no worship aids, the pastor could put up a sign in the back of church or print the rules in the bulletin. Canon 844 in the Code of Canon Law outlines the exceptions to this rule. Eastern Orthodox Christians are permitted to receive Communion and the sacraments of anointing and penance if they ask of their own free will, believe in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, and understand what is taking place when they receive the sacrament. Protestant Christians in danger of death or in some other grave situation must meet the same requirements to receive Communion. However, if they’re simply attending a wedding or funeral Mass, for example, they may not receive Communion. Your first step should be to talk with the acquaintance and, in a compassionate way, share Catholic teaching on this topic. If that doesn’t work, tell your pastor. After that, no matter what happens, you’re under no obligation to take further action with either the priest or the acquaintance. July 12, 2009 Is there more than one kind of conversion? ~ My priest keeps talking about the need for Catholics to “deepen our conversion.” I’m already Catholic. What else is there to convert to? ~ Don Dear Don, Many times we think of conversion as something that happens only when someone joins the Catholic Church. But the word conversion has more than one meaning. As used by your priest, it means to enter more deeply into a life of faith. As Catholics, we are indeed called to continual conversion. I have a non-Catholic friend who has the date she accepted Christ on her Bible. I could put January 8, 1962, on my Bible because that’s the date of my baptism, the day I was saved. At baptism I received the grace to convert daily when I am old enough to do so on my own. But my conversion isn’t something that happened once in the past. It wasn’t the last sacrament I received. It was the first sacrament received as I began my journey of faith. We deepen our faith and continue our conversion as we live the sacramental life of the Church. This is seen most clearly through the sacraments of Eucharist and penance. Eucharist is something Catholics participate in weekly, and most Catholics take part in the sacrament of penance at least once a year. Why? Because we need to deepen our conversion. June 28, 2009 Is it OK to take photos in church? When can I take photographs in church? During my niece’s baptism, I was told to put my camera away. We have a confirmation and a wedding coming up, and I don’t want to get in trouble again. ~~ Deb Dear Deb, Reverence and courtesy are the issues here. Reverence keeps in mind that what is real about baptism and all the sacraments does not come out in photos. Courtesy notes that other folks are trying to enter into the awe and joy of the mystery, and people trying to take photographs can get in the way or distract. Parishes differ in rules and regulations. Many parishes prohibit the taking of pictures. Certainly taking flash pictures is annoying in a way that taking available-light photos isn’t. But even with non-flash pictures, there is the lumbering photographer, trying to get around people and into a good spot. Weddings call for photos from approved photographers. In most cultures in the United States, photos at funeral Masses are out of place. The best way to avoid embarrassment is to call the parish office before the event and see what their policy is. I hope you get some good pictures. Just be sure to close your eyes in prayer sometimes so you can see what is really going on. June 7, 2009 How late can you be to Mass without having actually missing Mass? ~ I always seem to be late Dear Always seem to be late, I’m just going to presume that we can all agree that we’re not talking about turning Mass attendance into a game of cat and mouse. Let’s just say that for very good reasons you happen to be running late for Mass and that Mass has already started before you arrive. There is no determination in canon law for being ‘too’ late. I would say, however, that if you missed the readings for Mass, you’re too late. In fact, if you’re running 15 minutes or more behind schedule, you should go to the next Mass instead. If it’s the last Mass of the day, you’ve missed Mass. If it wasn’t your fault that you missed, you’re excused. If it was your fault, you’ve sinned. It is a serious sin to miss Mass on Sunday (or a holy day of obligation) on your own. Of course, where sin leaves off, rudeness begins. If attending Mass is an important part of your life, you’ll be there on time – or at least as much ‘on time’ as possible. If you find yourself regularly arriving at church late for Mass, there’s an easy remedy – leave home earlier! May 24, 2009 What are the two greatest commandments? - I just heard a homily about the “two greatest commandments.” Are these two commandments more important than the other eight? ~ LindaDear Linda, In Matthew 22:36–40, a scholar asks Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” [Jesus] said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” But there is no separating the two greatest commandments from the other eight. All Ten Commandments offer us ways to practically measure our love of God and love of neighbor: Do I go to Mass on Sundays? Do I steal, defraud? Cheat on my spouse? If I do, then I must deal with the practical issues involved and not pretend that in my heart I love God above all. John’s first letter (4:20) tells us, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” But in the end, it all comes together in the two greatest commandments, also known as the Law of Love. How will you ever be able to love like that? Ask God to make your heart like his. He will share his heart with you so you can live like his loving and beloved daughter. May 3, 2009 What is the fifteenth Station of the Cross? - When I was young, there were fourteen Stations of the Cross. I just got a new book about the stations, and it lists fifteen. When and why did this change? ~~ ConfusedDear Confused, The Stations of the Cross have taken a variety of forms over the centuries, with the number of stations rising and falling in different eras. The first Catholic manuals to set the number of Stations at fourteen come from sixteenth-century Europe, but churches used different numbers of Stations well into the eighteenth century. The fourteen traditional Stations you know from your youth were largely popularized by the Franciscans and Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676–1751). Pope Clement XII approved popular use of the fourteen Stations in 1731. Since the Second Vatican Council, some Catholics have advocated adding a fifteenth Station, a meditation on Christ’s resurrection. The Passion of Christ can never be understood without reference to Christ’s resurrection. The new Station has not yet found universal acceptance, but in recent years the Church has shown that it’s open to reformulations. For example, on Good Friday 1991, John Paul II used a new Scriptural Way of the Cross at the Coliseum in Rome, and its fourteen Stations varied widely from those typically used in parishes today. April 26, 2009 What are the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit? - What is the difference between the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit? ~ AnnetteDear Annette, Our traditional lists of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit stem from Scripture. Six of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are named in Isaiah 11:2: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord”. The Tradition of the Church uses the word fortitude for strength and adds piety as the seventh gift. Counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord are also sometimes known as right judgment, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe in the presence of God, respectively. Saint Paul lists nine of the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self control”. The Tradition of the Church adds goodness, modesty, and chastity. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are more interior qualities, “permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1830). The fruits of the Holy Spirit are more external signs of the workings of the Spirit. Both the fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifestations of the free and unmerited grace of God. ~~ David Louch, C.Ss.R. April 19, 2009
When is
confirmation supposed to take place? Dear Jodi, Baptism, the Eucharist, and confirmation are the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church. The Early church celebrated all three together, often at the Easter Vigil. The East preserves this togetherness, and at baptism infants are confirmed and receive first Communion in the form of a drop of the precious Blood. In the West, Communion and confirmation were moved to the age of discretion so an understanding of sacred initiation would be in play. Canon Law 891 says confirmation should take place “at about the age of discretion” (age seven) unless the local conference of bishops sets another age. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says confirmation can be conferred “between the age of discretion and about sixteen years of age,“ which means it’s up to each diocese to decide. No matter what age(s) we were initiated, we are called to deepen our faith, hope, and love every day—to witness the wisdom of God’s ways and the wonder of God with us in Jesus through the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. ~~~ Kevin Fraher, C.Ss.R.top April 12, 2009 HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT THE WORKS OF MERCY? I’ve been trying to teach my children about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Any suggestions? ~ Susan Dear Susan, It’s easy to teach young children about the works of mercy as long as you keep it simple and call their attention to what they’re doing. For example, when they set the table and pour drinks, tell them they’re feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty. When they give away clothing they’ve outgrown, remind them that helping clothe the naked is a corporal work of mercy. When they bring homework to a sick classmate, they’re visiting the sick. If they go to a funeral, they’re helping bury the dead. When they make up with their siblings after a fight, they bear wrongs patiently and forgive all injuries. Siblings who help each other with their homework are instructing the “ignorant.” Children who soothe someone who’s been hurt comfort the sorrowful. Praying for anyone, living or dead, is a spiritual work of mercy. Listening when someone confides in them is counseling the doubtful. Talking a friend or sibling out of doing something wrong is admonishing the sinner. As your children get older, volunteer as a family with organizations that build homes for low-income families and help the children of prisoners. Performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, whether for each other or with each other, will bring you closer as a family as well as closer to God. ~ Rick Potts, C.Ss.R. April 5, 2009 What is prayer? - I see good people praying and I keep looking at them, fascinated. How do they do it? Why can’t I do it? Is there a trick to it? ~ PaulaDear Paula, Let’s start with the basics. There is no more basic definition than this ancient one: Prayer is the raising of the mind and the heart to God. In these few words you can find the answer to any question you have about prayer and how to do it. For instance, you may ask how you can know you are praying. Well, if you want to pray, you are praying. Just the desire to pray does it for you. It is the raising of your mind and heart to God. I often ask people, “Do you pray?” Sometimes they look puzzled. So I ask, “Do you talk to God?” Of course they do, some more than others, but they all talk to God. They pray. The mystery at the bottom of the whole thing is the Lord God’s love for each of us. He is like a grandmother dying for a visit or call from a child or grandchild. So let your prayer be all about him. Ask for anything and everything. That pleases him, for it keeps your eyes and heart on him. Do not worry about the words or way you pray. Just pray. Lose yourself in his presence. Relax. Pray in bed if you like. It is not about how you look or what you say. It is about your heart and mind in him. ~~ John Hamrogue, C.Ss.R. March 29, 2009 How can I keep my mind on the rosary? - I just can’t keep my mind on my prayers when I say the rosary. I finish a decade, or even the whole thing, and I wonder where I was and what I was thinking of. What’s going on? ~ Distracted Dear Distracted, You will never figure it out. When you give yourself over to prayer, even raggedy and distracted prayer, you have jumped into God and, like a swimmer in the ocean, you are in over your head. The rosary is clearly something to hold on to, literally hold on to, like a rope in the ocean. In grave illness or death it will be enough just to clutch the rosary or wordlessly rub the beads. The rosary is music, a hymn. A woman I knew was unable to keep her mind on her prayers until she began to pay attention to the words. The secret was not in the meaning of each word; it was in the rhythm of beads and quiet words and breathing. This was the music. This was a woman absorbed in her work, lifted by her own soft singing. Afloat on this chant, she could meditate on the mysteries of the rosary: on Jesus’ agony, on his birth, on his death, on the glory of his resurrection. The rosary becomes the deep prayer of holy monks and nuns. A few things in life need repeating: “Please, oh please!” “Thank you. How can I thank you!” “I’m sorry, so sorry.” “I love you, love you.” Prayer says these same things over and over. Hail Mary, full of grace…Hail Mary, full of grace. ~ John Hamrogue, C.Ss.R. March 22, 2009 When did we become Catholic? - I know the word catholic means “universal,” but when did we start using it as a Church? ~ Emmett Dear Emmett, The word catholic has been used almost from the beginning of our history as a Church. Saint Ignatius of Antioch (AD 37–107) used the word to express the way the Church reaches out to everyone. Catholic was also used in the second century in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church.” The fourth-century Nicene Creed described the Church as “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.” Note that in both creeds the word catholic begins with a lowercase letter c because it’s describing what the Church is —it’s not naming the religion. The Catholic Church recognizes papal primacy, and during the Reformation some of the reformers who didn’t believe in papal primacy wanted to distinguish their ecclesiastical communities from the catholic community. That’s why today Catholic refers to Christians who profess a continued tradition of faith and worship and who hold to the apostolic succession of bishops and priests from the time of Christ himself. ~ Rick Potts, C.Ss.R.March 15, 2009 How can I get my son to see the importance of faith? My forty-year-old son doesn’t go to church anymore. He says, Mom, it works for you, but it doesn’t work for me.” What does that mean? ~ Frustrated Dear Frustrated, There are so many sons—and daughters—like your son. A priest often meets them at the deathbed of a parent. “Padre, my father is the greatest man I know. His faith means everything to him. That’s why I called you.” The priest is usually tempted to ask, “Well, what about you? What does your faith mean to you? Can you even imagine your father without his faith? Without it, he wouldn’t be the man you know and admire so much.” Last June the TV journalist Tim Russert suddenly died. That night the NBC network, where Tim worked, offered a remembrance and a tribute. His colleagues, on very short notice, outdid themselves in the feeling, sincerity, and beauty of what they said. They kept speaking of faith and family in Tim’s life and work. They made it clear they meant Tim’s Catholic faith. That faith worked for Tim. It even goes a long way in explaining him. I pray with you that your son will soon make his faith work for him. He may fear he has lost his faith. But that cannot happen. God has given him this faith in baptism, and God never takes his gifts back. Your son’s faith may be asleep, even comatose. But it is still there, waiting to wake up and live again. Your son is and always will be a child of God even more truly than he is your child. ~ John Hamrogue, C.Ss.R. March 1, 2009 HOW DO YOU MEDITATE? What is meditation? Can I learn to do it? Judy
Sure. Meditation is a kind of prayer that involves thinking, praying, and doing – a motivational kind of prayer. It get you to change, to solve a problem, to be a better person. For example, if you criticize other people, judge them as though you know what makes them tick, you should take these four steps. 1. Read about it. Take a passage or a story from Scripture. These words of Jesus come to mind: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged” (Matthew 5:1-7). Let those words point a finger at you. 2. Talk to yourself about it. You probably do this very often. We all do. We mull things over, even sometimes talking aloud to ourselves. 3. Talk to God about it. This is what makes meditation more than positive thinking and self-motivation. This is the part that makes meditation prayer. If you could be kinder on your own – without Jesus’ help – you would be. Jesus tells all of us, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Talk to Jesus out of your feelings. Hear him talk to you. Always, always, tell him you love him and know he loves you. 4. Do something about it. Make a resolution. Choose one small step you can take, and pray to keep it. top John Hamrogue C.Ss. R. |
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December 14, 2008 How do I keep my mind from racing so I can pray? When I’m trying to pray, I can’t stop thinking about everything on my to-do list. How can I shut those things out? Yearning for Peace
Dear Yearning for Peace, Most spiritual directors encourage a person to enter gently into solitude and prayer. Real conversation with any friend begins with a warm acknowledgment of that friend’s presence, so as you sit or kneel, acknowledge that you are in a sacred place and that God is present. Several techniques can help us find interior silence and solitude. Many individuals find it helps to sit in a comfortable position and pay close attention to their breathing. Taking slow, deep breaths relaxes our minds and hearts. When repeated, a sacred word like Jesus or Abba can focus our attention and help us let go of the distractions that can so easily crowd our consciousness. Another technique is to take a few moments to find quiet, then read a passage from Scripture. Many people choose the Gospel passage of the day; others read a Gospel through from beginning to end by reading a short passage each day. True conversation goes both ways. One way God speaks to us is through the Word. Reading Scripture, as part of our conversation with God is a good way to be sure we don’t do all the talking.
November 2, 2008 What does it mean to “offer up” something? When things are bad, I have been told to offer it up.” What does this mean? How can it help? ~~~ Samantha Dear Samantha, In his 2007 encyclical letter Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope), Pope Benedict XVI speaks of “ ‘offering up’ the minor daily hardships that continually strike at us like irritating ‘jabs,’ thereby giving them a meaning” (40). Meaning and purpose—that is the key point. Take getting stuck in an endless traffic jam, for instance. What tends to drive you crazy is that it seems like total loss and pointlessness. When you offer that aggravation up, you accept it as an experience worthy of the human being you are. It will help you act like that human being if you plug the experience into the life, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ. Or to say the same thing in the opposite direction, let Christ plug into your human existence and experience. A traffic jam is a petty experience compared to a deathbed, but the challenge is the same: to find meaning in union with the living person of Jesus. The deathbed is the cross of Jesus. He shares this bed with the whole human race and with every human being, whether they realize this or not. You see, he is still saving the world—at this moment—by his union with suffering human beings like you. Now, ease up on blowing the horn! Why are there so many new saints? Why has the Church canonized so many people in recent years? I thought becoming a saint was a rarity and that most of us are struggling sinners......Alice
Dear Alice,
top Byron Miller, C.Ss.R. September 7, 2008 How do I defend my Church? The crisis in the Church has thrown me for a loop. So many priests did such horrible things. My non-Catholic friends mock me mercilessly. ~~ Phillip Dear Phillip, It would be easy to find statistics that show abuses take place in all denominations and professions in the United States, but I think that would be off the point. The truth is that the Catholic Church is an easy target—some of our traditions and customs make it easy to poke fun at the Church. I would guess that priest and nun jokes far outnumber minister and pastor jokes. At times, the seeming secrecy of the Church has done us a disservice. The crisis has been a terrible moment in the Catholic Church, but I believe the Church has grown from it. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the abuse has led to new life, but the Church now is much more transparent. We’ve learned that trust is something we need to earn and can’t take for granted. So the criticism from the outside can serve the higher purpose of enabling us to reflect on who we are as Church and how we can make our Church better—not just the Church of the hierarchy, but the Church of all of us. Avoid trying to refute the criticism by pointing out problems in other religions. Simply ignore it and realize that only those without sin can cast the first stone. Patrick Keyes, C.Ss.R.August 10, 2008 “Father, over the years it seems that different priests have encouraged different postures for the congregation while reciting the Our Father. Some suggested we hold hands. Others that we hold our hands out like the priest. Yet others have said nothing at all. Can you please explain what position is correct? -- Yours in Christ, Confused Dear Confused, This has been an ongoing debate in the Church over the past few decades. First of all, the orans position (Orans is Latin for pray. The hands are held about shoulder high and shoulder width apart while the palms face up and in) was a common position of worshipers in the early Church and continued down through the ages to a greater or lesser extent. With the advent of the “peace and love” movement of the 60’s and 70’s, holding hands during the Our Father became quite popular. After some investigation, I have found the following. First of all, nowhere in the current General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) – the guide for how we worship – does it say that the orans posture is recommended for the congregation during the Our Father (only for the priest). In GIRM 43 and 160, the paragraphs dealing with the people's posture during Mass, the only posture specified for the congregation at the Lord's Prayer is standing. It says nothing at all about what people do with their hands. In 1995, some bishops who were part of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy proposed certain changes in the Liturgy. Among the proposed changes was the recommendation calling for the orans posture for the people during the Our Father. The rationale was that the orans gesture was used in the "early Church", and that this posture should replace hand-holding, a practice that was becoming increasingly common. Several bishops objected to adopting the orans for the people and strongly opposed making this a rule. Eventually the bishops compromised and voted to make the orans a permissible option for the congregation during the Our Father. So, while the GIRM does not say whether the congregation should hold hands or assume the orans position during the Our Father, the BCL said either is allowable. I believe a lot of the confusion was created by priests who instructed their parishioners to do one or the other. My feeling is that either is permissible. However, we must keep in mind that some people are shy and holding hands is uncomfortable to them. Others worry about catching a cold or virus from someone, especially during the flu season. I suggest a posture that best allows you to focus all of your attention to the prayer being given, especially since this is the one and only prayer His Son taught us how to pray. Father L. August 3, 2008 What does the Church teach about Sunday as a day of rest? How does the way most Americans spend their Sundays—shopping, doing housework, mowing the yard, and catching up at the office—fit with Church teaching on keeping the Lord’s day holy and making it a day of rest? -- Sunday Gardener The Code of Canon Law says Catholics are to “abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body” (1247). When planning your weekend, your first obligation is to attend Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday. After that, the spirit of the law is to keep Sunday different from the rest of the week. The Church tends not to be as legalistic about what constitutes “rest” and “work” as the people of the Bible were. If washing your car and doing yard work relieves the stress of the work week, feel free to do them on Sunday. Other activities like doing laundry, cleaning the house, or shopping for groceries, are acceptable even if they don’t exactly bring you joy because they involve caring for your family. To find answers to these types of questions, go deeper into sources like the Scriptures. Ask yourself, “What is the point this commandment is making?” The answer is that this commandment involves keeping perspective on one’s relationship with God and others. Therefore, if you choose activities that bring you joy and a break from your everyday routine or unite you with your family, you’ll be following Church teaching on keeping the Lord’s day holy. Rick Potts, C.Ss.R. July 27, 2008
How did Joseph die? Dear Ted,
The Church teaches that Mary did die, after which
she was “assumed” into heaven, meaning she was taken up not by her own power,
but by the power of God. Assumption is not to be confused with Jesus’
ascension into heaven, in which he was taken up by his own power. top Patrick Keyes, C.Ss.R. |
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