This is Looking at the Glass as Half-Full...

 Illinois: Catholic Charities ends adoption-services appeal, will 'focus on being more Catholic'

Obedience

This morning I came across an interesting article -- “None So Blind: Obedience is an Antidote to Stupidity.”  It brought to mind a couple of great insights concerning the problems facing the Church from two extreme ecclesial communities, but which, ironically, share a mindset.  

Modernism, as noted by Pope St. Pius X, is one of the greatest struggles of our time.  Regardless of what many within the Church may think, it is a viable problem that, left unchecked, will undermine what the Church has accomplished, especially within the last century.  Many within the Church have sought answers to alleviating this problem in the fringes of the Church – Liberalism and Conservatism.  These two political terms (which have no place in the Church, by the way), react to Modernism in what can be called correlational criticism of theology.  

Correlational theology, used by Liberal theologians, calls tradition into doubt due to “contemporary” theological principles.  They try to fit the Church’s teachings into modernity by critiquing tradition in order to fit it into the modern world.   This translates into a general calling into question anything that may contradict, at face value, modern scientific fact, and their motto tends to be “doubt everything.”

Correlational theology, as used by conservative theologians, approaches questions of tradition in terms of absolutes that can be proved as demonstrably as a mathematical equation.  They try to establish this demonstrable proof within strict confines of expressions of tradition, and critique the credibility of proper authorities concerning these expressions.  Subsequently, if these authorities are found for any reason to be lacking, they are considered at best flawed, and at worst illegitimate.  This is seen, then, as an obligation by conservative theologians to deviate from obedience into the realm of “traditional interpretation.”

And what is the basis for this disobedience on the part of liberals and conservatives?  Individualism.  This is a big part of our culture in the West, particularly in the U.S.  It is something that has given us initiative and drive; it is a value that has propelled our economic and political systems for over two centuries;  it is what  has caused division to the point of dehumanization.  As God so eloquently put it, “It is not good for man to be alone.”  When he is, he begins to objectify those in whom he should be seeing the face of God.  

I could continue, but I think it best for you to read this article for yourself.  Good things to remember for all the Catholic faithful.  We are all called to faithfulness, after all.

Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Anybody

This is cool:

Once upon a time there were four people: Their names were Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Anybody. Whenever there was an important job to do Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Somebody would do it, but Nobody realized that Nobody would do it. So consequently Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place.

Words of Wisdom from Shakespeare

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action: and till action, lust
Is perjur'd, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;
Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight;
Past reason hunted; and no sooner had,
Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait,
On purpose laid to make the taker mad:
Mad in pursuit and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof,— and prov'd, a very woe;
Before, a joy propos'd; behind a dream.
All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.

-- Sonnet 129, Shakespeare

Everyday God

Thank to the musings of a tall, Catholic seminarian, I found this interesting youtube clip.  This is from a parish in Singapore. The pictures are beautiful, funny, poignant, and thought-provoking. Enjoy. 

Founded on Christ

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Mother Church of Christendom, the cathedral basilica of St. John Lateran.  As the cathedral of Rome, it has played and continues to play an important role in the life of the Catholic Church, liturgically and politically, even more so than St. Peter's.  

St. John Lateran is Christendom's earliest basilica. Ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, it became the Popes' own cathedral and official residence for the first millennium of Christian history.  It was to Pope Melchiade (311-314) that Constantine gave the palace on Monte Celio, formerly property of the patrician Laterani family (hence the basilica's appellation "Lateran").

In the course of its history, St. John Lateran has gone through many rebuilds.  It was sacked by barbarians twice in the 5th century,  rebuilt by Pope Leo the Great (440-461), and centuries later by Pope Hadrian I (772-795). In the late 800's, it was nearly destroyed by an earthquake, and so Pope Sergius III  decided to renovate it (904-911). Later the church was heavily damaged by fires in 1308 and 1360.

It was not until after the turn of the popes from the "Babylonian Captivity" in Avignon that the basilica was given much thought again.  By 1377, the church was in such disrepair that the popes transferred their
Living quarters to present-day Vatican City, and hence gives evidence as to why St. Peter's is always thought to be the most important church in Rome.  

Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) completely raized the original buildings of the basilica and replaced them with a new-renaissance structure. Later, Pope Innocent X (1644-1655) reinovated the interior of the church building in 1650. Finally, Pope Clement XII (1730-1740) installed a baroque fascade in  1735.

Many important historic events have taken place in St. John Lateran, including 5 Ecumenical Councils and many diocesan synods. In 1929 the Lateran Pacts, which established the territory and status of the State of Vatican City, were signed here between the Holy See and the Government of Italy.

The church building itself gives evidence to the rich history and tradition of the Catholic Church.  But more importantly, it serves as a reminder, as do the thousands of other cathedral churches throughout the world, that our Church has but one Foundation, Who is Christ, and He has given to his people shepherds, fathers and friends in the apostles and their successors.  

I will leave you with the last verse of one of my favorite hymns, ( and the one used at Lauds this morning), "The Church's One Foundation." it is a hymn of hope and trust in God and His Church.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore opprest,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distrest;
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song. Amen.

Pray for St. Gregory's Abbey and University

Earthquake Damages Historic Building At University In Shawnee: St. Gregory's University in Shawnee sustained heavy damage when the 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck. The damage was done at Benedictine Hall, the centerpiece of the campus.

Quote of the Day

"A distracted life is a stupid life." -- Dr. Keith Lemna, professor of foundational theology at St. Meinrad Seminary

Sleeping under God's Wings

There are two things I look forward to every week. One of those things is Doughnut Tuesdays, where the abbey kitchen makes delicious doughnuts for the seminarian community and we eat them ravenously. The other thing (and the more important thing, without saying) is Compline II for Sundays. Here is the psalm that we pray... I'll let you figure out why I look forward to singing it every week.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high,

and abides in the shade of the Almighty,

says to the Lord: "My refuge,

My stronghold, my God in whom I trust!"

It is he who will free you from the snare

of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;

he will conceal you with his pinions

and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the plague that prowls in the darkness

nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at you side,

ten thousand fall at your right,

you, it will never approach;

his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Your eyes have only to look

to see how the wicked are repaid,

you who have said: "Lord, my refuge!"

and have made the Most High your dwelling.

Upon you no evil shall fall,

no plague approach where you dwell.

for you has he commanded his angels

to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you upon their hands

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

On the lion and the viper you will tread

and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;

protect him for he knows my name.

When he calls I shall answer: "I am with you."

I will save him in distress and give him glory.

With length of life I will content him;

I shall let him see my saving power.

Candles and Chocolate Meringue Pie

Today (Nov. 1st) is the Solemnity of All Saints, a day where we take time to remember the saints, known and unknown, who have gone before us in the sign of Faith.  This day is followed by the Feast of All Souls (Nov. 2nd), which is set aside in a special way for the remembrance of the souls of all the faithful departed.

In one of my first posts, I spoke about the beautiful tradition we have here at St. Meinrad Seminary of walking out to the monastic cemetery after Compline, reciting the Litany of the Saints, and then leaving candles on top of the tombstones.  It is a beautiful display of faith, hope and love for fellow members of the Church whom we follow in our journey toward Christ.

Something else happened today which, although sort of funny, is nonetheless a moment of remembrance for me.  On solemnities, the seminary community is treated to a wonderful array of desserts by the abbey kitchen staff.  Today, they made, for our culinary pleasure, chocolate meringue pies. Now, although I may be known for my less-than-discreet displays of emotion from time to time, I’m not one to get misty-eye over a piece of pie.  But this pie holds a specific power over me.

When I was young, I stayed with my grandparents quite a bit.  My mother had to work early and sometimes long hours, and so was unable to take me to or pick me up from school, or could not be at home when I had a day off.  It was during these times that I got to spend a length of time with my grandmother in particular.  In the summers, she would bake chocolate meringue pies.  Although she usually overcooked them to the point of burning the peeks of the meringue into charred caps, it was always my favorite pie that she made.  I remember pestering my grandmother to bake them before I left for school, and when I would come back in the afternoon, there would be a slice of freshly-baked chocolate meringue pie with a cup of apple juice waiting for me at the dining room table.  At the time, I was too young to appreciate the work and the love that went into this. 

Nearly three years ago, my grandmother passed away.  Now that I’ve  lost the opportunity to relay my thanks and love to her and those others of my loved-ones who have passed in a physical way, my regret is only outweighed by the hope I have of their rest and their peace. 

Reminded of the beloved in Christ today and tomorrow, we should take time to remember those whom we have loved personally in our own lives.  From grandparents, to old piano teachers, to brother seminarians, we ought to thank God for the gift of their influence in our lives and pray for them as they who have passed from this life enter into the life of the world to come.