Christ
Sabbath Moments
November 12, 2011
Awareness of God
Welcome to our weekly meme hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace. Visit her to read other bloggers’ Sabbath Moments and join in or comment.
Death of a friend
A couple of weeks ago my friend Shirley passed away at age 98. I have had many Sabbath Moments thinking about her last few weeks as related by her daughters and the pastor. “Jesus, I love you,” was constantly on her lips. She lost no opportunity to tell her family she loved them, and her friends, too. One day the pastor came and sat next to her on the bed and asked, “Shirley, how do you feel about meeting Jesus?” She answered, “I’m ready.” She said it often in that last week.
At age 88 Shirley decided to become a third order Carmelite. She was using a walker by then because of hip degeneration that left her bone-on-bone. From my own experience I know how painful that was. Thinking of her physical issues, her daughter asked her in some dismay, “What are you going to do, Mom?” Shirley looked at her and answered, “Pray.”
As I have been contemplating St. Catherine of Genoa’s writings on purgatory and the need for souls to be in perfect charity with God to enter heaven, Shirley comes to mind as an example I should follow. I cannot know what hidden stains from faults God might have to cleanse away before she enters heaven, but I do know that she died in the most perfect charity of anyone I have personally known. Detached from everything and every person in this world, but bound by that golden filament of charity to all of us, living and dead, she shows me both how far I’ve come and how far I need to go to begin in this life the way of being in total unity with God that St. Paul speaks of in 1 Cor. 13:13.
A conversion story
Tanks in Tianamen Square, 1989 uprising
This week the Rome-based Dignitatis Humanitae Institute received a guest whose remarkable history and conversion provided me with unexpected Sabbath Moments. Chai Ling, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was a key leader of the pro-democracy movement in China that drew over 100,000 students to Tianamen Square in 1989. You can read more at Zenit’s Ongoing Tianamen, but I want to focus on her retrospective of the events the day the world saw Chinese military tanks and soldiers violently suppressing their own people.
Twenty years after her Tianamen Square experience, Ling converted to Christianity and in 2010 was baptized. She says (quoting Zenit):
“I had faced death, looked it into the eye, but I didn’t overcome it — in other words I didn’t have the peace nor the joy, just sadness, sorrow and fear,” she recalls. “But we had a duty, we knew we had to confront whatever we were confronting.
“Then, after I’d given my speech, I felt this huge warm sensation come into my heart — a sense of love toward the leaders of China, toward the soldiers, the people who were about to kill us. It was the most amazing feeling and I wished they had known how much we’d loved them.”
“Now I know that this must be how Jesus felt on the cross,” Ling says.
She remembers witnessing “a power, an amazing spirit” at Tiananmen Square, but at the time she didn’t know how to articulate it.
“I’ve since come to know that it’s the spirit of Jesus,” she says. “Then everything started to makes sense.”
I cannot help but wonder what the outcome would have been for China had all those students been Christian. What if all of them at once would have fallen to their knees and prayed the Our Father together? Would China be a force for good today rather than a force for death?
Every day 35,000 forced abortions take place in China. Every day a large portion of those killed are girls. Today in China 120 boys are born for every 100 girls. That’s just the abortion angle of their culture of death. Greed and corruption lead to shoddy construction that results in many deaths every time there is a natural disaster. We could go on and on here.
As I observe the “Occupy Wall Street” partisan political movement I again wonder, what if everyone who has a grievance against the government fell to his knees and prayed the Our Father? What if everyone did it daily and in public in groups? Could we not be delivered from the forces of darkness in this country and in the world that are choking the life out of people and destroying souls?
The Roman Coliseum was the site of public mass martyrdom of Christians. Because of those and many other lives freely given as Christ gave His on the cross, Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor saw a rising tide of Christianity that eventually overcame the worst cruelties of their times. Today we have the wonderful 40 Days for Life movement that involves small groups praying in front of abortion mills all over our country. Many lives are saved through this effort and many souls are won for God.
The love of Christ seeks to envelop the world and govern our actions. It alone heals. It alone converts those in darkness. Even if it takes 20 years to bring about conversion as it did in Chai Ling’s case, His light shines no less brightly. We are His apostles of love and light. We cannot hide it under a bushel and call ourselves real Christians. So many are waiting to put a name, as Chai Ling did, to the longing in their hearts. How long shall we keep them waiting?
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi”
July 18, 2011
Just when you think that finding another old master painting is impossible, a treasure is discovered. In this case it is the great Renaissance man’s work, Salvator Mundi – meaning “Savior of the world.” When I was a teen I used to clip all the art columns out of TIME Magazine and study them carefully. By far, the old masters, and da Vinci especially, were my favorites. This is why I am excited by this discovery.
The National Gallery of Art in London will be displaying Salvator Mundi later this year. Numerous experts have authenticated it through comparison of paint colors, brush strokes, and other criteria. Although other paintings similar to this one were done by da Vinci’s students, the art world is convinced that this was the original done by the master himself.
Nick Pisa of the Mail Online from the UK writes this:
Da Vinci painted the picture 500 years ago following a commission from Louis XII of France in 1506 and he finished it seven years later.
The image of Christ giving his blessing to the world was a popular subject in French and Flemish art and the half-length pose is typical of the Renaissance era.
During its long history the painting also ended up in the possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years.
It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby’s for just £45 and attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio.
A source close to the panel added: ‘On the open market today the painting would easily fetch at least £120 million – it’s unique and nothing like this has emerged for decades.”
At this time in history when nation after nation is repudiating Christianity and the words of Jesus are twisted for various ideological purposes, up pops His image which attracts enormous attention simply because a great Renaissance painter fulfilled an important commission 500 years ago. No, world, Jesus Christ is with us and will always be with us until we join Him at the end of time. He is the Savior of the World. You may squelch His teachings, but you cannot erase Him from the memory or sight of all faithful Christians.
Read more interesting details about this painting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2010309/Leonardo-Da-Vinci-Is-long-lost-120m-Salvator-Mundi-painting-authentic.html#ixzz1SUbWU3BK
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Is Indifference to Catholicism Rising?
June 17, 2011
The Blogger's Tool
As a Catholic blogger who posts several times a week, I’ve asked myself whether my blog is helping me do what God wants of me in my life at this time. When I started I put everything in the hands of the Lord and asked Him to send me the readers He wanted me to have and that’s how I’ve left it.
I don’t expect to be famous like some Catholic bloggers are, nor am I expecting to get wealthy as some do. I just want to help people come closer to Christ and take care of their bodies better because a wellness attitude helps our spiritual life, too. That’s why the article at Nineteen Sixty-four, a research blog for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University edited by Mark M. Gray caught my eye. (HT to New Advent for the link.)
Is Interest in Catholicism falling online? is worth a read. Gray writes:
In this post we reveal some new and perhaps disturbing evidence about the intersection (or lack thereof) of faith and new media. Searchers from the United States for anything with the term “Catholic” in them have dropped significantly in the 2004 to 2011 period (e.g., Catholic school, Catholic Church, Catholic Charities). The graph above shows weekly search volumes in Google (which dominates the search industry)…
Is this cause to panic? Certainly not. Should we be concerned? Yes. These graphs represent the behavior of millions of people (Catholic and non-Catholic) online. These aren’t responses to polls or attitudes expressed in a focus group. These are real world observations. People are doing less of something and when that thing is “Catholic” online we should wonder what the future is for Catholic new media.
You really need to look at the graphs in this post to get the full visual impact of the findings. Gray’s report and graphs raised some questions in my mind:
How does this drop in interest compare with other Christian denominations over the same time period?
Is this a sign of a further decline in people’s interest in a relationship with God and increased pursuance of the things of this world which will pass away?
What does this report indicate about focus on parish communities and activities vs. a sense of belonging to the universal Church – the true meaning of “catholic”?
Why is the interest in things Catholic not increasing in the area of learning the meaning of the Faith?
What does this report imply about Catholic approaches to evangelization?
Are most of us “pew sitters” who attend Mass for social reasons and leave the lessons of the sacred liturgy at the door, thus depriving others of the joyful witness to God’s love for all?
How much of an effect does the poor handling of sex abuse over the last 50 years have to do with this drop?
Is this drop a reflection of increased indifference to God in the world?
Is this drop indicative of greater ascendancy of the culture of death?
These are only a few questions that came to mind as I read the report. My blog is meant to appeal to a niche group, not to the whole world. My time writing is worth it if even only one person becomes closer to God because of what I write. But I do care that the world seems so much more interested in things, power and wealth than in living the Gospel. I do care that Catholics as a whole, not known for very good evangelizing skills, apparently aren’t taking effective advantage of the new media in a way to build more interest in the Faith.
The world has the greatest population now than ever in history. More people are suffering today from hunger, disease, injustice, government corruption, and neglect than ever before. The need for the Church and the hope of Christ is greater than ever before. Without a relationship with Christ, without the love of the Father and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, what meaning does life have? We practicing Catholics can see this. What do we need to do to catch the attention of those who do not know God and who are indifferent to Him so that the Holy Spirit may take root in their souls?
Last question: Hope and joy are partners. Do we show the joy of loving God to others in our lives so that they want what we have?
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Joplin Tornado
May 23, 2011
Last night Missouri was hit by the worst tornado in its recorded history. A funnel ¾ of a mile wide and six miles long tore through Joplin, ripping the roof off St. John’s hospital, blowing out its windows, and piling up mashed cars three deep. A 300 lb. man was sucked out a hospital window. X-rays were found in backyards of Springfield, Bolivar and Willard, all towns about an hour or so away from the scene. Large trees were twisted and shredded and steel beams took the shape of pretzels. At least 90 people have died in this storm and entire neighborhoods destroyed. Rangeline, the main drag, is unrecognizable.
St. Michael the Archangel Defeats Satan
We live in southwest Missouri in a house of less than 800 square feet. We have no place to go on our property should we encounter such a storm. All we can do is pray for God’s protection in these times. Fortunately, the system that devastated so much of this area skirted the small town we live in, but I assure you I was asking God to send plenty of angels to guard us. And not those effeminate looking ones depicted everywhere. We needed St. Michael’s mighty muscle and we got it.
Perhaps most remarkable last evening was something that happened between the two major storms that passed through. I looked up to see a strange pale yellow orange light through the window. It was as if someone had put a colored filter in front of a camera lens. Roger and I went outside to discover that the entire world was bathed in that light. The sky from the north and west was full of this soft color and it affected everything it touched. I’ve only seen this phenomenon a couple of other times and it’s always been evening storm related. Amid the destruction great beauty shone.
Today I’ve tried to reach friends that live just a few miles south of Joplin but the phone calls won’t go through. Many cell towers are down and land lines have been affected. I will keep trying.
With last evening’s events fresh in my mind, I was struck by today’s Lauds psalm 28:7-9 where we pray:
The voice of the Lord strikes fiery flames; the voice of the Lord shakes the desert, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Cades. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests, and in his temple all say “Glory!”
God did plenty of that yesterday. When will all men glorify Him?
The next reading was 1 Chron. 29:10-13:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity. Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to Thee is praise. For all that is in heaven and in earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art above all princes.
Thine are riches, and Thine is glory: Thou hast dominion over all. In Thy hand is power and might: in Thy hand greatmess, and the empire of all things.
Now therefore, our God, we give thanks to Thee: and we praise Thy glorious name.
We often forget that everything belongs to God. Even things we make, plant, or raise, because none of it can be done without His power. Our conceit seems to know no end in today’s world.
I believe that God is visiting chastisements like these upon all the earth to wake us up. Or rather, His permissive will is holding back very little of what He has set in motion because, as the conversation went between God and Abraham over Sodom, we have not enough just men among us. I wrote about God’s permissive will in Lent, the “Why?” of Suffering, and the Japanese Tragedy.
The state of the world today is why I personally am often praying Bible verses like the ones here and in my Three Favorite Scripture Verses, along with the ending of the Divine Mercy chaplet. I believe God is not calling just me, but as many as will do so, to keep Him first and foremost in thought, word, and deed, praising Him. This is the right relationship we must see restored for the good of man.
Remember the many people who started attending church after 9/11? A lot of them quit after awhile. Meanwhile, the good along with the bad suffer, and we know that we do not know the day or the hour of our passing so we must always be ready.
Please pray for those who died or were injured in last night’s storm, and for consolation for their families. May conversions result from this tragedy. Rescue efforts continue in Joplin where 50% of the area is ruined.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
A Clean Heart Create in Me, O God…
March 30, 2011
Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary
Every now and then, a scripture passage grabs ahold of me and won’t let go. All during Lent the Magnificat antiphon for weekdays, absent a particular feast, haunts my mind. I find myself contemplating it at odd times and places. It seems a perfect fit to introduce Mary’s beautiful prayer at Vespers – she was the most clean of heart of all God’s creatures.
A clean heart create in me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Found in Psalm 51:10, these words summarize what we are doing in Lent – repenting, letting God clean up our hearts, and resolving to remain on the upright path of the Lord.
Random thoughts on the first part:
- A clean heart is a pure heart.
- The pure of heart shall see God (Matt. 5: 8).
- The pure heart is undivided. It is focused on God and godly pursuits.
- The pure heart is detached from the things of this world, using them only in service of the greater work of getting to heaven.
- The pure heart rejoices in doing the will of God.
- The pure heart is full of charity which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Cor. 13: 7).
- The pure heart reflects the face of Christ to all.
- When we ask God to create a clean heart in us, we admit we cannot do it of our own volition. Only He can give us the grace to be so.
- To ask for a clean heart implies that we know we have sinned. God gave us the grace to see our sinfulness and to ask Him for forgiveness. Compunction accompanies purity of heart.
- God creating a clean heart in us is a sign of His divine mercy, compassion, and love.
Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross, c. 1565, Titian (Tiziano) (b. 1490, Pieve di Cadore, d. 1576, Venezia), Oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid
Random thoughts on the second part:
- A steadfast spirit is an upright spirit that holds to God’s will. It cannot be swayed by power or wealth or promise of any earthly reward.
- To ask God to renew a steadfast spirit in us implies that we have given in to temptation, waffling where we should have planted our feet firmly and refused to budge from “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14: 6).
- God renews a steadfast spirit within us by grace. Again, we must ask for it. In asking, we admit our helplessness to do it on our own.
- A steadfast spirit is upheld by the power of God and cannot be torn down regardless of the persecution it faces.
- The steadfast spirit walks the Way of the Cross with Jesus, imitating Him in faithfulness to the Father.
- The steadfast spirit is yoked to Christ, Who makes the burden light (Matt. 11: 30).
- The steadfast spirit bears the burden of souls with Christ, praying for deliverance and salvation of sinners.
- The steadfast spirit shines with the light of Christ (John 8: 12; Matt. 5: 14).
- The steadfast spirit combined with a pure heart bestows moral authority on our actions.
I walk the Way of the Cross in Mary’s company whose clean heart and steadfast spirit loved without reserve. May I be granted a similar faithfulness and attachment to the will of God.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 62
March 19, 2011 – Feast of St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary and Foster Father of Christ, Patron of the Universal Church, Guardian of the Holy Family
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to “Praying the Psalms,” a meme hosted by Jenny at Just a Minute. Visit her to see thoughts on this psalm from other bloggers.
“Abandonment to Divine Providence” is rightly the theme of this psalm. No matter how bitter our experiences, God is our refuge. Power, prestige, esteem of others, and wealth are nothing. They do not last. We are balanced only when we trust in God and pour out our hearts before Him.
King David teaches us wisdom from hard-learned lessons; his words remind us of the persecution of Christ by the Pharisees throughout His public ministry. From Christ we learn to cling to the Father – to keep our eyes on heaven – to pray and praise God in all our sufferings.
vs. 2-3 Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. [In these times as we experience chaos and evil the world over, we do well to imitate the contemplative religious communities who devote their lives to Christ behind the cloister, the stronghold of God. In the heart of Christ they show us how to avoid being disturbed. It is in front of the Blessed Sacrament we find peace.]
vs. 4-5 How long will you set upon a man and all together beat him down as though he was a sagging fence, a battered wall? Truly from my place on high they plan to dislodge me; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouths but inwardly they curse. [Satan strives against us - we who have been exalted by the grace of Baptism and belong on high with the Lord. As he tempted Christ in the desert, he lies to us, whispering falsehoods in our ears. He hypocritically presents evil to us as good. All the while, like the Pharisees who sidled up to Christ and with honeyed words and evil intentions tried to entrap Him, Satan curses us in his black heart.]
vs. 6-9 Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from Him comes my hope. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. With God is my safety and my glory, He is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before Him; God is our refuge! [Jesus alone is the answer. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He clung to His Father through His Passion. These are His words to us. Clinging to Him is the only way we can withstand the evil surrounding us and enter into eternal safety and glory.]
vs. 10-13 Only a breath are mortal men; an illusion are men of rank; in a balance they prove lighter, all together, than a breath. Trust not in extortion; in plunder take no empty pride; through wealth abound set not your heart upon it. One thing God said; these two things which I heard: that power belongs to God, and Yours, O Lord, is kindness; and that You render to everyone according to his deeds. [The things of this world are vanity. We cannot extort heaven from God with earthly wealth and power. All that we have comes from Him and belongs to Him. We are fools if we think we achieve anything by our wealth and position on earth.
The Hebrew poetic device "One thing God said; these two things which I heard" is a beautiful way of confessing that God alone is both powerful and just. We will benefit from His loving kindness at our particular judgment when we die, and before then from the many actual graces He grants us in this life to witness to the Gospel. Lord, when I am tempted to panic at the evils in this world and fear for my well-being, remind me to praise You and surrender all my anxiety to You in perfect trust.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Being Catholic and Being a Politician – Mutually Exclusive?
January 10, 2011
St. Thomas More : "The King's good servant-but God's first."
Over the past year I and some other Catholic bloggers have wrestled with how to define ourselves regarding politics. In the musings a question arises: Given the evidence of so many Catholic politicians abandoning basic teachings of the Church on the subjects of abortion and gay marriage, to say nothing of their corrupt acts in other areas,
Can a Catholic be a politician and remain faithful to Church teachings, or,
Are being a faithful Catholic and serving as a politician mutually exclusive?
Magister Christianus at Bedlam or Parnassus blog highlighted the heart of the matter in his recent post The Lordship of Jesus Christ which I highly recommend reading in full. He wrote:
…Yet if the one true God, eternally existing as three distinct Persons and fully revealed in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, is the Lord that He claims to be, then there can be nothing to compete for our allegiance. Our first, last, supreme, and everlasting commitment is to that Lord. All other commitments must be viewed within that prior commitment and must be subservient to it…..
Of course, I cannot be completely frank about my relationship with God without being open about Who He is. In other words, I cannot say that I am a Christian, but in my role as a politician claim to be open on the issue of gay marriage. I cannot say that I serve the Lord Jesus Christ without acknowledging what He is, and since He is the word made flesh, this includes acknowledging His teaching.
Or rather, I could do this, if He were not Lord, and now we return to the central issue. If God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is indeed the one Lord of all, then Christians cannot compromise on how their service to this Lord is rendered. It cannot be only as a matter of convenience and it cannot be on purely private or personal terms. It must be all the time, everywhere, and with everyone, and in an age when the exact opposite is being taught to our children through all avenues, there can be no more important lesson for them to learn.
What Magister writes is indeed the heart of the matter. Jesus Christ is Lord. As Father Philip Wolfe, FSSP once shouted from the pulpit, “There can be no compromise with Catholic moral teaching!” And Catholic moral teaching is from the Ten Commandments which enshrine a right relationship with God and the dignity of the human person.
So, given the utter and complete corruption in American politics, are we condemned to see the light of Christ extinguished as notorious politicians who strap on the Catholic badge repeatedly trample upon the dignity of the human person and deny God His rightful place in our lives? Are all Catholics who may be called to the vocation of politics destined to betray Christ as we have seen with the Kennedys, Pelosi, Biden, John Kerry, etc.?
Things have looked grim for years, and especially grim since the 2008 election. We might be disposed to throw up our hands in despair, but if we look around we can find that God indeed gives the graces necessary for a Catholic politician to know, love, and serve God in this world without sacrificing his duties to the state. In fact, I believe that a politician’s duties to the state cannot be exercised appropriately without knowing, loving and serving God.
Sir Ellis Clarke, (28 December 1917 – 30 December 2010)
I am indebted to Helen Gonsalves of Catholicseeking for posting about the recent death of Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke in A Man in Love – A Final Tribute to Sir Ellis Clarke.
God answered my questions posed above with a sterling example of a politician in love with God and his faith – who never wavered from the moral center Catholic teaching gave him. Trinidad and Tobago was blessed to have this man as its first president and powerful influence in TT politics.
No doubt it took great courage for him to stand for the truth along the way, to call out for the dignity of the human person, to honor God in his deeds. Just at this time when in the United States we are undergoing fierce battles with our government over basic human rights, we, through the life and death of Sir Ellis Clarke, are shown what a Catholic politician can and should be.
Now, by suffering with joy, prayer and penance, practicing the skill of clear thinking from a solid classical base, voting responsibly in elections, and wise preparation of our children to live a Christ-centered life in secular society, Catholics can change the face of politics in America for the better. We do not need to know the specifics of how this will be done. God knows. God will accomplish it. He is awaiting our oblation. That is enough.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Epiphany – Celebration of Three Manifestations of Christ’s Divinity
January 6, 2010
The Breslauer Epiphany - Don Simone Camaldolese, 1390s, Tempera and gold on parchment, Bernard H. Breslauer, New York
January 6 was a favorite feast day for me when I was a child. It was a holy day of obligation in those days, which made it a bid deal in my little kid’s mind.
The idea that three kings would make a long journey through the desert guided by a star on pure faith clicked a romantic spot in my brain. We were taught about the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they brought as gifts, but the significance of the gifts never registered in my child’s brain. It just seemed quite wondrous and exciting that three important men from far away somehow knew that Jesus was so important they embarked on a long and tiring journey to bring Him expensive presents fit for a king.
I could see them in their fine robes sitting on their camels with the bright light slowly moving through the night sky guiding them many miles to the stable of Bethlehem. The jaunty hymn “We Three Kings of Orient Are” was fun to sing, but we never got past the first verse to the symbolic meaning of the gifts, or if we did, the importance flew past me.
Threefold Epiphanies
To me, Epiphany meant only the three Kings bringing Jesus gifts. I didn’t know the meaning of the word, and the inclusion of the Baptism of Christ and the wedding at Cana as part of the feast went right over my head, even though there it was plain and simple in the sacred liturgy.
Now that I’m grown up, I understand that “epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning “to manifest”, referring to an encounter with the Divine. The Church calls our attention not only to the three Wise Men visiting Jesus, she invites us in the antiphon of the Benedictus to contemplate Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan when the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove and announced Jesus as the Son of God. The same antiphon mentions the wedding feast of Cana where Jesus revealed His power over all the earth by changing water into the finest wine. This occasion of Christ beginning His public ministry was the beginning of many epiphanies for those who encountered Him.
Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, 1716, Jacob de Wit (b. 1695, Amsterdam, d. 1754, Amsterdam), Chalk and pen drawing, Amstelkring Museum, Amsterdam
Takeaways from the Epiphany
In all three cases, God is doing the manifesting to us. He is the initiator. We are the receiver of the grace.
The Wise Men: They were the first gentiles to recognize Christ in His divinity. Jesus looked like an ordinary infant, but He revealed Himself as God. How many times a day does Jesus reveal Himself to us in the ordinary, and do we look for Him “undercover” as it were, quietly working His miracles for us?
Baptism in the Jordan: The Father reveals Jesus as His Son through the Holy Spirit. Everybody around saw and heard this manifestation. Today we see Christ by faith in the seven sacraments. By Baptism we are His brothers and sisters. Would our heavenly Father say to us individually through the Holy Spirit, “You are my beloved son (daughter) in whom I am well pleased”? If not, we have some work to do with the help of our Divine Brother.
Cana: Jesus reveals Himself as Lord of all, not with flashing lights, trumpet blasts and drum rolls. He did it quietly with a blessing of water, changing it into wine. Jesus works quietly in us. Do we take the time to recognize His work and celebrate what He is doing in our lives like the wedding guests at Cana? Or are we too busy being “in charge” and trusting ourselves only?
Today is a rich feast. I wonder if it really ought to have lost its status as a holy day of obligation.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
A Blessed Christmas
This is a close-up image with added special effects that I took of my brother’s Christmas tree a couple of years ago. I did some tinkering to create a custom-made Christmas Card – just for you readers.
We are the ornaments hung lovingly on the Tree of Life by our heavenly Father, while Christ, the Light of the world, bathes us in His grace. He brings joy and peace to all hearts who open themselves up to Him. No place is so dark that His light cannot penetrate. We are most beautiful in its rays.
This is what I pray for the whole world – to know Him, love Him, and serve Him now and for eternity.
Emmanuel is here. Jesus is here. May He come again in glory soon. Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year.
Why Do You Write?
November 22, 2010
St. Cecelia - 19th century stained glass window from Stationers' Hall, London
Today is the feast of St. Cecelia, the early Roman martyr who proved very difficult to kill. She is the patron saint of musicians. Music was a big part of my life for many years and St. Cecelia was always there in the background for me. She was one of the first women saints I was introduced to as a child and has always been special to me.
Life changes, though, and rather than creating or making music, I now just indulge in my appreciation of it. Writing has become the dominant skill I use most often, but would you believe it, I really don’t like to write. It takes too much discipline and I’m lazy. I’d rather discuss or talk than write.
What a terrible thing for a blogger to confess! Seriously, I think of myself as a teacher, a trainer, an encourager, an information broker, and a perpetual student, but not a writer.
Although I’ve written two short business books, a weekly newspaper column for a business paper, many training manuals and programs, a monthly newsletter since 1999, and other stuff I’ve forgotten about, writing for me is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Perhaps that’s why I don’t think of myself as a writer even though I spend a lot of time thinking about writing when I’m not writing.
So why do I do it almost every day? Because I am driven to do what Pope John Paul II asked of Catholics – to use the new media to evangelize the world and writing is the only way I can do this now in my life.
Gone are my days of public speaking, conducting training, leading choirs and teaching children, although I still sometimes fantasize about giving talks on Catholic subjects. No sense in looking back nor in wishing for that which cannot be. Better to make the most of what is possible with Christ as the center of everything.
Faithful Christians evangelize within the unique context of their past and present, their talents, learning, behavior, their physical and mental capabilities. We are all called to do this and writing now has become my avenue of reaching out to others to share God’s love of all. Most especially sharing how I suffer with joy since there is so much suffering in this world and there is no point in wasting any of it by failing to use it as a way to come closer to God.
What about you? Why do you write?
If you are a blogger or some other kind of writer, why not write a post on this subject and link back here or leave a comment?
Thanks for visiting and God bless you.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Novena to Christ the King for the Elections
October 25, 2010
EWTN has a novena to Christ the King. In light of the upcoming elections I offer it to you:
Recite One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the Novena Prayer:
O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations.
We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things.
Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth.
Guard us we pray Most Faithful One.
Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment
Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you.
Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.
We have deserved Your Just Judgment
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.
We trust in Your Great Mercy.
O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;
May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth.
Amen.
Here, also from EWTN is a private Litany of Christ the King. Perhaps it is wise and beneficial to our country that we plead to the Father for the restoration of Christ as the King of all hearts. We cannot possibly imagine the depth of His love for us, even when we gaze at the cross. But we can try. And we can adore.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Christ and the Rich Meaning of “Amen”
September 1, 2010
As I promised in a previous post, Advancing the Reign of Christ Here and Now, I am today explaining the meaning of “Amen” and why I placed it at the end of the aspiration, “Praised be Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Amen.”
Church-going people are used to speaking the word “Amen” at various points in the sacred liturgy and at the end of most all prayers and invocations. It’s easy for this practice to become rote and the meaning to slip from conscious awareness as our minds wander from our conversation with God. Who, after all, is capable of perfect attention during prayer and worship? Certainly not I. At some level, though, we are aware that when we say “Amen” we are affirming something. Just what, who, and how big is that “something”? When I studied the history and meaning of the word, my eyes were opened to a deeper and more profound participation in the sacred liturgy. My bible reading and personal prayer has been enriched. Perhaps yours will be, too.
We find “Amen” in the Bible for the first time in Num. 5: 12-31 in a very solemn situation conducted in the presence of the Lord, the priest, and a woman and her husband. She who is suspected of adultery by her husband submits to a ceremony in which she drinks water containing dust the priest gathers from the floor of the tabernacle. The prescribed oath of imprecation is:
…”may the Lord make you an example of malediction and imprecation among your people by causing your thighs to waste away and your belly to swell! May this water, then, that brings a curse, enter your body to make your belly swell and your thighs waste away!” And the woman shall say, Amen, amen!
“Amen” has become a universal word, imported into numerous languages. The Hebrew root, aman, means to be morally true or certain, steadfast, permanent, sure, faithful. It is used interchangeably with ‘aman, which means “to go to the right hand” (Is. 30:21). And Who is the right hand of God the Father almighty (Ps. 48: 10)?
Whenever we see the word “Amen” in sacred scripture it is used in the sense of affirming truth or absolute certainty as in Is. 65: 16:
…he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth ( Amen).
God alone is the “Amen” as in Rev. 3: 14:
And to the angel of the church at Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:
Christ, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity is the revelation of the Father, one with the Father, the Amen, and Truth itself by His own words. He tells us plainly in John 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He also told us indirectly when He used the Hebrew “Amen” before telling us truths in the Gospel.
One instance of that which stands out in my mind is in John 8. Jesus was teaching in the temple and had just told the Jews in frustration (vs. 25-27),
They therefore said to Him, “Who art thou?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all! I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you; but He Who sent Me is true (Amen), and the things that I heard from Him, these I speak in the world.” And they did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.
In verses 28-30 we learn that many among the group believed in Him after continuing to listen to Him. However some officials listening did not (probably Scribes and Pharisees) and they began to argue with Him. The culmination of the confrontation came in verse 58 when Jesus declared,
Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM,
at which point the furious leaders took up stones to kill Him and He hid Himself from them and escaped because His time had not yet come. The “I AM” is a direct reference to Ex. 3: 14 where God told Moses “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent you.” It infuriated the officials because they did not believe in Him, nor did they want to. He had declared Himself one with the Father even plainer than in verses 28-30.
Jesus’s use of “Amen, amen I say to you…” marked a striking departure from the usual use of “Amen” in the bible. He must have really caught the attention of His listeners when He said it because most of them knew sacred scripture very well, as boys started in temple classes at age 6. No one but God would have the right to speak in his own name. No one but God could preface his statements with “Truth, Truth” which is Himself.
I remember as a child hearing the Gospel read from the pulpit at Mass. The words “Amen, amen I say to you…” impressed me deeply and to this day I can quote many of the passages I heard. Instead of leaving the Hebrew as it was, English speaking people attending Mass in English hear ICEL’s very lame, “I solemnly assure you…” translation which not only is goofy and laughable, but does not pass on the meaning of the word and is just one example of many post-Vatican II ways the Faith has been watered down. Now why did I write that? Because today’s children who hear this bad translation are removed yet another step from who Christ is. I hope the “Amens” will be restored in the new translations so they will hear Christ as Person and Truth and listen closer to Him without being distracted by foolishness. I want for them treasure I was raised with. But I digress…
Praying Hands, c. 1508, Albrecht Dürer (b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg), Brush drawing on blue primed paper, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna
By saying “Amen” at the end of prayers, invocations, aspirations, and the many prayers during Holy Mass, we are acknowledging the truth, affirming it, and connecting ourselves to Christ and the will of the Father Who can desire no evil for us but only good. We are declaring the truth of what we believe before God Himself and in His presence, since God is everywhere.
The aspiration “Praised be Jesus Christ. Now and forever,” didn’t have an “Amen” attached in the past. We need that “Amen” today because of the faithless world we live in. It is a small thing to say but a great strengthener of our faith when we do it thoughtfully. The same is true when we say “Amen” thoughtfully all the other times we pray, formally or informally, at the sacred liturgy or in private.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above for the original post.)
Interpreting Moshe Tzvi HaLevi Berger’s Paintings
July 30, 2010
As I was looking for an illustration for a post on “Praying the Psalms” recently, I stumbled upon the work of Jewish painter Moshe Tzvi HaLevi Berger who founded the Museum of Psalms in Jerusalem in 1995. Until then I had never heard of his work. What a discovery this was and what a great journey from both an art standpoint and a spiritual standpoint he set me upon!
Berger’s work is like none other’s. Some people use the word “psychedelic” in describing it, but I think that is an injustice. I matured in the psychedelic 60s and the term connotes to me a drug-induced state of mind out of touch with reality. Berger’s paintings on the other hand are colorful and at first glance seem abstract in nature, but again, abstract is an unfair term if used in the sense of most abstract art, because every aspect of each canvas has meaning easily accessible if you understand the symbols. Just as every word of the Bible means something, every part of Berger’s images mean something. Those of us who are not familiar with the Kabbalah, Zohar, and Hebraic letters just have to work a little harder to discover how Berger is depicting the Psalm verses he illustrates.
As a Catholic, I view Christ in Berger’s works, not something he intended or would agree with, of course, but nevertheless, just as Christ is the Word of God, so in depicting the Word Berger depicts Christ and the escatological truths of the Bible. This allows the Christian to consider a deeper interpretation of each image. For example, his illustration of verse two of Psalm 9:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
Berger writes:
Jerusalem and its holy temple are situated at the top of a garden. Myriads of angels stand guard over this holy place. The birds represent Herut, a state of freedom, whereby man is liberated from all mundane concerns, enabling him to freely serve the Almighty.
As a Christian, this image speaks to me of the Garden of Eden transformed into our final destination of Paradise for which we hope, green being the color of hope in eternal life. The holy temple and the city of Jerusalem signifies the New Jerusalem of heaven where we will celebrate the eternal todah (Thanksgiving – Holy Eucharist). We will be among the angels (book of Revelation) who surround the throne of God, totally liberated from the imperfections of this world. Our service to the Almighty will be eternal praise and adoration which we freely begin to give in this world and continue perfectly in the next. The menorah atop the temple represents to me the rule of Christ the King and the sun connotes God and His love, mercy, and justice from Whom all life comes.
Berger paints in the seven colors of the rainbow, and each color has significance. Seven is also the number associated with God in the Bible, which reminds me of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost which are designed to bring us to perfection if we co-operate with God’s grace. In the above painting in addition to the green (hope) of the garden, we see the royal blue (Mary’s color), indigo (the heavens), yellow, red, orange, and violet.
“These paintings are in the metaphorical tradition of ma’asei merkava (Divine Chariot) rather than the realistic mode of the ma’asei Breishit (Creation) which most art work emulates,” he explains. “To transliterate the Psalms from written poems to visual image was a difficult task. Just as each psalm is different, so is each painting. And yet, as each Psalm is inherently connected to the other 149, so too a unifying element had to run through the 150 Psalm paintings, a task accomplished through careful observation.”
Berger drew inspiration for his paintings from years of study of the Psalms based on Judaism’s classic medieval commentators on the Kabbalah including Rashi, Radak and Malbim, among others, he says.
“All figurative representations are intended as metaphors. We know the world was created with letters; [an interesting take on the Word] we know that Ha-Shem (God) is represented by fire in the Bible. Therefore in each painting there are letters, or fire, or both. Nothing happened by accident.”
If you want to order prints of Berger’s work, go to the Museum of the Psalms. If you would like an entire book of his works along with his commentary, Feldheim, the publisher has a compact edition. At their page you can see into the book.
Online Eucharistic Adoration
May 17, 2010
Thanks to Karinann over at Blessings for The Day for informing her readers about online Eucharistic adoration. Of course we can pray to Jesus anytime. He is always with us. But for us Catholics, adoration is very special. Under the appearance of bread He is present personally – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The King of creation wills to be with us and wills us to be with Him so that He can continue to nourish us as He did in the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday. It is by faith we know this to be true.
So many of us are unable to get out much because of our infirmities or other aspects of our life situation. The site, Savior.org is a wonderful way to spend time with Jesus much more often. Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament is presented live via webcam from the Chapel of Divine Love in Philadelphia (the City of Brotherly Love – how apropos), PA – a source of perpetual Eucharistic adoration by the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters since 1916.
This is an answer to prayer. I have wanted to be able to spend time in adoration and been frustrated by a number of practical factors. When I read about fellow bloggers who have stopped for a short visit with Jesus at a chapel, I felt happy for them and sad for me. Now I can say the Divine Office in His presence, do spiritual reading, or just pray.
Click on the picture above or on the link and it will take you to the live feed. This site has much to offer, too. Here are some paragraphs from their “About online adoration” section:
A Powerful Channel for the Aged, Lonely and Suffering
The favorite of Our Savior, the aging, lonely and suffering are those in greatest need of His Love. The on-line access available through Savior.org, provides new hope for these individuals stemming from the electronic access they can now have to the Living Presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The suffering will have new opportunities to unite their pain with the passion of Our Lord, yielding merits for their souls and the souls of others. The aged, free from the distractions of their earlier years, can now spend increasing hours in the presence of Our Lord strengthening their bond to Him during the twilight of their lives. And the lonely will benefit from the abundance of love and hope poured forth from this Most Faithful of Friends.
Technology is a wonderful thing if used to do God’s will. Join us at Savior.org in ‘taking back the Internet for Christ’.
Suggestions on How to Utilize Savior.org
On-line Adoration - Be with Our Lord, centered on Him wholly and completely. Sit in silence with Him – The Sacred Doctor of human hearts. Utilize some of the many on-line devotional aides to structure a Holy Hour with Him. Or pray your own favorite adoration prayers and meditations.
Liturgy of the Hours and Other Daily Prayers - Enrich your daily recitation of the liturgy of the hours and other daily prayer routines by conducting them in the presence of a live electronic image of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Invite Our Lord into your day – In your office or at home conducting your daily activities, offer your work as a prayer to Our Lord. We offer a low-bandwidth feed for those who wish to maintain the live feed over an extended period of time, as well as a static image for those who cannot maintain a persistent connection (dialup users).
Family Rosaries - Say your family rosary in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament on-line.
Saying Goodnight – Our children have quickly adopted a routine of wanting to ‘say goodnight to Jesus’ on-line. Before they go to bed, they will ask us to bring up the Blessed Sacrament online, then they will say their evening prayers and say ‘goodnight’ to Jesus as the last act before they climb into bed.
For only $10 you can purchase flowers for the altar and everyone participating will pray for your intentions for that week. I encourage my readers to take advantage of this opportunity to spend more time with Jesus. Prayer is an important part of wellness.
St. Stephen, the First Martyr
Stoning of St. Stephen, c. 1660, Pietro da Cortona, oil on canvas, The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Happy feast day to all who are named “Stephen” or some variation thereof in any language. Today the Church celebrates his day of glory, being accepted into the kingdom of heaven after having been stoned to death by a mob.
Acts 6:8 says that “Stephen, full of grace and power was working great wonders and signs among the people.” We know St. Stephen was a deacon who was charged with caring for the widows, poor, and orphans. The wonder working was on behalf of these, the “least” of our brethren, and they must have been so happy to hear of Jesus and His love for all mankind from the lips of this follower of Christ. Likewise, they must have been anguished by the loss of one so kind in a harsh and condemning world.
One of the antiphons of the Divine Office today reads: “They stoned Stephen; but he cried out with a loud voice to the Lord, saying: Lay not this sin against them.” The lesson I learned today from the life of St. Stephen is that, like Christ, he forgave those who were killing him.
Forgiveness is very difficult, especially when the perceived wrong comes from family or friends. Right now at Christmastime when family and friends gather to celebrate the birth of Christ is when people can get on each other’s nerves. A little celebrating is great fun, but too much and the devil is bound to stir up hate and discontent because he cannot stand to see the children of God getting along and happy over the greatest intervention by God in the history of the world. In fact, anytime we are striving to be joyful and imitate Christ, the devil is very near.
For those who are struggling with physical, mental, or emotional issues, vulnerability to sins against charity are especially possible with all the commotion of the holidays and having to meet other’s expectations when we may not feel like it. It is also possible for us to feel put upon or unappreciated, something we need to be on guard against and to ask God for the grace to be gracious to all in the name of Jesus.
St. Stephen makes me think that the harder it is to forgive someone, the more exaggerated a sense of importance about ourselves we have. St. Stephen was a just man. He knew he was a creature of God, and that he was returning to the Christ he had faithfully followed. This is all I or anyone else needs to be aware of when we are wronged. It helps put things into perspective: in the light of eternity with God, is this aggravation, insult, slight or whatever all that important? From this day forward, I want to be more like St. Stephen, much more ready to forgive and think instead of an eternity with God.
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