Deacon’s Blog

The Young Fogey blogged this item concerning a hate filled article by Dr. PZ Myers of the University of Minnesota - Morris.

Dr. Myers is of the opinion that the Holy Eucharist is something to be desecrated. In fact he urges people to desecrate the Eucharist and further states that he will gladly do so himself if someone were to bring him a consecrated host (itself an act of desecration). Dr. Myers makes these assertions in his blog post: It’s a frackin’ cracker.

For my part I would like to alert Dr. Myers to the fact that we, the people of the Holy Church, consider ourselves to be members of the Body of Christ. St. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (RSV):

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single organ, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part,
that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Logically, if Dr. Myers would like to desecrate the Body of Christ, he should be perfectly willing to desecrate any member of the Body. Members of the Church should hold no more value for him than what he claims is mere bread.

Since I am ordained member of the Body I have a particular role of witness in the Body of Christ, and since in Dr. Myers way of thinking I am just a “frackin’ cracker” too, I would like to personally invite him to meet me (he’ll have to come here as I have no ability to travel to Minnesota).

At our meeting Dr. Myers can take the opportunity to desecrate me as he would the Holy Eucharist. I won’t fight back. He can feel free to film the whole thing. He can even bring friends if he wishes. When he is done he can put me under his microscope and prove that my flesh is merely human flesh - no observable scientific difference. Dr. Myers?

Jesus, my God, I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love.

Divine Redeemer, Who in Thy infinite goodness hast been pleased to leave us Thy precious body and blood in the Blessed Eucharist, we adore Thee with the most profound respect, and return Thee our most humble thanks for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon us, especially for the institution of the Most Holy Sacrament. As Thou are the source of every blessing , we entreat Thee to pour down Thy benediction this day upon us and upon our relatives, friends, and benefactors; upon the Holy Church, our bishops, priests, and deacons; and upon all those for whom we offer our prayers. Let Thy blessings go forth far and wide. Let it be felt in the souls of the afflicted who cannot come to receive it at Thy feet. Let the weak and tempted feel its power wherever they may be. Let poor sinners feel its influence, arousing them to come to Thee. Grant to me O Lord and to all the members of Your Holy Church, a strong personal love of Thee, a lively horror of sin, a higher esteem of grace, great zeal for Thy honor and glory, for our own sanctification, and for the salvation of souls. Amen.

My Lord and my God!

Blessed and praised every moment be the most holy and divine Sacrament.

Christian Witness Church, Diaconate, Peace, Prayer, Sacraments

For a nice, very short reflection on ministry, expectations, and success check out “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise.’ ” Acts 8:26 by Pastor Rich Carlson as posted at Connected.

Christian Witness Diaconate, Ministry, Vocations

The commentary across blogs over the recent conflict in the R.C. Diocese of Buffalo goes on.

Michael Liccione of Sacramentum Vitae has a pretty balanced take on this issue in Buffaloed. He comments on the root causes of the frustration felt by that deacon in Buffalo and lays the charge squarely at the feet of negligent pastors and weak bishops.

Babsnc of Daily Kos goes the way of the rest of the ultra-liberal elite. If you’re in a church or a member of a church please shut-up (ok, no please was said or intended, just shut-up). Only Babsnc and friends have rights, people of faith have none, Churches have none. See House Rep. Criticized by Deacon /During memorial mass/ for Yes Vote on Stem Cell Research. It appears, unbeknown to me, that the Founding Fathers intended that free speech rights only apply to some. We’re all equal on the farm, some are just more equal than others.

The writer concludes by making a plea for decency - if only that plea were made on behalf of innocent children.

The Society and politics Blog sticks a pin in Babsnc argument in Deacon calls out CINO*. The other pertinent quote taken from a commentator at The Cafeteria is Closed is:

WE NEED MORE PRIESTS LIKE THIS DEACON!

Of course, those neo-con Catholics who frequent sites like Cafeteria should understand that that would mean giving up the celibate priesthood… ooops.

*CINO = Catholic in name only

Christian Witness, Current Events, Political Diaconate, Life

The Buffalo News has featured two reports over the past two days regarding a R.C. deacon who publicly reproved Congressman Brian Higgins from the ambo (pulpit) last Sunday.

From today’s report: Deacon hailed for pulpit blast at Higgins

The Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee on Wednesday hailed a deacon who criticized Rep. Brian Higgins during Sunday Mass in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Deacon Tom McDonnell’s rebuke of the Buffalo Democrat for voting for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research led Higgins to walk out of the church during his sermon.

“God bless the deacon a thousand times. He did his job. If every bishop, every clergy member of all faiths did their jobs, we wouldn’t have the shedding of innocent life in our country,” said Stacey Vogel of the Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee.

The anti-abortion group’s position was in stark contrast with the phone calls and e-mails at Higgins’ Buffalo and Washington offices, which were running in his favor by a nearly 4 to 1 ratio, according to a staff member.

According to the latest polls people deem the earth to be flat - therefore it must be.

Higgins said his relationship with St. Thomas Aquinas Church, where he was baptized and married, is “very deep, very meaningful and very long.” He apologized earlier for the congregation’s having to be subjected to criticism of him during the morning Mass.

“The lesson here is that the Catholic Church has enough problems and should take greater care before allowing nonpriests to use the church as a forum to advance what clearly was a political agenda,” Higgins said…

Based on his long and loving relationship with the Church he has stepped to the fore in opposing attacks on human life… oops, maybe not.

Also, I see that he has taken a strong interest in his faith and that he has been properly catechized. See, there’s priests and non-priests, that’s about all there is to my faith. Also, life is a subjective good and no one can tell me what to do, unless of course they let Senator Clinton or some other womyn preach - and I’ll make an exception for Michael J. Fox.

All this being said, I do believe the deacon was wrong for the following reasons:

• The deacon is not the pastor. Mr. Higgins’ pastor is the Rev. Art Smith, and as pastor this responsibility falls to him. The problem with some deacons (me especially) is that we want to step-up and fill-in wherever and whenever we see something lacking. We are not the answer. We need to be more humble, more in tune with our ministry, and this is a good reminder of that fact.
• The homily serves two purposes, cracking open the scriptures in such a way so as to edify and teach all the people you minister to, and as a call to apply that scripture to our everyday lives. It is not an occasion for political showmanship or the airing of one’s personal grievances, regardless of how in-tune those grievances are with Church teaching.
• Charity, scripture, and Catholic polity demand that one reprove one’s brother in private first, then in front of witnesses, and finally, if he is obstinate, before the community. If that communal reproof is to have any meaning it must come from the Church’s representative in the community - the Bishop.

In conclusion, the lack of leadership on the part of some Bishops and pastors and their acquiescence to political power provide fertile soil for these types of events. They also make taking sides in issues like this the go-to thing to do.

From the original story: Pulpit barb prompts walkout by Higgins

A deacon upbraided Rep. Brian Higgins during Sunday morning Mass in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for voting in favor of embryonic stem cell research, prompting the congressman and his family to walk out during the sermon.

The Rev. Art Smith, pastor of the South Buffalo church, said he felt “horrible” about the Higgins family’s departure on “Respect Life Sunday” and offered an apology from the pulpit after the congressman had left.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo later issued a statement also criticizing Deacon Tom McDonnell’s action.

“I can’t tell you how terrible I felt,” Smith said Tuesday. “While we have to always uphold the church’s teachings regarding life, I don’t think it’s ever fair to publicly criticize someone who serves our community and our parish so well.”

The right-to-life community, with the deacon will be on one side, the congressman - obviously obdurate in error will be on the other, and the leaders of the Church will appear to be weak on the sanctity of life.

Please, pray for the protection of all human life and for us deacons.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, Political Diaconate, Life

Check out The Day I Lost My Religion from The Soapy Knitter (by the way - a nice WordPress theme adapted for knitting).

Fair waring - the language used is not for the faint of heart, but I won’t tsk tsk … this family has been hurt a lot.

I commented on the post here.

Everything Else Diaconate, Ministry, Vocations

Check out the pictures from Deacon Stephen Hayes LiveJournal pages. Interesting, especially all the greenery.

Everything Else Diaconate

I received a CM Almy 2006-2007 liturgical catalog today. Since I am not independently wealthy I do not shop at Almy, but I like to look.

I noticed that this version of the catalog has a lot more in terms of dalmatics (some nice traditional styles and some modernist stuff) and they have maniples!

Maniples are certainly used in some PNCC parishes (we have several beautiful sets in our parish), and I know that they are used in traditionalist R.C. circles, as well as by some Anglo-Catholics, but finding them in this kind of catalog – well where have I been?

I’ve always been a firm believer in ‘the clothes make the man.’ Too many rush through the process of getting vested, skipping the vesting prayers. Careful attention to detail helps us remember whom we are to re-present and how we are to conduct ourselves. It is also a good lesson for altar servers. I also try to pray with our altar servers before the beginning of Holy Mass.

Here are vesting prayers that are commonly (or uncommonly) used:

When washing the hands: Give virtue to my hands, O Lord, that being cleansed from all stain I might serve you with purity of mind and body.

With the amice: Place upon me, O Lord, the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil.

With the alb: Purify me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that, being made white in the Blood of the Lamb, I may come to eternal joy.

With the cincture: Gird me, O Lord, with the girdle of purity, and extinguish in me all evil desires, that the virtue of chastity may abide in me.

With the maniple: Grant, O Lord, that I may so bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow, that I may receive the reward for my labors with rejoicing.

With the stole: Restore unto me, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which was lost through the guilt of our first parents: and, although I am unworthy to approach Your sacred Mysteries, nevertheless grant unto me eternal joy.

With the chasuble: O Lord, Who said: My yoke is easy and My burden light: grant that I may bear it well and follow after You with thanksgiving. Amen.

With the dalmatic: Lord, endow me with the garment of salvation, the vestment of joy, and with the dalmatic of justice ever encompass me.

Everything Else Diaconate, Liturgy

If you’ve read some of the comments I’ve received from Deacon Dan or from our seminarian Adam, you’ll note that a few of the comments mention the lack of deacon bloggers.

My mini mission, since I redesigned my blogroll, is to identify worthwhile blogs run by Catholic deacons. I’ve just added another link to Deacon Dean who blogs at Life on the (L)edge. He is chronicling the struggle his family is facing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

As we’ve just passed the first anniversary of this tragedy, please make a special intention this week for Deacon Dean, his family, community, and all affected.

I should also note that I’m not including all deacon sites that I trip across. I look at several things to determine whether a deacon will be included:

• Catholic content, i.e., reflecting the Catholic faith whether in discussion of the Catholic faith itself or in politics, sports, family life, etc.
• Good design with readable content
• No extremes except in the preservation of the faith, i.e., no ultra neo-Cath content, far left, far right, far out agendas
• Ecumenical, Orthodox, Roman, PNCC, Oriental, basically Catholic (anyone who has a Catholic understanding of the Diaconate)

If you would like to recommend someone, let me know.

Everything Else Blogging, Diaconate

A colleague from our ecumenical group has offered me an opportunity to assume his nursing home ministry.

I begin tomorrow.

The nursing home is run by the Daughters of Sarah. There is a small group of Christians who live there and meet once a month for prayer, scripture, and fellowship.

In my seminary days I had a nursing home ministry. When I lived in Buffalo I worked at a senior respite center and in a hospital based skilled nursing facility. I look forward to resuming this type of work. I always found it to be rewarding. The Lord works in marvelous ways through us and teaches us greatly through the challenges such a ministry brings.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will work through my hands and words to bring our Lord’s healing love to these folks.

Please keep me in your prayers.

[dels]blogs4god/ministries[/dels]

Everything Else Diaconate, Ministry, Prayer

A reader asked:

…can [you] provide some information about how you came to become a deacon, and offer your advise for others who are discerning that call, it would be greatly appreciated.

As they say – start with humor. Asking a blogger to talk about himself is an oxymoron…

And here I was going to begin writing about discernment, formation, the time it takes to have an understanding of yourself and your relationship with Christ in the context of the Church.

It would all be good, sound, doctrinal stuff. It would also be insipid.

What I suggest is that you go on over to the Ancient Faith Radio website or directly to the Our Life in Christ website and listen to their podcasts regarding the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian (he was a deacon by the way).

Here’s the prayer:

O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair,
lust of power and idle talk;
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my
own transgressions and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

The key to any vocation and to life in Christ is the humility found in this prayer.

The Lord needs to be the Master of your life. He should be enthroned as its center and seen as its purpose and goal.

For a deacon, humility is ultimately important. Some might look on the vocation as social work and charity under the guise of a confirmed role in the Church. That is very far from the truth. If people want to do charity, enter into social work, or just ‘do good’, there are plenty of opportunities both in the secular world and in parishes.

My vocation had its roots in my family life, the examples of the saints and heroes of the faith, regular attachment to the Church, and the struggles during the dark times of life. Ultimately, my vocation came from my desire to set myself aside; to let the fullness of Christ shine through me and through my service to Him. It is the desire to be an object the Lord uses to accomplish His purposes.

Can I say I am there? Absolutely not! I can only say that I try each day to orient myself to what God desires. It is difficult. It is tempting to focus on the self. Temptation and struggles abound. But when I am in Christ’s presence at the Holy Altar, I cannot help but be overwhelmed with the desire to serve Him; to perform the most menial of tasks, and from that deprecation of the self, to receive the grace to care for my brothers and sisters.

That sense or desire is more than a momentary impression or feeling. It grows with time into a longing desire. Everything flows from Christ and the way He taught us to follow the Father’s will. It flows from His very presence in the Holy Eucharist. It fills the nooks and crannies of your life, your relationship to work, school, friends, family, those who dislike or hate you, the whole world.

I have also written on vocations for our parish website. Check out: Do I have a vocation?

The becoming part is something that happens in your life. It is the way Jesus is moulding you. If you are allowing Him to mould and form you, then you are ready to inquire. There is a process of course, and I would refer you to Fr. Czeslaw Kroliczkowski, Vice-Rector of the Savanrola Theological Seminary for more information on the particulars.

Savonarola Theological Seminary of the
Polish National Catholic Church
1031 Cedar Ave
Scranton, PA 18505
School, (570) 961-9288
Office, (570) 343-0100

If you wish, send me a private E-mail and I will forward your inquiry to him by E-mail.

Everything Else Diaconate, Vocations