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Day: April 13, 2008

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Christian Witness, Perspective

Called to Ministry?

Found this at Reformed Catholic: Guide for Elder Wannabe’s.

Here are some suggestions for those wanting (or —feeling called—) to enter the ministry. I’ve learned by experience that some of these items would be helpful to candidates and others pursuing ordination. Other items represent what I believe might be helpful. In any case, I offer them up for consideration for students and others to perhaps avoid some of the mistakes I’ve already made and many others have also perhaps made along the way

While certainly bearing a Reformed understanding on certain issues like ordination, on the whole I agree with points the writer makes.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political,

George Bush – Convert, Heretic, Both?

I ran across a rather interesting (in the sad sense) point of view expressed in a blog post at Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit called George W. Bush’s Warm Embrace Of The Catholic ChurchIt also links to an article from the Deacon’s Bench. The comments below that article are of note.. It delivers the typical neocon Roman Catholic fringe thinking you find in certain R.C. blog circles. These folks are typical Bush supporters, or people who believe that politics and politicians are our saviors. What is unfortunate is that they fail to see they they are supporting a president who has told their Church and its leader, the Bishop of Rome (large picture attached to the post – I guess he’s giving Mr. Bush a blessing?) to go jump in the Tiber.

The Bishop of Rome has elucidated – very clearly – that the things Mr. Bush is engaged in are improper and sinful. Mr. Bush chose to ignore the Bishop of Rome on issues surrounding Iraq and the Just War doctrine. He chose to tell the Bishop of Rome’s delegation to get lost. He has ignored Rome on torture and other issues as well.

Perhaps Mr. Bush would be a perfect fit for the “American Catholic Church.” He certainly holds to the Americanist Heresy, condemned by Leo XIII in Testem Benevolentiae. He refuses to subjugate himself (as many Roman Catholics in the U.S. do) to the authority and teaching of the Church, preferring rather his own “enlightened” point-of-view. Just a recap of Rome’s teaching on the issueSee also: Pope John Paul II calls War a Defeat for Humanity: Neoconservative Iraq Just War Theories Rejected:

The basis of these opinions is that, to make converts, the Church should adapt herself to our advanced civilization and relax her ancient rigour as regards not only the rule of life but also the deposit of faith, and should pass over or minimize certain points of doctrine, or even give them a meaning which the Church has never held. On this the Vatican Council is clear; faith is not a doctrine for speculation like a philosophical theory, to be relinquished or in any manner suppressed under any specious pretext whatsoever; such a process would alienate Catholics from the Church, instead of bringing converts. In the words of the council the Church must constantly adhere to the same doctrine in the same sense and in the same way; but the rule of Christian life admits of modifications according to diversity of time, place, or national custom, only such changes are not to depend on the will of private individuals but on the judgment of the Church.

So when Mr. Fromm writes:

If George Bush becomes a Catholic it will be a great day, if not then I will have lived under a President who prays to Jesus Christ and does his best to live his life as a Christian first and politician second.

…he should remember that an embrace of the Roman Catholic Church requires that the person doing so hold to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, on war, abortion, torture, the death penalty, truth, contraception, and on… An embrace of Christianity entails a whole set of life choices that go against everything the world teaches.

In other words Mr. Bush is about as Roman Catholic as ____________? Well, at a minimum, an Americanist heretic.

The real fact is that there is no single issue by which we must decide. None of the politicians who are on road to the White House are Catholic or truly Christian in any sense of the word, especially in the sense of faithful citizenship. None are for true freedom. None will desist from government intervention in our lives at home or from interventions overseas. Those who promise an end to abortion do nothing to actually stop abortion. As the Young Fogey might point out, they simply fan the flames of controversy, doing nothing in reality, but perpetuating their agenda and power above all else.

The answer is always found in the deposit of faith. I believe my Church to be correct on every issue because it teaches the true faith. That trumps politics, my country, the world, and especially my personal desires. Is it easy to be a Christian in the face of the world? No. It only happens when we take our desires, our needs out of the picture – focusing them and aligning them with Jesus Christ’s way. With that we bear witness to our faith and win true converts.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

New York City – Szymanowski’s oratorio, “Stabat Mater,” to be performed

Karol Szymanowski’s (1882 – 1937) magnificent oratorio, “Stabat Mater,” will be performed Wednesday, April 16 at 8 PM at St. Ignatius Loyola Church (980 Park Avenue, 83 / 84 Streets, Manhattan). Kent Tritle will lead the Choir and Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola and soloists in this great work, one of Szymanowski’s towering achievements and one of the outstanding choral works of the twentieth century.

Although it ranks with Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” and Faure’s “Requiem,” the “Stabat Mater” is rarely performed; the most recent hearing in New York was nearly 20 years ago, and this is a rare chance to hear this wonderful composition. Tickets are $35. Preferred seating is $45, students / seniors $25.

The concert includes Camille Saint-Saen’s monumental “Organ Symphony” (Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78) and Joseph Jpngens “Hymn for Organ and Orchestra.” At 7 PM, renowned organ virtuoso Ken Cowan, Assistant Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, performs a pre-concert organ recital featuring music by Widor, Ducasse, Saint-Saí«ns and Dupre.

Additional information is available at Sacred Music in Sacred Spaces, by E-mail, or by telephone at (212) 288-2520.

Fathers, PNCC

April 13 – St. Ambrose of Milan from On the Belief in the Resurrection

Peter also, though full of faith and devotion, yet because, not yet conscious of our common weakness, he had presumptuously said to the Lord, “I will lay down my life for Thy sake,” fell into the trial of his presumption before the cock crowed thrice. Although, indeed, that trial was a lesson for our salvation, that we might learn not to think little of the weakness of the flesh, lest through thus thinking little of it we should be tempted. If Peter was tempted, who can presume? who can maintain that he cannot be tempted? And without doubt for our sakes was Peter tempted, so that, the proving of the temptation did not take place in a stronger than he, but that in him we should learn how, resisting in temptations, although tried even by care for our lives, we might yet overcome the sting of the temptation with tears of patience.

But that same David, that the difference of his actions may not perhaps disturb those who cling to the words of Scripture; that same David, I say, who had not wept for the innocent infant, wept for the parricide when dead. For at the last, when he was wailing and mourning, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Who will grant me to die for thee!” But not only is Absalom the parricide wept over, Amnon is wept over; not only is the incestuous wept over, but is even avenged; the one by the scorn of the kingdom, the other by the exile of his brothers. The wicked is wept over, not the innocent. What is the cause? What is the reason? There is no little deliberation with the prudent and confirmation of results with the wise; for there is great consistency of prudence in so great a difference of actions, but the belief is one. He wept for those who were dead, but did not think that he ought to weep for the dead infant, for he thought that they were lost to him, but hoped that the latter would rise again.

But concerning the Resurrection more will be said later on; let us now return to our immediate subject. We have set forth that even holy men have without any consideration for their merits, suffered many and heavy things in this world, together with toil and misery. So David, entering into himself, says: “Remember; Lord, that we are dust; as for man, his days are but as grass;” and in another place: “Man is like to vanity, his days pass away as a shadow.” For what is more wretched than we, who are sent into this life as it were plundered and naked, with frail bodies, deceitful hearts, weak minds, anxious in respect of cares, slothful as to labour, prone to pleasures. — Two Books on the Decease of His Brother Saytrus – Book II, para. 27-29.

Homilies,

Good Shepherd Sunday

Los sacaré de entre las naciones, los reuniré de entre todos los pueblos, y los haré regresar a su propia tierra.

For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land.

Christ is risen, alleluia!—¨
He is truly risen, alleluia!

Today we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, and today we will baptize Caterina. What an appropriate thing to do.

Jesus has come to us and has announced to us that He is the Good Shepherd. He is here, with us, constant in His vigilance, knowing us, and allowing us to know Him. By this baptism Caterina will be welcomed into the sheepfold. She will enter through the gate, which is Christ, and she will abide with Him.

As Caterina grows, as she matures in life and in faith, Jesus the Good Shepherd will be with her. Today her parents, Roman and Cecelia have assured Caterina that the Good Shepherd will be with her. They have given her the greatest of gifts. The gift of eternal life.

Caterina’s family comes to us from afar, with a different language and a different culture. Though different in some respects this family lives as one with us in faith. Christ Jesus is their Shepherd and our Shepherd, Shepherd of all nations and of all peoples without exclusion. It is this faith in the Good Shepherd, the Shepherd who loved us so much that He endured death so that we might have life, that joins us now and which will join us forever in the resurrection on the last day. It is our faith in Him that breaks down all walls, all barriers, and binds us together as one nation and people.

Jesus came to us, and on the day of His baptism in the Jordan, we hear the Father’s voice.

—Tíº eres mi Hijo amado; yo tengo en ti mis complacencias.—

“Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”

The Father was well pleased in His Son who came to Shepherd us, to lead us to the Father, to eternal life.

Caterina will now share in that life. By her baptism and her faith, by listening to the words of the Good Shepherd and the faith that her parents will share with her, she will remain constant – focused on the joy and the happiness to be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today we welcome you Caterina, and your family, in the name of the whole Church, in the name of the faith we all profess.

En esta mañana damos la vienbenida a Caterina y su familia en nombre de las Iglesia y la fe que todos profesamos.

Amen.

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