Rev. Mr. Chris

Movin' On Up . . .

2007-09-27T18:01:00.000-05:00

For multiple reasons I am moving my blog.

I will attempt to move the existing content as well, but we'll see how easy the migration goes.

In any event, I will recommense regular blogging at the new address:

deaconchris.com

Thanks to all my loyal readers, and even those just looking around!

God bless you all,

Rev. Mr. Chris

Lobster Pound

2006-07-12T06:16:00.000-05:00

One of the neat things we did while in Maine was to visit a lobster pound, and have dinner there.

(shown above my wife and I enjoy our lobsters at Thurston's)

A lobster pound is an imPOUNDment of seawater near a harbor when lobsters are held until they are sold on the wholesale or retail markets. They came about as an after-thought – some of the pounds started to cook a lobster for customers on the side, and the idea took off. For those of us in the Midwest, it’s not terribly unlike the former stockyards for cattle or swine.

Mount Desert Island is the home to Thurston’s Lobster Pound, where we ate dinner the first night in Maine. Located on Bass Harbor, this charming locale features an authentic Maine experience.

Customers select their own lobster, right from large holding tanks at the order window. Your lobster is weighed, placed in a mesh sack and cooked while you wait. Your order is announced by yelling your name and then the fun begins. When we were there lobster was $11.75 for a chick, or $12 per pound if you wanted something bigger. For an extra $5 you get corn on the cob, coleslaw, a roll and blueberry cake, for the true Down East experience.

I opted for a nice two-pounder, and savored it until the last bite. Not only was it the finest lobster I’ve ever eaten, it was enjoyed overlooking Bass Harbor and the lobster boats anchored therein.

The furnishings are simple at Thurston’s – plastic patio furniture, paper napkins, (you’ll need plenty of them) crackers and a pick. But for anyone traveling to Maine, eating at a true lobster pound is an absolute necessity.

I added the word true, because lots of regular restaurants call themselves a “lobster pound,” but unless they are in the business of buying lobster from the lobstermen, and holding them until the market price is right, they’re not a real lobster pound.

And it’s serious money, folks – lobster prices are dictated by market demand, and get extra high near the holidays. Even the movement of $1 per lobster adds up when you’re impounding thousands and thousands of them. Of course, the lobster pound takes some risk as well, and must feed and care for the lobsters until they are ready to sell.

In any regard, I’m delighted to give a perfect “10” to Thurston’s Lobster Pound. I’d go back in a heartbeat, and encourage anyone visiting the area to take advantage of this wonderful experience!

San Benedetto

2006-07-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast of our holy father among the saints Benedict. St. Benedict is the father of western monasticism. His Rule, written about 1,500 years ago is still used by Benedictine men and women today in their monasteries.

St. Benedict is particularly meaningful to me, as the seminary I attended was run by the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad, in southern Indiana. Learn more about St. Meinrad Archabbey here.

(photo shows the Basilica of St. Benedict in Nurcia, Italy - note the statue of San Benedetto in the foreground)

The Rule of St. Benedict outlines the manner of life in a monastery, including details about how to pray, eat, keep silence, work, welcome guests, admonish wayward members and embodies the Benedictine motto ora et labora which translates “pray and work.”

The job of a monk is to pray. Pray for the world. Pray to God. Pray for all the needs of the Church. Pray for those in need. To take literally St. Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing.” That is the job of the monk.

It is my belief that the world continues to function simply from the prayer of holy monks and nuns. Without their prayers, our world would be drastically different than it is now. The gift of one’s life spent in prayer for the world is the highest gift a person can give. By dying to self (control over their lives) these holy brothers and sisters can then devote their very lives to the service of God, in each and every thing they do throughout the day.

Working in the kitchen of the monastery, cultivating grapes, praying the Divine Office, creating vestments, writing icons or tending to animals. Whatever activities occur during the day, they are done for the sake of the kingdom, everything is done for God.

Thanks to you, holy brothers and sisters of St. Benedict – your very being glorifies God and your humble work edifies the world. Blessed are your hands that do the work of our Lord Jesus Christ in your everyday tasks.

LOBSTERS

2006-07-09T21:16:00.000-05:00

Most of my friends know that I enjoy gourmet cooking, and that my wife and I love to travel. In fact, my wife was a travel agent when we were first married, which facilitated lots of wonderful trips that we would not have been able to take otherwise.

What’s the best way to combine these two hobbies of mine? Through lobster, of course! And where do lobsters come from? Well, besides God, I mean. The finest lobster comes from Maine. As such, we have planned (for a long time now) and finally made good on a trip to the land of lobsters, Maine, USA.

One of the driving forces behind the vacation was to search out, find, and consume as much lobster as possible. I’m proud to say that I averaged at least one lobster per day, and on a good day put away two of these exquisitely delicious crustaceans.

Anyway, I thought I’d share with you for the next several entries some highlights from our trip and interesting tidbits learned while on it.

Lobster Fun Facts:

Most lobsters are sold as “chicks” - about 1 ¼ lbs in weight – seven years old.
American (Maine) Lobsters have claws of different sizes – the larger of the two is the crusher claw and the smaller is the shredder claw.
Lobsters can be green, brown, orange, or even blue – they all turn red when cooked, however.
Only one-tenth of one percent of lobsters will live beyond their larval period. This is why is it crucial to return to the sea female lobsters carrying eggs, or any that have recently done so (marked by notching a vee into a section of their tail).
Although they typically crawl lobsters can sprint backwards very quickly (15 feet per second) by curling and uncurling their tail.

Praise to you, Lord God, King of the Universe - you create all things, including these delightful and fascinating creatures known as lobsters. Thank you, Lord, for these and all your gifts you pour upon us.

Checking in with the new Boss

2006-07-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

It's been about 15 months now that Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was elected pope. I had previously prognosticated about how his reign might be here. It might be fun to compare those predictions against how things have unfolded thus far.

Papa Ratzzy will not be a globe trotter - I would say this is largely true, although the pope has made some trips within Europe, and is planning one to South America, possibly with a stop in the USA. He spends the majority of his time at the Vatican, and thus far, has only vacationed in Italy as well.

Benedict XVI is tired of being the watch dog - This is markedly true. Now some would say that recent curial appointments show that the pope is placing solid cardinals in key positions. But I would suggest that the sweeping changes in the curia that so many predicted have not come to fruition. Rather, the recent appointments are about reducing bureaucracy in the Vatican, not punctuating a particular ideology or serving as some sort of orthodoxy-litmus-test. Our new pope is delighted to be a pastor and no longer the Grand Inquisitor.

Benedict is very good one-on-one - This is also clearly the case. He is a personal, yet reserved leader. Benedict XVI is not fond of the limelight, and is much more comfortable in a small setting. An ideal teacher, in the Socratic method particularly. If the schismatic SSPXers are reconciled with the Holy See it will be due to personal interaction between the pope and their leadership. Ditto for further ecumenical successes with the Orthodox.

To the surprise of many, some conservative groups in the Church have been disappointed that the new pope hasn't "cracked the whip." And, in similar fashion, some liberal groups in the Church have been pleasantly surprised of that as well.

Please join me in praying for our pope, his is a difficult and demand life, and needs our assistance through prayer.

Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ

2006-01-09T11:21:00.000-06:00

Today the Church celebrates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Precursor, John. Liturgically, this is the final day of the Christmas season. In the East the feast is known as Theophany. This awesome and mysterious event in the life of Christ shows forth the divine manifestation of the sacred Trinity.

As recorded by the Evangelist Mark:

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Mk 1:9-11)

God chose to provide this clear and convincing showing to those who witnessed it. There likely would have been a crowd gathered for the baptisms John was performing. What a privilege it was to witness the manifestation of the Trinity and the declaration of Jesus as the Son of God! Here is the Messiah, the Son of God, here is the Father’s voice – the only occasion in the New Testament when we hear Him speak. Here is the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove.

Why is it that this is the solitary occasion for the people to hear the Father? I believe it further underscores the authority of the Son. That is, the Father spoke today to declare the Son’s authority and oneness with Him and the Holy Spirit. For the remainder of the time the Son would spend on earth He alone, would speak for the Father. His words would be the Father’s words.

Thank you, life-giving Trinity – for deeming us worthy to see your resplendent glory this day; the very manifestation of your mystery and your divinity, and your unity!

A Benedictine Gift

2005-12-23T09:51:00.000-06:00

The Benedictine monks who arranged the O Antiphons built a hidden, yet delightful, little present into the collection for you to unwrap. You see, the seven messianic titles we have been praying with the past week contain a special message for all. Below are listed the titles in their original languages (Latin or Hebrew), which were compiled and placed into the Liturgy of the Hours (breviary). I have also shown the English counterparts and the dates for each title for clarity.

(shown at right is an example of a Benedictine illumination - notice the Nativity detail and Gregorian notation)

Sapientia - (Wisdom) - Dec 17th
Adonai - (LORD) - Dec 18th
Radix Jesse - (Stump of Jesse) - Dec 19th
Clavis David - (Key of David) - Dec 20th
Oriens - (Radiant Dawn) - Dec 21st
Rex Gentium - (King of Nations) - Dec 22nd
Emmanuel - (God with us) - Dec 23rd

To unwrap your gift, take the first letter of each title and arrange them in reverse order to get EROCRAS – “ero cras” is a Latin phrase that translates "tomorrow, I will come." And indeed He will come tomorrow. To enjoy your gift, go to Mass and receive the Body and Blood of the One born in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Merry Christmas to you all!

And thanks to the holy monks who cleverly wrote, arranged and wrapped this gift for us. May they rejoice forever with their God who is so different, so unique, so One.

Dec 23 - O Emmanuel

2005-12-23T09:12:00.000-06:00

O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Our final O Antiphon uses the greatest of all the Messianic titles - Emmanuel. Each of the titles of the messiah also correspond to a prophecy given by Isaiah. Today the greatest of the prophecies is foretold:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. -- Isaiah 7:14

This title is the most appropriate, most complete, most comprehensive, and yes, the most different as well.

You see, the whole story of the Incarnation is contained in this wonderful title of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ -- God with us. Our God redeems us, sanctifies us, and consecrates all people and all time by this different way -- by coming to earth and making all things new. By redeeming us by becoming one of us. Only a God that loves you far beyond your ability to comprehend it would enter His own creation as a creature Himself, in the most unassuming way. That is why Emmanuel is the greatest title of the Messiah.

This is how the title was first written in Hebrew by the prophet Isaiah:

Emman el

It is actually two words, as you can see from the split between the characters - Emmanu (with us) and El (God). El is the most ancient and simplest Hebrew word for God. We see it comprising a portion of names of important figures in Sacred Scripture, for example Ezekiel, Michael, Gabriel & Raphael.

And of course, in titles of God himself: El, Elohim, El Shaddai, Elah, Eloah, Elyon.

But even as wonderful as the title is, the name that we receive tomorrow night is greater still. The name that will be given the swaddling baby by his mother and father - the name that was pre-given to Mary even at the announcement of his entry into this world.

Praise to you, God with-us: thank you for loving us so much that you became one of us. Thank you for revealing yourself to us more and more through salvation history. Thank you for choosing us, calling us, setting us apart, commissioning us, and for loving us -- to be more precise, thank you for loving us, literally, to the death.

PS: In a few moments I will share with you a special gift that Benedictine monks wrapped for you centuries ago . . .

Dec 22 - O King

2005-12-22T07:11:00.000-06:00

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from dust.

Christ is the head of us all. He is mighty God and Prince of Peace. He is the Lion of Judah. His fore-bearer, David was King of Israel, but the Messiah comes as King of the Gentiles (Nations). He bridges both the chosen ones and the nations into a single, coherent arch.

An arch held together by the perfect keystone - the One who makes all things complete; and the One who makes all fallen creatures new - by the blood of His cross.

A different way of salvation, a way that only the Everlasting God could have imagined, coming into his creation to save it from within.

Dec 21 - O Radiant Dawn

2005-12-21T09:10:00.000-06:00

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Our antiphon today reminds us of the Canticle of Zechariah, called the Benedictus, which is prayed each morning in the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds (also called Morning Prayer).

Zechariah was a priest, descended from the lineage of Aaron, as was his wife, Elizabeth. It was during his term of offering incense in the temple that Zechariah was visited by Gabriel and told of his coming son, John, who would "go before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah" to prepare the people for the Messiah.

Zechariah's doubt of the angel's words caused him to become mute for nine months, until he named his new-born son "John." At the very moment of the naming, his mouth was freed and he cried out in joy to the Lord with this beautiful song of praise.

(The Benedictus is from Luke 1:67-79, and will be our prayer for today. )

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oat he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of

the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the

shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Dec 20 - O Key of David

2005-12-20T09:09:00.000-06:00

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

Yesterday we heard about the flower that would shoot forth from Jesse. Today's antiphon speaks about Jesse's son, David who became the greatest king of the Chosen People. Just as David was anointed King of the people, the messiah would be anointed our Everlasting King.

Many of the Jewish people that did not accept Jesus as the messiah did so because they were expecting a military ruler in the manner of David. They were anxiously awaiting to be returned to the first place in the land they inhabited.

But our God chose to come in a different way. Not in regal splendor, but in the simplest, humblest way imaginable. He was born among farm animals, his mom and dad huddled together with sheep and donkeys and maybe a cow or two around them. He was placed in the animal's feeding trough - that was his crib.

Praised be you, Christ our King - thank you for wearing not the golden crown of David, but rather the crown of thorns - the different crown, the crown that brought salvation to all the people -- chosen or not.

Dec 19 - O Flower of Jesse's stem

2005-12-19T21:08:00.000-06:00

O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

The Messiah to come would be born through a different lineage than most would have imagined. God would bring the Anointed One through the line of Judah.

We must remember that Judaism possesses a hereditary priesthood. The priestly line comes only from the sons of Levi (known as Levites) and the high priests must further be in the direct lineage of Aaron (known as kohains). This is the case even to this day.

(at right is shown a Jesse Tree)

But God would not call the Eternal High Priest from this sort of line -- the Messiah would come from the stump of Jesse. The Messiah would decend from the line of Judah, from the line of David.

Kinda different than what one would expect, isn't it? Just like I mentioned yesterday - this God is a different God, an unexpected God, a God that does things differently.

In the Psalter we often hear "you are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek." A better translation of the text would read "you are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." Why the distinction? Because Christ the High Priest would come not as a kohain, but in a different way.

(at left is shown the garments of the High Priest ("Kohain Gadol" in Hebrew)

Jesus isn't a Melchizedek-ian priest - he doesn't belong to the "line of Melchizedek;" rather, what God was demonstrating was that the very essence of the High Priesthood would come not through the priestly line, but in a different way - just as the non-Jewish Melchizedek offered sacrifice to our God Most High.

Thank you, God Most High - for bringing our salvation to us in unexpected ways, in mysterious ways -- in short, in different ways.

Dec 18 - O Sacred Lord

2005-12-18T21:06:00.000-06:00

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

Theophany is a theological term that describes a special manifestation of God - the sort of first-person kind of encounter that Moses experienced. Today's O Antiphon harkens back to that mysterious event.

God reveals himself to us gradually over time. Just as we considered the life-breath of God, ruah, yesterday - the originating breath that began all life - today's antiphon reveals the first theophany. It also recalls the Law Giver to whom He revealed himself, and differentiates this God from all the other gods of the near middle-east.

Our God is a jealous God, our God is a singular God, our God chooses a disheveled, wandering lot as His own people. He is not like any of the gods of Egypt, or Sumer, or Assyria, or Mesopotamia or Persia or Greece. This God is so very different.

How different? We will come to see the differences over the next days as the antiphons continue.

Let our prayer this evening be one that Moses prayed himself - and let us pray it in the language he used:

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
(Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One)
Barukh Shem k'vod malkhuto l'olam va-ed
(Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom now and forever)

Dec 17 - O Wisdom

2005-12-17T21:05:00.000-06:00

On the 17th of December during the Liturgy of the Hours (Vespers, also called Evening Prayer) the Church begins the series of “O Antiphons” that we encounter each Advent.

On these hallowed evenings I will write a short reflection for the current antiphon.

So may not know that the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a musical composition of the O Antiphons.

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

The Wisdom of God is prevalent throughout the Sacred Scriptures in many locations, including the obvious ones such as the Book of Wisdom, as well as many references to the Holy Spirit, and to the life breath of God - ruah in Hebrew. An example of ruah can be found in Genesis when God breathed his life-force into Adam.

The Greek word for wisdom is sophia - and the finest Church in the East was dedicated to Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia in the city that was formerly known as Constantinople or Byzantium, or currently Istanbul in present-day Turkey.

(Here is a photo of this marvelous Byzantine Church and architectural wonder)

Let us pray for the day when the Wisdom of Allah will inspire Muslims to return this beautiful Church back to Eastern Christians.

For that matter, let us pray each day that the Holy Spirit would fill us and direct us and guide our every activity.

On this holy evening - the Holy Spirit should be the focus and attention of our prayer, our thoughts and our movements. The day of the Messiah draws near - make straight the pathway, prepare for Him with devotion, dedication and joyful hope!

Pope's Church

2005-11-09T15:28:00.000-06:00

Today is the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Cathedral Church of the Bishop of Rome – who also goes by the title “Pope.”

(this is the facade of San Giovanni in Laterano)

Most people [incorrectly] assume that St. Peter’s Basilica is the Cathedral of Rome, but it isn’t, and never has been, by the way.

The Cathedral of the Pope is St. John Lateran, which is located in south-central Rome. Vatican City (which is an entirely different country altogether) is located northwest of Rome. The pope lives in Vatican City, but there are several properties throughout the city of Rome that belong to the Vatican, including the Lateran Palace – which is where the popes used to live a long time ago.

(this is a photo of the doors that you enter the basilica through - yes they really are THAT big!)

The church of a bishop is the church where the cathedra (chair) is located. In fact, when we speak about papal infallibility, we sometimes use the term "from the chair," meaning that when the Pope speaks infallibly he does it from the "chair of Peter," that is, as the universal pastor of the entire Church.

In every diocese in the world the cathedral is simply the church that contains the bishop's chair - a sign of his authority and of his apostolic succession represented by the chair. Just as the Bishop of Rome is the successor of Peter, every bishop is the successor of the Apostles.

And the Chair of the Pope is located here at St. John's shown here. (sorry about the fuzziness of this photo)

All of these photographs are from a pilgrimage I made to Italy in March of this year. A group of seven of us from Omaha joined about twenty others on a tour that included Venice, Florence and Rome. Our smaller group took several side trips to Assisi, Siena, and San Gimignano. We were in Rome ten days before JPII passed away (in fact, we did not get to attend an audience with him, because he was still in the hospital).

So the universal Church celebrates the dedication of the universal cathedral on this day. If you ever get a chance to see this beautiful church, be sure and include a tour of the baptistery (a separate building) where the pope would baptize new Catholics on the Easter Vigil.

(In this photo notice the Easter Candle next to the font, and the sculpture of a deer drinking from a stream "like a deer that longs for running water, so my soul longs for you, O God" - Psalm 42:1)

Happy Anniversary, Brothers!

2005-11-06T17:28:00.000-06:00

Exactly one year ago today eight of my classmates and I were ordained deacons in the Catholic Church. -- November sixth, in the year of the Lord 2004, St. Cecelia Cathedral, 10 o'clock in the morning. It seems as just yesterday to me.

I wish all my brothers continued grace and blessings in their service to the people of God. May your ministry be one filled with wonder, awe, and great humility as you strive to be the servant Christ who came not to be served, but to serve, and offer His life as a ransom for all.

(here is a photo of us listening to Archbishop Curtiss instructions just prior to the ordination rite.)

He urged us above all to be incredibly patient with those we minister to -- so many Catholics are alienated, hurting, or poorly cathecized. Meet them where they are, and help them to mold their lives more fully to that of Jesus. Touch them as the Servant Christ, whom you have been configured to today in Sacred Orders.

Our Lord suffered when He poured forth His blood on Golgotha. The blood of the new and everlasting covenant. The blood that makes all things new.

(here is a photo of us receiving that very same Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity)

How incredibly blessed we are to share the Body & Blood of Christ with the people of God -- and even more blessed to take Him to those who cannot get to Church because of age or infirmity.

Thank you brothers, for all you do to make the kingdom present to those you meet. Congratulations on your first anniversary, and thank you for welcoming our newest 17 brothers in such a beautiful way yesterday.

Tim LaHaye missed Mass today

2005-11-06T16:49:00.000-06:00

Today is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – and it’s a shame that Tim LaHaye wasn’t with me at Mass this morning.

You see, in the Epistle we hear St. Paul using the very language that LaHaye and his followers base their “rapture” theology on:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 italics mine)

But the solution to all of this rapture talk is foun in the words of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel reading for today:

Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:10-13 italics mine)

Throughout the Gospels we hear the words of our Lord consistently urging us to be on guard, to be prepared for we know not when He will come again.

But the success of LaHaye’s Left Behind series shows that so many Christians do NOT heed these words of Jesus. They prefer to look for signs and clues – both in Sacred Scripture and in other places as well.

Tomorrow is promised to no one, folks – it’s as clear as that. Live each day of your life expecting and desiring that our Lord would return. Instead of waiting for the Kingdom – make it present by doing what Jesus commanded of you: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick & imprisoned.

Who wants to be a foolish virgin when the bridegroom arrives? Or worse yet, who wants to be a goat when they are separated from the sheep?

God bless you all that serve our Lord faithfully, diligently and quietly. Your reward in heaven will be great.

We Love You Terri - Part II

2005-11-04T18:00:00.000-06:00

There's a wonderful story about the Schindler's Omaha visit in this week's issue of The Catholic Voice, the newspaper of our archdiocese.

Read Jaclyn Schulte's story here.

We Love You Terri

2005-11-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

Last night I spent the evening with two remarkable people, Bob & Mary Schindler. They traveled to Omaha on the feast of All Saints to deliver a talk at Pro Sanctity’s annual Call to Holiness program.

As you probably remember, they are the parents of Terri Schindler-Schiavo, who was deprived nutrition and hydration on March 18th and died thirteen days later. View more info about Terri here.

I was so moved by the spirituality and love exhibited by these two people, as they shared the story about their beloved daughter.

How fitting it was to celebrate Terri’s life on this glorious feast. You see, All Saints Day is the day to celebrate and honor every saint.

For those unfamiliar with the Catholic teaching on the Communion of Saints – this is simply the belief that those in heaven can and do pray for us here on earth.

People oftentimes narrowly construe the term saint to only mean those canonized saints. But that is not the teaching of the Church. Everyone in heaven is a saint – that’s what the very term means. Canonization is simply a declaration by the Church that a given individual IS in heaven, and thus a saint.

God created you and desires for you to live with Him forever in heaven. Our job on this earthly sojourn is to prepare ourselves for that everlasting reality with God.

And through the exercise of our free will, we either walk in the way of our Lord Jesus or not. We either prepare ourselves for life eternal or not. We either make use of the gifts, called sacraments or mysteries that Jesus left us or not.

And we use the talents God graced us with to bring about the kingdom here on earth or not.

Michael Schiavo, George Felos and George Greer used their talents to end Terri’s life – pure and simple. They will be held accountable for their actions when they meet our Lord Jesus at the Particular Judgement.

The Schindler’s use their talents to raise awareness and advocacy so others do not have to endure what they did. They assist other families with hope, with support and with love. They produce a quiet whisper of life & love to a culture of death.

There is no doubt whatsoever to me that Terri Schindler-Schiavo is in heaven, with our Lord. She is a saint.

St. Terri, pray for us all – help us to learn from the ultimate sacrifice you paid – a sacrifice not unlike our Lord Jesus paid. An innocent life taken from us all. We love you, Terri!

Week of Witnesses

2005-10-17T06:54:00.000-05:00

This week is one filled with witnesses. A week of red vestments at the liturgy. A week of powerful examples for us all to model our lives after.

The Greek word for "witness" is martyr, and the liturgical calendar this week features three feast days of martyrs:

Monday, Oct 17th St. Ignatius of Antioch

Tuesday, Oct 18th St. Luke

Wednesday, Oct 19th Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues & their companions

St. Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch (Peter was the first), and the person that first used the term "Catholic" to describe the Church. Like most of the Apostolic Fathers, he was martyred for his faith in Jesus. He was killed by animals in the Flavian Amphitheatre, more commonly known as the Coliseum in 107.

St. Luke was both an Evangelist, writing a the Gospel attributed to him, as well as the Acts of the Apostles, and a companion of the Apostle Paul. He gave his life in witness to our Lord Jesus in Greece, where he was crucified, probably on an olive tree.

Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and their companions were French Jesuit missionaries serving in Canada from 1625 to 1649, when they were were martyred -- some tortured to death, others decapitated. This group of eight Jesuits became known as the North American Martyrs, and were canonized in 1930. The names of the companions were: John de la Lande, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Anthony Daniel, Rene Goupil and Noel Chabanel.

Some people might think that the days of the martyrs are long gone. That most of the martyrs came during the early formation of the Church, and the ensuing persecutions by various Roman emperors. While it is true that many were martyred during these times; unfortunately the days of the martyrs are anything but over.

There are more martyrs of the 20th century then any previous century in the life of the Church. Thousands of new martyrs have offered their lives even in these latter days, primarily in Africa and Asia. Christianity is persecuted in many countries even today, with torture being used commonly against Christians.

Take a moment and pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer so badly because of their belief in Christ; they need our prayers and support. How beautiful a world it will be when all are afforded religious freedom. Until that day we will continue to have fearless role models that make present today the same fire and fervor that Ignatius, Luke and the Canadian Jesuits exhibited.

Pray for us, holy martyrs of God!

Stewardship Witnesses

2005-10-14T14:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend we are having lay persons give a witness talk about stewardship in conjunction with our parish and archdiocesan annual appeals. Our archdiocese does this each year, and I always enjoy it.

I enjoy it not only because stewardship is important to me professionally (I am the Stewardship & Development Director of our parish), but even more so because it provides yet another way to deliver an unchanging message with fresh faces, fresh ideas and fresh vitality.

My personal gratitude goes out to all those persons who have accepted the invitation to share their stewardship story with St. Gerald; for the very act of witnessing to the importance and need of stewardship is itself a profound act of stewardship!

People often confuse stewardship (a way of authentically living the Gospel) with raising money. Although treasure plays into the way we respond as stewards, it is neither the only way nor even the most important way. Investing our time to serve the Church, the Body of Christ is the most valuable exercise of stewardship.

If you are not active in your own parish, start now. Call the office, find a ministry, group or committee that would benefit from your gifts, and sign up! Your parish family needs you, the Church needs you, and most of all, our Lord Jesus Christ needs you.

Well done, good and faithful steward, well done!

Yom Kippur

2005-10-13T08:51:00.000-05:00

Today the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur continues.

Our late Holy Father, John Paul II, described Judaism as our “elder brother in faith.” It is very important for all Christians, and most certainly all Catholics, to study Judaism, at least in some form, as our faith was born from it.

Remember – Jesus, all the apostles, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, Zachariah, Elizabeth and most of the disciples were Jews. Most of the first members of the Church were Jews.

The most enjoyable and fascinating class I ever took in the seminary was on Jewish Studies. It was co-taught by a Benedictine monk and a Jewish rabbi. Part of the course included attending services for the high holy days at the synagogue, attending a bar mitzvah, and attending a regular Sabbath service as well. The course was funded in part by B’nai B’rith.

As a result, you will sometimes read on this blog comments about Judaism, especially in the context of relation to Christian thought and Catholic liturgy.

Yom Kippur is a high holy day – the most important one, and always occurs on the 10th day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (Judaism uses a lunar rather than a solar calendar). This feast is commanded by Adonai (the LORD) in Leviticus 23:26-32.

It is the Day of Atonement – a day set aside for Jews to atone for the sins committed against the LORD. Sins committed against other people require the Jew to seek that person out, and to reconcile with them before Yom Kippur.

The day is a day of total fast, no work, no food, and no water. Services are held at the synagogue both nights and during the day.

Two important events occur during the feast.

On the first night (Wednesday evening) the singing of the haunting melody of the Kol Nidre begins the feast. Kol Nidre translates “all vows” and is sung to the LORD asking Him to annul all personal vows made during the following year. Historically this was very important to Jews that were forcibly converted (under threat of violence) during the Spanish Inquisition. Singing of the Kol Nidre allowed these ones to tell the LORD that they acted under duress, and were still true to Him in their hearts and minds.
The next evening (Thursday) the feast concludes with the Ne’ilah service – during which the ark containing the Torah remains open for the entire service – necessitating all to stand for the entire liturgy. Blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn) concludes the service and the holy day.

(here is a photo of a shofar)

We pray today for all Jewish people, the first to receive the word of God, and who continue to hold a special place in the Lord’s heart as His Chosen People.

PS: To those confused by the two-day timing of the feast, please remember that Jewish time is reckoned from sunset to sunset. So the feast begins on Wednesday evening and lasts until Thursday evening. Those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours will recognize that Catholics still honor the Sabbath (the Lord’s Day, Sunday) in this way. Sunday Evening Prayer I begins on Saturday evening and the Lord’s Day continues until Night Prayer on Sunday night.

Benedict XVI

2005-10-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

(this is the Coat of Arms of his Holiness, Benedict XVI)

A friend asked me the other day what I thought of the new pope, and how things have transpired since he was elected. I thought it was an interesting thing to inquire about, so here are my thoughts thus far:

Pope Benedict XVI is not going to be a globe-trotting messenger as was the case with John Paul II. This is not only because of his age, but also because of the sort of man he is. He’s quiet, reflective, introverted. On a recent vacation to northern Italy he took three cases of books with him to read and a piano to play. The pope enjoys classical music.

He’s tired of being the watch-dog, the enforcer. For twenty plus years Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This means he was responsible for policing lots of stuff and lots of people in the Church. In past centuries the name of this position was the Grand Inquisitor. That is, the one that safeguards the truths of the faith by diligent attention to who’s teaching what where. And if they aren’t doing it right, corrections were made. In any case, I think he’s quite pleased to be doing something different now; something he enjoys – being a grandfatherly pastor and shepherd.

He’s very good one-on-one – Benedict XVI recently had Hans Kung over for dinner (to Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the papacy). Two old Tubingen professors having a pleasant visit. Even though as the Enforcer, Ratzinger had to discipline Kung previously. Kinda like a line from The Godfather, isn’t it? “It’s not personal, it’s business.”

A lot of pundits predicted that Benedict XVI would come out cracking the whip, shaping the Church up, etc. I wouldn’t be holding my breath for that sort of thing.

A little parting Italian for this blog entry: Viva Il Papa! (Long Live the Pope!)

Unless you aquire the ears of a child, you cannot understand this homily

2005-10-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it’s a God-Incidence, but today’s Gospel account is one that I wrote a children’s homily for some time back.

In Robert Fulghum fashion (author of All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten), I think the message and content of the homily is timely today, too.

Here’s the Gospel text: (Luke 11:37-41)

After Jesus had spoken,
a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
He entered and reclined at table to eat.
The Pharisee was amazed to see
that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

And here’s the homily I spoke about:

Sometimes it’s hard to keep clean. We might be working outside, or playing soccer, and it’s easy to get mud and grass stains on our clothes. It’s not a big deal, though, because our parents help us get those clothes clean again by running them through the washer and dryer. Today we learn about another way of cleaning ourselves from Luke’s gospel.

When Jesus goes to have dinner with the Pharisee, he teaches us an important lesson about being clean inside. The Pharisee is surprised that Jesus does not purify his hands before He sits down to eat. So Jesus takes the opportunity to teach the man that God is more interested in cleanliness of mind and heart than that of his hands.

The reason that the Pharisee was so surprised is because it was a Jewish custom that you had to ritually wash your hands before eating. The man belonged to a group that was obsessed with following all the rules and customs of the Jewish people. He wasn’t trying to trick Jesus; he was just caught off guard when Jesus sat down. He was too focused on the external sign of washing that he missed the whole point of learning what Jesus had to say. And we know that Jesus didn’t simply forget to wash his hands; rather he wanted to teach us a lesson about what makes us clean.

He teaches us today that God wants us to take care of our whole person, because he made every part of us, our bodies and our minds and our hearts, too.

And we all know how we clean our bodies; we take a shower or a bath each day, and we wash our hands before meals. But do we remember to keep our minds and hearts clean, too? Let’s think for a moment about how we can do that –

When we say a prayer for someone we keep our minds clean. When we help our parents with chores is another way. When we stick up for someone is one of the very best ways to keep our minds & hearts clean.

And Jesus today tells the Pharisee another good way to clean our hearts, by giving to the poor. Because when we are taking care of the needs of others we don’t concentrate only on what we want, but what they need, too.

So those are all great ways to help keep us clean, inside and out, just like the cup and dish that Jesus talked about today.

But the very best way to clean our minds and hearts is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When we sin, our hearts and minds get cluttered with the things we have done. They distract us from doing what God wants of us. But through this sacrament, Jesus wipes away all of our sins and makes our hearts and minds completely clean. And when we keep ourselves clean, we have more opportunities to help others and to model our lives after Jesus.

So as we continue Mass let’s all think of one way that we can clean our heart by helping someone else this afternoon. That way we can show Jesus that we heard Him speak to each of us personally through the Gospel today.

Blogging Hiatus Complete

2005-10-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

I've been away from my blog for nearly two weeks, and I’m sorry about that. Was reminded of the fact by a friend last night.

By the way, yesterday was Thanksgiving in Canada. And yes, they eat turkey too (not sure if they know why dark meat is dark, however).

Angels Watching Over Me

2005-09-29T09:32:00.000-05:00

Angel is the Greek word for “messenger.” Today is the feast day of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels.

Much confusion exists about angels today – fueled mainly by a movement within the country toward a so-called “spirituality.” Not the traditional definition of the word, but rather the hijacking of the term by those who profess something along these lines:

I think that all religions are more or less the same

It doesn’t matter where (or if) you go to church, as long as you live a moral life and believe in Jesus

Therefore – I prefer to call myself not religious but rather, spiritual

The short-comings of such thoughts are many – but I think at the core this is driven by a disordered fascination with individualism that is rampant in America today. These old-fashioned denominations are okay for some, but I have some personal, unique insight that just can’t be met by them. I’ll do my own thing – I’ll journey with God in my own way.

And in typical American style, this spirituality movement has been snatched up by clever marketers who make all sorts of angel stuff these days. Books, prints, statues and the like. Lots of the materials available are quite poor theologically (by any denominational viewpoint).

As you go about your day ponder these thoughts about angels:

Angels do not have bodies – they are spirits possessing intellect and free will – only in encounters with humans in Scripture do they assume the use of a body

Sacred Scripture identifies nine choirs of angels – angels, archangels, virtues, powers, principalities, dominations, thrones, cherubim and seraphim

Angels are often depicted as “fairies” assisting people with decisions and such – this is not the nature of an angel

Angels are incredibly powerful – MUCH more powerful that humans – an angel could will that the earth smash into the sun and it would happen

Angels are not God – they are God’s messengers - sometimes tragic things happen to people, that is the nature of free will in a fallen world, not because your guardian angel wasn’t looking out for you

Padre Pio

2005-09-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

Today is the memorial of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887 – 1968). Padre Pio was a Capuchin Franciscan who was loved by thousands, perhaps even millions of people. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in June 2002.

A deeply spiritual friar, Padre Pio offered Masses regularly that went on for three hours or more. He spent incredible amounts of time in private prayer and adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament. Additionally, he spent hours upon end in the confessional counseling, forgiving and assisting people from all over the world.

Our Lord blessed Padre Pio with a collection of supernatural gifts:

For instance, he could read the souls of those who confessed to him, and on occasion would point out to them if they were hiding the confession of a sin.
He was known to be in two places at one time (bilocation).
He was a mystic and had visions and ecstasies.
Perhaps more than anything else, he was famous for having the stigmata for over 50 years.

St. Francis also received the stigmata, a gift of inexplicable grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To bear the wounds that He bore, and to experience, even slightly, the suffering that He did is a mark of incredible holiness, and incredible closeness to our Lord. (remember that the word compassion means "to suffer with")

You can read more about the stigmata here. It is interesting to note that the majority of saints who have received the stigmata have been women.

Pray for us, Padre Pio – that we may take up our cross each day and follow our Lord Jesus Christ more closely, more willingly and with greater humility.

Fall Begins

2005-09-22T07:19:00.000-05:00

Today is the autumnal equinox, the first day of Fall. Fall is traditionally associated with such things as:

Going back to school

Leaves changing color and dropping from their trees

Football getting underway

I happen to be a fan of all three of those activities. When school resumes things liven up a bit around my office. The changing foliage reminds us of the handiwork of God all around us. And of course football hardly needs any explanation for its appeal. This year will probably be more enjoyable for Husker fans than last.

I’m thankful for all these events that mark the changing season.

Matthean Priority?

2005-09-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast of St. Matthew, Evangelist.

Numbered among the Twelve, and identified as a tax collector, he answered the call of Jesus. He is also known by the name, Levi.

(This statue of an angel is the symbol of the Evangelist Matthew - it is located on the Duomo (Cathedral) of Orvieto in Italy, which I visited this Spring)

One thing that seems vogue today in Catholic biblical circles is an ongoing discussion of the dating and priority of the Gospels, specifically whether Matthew or Mark was written first.

Logical arguments abound on both sides, but the vehemence with which they are pursued are often over the top for my tastes.

Today it seems harder than ever to agree to disagree on a given topic. Whatever happened to the adage that “men of good will can disagree on an issue?”

Today we have a new adage, you see, many people think that those who don’t believe exactly as they do are somehow suspect, are somehow deficient.

Not only is that factually incorrect, it is also the application of poor logic. We’ve seen much of this faulty thinking around the confirmation hearing of John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States. Instead of deciding to confirm him on his legal skill and background, some senators are trying to ascertain how he will decide cases linked to their favorite pet causes.

To disagree with Roberts personal view on abortion, is not a LOGICAL reason to vote against confirming him. A valid, logical reason would be something to do with his abilities as a lawyer or judge.

Perhaps the inspiration that guided St. Matthew in recording the Good News will also inspire the US Senate to judge Roberts on his merits and qualifications, rather than conjecture about a future ruling on a given topic.

Our father among the Saints . . .

2005-09-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople . . .

Today is the feast day of John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church. The name Chrysostom translates from Greek as “golden mouth” or “golden throat,” a reference to his incredible preaching.

(this mosaic is from Hagia Sophia, tenth century)

Mistranslation has occasionally suggested that some of St. John’s writings were anti-Semitic; but this is not true. His Orations Against the Judaizers, is sometimes sloppily translated as Orations Against the Jews. Of course a reading of this work in context yields what in fact is a polemic against those in fourth-century Antioch who were trying to Judaize the Christian community.

Many consider John to be the finest Christian preacher. On many occasions his homilies would go on for hours, captivating the people and astonishing them with his oratorical skill.

He revised the Divine Liturgy that is used in Eastern Churches (both Orthodox & Catholic) even to this day.

All who preach ought to be inspired and moved by the abilities of this great saint. His teaching is clear, his exhortations thrilling, and his exegesis rock-solid.

Pray for us, O Golden-Mouthed One, that we might be inspired with your zeal for the Gospel!

Job Pray-er II

2005-09-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

This is an update to my previous entry, “Job Pray-er.”

I found out that my fourth friend was offered the job that he had interviewed for!

He had cleared two interviews when I wrote the previous post; and has since gone through two more last week.

He begins his new job tomorrow. I know he will do a great job, and I know it is a relief to him and his wife to find such a good fit for his qualifications and expertise.

Congratulations, Doug!

Garage Sale?

2005-09-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

I am not a fan of garage sales. I was visiting with a friend recently who was taking two days off work to organize and run a garage sale at her home.

I was astonished – Not only was she going to have a garage sale, she was going to use precious vacation time to get it together, too!

My disdain for garage sales can be explained by three simple reasons (not necessarily in order of importance):

The sorting, tagging, cleaning, pricing, advertising, displaying and selling of your old stuff is hardly worth the time spent on all these steps.

I am not a patient man – the thought of wasting a Saturday on the principle that someone might buy some of my unneeded items sends a shiver up my spine.

Stewardship – anything we no longer need we feel privileged to donate to someone that can use it.

And today it is easier than ever to donate items to charities. St. Vincent de Paul Society, Amvets and others come right to your door and pick up whatever you might have.

On the other hand, some people (such as my friend) actually enjoy the art of garage-saling. And it does provide a valuable service for those in need to purchase items at a fraction of what they would cost new.

So, in a spirit of cooperation I won’t be going to any garage sales – I don’t want to take up the good parking spots for those who enjoy it.

Hope for a Child

2005-09-09T08:42:00.000-05:00

A month or so ago, our parish family collected toys, school supplies, and shoes for Iraqi children.

One of our parishioners has a brother serving in Iraq and we sent the items to him. He distributed them to the local schools, hospitals, and quite often, during patrols.

You see, American soldiers come in contact with Iraqis all the time; many times children are simply walking aimlessly around the countryside. So our soldiers visit with them, and when they have items on hand, distribute a soccer ball or doll to brighten the day of such children.

What a shame these sorts of stories are not highlighted in the mass media. The gift of hope is the greatest thing that can be given to such little ones.

These children have known little other than war and the horrors of a ruthless dictatorship their entire young lives.

What a precious opportunity it is for American soldiers to brighten their day with a simple toy.

Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called children of God.

Happy Birthday Mary!

2005-09-08T15:24:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast day that commemorates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Joachim & Anne (the grandparents of Jesus have their own feast day, July 26th).

Obviously Mary played a crucial and essential role in salvation history. With her fiat, that is, her saying yes to God, she ushered into our world the greatest miracle of all, Immanuel, (“God with us”) the Incarnation of the Logos.

Some of the more important feasts of Mary are:

Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God – Jan 1st
Annunciation of the Lord – April 4th
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – May 31st
Nativity (birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 8th
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 8th
Immaculate Conception of Mary – December 8th

Tonight at our Faith Sharing get-together we will enjoy birthday cake in honor of Mary. St. Gerald Church has a vibrant and faith-filled Young Adult group.

Young Adult Ministry is a crucial area for the Catholic Church to focus on. This is traditionally the time in a person’s life when they are most apt to drift away from the practice of their faith. But it need not be that way - we simply must welcome the young adults we encounter and call them to active ministry in the Church.

Remember, our Lord Jesus first called twelve young adults to be his disciples. The Church was built on young people, and is sustained by them even today.

Labor Day?

2005-09-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Today is a holiday that honors the “working man.” At least that’s what was envisioned when the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882.

But maybe today we should call it Consumerism Day or Materialism Day or Best-Day-for-a-Car-Sale Day. Because it’s focus seems to have somehow morphed into a day for commerce.

So, ironically, instead of a day off for working people, everyone in the retail business has to work harder.

One thing that seems to fit nicely with Labor Day is time to spend with your family. Lots of vacation stuff happens around this long weekend, and I really like that.

Enjoy the day, spend it with family or friends. Relax, converse and just enjoy being with others. It’s a lost art these days.

2005-09-03T10:04:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast day of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of the Church.

During a trip to Italy this Spring, two of my deacon brothers and I joined Monsignor Tom Fucinaro at St. Peter's for Mass. (from left Deacon Doug Marsh, Deacon Tom Valasek, myself and Msgr. Fucinaro)

His body is entombed underneath the altar, behind the gold grate.

It was a special privledge for us to do so. St. Gregory is one many popes that was a deacon when he was elected, rather than a bishop or even a priest.

You might find it interesting that from 432 - 684 thirty-seven men were elected pope. Of those the breakdown was:

Only three of them were priest or bishops at the time of election
Thirty-four were deacons when they were elected

Like Gregory, a deacon elected pope is immediately ordained a priest, and then immediately ordained a bishop. It can even be during the same liturgy that both ordinations occur.

For Gregory it took only about three hours for him to be elected pope, be ordained twice, and then assume the office of the papacy.

Today it is at least theoretically possible for a deacon to be elected pope, but it hasn't happened for a very, very long time. In fact, even a layman can be elected pope. If he was, he would be ordained a deacon, priest & bishop, all in succession and probably during the same Mass.

It's not terribly likely though - usually the cardinal electors choose someone that is actually in the Sistine Chapel during the balloting (though they do not have to).

Pray for us, Pope St. Gregory the Great!

Katrina Relief Efforts

2005-09-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

Catholic Charities is consistently among the most efficient charities in our nation. As expected, they are coordinating various actions to assist the thousands who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Many people think only of the short-term needs, food, water, medicine, clothing & shelter. In addition to those immediate needs, Catholic Charities will also assist people with re-building housing, finding employment and re-establishing their lives.

You can help with the effort in three ways:

Most Catholic parishes will be having a special collection this Sunday -- simply bring a check with you to Mass

Donate directly to Catholic Charities USA online securely here

Send a donation by snail-mail to:

Catholic Charities USA
2005 Hurricane Relief Fund
PO Box 25168
Alexandria, VA 22313-9788

Thank you for your generosity in helping those who have been hurt so deeply by this ravenous storm. It's important to remember that Americans are by far the most generous people in the world -- we give more to charity, both in terms of monies & volunteerism.

This is a moment for us to demonstrate our love for one another, even in the midst of so much devastation. God bless you all!

Musical Chess

2005-09-02T07:55:00.000-05:00

As I drove to work yesterday I listened to a fascinating interview on our local Catholic radio station, KVSS. Their morning show featured a discussion with Kathleen McGee and Laura Buddenberg of Girls & Boys Town.

What fascinated me was a discussion around teenagers and why they so often appear not to think about the consequences of a given action. McGee explained that during the teen years young people simply don’t have the same kind of brain that adults do. Their brains are still growing and developing.

She described that the amygdala (which produces emotional action) has a disproportionate amount of control over teens, while the prefrontal cortex is still developing (the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that assists with discrimination, logical thinking, consequent action, and so forth).

But instead of merely offering this analysis, she shared that parents can help teens develop their prefrontal cortexes in two simple ways (here is what I found so fascinating):

Reading music helps develop this part of the brain – students should be enrolled in either vocal or instrumental music to develop their ability to read music

Playing games of strategy develop this part of the brain – teenagers should learn and play chess or other similar games

If you have a young person in the house, start now by teaching them to play chess, and get them involved in music as well. Both are past-times that can provide most people with a lifetime of enjoyment and help keep their brains sharp, too.

"Directed" Contributions

2005-09-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

It’s odd how a change in aspiration makes all the difference in the world.

Yesterday was a really long day for me. I arrived at work at 7:30am and decided not to return home at 4:00pm, when I usually leave.

You see, I had a meeting scheduled in my office for 7:00pm, and I thought I would just stay at work and clean up a number of items on my desk, etc.

So I happily chipped away at a number of things until 7, met with the Stewardship Committee until about 9:30pm, and then headed for home.

But this long day was a satisfying one. I’ve worked many long days, in fact when I worked at the phone company I worked a lot of days like this; but never with the sense of accomplishment that I have working for the Church.

I left a career in corporate America because I was sick of two things:

· The methods used to accomplish things were often Dilbert-like

· The foolishness of making a wasteful, greedy company richer, despite it’s incompetence is just crazy

It’s not that way working here at St. Gerald. We see the fruit of our labor – oftentimes right away. We have a much needed addition to our school being built right now. And as I visit the job site each day, I’m reminded of what a little change in perspective can do – it makes the long days enjoyable, and the end result is very rewarding.

God bless you all for bringing about the Kingdom – in whatever way you can!

Truth is Sent

2005-08-31T08:21:00.000-05:00

For those fortunate enough to get to daily Mass today – there is a wonderful gem waiting in the Liturgy of the Word.

In the First Reading, Paul tells the Colossians about “the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.” (cf. Col 1:1-8)

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” (cf. Lk 4:38-44)

Truth is sent – not passively sought after.

Paul equates the word of truth to the Gospel, Jesus tells the crowds that He has been sent to all the towns of Judea, not just theirs. Jesus is the truth (cf. Jn 14:6), and He is sent to all the nations. Even after He ascended to the Father, the truth continued to be sent – by the apostles and disciples, as witnessed in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians.

And the truth is sent even today. Through the marvels of technology we are sent the truth over radio waves, television signals and print media.

Receive the truth that is sent to you, not the lies of so many purveyors of violence, hatred and filth. The Internet is a perfect example of this – blogs such as this speak about the truth, while thousands of other web sites peddle pornography, get-rich-quick schemes and the like. Like a lighthouse in the dark, be a beacon of truth to a world starving for it.

Jesus, Paul, & Timothy were sent to deliver the truth – and so you must also be an emissary of truth!

Monotreme Extraordinaire!

2005-08-30T05:48:00.000-05:00

Monotremes are the most primitive mammals – or so scientists tell us.

The word monotreme means “one-holed,” which describes the cloaca that this odd group exhibits. That just means that they have a single hole that serves the urinary tract, anus and reproductive tract.

I say, yada, yada, yada . . . Who cares about all that business – I think monotremes are just plain cool.

And no monotreme is cooler than the Ornithorhynchus anatinus, better known as the Duck-Billed Platypus.

And today I salute these beautiful creatures that serve as a testament to the hand of God, and especially to his sense of humor.

These half-beaver, half-duck, half-bird, half-mammal critters are just incredibly fascinating. They remind me of a Mr. Potato Head – slap a beak on the front, beaver tail on the back, etc.

But in fact, they glorify Almighty God in the simplest and most profound way – just by being who they are!

Learn more about these fascinating animals here.

And thank God in your prayers today for such wonders.

Caged Grudge Match - Man vs. Cake

2005-08-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I made a Waldorf-Astoria cake for dessert. According to the legend, this cake was served at the luxurious hotel years ago. You can see a lovely shot of this premier hotel here ------->

Sometimes people also refer to it as red cake because the cake itself was a sort of blood-red color. Usually four layers of cake filled and topped with a thickened butter-cream frosting.

In any regard, I have my Mom’s old recipe for this cake – and I wanted to make it just as she used to.

Waldorf-Astoria Battle Royale: Red Cake = 3; Rev. Mr. Chris = nada

Against the insightful comments of my wife, I refused to line the pans with parchment paper. I said to myself, “it said grease and flour, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do, nothing more and nothing less.”

Red Cake goal numero uno – One layer stuck to the pan, and broke as I tried to extricate it

I made the frosting, but waited too long before incorporating the thickening paste (it said to let it cool, grrrr) to the butter base.

Red Cake scores again – Frosting separated and would not bind properly

As I was preparing the thickening paste for frosting batch #2, I got distracted with something to do with the salad for dinner.

Red Cake scores a third time – thickening paste has become solid glue

Finally, on batch 2 1/2, the frosting came out correctly. I slathered it between the layers and on the top and threw the dang thing in the fridge to set up.

This is not how I remember it working out for Mom

I ate a piece tonight rather triumphantly, but I wasn’t very pleased about it. The cake itself is a sort of pinkish red, not blood red (even with two full thingies of red food coloring that wasn’t enough).

I noticed that the Waldorf-Astoria (a Hilton property) no longer serves the blasted cake – I wonder why?

He came to testify to the light

2005-08-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came to testify to the light. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light (Jn 1:6-8).

Today’s feast day is the obligatory memorial of the beheading of the glorious forerunner and precursor, John the Baptizer.

As is my custom, I usually serve as deacon at the morning Mass on feast days and solemnities. On very rare occasions I do it for a memorial.

I did it today to testify to the one who testified to the light. John was not the light, Jesus was. Chris was not the Precursor, John was. But every deacon ought to model themselves after John – we must be a voice crying out in the wilderness, “prepare the way of the Lord.”

John the Baptist is very close to me. He is the saint that I chose some 21 years ago as my confirmation patron. I didn’t even know exactly why I chose John, but I’m glad I did.

Throughout my years, I’ve admired John so very much. For these reasons:

Boldness – proclaiming the truth regardless of the consequences

Purity – lived on a simple diet and refrained from alcohol

Humility – “I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. . . ”

Bravery – glorified our Lord Jesus even in his martyrdom

As I proclaimed the Gospel reading this morning, I shuddered as I read the words of his beheading.

There is something incredibly sickening about cutting off a human being’s head. Maybe that’s why terrorists use such a horrible method to strike fear in the mid-East. In some ways the wickedness and evil in some people hasn’t changed much from Palestine 2,000 years ago. Pray for the conversion of such ones. And pray for peace.

Pray for us, holy and glorious Forerunner – help us grown in boldness, purity, humility, & bravery.

MasterCard Moments

2005-08-26T06:15:00.000-05:00

While visiting with a gentleman a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned to me that he had a small pond on his acreage near the Elkhorn River. The previous day he had taught his granddaughter the art of angling, and consequently she caught her first fish. He described the feeling as a MasterCard Moment.

I knew immediately what he was referring to – those incredibly clever commercials MasterCard launched a couple of years ago. They follow a basic format something like this:

Baseball glove - $40
Two hours at the batting cages - $50
His first set of cleats - $57
Watching him hit a home run – priceless

I shared with him that, as a new deacon, I had just recently married a couple of my friends. Or to be more precise, witnessed their marriage. It was my first opportunity to witness a marriage. So here’s my own MasterCard Moment:

James Arthur Vineyard trip - $59.12
Gas to Ronald McDonald House - $2.67 (by today’s ludicrous prices, $4.27)
Jiffy J-4000 to steam my alb with - $229
Joining two friends together forever in the Sacrament of Matrimony – priceless

What kinds of MasterCard Moments have you had recently? Why not share one with us in the comment box?

Job Pray-er

2005-08-25T08:39:00.000-05:00

I have four friends that have recently been searching for new employment. I like to help people in such circumstances, so I always offer to pray for them, review resumes, etc.

In one of my previous corporate America jobs I hired a number of people, so I've read a few resumes in my day.

I like praying for such a need - and I know that it helps, too. Just knowing that others are concerned for you is reassuring. Feeling like you're in it all alone is one of the things that makes looking for work stressful.

My friends are doing VERY well, here's the results thus far:

My first friend got the job she wanted, and it's a nice change for her from her previous work. A nice fit for a great person, congrats, Mary!
My second friend applied for and received a promotion at her current employer. She's very excited about it, and I know she'll do a wonderful job in her new position. You were made for this job, Erika - kudos to you!
I'm delighted to report that my third friend (who has been out of work for nearly a year) was offered a good job with a future that he is a great fit for. I'm very proud of him, way to go, Cal!
My fourth friend has been through two interviews for a position. He will need to interview with at least one more party to get the job. I'm very hopeful, as he's eminently qualified for the position. I'll continue praying for my friend, that he might have several positions to choose from. Why not pause a minute while reading this to pray for him too?

It can be very trying looking for a new job. If you know of anyone in such a situation, remind them that you are concerned about them, and offer to help in whatever way you can -- especially through prayer.

Gooooooooogle Talk

2005-08-24T10:37:00.000-05:00

Google scores another home run today -- as they announce the beta version of "Google Talk," their Instant Messaging client.

IMing is the ability to chat (via your keyboard, typing back and forth) with another user over the Internet. Not terribly unlike using a TTY/TDD. Most IM clients also include a voice option, where you can actually speak to them through a headset connected to your PC (usually through voice-over-IP technology).

Yahoo is still smarting over the beating they have taken from advertisers, and face a number of legal battles ahead. Their suspension of user-created chat rooms has caused a massive exodus from the platform.

Both Yahoo & MSN are working on a pay service that would allow user-created rooms, but that's likely to go over as well as a lead balloon.

So Google strikes while the iron is hot, offering the beta program to their existing beta mail clients (Gmail). It's clever in two ways:

Gmail users tend to be early adopters of technology, and more skilled than the average computer user. Google gets a more tech-savvy control group to test various features with before rolling it out to the masses.
By offering the service free they are no doubt building in a differentiating feature that will be used to draw users from both MSN & Yahoo. I would nearly guarantee that before Google Talk is offered to the general public, there will be the ability to chat, and to create user rooms.

I like Google, it's my favorite search engine. I like Gmail, too, and I'll like it a lot more when there are distribution lists for emailing.

Chances are, I'm going to like Google Talk, too.

Dark meat, white meat?

2005-08-23T10:37:00.000-05:00

I am roasting a turkey breast for dinner this evening, which got me thinking, "what is it that makes the dark meat dark?"

Or, for that matter, the white meat white?

Turns out that the more active muscles in a bird need more oxygen. The highly active muscles are filled with blood vessels that contain myoglobin (muscle hemoglobin). Consequently, the more myoglobin the muscle has, the darker it appears.

So, in a turkey, the legs and thighs (which are the most active) are dark. The wings (which aren't used for sustained flying) are less active, and thus have less myoglobin, and are lighter.

The taste difference is simply attributed to the type of muscle present.

Chickens are similar to turkeys, whereas ducks and pheasants (who do use their breast muscles for sustained flying) have all dark meat.

I've been trying to use turkey more often in cooking. It seems like every Thanksgiving I say to myself, "why don't we eat this more often during the year?"

Ben Franklin advocated making the turkey the national bird and symbol of our nation. While I do think turkeys are pretty cool, they are also too tasty to set aside.

Sorry, Ben, but if you would have gotten your way I'd have to order a pizza tonight!

Role models galore

2005-08-22T06:38:00.000-05:00

More saints are packed into this rich week of not-so-Ordinary Time:

Today is the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tomorrow is the feast of St. Rose of Lima
Wednesday is the feast of St. Bartholomew
Thursday is the feast of St. Louis
Saturday is the feast of St. Monica

Wow -- that's a whole lot of role models packed into a week's time. Maybe it would be fun to match a statement from below with the corresponding saint above? Give it a try:

was a third-order Dominican
martyrdom by flaying
King of France
a "woman clothed with the sun"
a devoted [and patient] mother - prayed twenty years to convert her son

How blessed we are to have such a rich collection of friends to inspire us.

God-incidences

2005-08-21T05:41:00.000-05:00

Today is the Twenty-First Sunday in "Ordinary Time."
The readings from Mass speak about the papacy (cf. Is 22:19-23 & Mt 16:13-20).
Today [would be] the feast day of St. Piux X, pope (Sundays take precedence over other feast days).
Today Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the closing liturgy in Koln at World Youth Day.

It might be coincidental that all these papal diddies are occurring at the same time, but not likely. My lovely bride calls it a "God-incidence" when something like that happens.

The philosopher in me rebels slightly:

God doesn't make things happen that way
That would violate free will,
Etc., etc., ad nauseum

But the Christian inside me is slightly tickled. Maybe God allows things to play out in such a way, just to make life a bit more interesting. Or maybe to make philosophers think a little harder. Or perhaps to simply bring a smile to someone's face when they encounter such an event.

Our God is an awesome God.

Not so "Ordinary Time"

2005-08-19T09:27:00.000-05:00

Although we are in the middle of Ordinary Time (liturgically speaking), there are a number of important feasts for the next week or so. I'll be saying a word or two about some of them:

Today - Friday, August 19 - St. John Eudes - founded a "non-order" - a group of priests and postulants that specialize in mission work and running seminaries. John thought that bishops would better trust priests under their direct jurisdiction over ones that belonged to a religious order. So he created the Eudists, a non-order that seems like an order!

Tomorrow, Saturday, August 20th - St. Bernard

No, not that St. Bernard

I mean St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 - 1153) - Abbot & Doctor of the Church. Bernard was a Cistercian monk from France who was a brilliant theologian, a prolific writer and a gifted and skilled preacher.

St. Bernard was a monk for forty years and founded (himself) an incredible 163 monasteries throughout Europe!

He was the first Cistercian placed on the Roman Calendar, in 1174 by Pope Alexander III.

St. John Eudes & St. Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us!

PS: The breed is named for the mountain passage-way in Switzerland that connects Northern and Southern Europe. St. Bernard founded a monastery there, to minister to pilgrims. As such the pass itself was named after St. Bernard, as was the breed active in rescuing people. 163 monasteries and 1 dog breed, not a bad legacy!!!!

Why I won't make Principal anytime soon . . .

2005-08-18T19:41:00.000-05:00

One of the main projects I've been working on at St. Gerald has been an expansion of our school to accommodate 7th & 8th grade students. Because of the construction occurring, we pushed back the beginning of school until after Labor Day.

The local public schools began classes this Monday, August 15th. As in the middle of the month of August!

As best as I can remember, when I was in school we went back around Labor Day and were finished in May. Yet today, it seems the kids go back earlier all the time, and some of them don't begin their summer vacation until June.

Something fishy is going on here, methinks.

Now I'm not advocating any sort of "kid-strike," but doesn't that seem incredibly early to be going back to school? It's craziness, in my view. Students need fully three months of vacation to enjoy the summer, go to various camps and activities, and hopefully, go on vacation with their families. Moreover, high school students need that summer time for work -- college isn't getting any more affordable as time goes by.

We drive students very hard these days, treating them like miniature adults with hectic schedules, numerous extra-curricular activities, and unnecessary stress in their young lives. Might be a good idea to re-think some of the wisdom behind all of that.

Let the kids be kids, I say -- and give them their FULL summer vacation to enjoy this wonderful time in their lives!

Capers - an overlooked tool

2005-08-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

Today I prepared chicken piccata for lunch, a simple dish of thin chicken pieces dressed in a lemony sauce accented by capers.

Incidentally, its much better to slice the chicken rather than pound it out with a mallet, as most recipes suggest. Pounding can be useful with veal (lots of connective tissue) but a bad idea for chicken, you'll just damage it.

Anyway, in an effort to assist those farmers who raise capers, and to those who have never heard of a caper, I'm dedicating today's entry to them.

Capers are tiny immature flower buds that are usually pickled and found in very small jars next to olives and pickles in your supermarket. Sometimes they are kept next to cocktail onions, watermelon pickles, artichoke hearts and the like.

Lots more info about capers is available here.

Why not try using them on a favorite dish of your own? Some recipes call for rinsing the capers before use (I usually do this myself), and others just toss them in.

They add a delightful piquant flavor to dishes, and also a bit of saltiness, so you might have to adjust your seasonings slightly.

It's an actual fact that the Scottish dish haggis has at least one song singing it's praises, but the poor caper is just constantly overlooked.

Here's to you, caperberry!

Bullying

2005-08-16T11:15:00.000-05:00

A good number of those reading this post have at some time been the target of a bully. Many readers have likely bullied others themselves. And I would venture a guess, that everyone has been a bystander when someone near you has been bullied. It's a prevalent problem in our country, and has been for some time.

St. Gerald School wants to eliminate this problem, so today our school hosted a wonderful program on bullying. Dr. Barbara Coloroso traveled to Omaha to be with us.

She's an internationally known speaker, educational consultant and author. She has taught at secondary and college levels, and infuses her presentations with humor and practical advise.

In the morning, she met with over 300 teachers, principals and administrators from the Archdiocese of Omaha. She spent the afternoon with St. Gerald School's staff, and in the evening hosted another presentation for the general public, especially for parents.

More info on this delightful person and fabulous resource can be found here.

Thanks for your help, Barb! May God continuously bless your work.

Dormition of the Theotokos

2005-08-15T12:34:00.000-05:00

Higher in honor than the cherubim, infinitely more glorious than the seraphim . . .

The Dormition of the Theotokos is the Eastern title of the great feast celebrated today - in the West it is referred to as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The dormition (falling-asleep) of the Theotokos (God-Bearer) is the commemoration of our Lord taking Mary's body into heaven.

Falling asleep is a euphemism for death - it is widely held in the East that upon Mary's death she was taken bodily to heaven.

Incidentally in the West, there are competing scholarly opinions as to whether Mary actually died before being assumed into heaven.

It probably doesn't much matter whether she died or not. What does matter is that God deemed her body to be taken to heaven, which is an enormous privilege!

Can you guess who else might be bodily in heaven? Sacred Scripture suggests that both Elijah & Enoch are there as well. As such, we know that only four bodies are in heaven:

Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
Mary, the Mother of God
The glorious prophet Elijah, and
"the one who walked with God," Enoch

Peace to you on this great feast!

Go to Mass today, even if it's not obligatory ~~ it's just a good thing to do!

Weltjugendtad Koln 2005!

2005-08-15T08:11:00.000-05:00

Today marks the beginning of World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. Today pilgrims will begin to arrive for a week-long festival of activities.

If you sound out phonetically the German word Koln, you will notice that it sounds just like the English word "Cologne." My lovely wife (of German ancestry) pointed this out to me. Indeed it's true, sometimes I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

In any regard, there is TONS of great info about World Youth Day at Amy Welborn's site, give it a look here.

Expect a bonus entry later today regarding the other important event commemorated today.

What's in a name?

2005-08-14T12:26:00.000-05:00

Rev. Mr. Chris

The title of this blog is a nod to two (or would it be three?) converging presences in my life:

My two older brothers, Rick & Larry gave me the nick-name "Mr. Chris" many years ago.
The honorific for a deacon is "Rev. Mr. ___________"

So, upon completing my diaconate formation and receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders, my family and close friends simply extended the nick-name to "Rev. Mr. Chris."

Here's my favorite photo of the day I went from Mr. Chris to Rev. Mr. Chris:

What's in an address?

2005-08-14T11:27:00.000-05:00

DIACONIA - as in the url address - http://diaconia.blogspot.com/

The web address of my blog reflects the fact that this particular blog is about my life viewed through the prism of being a deacon. A deacon is someone you are, not the functions that you do.

Diaconia - is a Greek word that means "servant." The diaconate is the first grade of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. It describes the order of clergy that give themselves over to the service of word, sacrament, and charity.

These particular ministries are expressed in complementary ways:

Word - deacons proclaim the Gospel in the their everyday lives, as well as proclaim the Gospel during the liturgy, and sometimes give the homily.
Sacrament - deacons are the custodians of the tabernacle and distribute Holy Communion during the Eucharist, as well as taking Christ to the infirm and homebound. They may also baptize, witness marriages and preside at funerals and grave-side services.
Charity - deacons work to assist and care for the marginalized in our society, especially the poor and disadvantaged. This is evidenced in scripture by the earliest deacons (cf. Acts 6:1-6)

Incidentally, the sacrament of Holy Orders is one sacrament given in three grades to personify three expressions of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Servant - deacons are configured to the servant Christ who came not to be served, but to serve and offer his life as a ransom for many.
Sacrifice - priests (presbyters) offer sacrifice as Christ the High Priest in administering the sacraments of his Church.
Shepherd - bishops tend the flock by teaching and governing as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

In the final analysis, diaconia is about loving others in humility.

All beginnings are difficult . . .

2005-08-13T11:20:00.000-05:00

Today's title entry is from the Midrash - a collection of rabbinical teaching and commentary on a given book or topic of Scripture.

I've chosen that title because this is the inaugural post of my first blog.

I've decided to begin a blog for two reasons:

I enjoy reading blogs myself
It strikes me as an effective way to paint musings, reflections and questions on an electronic canvas for others to see as well.

I have interest in lots of things, which are likely to be revealed over time on these pages.

Welcome to all - and thanks for visiting!