The Pope on Hope

As usual, Rocco has the news still warm from the press! Check Whispers for the text of the Pope's new encyclical letter on hope.

Calling the comfort of the Lord upon the sick...

Rowan Williams is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church. His video message for World Aids Day (December 1) has much to offer to all peoples of good faith and in particular to all who share faith in Christ.

Pope Benedict has also called us to join in prayer on December 1 for a cure for this disease and for all who suffer with it: "This coming December 1 marks World AIDS Day. I wish greatly that this occasion promotes an increased responsibility for the care of this illness, together with the pledge of avoiding each instance of discrimination toward the many stricken with it. Calling the comfort of the Lord upon the sick and their families, I encourage the many initiatives that the Church maintains in this area."

The Lord is my light and my help...

Image by Danny Burk

Today is the last of our series of reflections and prayer for November, the Month of All Souls. I hope and pray these posts have been helpful. Today I offer you Psalm 27, a text suggested for prayer in the Order of Christian Funerals. It gives voice to the desire of all souls, living and dead, to live forever in the embrace of God's mercy and peace...

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord
in the land of the living.
The Lord is my light and my help; whom hall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I cower?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life,
to savor the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.
O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hid not your face from me.
I am sure I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living.
Hope in the Lord, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!

Pray this psalm for the souls of all the faithful departed - and for yourself. The hope of all is the same and God's promise is the same for all.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord:
And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.
Amen.

May all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

View from your window: Carmichael, CA

FYI: That's Kermit at his West Coast window.

What's the view from your window? Share it with us and the name of your home town and state by sending it along to FrAustinFleming(at)aol(dot)com.

The suffering face of Christ

Thanks to Rocco at Whispers for drawing our attention to a pastoral letter from Bishop Edward Slattery of the Tulsa, OK diocese. Here you'll find Rocco's post and a link to the full text of the bishop's strong letter titled, The Suffering Faces of the Poor Are the Suffering Face of Christ.

Illustrating the moral issues involved, the bishop points to the arrival of law enforcement personnel at a diocesan parish before a mid-November weekend Mass. The police, he said, "knew that Hispanic Catholics trust the church and come to Mass, even when they would not otherwise venture out of their homes for fear of deportation. That makes a Catholic church an easy place to ‘round up’ illegals, so arriving before the 5:30 Spanish Mass, they began to ask the members of the faithful for their papers as they came to offer Christ’s sacrifice. Such intolerable excesses may force the church to go underground, but we somehow will find a way to continue offering the Mass and the Sacraments to our people - for their salvation as well as our own!"

P.S. Rocco also has an interesting post on a piece of former archdiocesan property.

The History of Advent

The following history gives you a concise view of how the season of Advent developed in the life and history of the Church.

In 490, Bishop Perpetuus of Tours officially declared Advent a penitential season in the Frankish Church of Western Europe, ordering a fast on three days of every week from November 11 (the feast of St. Martin of Tours) till Christmas. This forty days' fast, similar to Lent, was originally called Quadragesima Sancti Martini (Forty Days' Fast of Saint Martin's) - or - St. Martin's Lent. The readings for the Masses in this season were taken from the liturgies of Lent.

By contrast, the Advent season of the Roman liturgy, developing a century after that of the Frankish Church, was a non-penitential, festive and joyful time of preparation for Christmas. When the Church unified the liturgical season, the non-penitential nature of the Roman Advent conflicted with the longer and penitential Gallic Advent. By the thirteenth century a compromise was reached, which combined the fasting and penitential character of the Gallic observance with the Mass texts and shorter four-week cycle of the Roman Advent liturgy. The liturgy of Advent remained substantially unaltered until Vatican II mandated a few minor changes to more clearly delineate the spirit of the Lenten and Advent seasons.

Jennifer Gregory Miller Jennifer G. Miller

- Jennifer Gregory Miller

November 29 in the Month of All Souls

Among all the souls we pray for this month there are the priests who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. I invite you to take a moment today to pray for the priests who have served you and who have gone to eternity with the great High Priest, Christ Jesus the Lord. This is a prayer for a priest's funeral taken from the Order of Christian Funerals.

Lord God,
you chose our brother (name)
to serve your people as a priest
and to share the joys and burdens of their lives.

Look with mercy on him
and give him the reward of his labors,
the fullness of life promised to those
who preach your holy Gospel.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

World Aids Day: December 1

Benedict XVI Urges More Effort to Stop AIDS

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is appealing to all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to combat "the disdain" he says is often directed toward those with the disease.

The Pope made this appeal at the end of today's (Thursday) general audience, which was held in Paul VI Hall. He noted that Saturday, December 1, is World AIDS Day.

"I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one," the Holy Father said. "To everyone I give assurances of my prayers. Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children."

New Year's Resolution!

The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new year of grace on the church calendar. That puts us, liturgically, on the eve of a new year - and a resolution might be in order!

Unless you're visiting here for the first time, you've read these words over and over again: one of the best ways to prepare for Sunday Mass is to ponder and pray over the scriptures for that day. This Sunday's scriptures can be found here and background material on the same texts is available here.

Repeat after me: For the new year of grace, I resolve to prepare for Mass by reading and studying the scriptures ahead of time!

Happy New Year!

Archdiocese of Boston and Financial Transparency

Writing in today's Boston Globe (11/28/07), Thomas J. Healey, treasurer of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management gives the Archdiocese of Boston high marks for its programmed efforts at financial transparency.

When the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston advanced the cause of financial transparency last year by releasing volumes of once-tightly kept information, it was an extraordinary step for the entire US Catholic Church. At the same time it was facing up to its own mounting fiscal problems brought on by the sexual abuse crisis, the archdiocese was sending a signal to the rest of the church that a new era is dawning in terms of responsible financial stewardship and accountability...

If there's a silver lining in all this, it's that financial distress is opening the door to uncommon opportunities for those dioceses and parishes willing to improve management of their temporal affairs. This means embracing the principles of not just financial transparency, but of effective long-range planning, enlightened fund-raising, personnel empowerment, and diocesan-wide economies of scale.

No better example exists than the Financial Transparency Project of the Archdiocese of Boston, singled out last year by the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management for its inaugural Best Practices Award.

Determined to put an end to the secrecy of the past, the archdiocese made an unprecedented commitment to openness, including the release of comprehensive financial statements and sexual abuse settlement information, and a look inside the organization of the archdiocese. The Financial Transparency Project delivered on that commitment, and its groundbreaking work can be seen online (www.rcab.org) in the form of a full disclosure report on the financial condition of the Archdiocese of Boston. One of the tools used for this objective review is a management discussion and analysis, the same reporting vehicle used in 10K reports for public companies...

(Read the complete article here)

- Thomas J. Healey, a retired partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co., is a senior fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and treasurer of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management.

There's a patron saint for everything!

So, right after I post the piece below I realize that today's saint is the patron of pawn shops - just too good to pass up! Take a look at Saint of the Day under LINKS on the sidebar.

Oh, the days dwindle down...

I hope you have found the series of reflections for the Month of All Souls helpful. I know that it has been helpful for me as I have worked on it. In just two days November becomes December and a new Year of Grace begins on the First Sunday of Advent, December 2. I'm looking forward to offering a daily Advent post and hope you'll join me here in preparation for the celebration of Christmas.

Have you become accustomed to checking the Saint of the Day under LINKS on the sidebar? As you may have noticed, I've moved away from a daily reminder leading you to the day's saint. In the future I'll draw your attention there on special occasions but for the most part you'll need to check it out on your own.

November 28 in the Month of All Souls

Source for angel image

The death of a child is always tragic and is the source of a grief unlike any other.

The Order of Christian Funerals has a number of prayers for when a child or young person passes from this life to life forever with God. Certainly, as these prayers teach, the young who die in their innocence are in the peace of God's loving embrace. As you pray these texts, remember all who have lost a child...

Eternal Father,
through the intercession of Mary who bore your son
and stood by the cross as he died,
grant to these parents in their grief the assistance of her presence,
the comfort of her faith,
and the reward of her prayers.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Lord God, from whom human sadness is never hidden,
you know the burden of grief that we feel at the loss of this child.
As we mourn his/her passing from this life,
comfort us with the knowledge
that (name) lives now in your loving embrace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


(for a stillborn child)
Lord God, ever caring and gentle,
we commit to your love this little one,
quickened to life for so short a time.
Enfold him/her in eternal life.
We pray for his/her parents
who are saddened by the loss of their child.
Give them courage and help them in their pain and grief.
May they all meet one day in the joy and peace of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Homily for November 25

Homily for Solemnity of Christ the King
2 Samuel 5:1-3
1 Corinthians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

Last weekend at the 5:00 Mass on Saturday evening
and at the 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 Masses on Sunday morning,
I stood right here before the altar for the closing song
which, you may remember, was
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King…

So four times last weekend I sang those words with you
and looked up at the crucifix hanging over our prayer
and I thought, I prayed, “This is my king…”

That stayed with me during the week
and I remembered a book I read a number of years ago,
titled, simply, Silence and written by Shusaku Endo.
It’s the story of 16th and 17th century Catholic missionaries to Japan
and the persecution they and other Christians suffered for their faith.
Authorities would present those suspected of being Christian
with a fumie, Japanese for step-on picture.



The fumie was an image of Christ crucified, or of his Blessed Mother.
Suspected believers would be asked to trample or spit on the image
and if they refused, as many did, they would be tortured
and some were even put to death.
Silence tells the story of a priest who met and then failed the challenge
and how he lived with the consequences of his choices.

Such practices seem may seem archaic to us – impossible to imagine.
Would anyone suffer physical torment
rather than step on an image?
Would anyone have such faith?

But Christians have suffered and died on account of their faith in a King
who suffered and died for them.
Our faith in Christ is still challenged today
but the terms of the challenge are more subtle
and our avoidance of the challenge is equally discreet.

The challenge today is not an invitation
to desecrate a sacred image – that’s too obvious.
The challenge today is, rather,
an invitation to deny the sacredness of anything except myself,
relativizing faith to the degree that I expect it to serve me, not I it.

Of course, we’re not all just selfish louts!
A spouse might say, “I would die for my beloved”
or a parent might say, “I would lay down my life for my child.”
The soldier says, “I will put my life on the line for my country.”
And such selfless love is sacrifice of a very high order.
But such sacrifice is offered by the lover for the beloved,
for one in whom I am deeply invested.

The question posed by Christ’s kingship is this:
Am I a lover who names God as my beloved?
Is my love for God such that I would suffer, even die
for my faith in Jesus who has already suffered and died for me?

The difficult part here is that Jesus, our King,
has set such a high standard.
Ours is a King who makes himself subject to his subjects:
he whom we should serve - has served us first.

The world we live in, the culture we eat and drink and breathe,
tells us that the faith I speak of here is foolish
and invites us to disdain, dismiss – even trample on it.

The seasonal question, then, is not so much:
“Should a nativity scene be placed on city property?”
That question is only a distraction.
The greater issue at stake is that to a large degree
we continually trample on the birthday of our King,
buying and selling it a thousand times over
under the guise of believing that somehow
conspicuous consumerism could be a decent way
to celebrate the birth, the coming of our King, among us.

Every year, just before Advent and Christmas
we celebrate the kingship of the one who laid down his life for us.
It is good that we remember even ahead of time
that the baby of Bethlehem would trade the wood of a manger
for the wood of the Cross - out of love for us.
His kingship calls us to examine the trades we make in his name
and whether those trades honor or trample on his love and our faith.

A simple holy “trade” is made at this table, too.
At this altar we bring bread and wine and prayer
and in return we receive the life our King gave for us
in the royal feast of the Eucharist.

Our beloved King has offered himself for us.
What will we offer him and each other in return?

-ConcordPastor

View from your window: Taos, NM

Chili Ristra season in Taos

November 27 in the Month of All Souls

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who are left until the coming of the Lord will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

St. Paul writes here to a community expecting the imminent return of Christ. Well, we're still waiting! But the truth of these words remains.

As you can see, Paul speaks of death as "falling asleep," so sure was his faith and hope that those who had died would indeed wake to the glory of God at Christ's return.

Paul also reminds his readers that they need not grieve like those who have no hope... He doesn't deny the grief that loss brings but he wants to be clear that the grief of believers is not without hope - that one day we shall see again those who have died and we will enjoy their love when the mercy of God gathers us together again in the joy of his kingdom.

Paul's imagery for the second coming of Christ includes a word of command, an angel's voice and God's own trumpet! More important than these special effects is the promise that the Lord will indeed come down and the dead and the living shall be taken up to heaven.

For all who have died, who have fallen asleep, let us pray to the Lord...

View from your window - Georgetown, CO

I knew it!

I knew that among the folks who have tallied up 9,000+ visits here that at least ONE of them had a window AND a camera AND would send in the third View from Your Window - the first two being mine and mine.

And a beautiful view it is...

Got a window? Got a camera? GO to the window, TAKE the picture and SEND it to me! (Please include your home town and state so we'll know where we we're viewing.)

Thanks, Georgetown!

November 26 in the Month of All Souls

The Assumption of Bertha Huber
See this previous post for information on this painting.
For a slightly larger version, click on the image.

At the end of the funeral Mass, at the Final Commendation, we sing The Song of Farewell. There are several musical settings for this text but the one I find the most comforting is the composition by Ernest Sands with these lyrics:

May the choirs of angels come to greet you.
May they speed you to paradise.
May the Lord enfold you in his mercy.
May you find eternal life...

These words remind me of one of the opening prayers for the Funeral Mass:

O God, to whom mercy and forgiveness belong...
command that (name) be carried safely home to heaven
and come to enjoy your eternal reward.

Who better to carry us home to heaven than the angels of the Lord himself?

Pray these words today for all who have died and for those dearest to you...

Dangerous toy!

This toy isn't dangerous on account of small parts that might be swallowed. This toy meets all safety standards for lead. But this toy is dangerous in other ways - as I've highlighted in red in the text below. Aware that many full-grown, gainfully employed adults have trouble with "balancing" the impact of ATM's in their lives, do we really expect that children will learn the lesson by having their PIN, Card and ATM in their own rooms? Pray that Santa won't bring this toy to your house!

If you see ads for other "dangerous" toys - let me know and I'll post a warning here.


The Children's Touchscreen ATM Bank.
This is the electronic touchscreen bank teller machine that helps children learn money management as they maintain a savings account up to $999.99. The machine accepts real coin and bill deposits and gives up-to-date account information on its screen. Young depositors interact with the tellers backlit touchscreen using either their fingers or the included stylus, and have their own ATM card and PIN for checking account balance, making deposits, or withdrawing funds. Includes 3 AA batteries. Ages 8 and up. The manufacturer has confirmed that this item meets all U.S. Federal toy safety standards, including safety standards for lead. 13 1/2" H x 9 1/4" W x 6" D. (10 lbs.) $69.95

Text of Cardinal Ouelett's apology

Photo: Francis Vachon for CanWest News Service

The following is the full text of Cardinal Marc Ouellet's letter to the Catholics of Quebec as reported in the National Post.

See an earlier post on this topic.

---

Open letter to the Catholics of Quebec:

Following my intervention at the Bouchard-Taylor commission, your comments have been many and varied. I have read all of them with great care, whether they came in the mail or through the media. I thank you for the messages of support, I also thank you for the criticism which has made me reflect and prompted this open letter, which seeks to deepen reflection, dispel misunderstandings and promote dialogue in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.

In response to my analysis of the Quebecois malaise I have heard “finally, it’s about time!” as well as “what a step backward!” Let’s be clear. I am not asking for Quebec society to go back to 1950. From a sociological and cultural point of view, pluralism and secularism have made their home in Quebec and we must be proud of the gains made in the areas of the economy, health, culture, social services, education, politics and dynamism of Quebec society. Quebec has an enviable living standard, a culture of liberty and tolerance, an openness to immigration and a load of talent in arts and culture. But a fact remains: its search for spirituality is languishing. Perhaps was it impeded by the excessive authority of the Church? Or perhaps has it not received the education necessary to its needs? The spiritual void which I have mentioned is the fruit of the spirit of the world which, by wanting to eliminate God, suggests, in a thousand ways, that we become our own God.

Reluctance to procreate, to spawn life, compromises Quebec’s future, and its youth seeks role-models which are cruelly lacking. We need a serious dialogue on values and our Christian stance to once again give faith and hope to Quebec’s soul.

The Catholic Church has no lack of exemplary figures who have marked our society’s history. Secular people, men and women, religious people, left behind memorable traces, a precious heritage in the fields of health, education and evangelism. Pope John Paul II canonized and beatified 14 of these figures during his pontificate. But, unfortunately, they are too little known.

Much more attention is given to the church’s negative side than to its contribution to active Quebec history and culture. A just and enlightened exam of our past would help, I think, recognize our limits but also nourish Quebecers’ pride and confidence in their future.

Inspired by the gesture of John Paul II in March of 2000, of which I have born witness, I am inviting Catholics to perform an act of repentance and reconciliation. Quebec society drags a wounded history whose bad memories block access to the sources of its soul and religious identity. The time has come to take stock and make a new start. Errors were committed which have tarnished the image of the church and for which we must humbly ask for forgiveness. I am inviting pastors and the faithful to help me seek the manner with which to recognize our mistakes and deficiencies, so as to help our society reconcile with its Christian past.

As Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, I recognize that the narrow attitudes of certain Catholics, prior to 1960, favoured anti-Semitism, racism, indifference toward First Nations and discrimination against women and homosexuals. The behaviour of Catholics and certain episcopal authorities with regards to the right to vote, access to work and promotion of women, hasn’t always been up to par with society’s needs or conformed to the social doctrine of the church.

I also recognize that abuses of power and cover-ups have, for many, tarnished the image of the clergy and its moral authority: mothers have been rebuffed by priests without concern for their family obligations; youngsters were subject to sexual aggression by priests and religious figures, causing great injury and traumatism which have broken their lives! These scandals have shaken popular confidence toward religious authorities and we understand this! Forgive us for all this pain!

The period of Lent in 2008, in preparation for the international eucharistic congress in Quebec City, will give us the opportunity to make a public display of repentance, basing ourselves on God’s gift to the world of life through the Eucharist. Other initiatives will follow to facilitate dialogue and heal memory.
May this search for peace and reconciliation, made in all sincerity, help Quebec more serenely remember its christian and missionary identity, which has given it an enviable place on the international scene.

As pastor of a mainly Catholic people, you will understand that the handing down of our cultural and religious heritage is close to my heart. That is why I reiterate my support to parents who have the right to receive a religious instruction at school true to their convictions. I therefore join them in asking the State to respect the Quebec tradition of handing down religious teachings at school, not necessarily BY the school, and allow churches and recognised religious groups to teach confessional courses, conceived and paid for by them. And in the name of everyone’s religious liberty, state ethics and religious culture courses should be.

We are proud to be Quebecers and we do not want to lose our means to pass down the deep values of our religious heritage. Our Judaeo-christian tradition has made of us a solidarity-minded and charitable people, we know how to help each other and are able to forgive with the help of God. In order to once again fully believe in ourselves and become confident in our future, let us find roads to reconciliation and offer our compatriots a real dialogue on spiritual and religious values which have shaped Quebec identity. In a way, isn’t it about, today as it was yesterday, simply living the gospel?

-Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet

23 New red hats: 1 is round

Photo: Reuters

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a liturgy that emphasized the church's cultural diversity and its unity of mission, Pope Benedict XVI created 23 new cardinals from 14 countries.

The group included U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, and Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston...

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

The full report is here.

Of particular interest is the story of (round hat!) Cardinal Emmanuel Delly of Bagdad found here and a related story here.

Who said that? When?

Andrew Sullivan over at The Daily Dish offers some interesting quotes supplied by one of his readers. Source for the quotes is at the bottom of this post.

“If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”

“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”

“War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.”

“Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.”

- James Madison: Father of the Constitution of the United States of America

Word for the Week of November 25

A coin from the time of Jesus, thought to be the kind of coin the widow offered at the temple.

This scripture from Luke offers good counsel for us as we face the next month and try to balance what we spend on gifts for those who often need nothing and what we give to the poor who often need everything.

Maybe there's a little Grinch in me...

So I went out for a bite to eat last night to a restaurant which was delightfully free of any Christmas or seasonal decorations of any kind. But then, in the middle of my Caesar salad, I became uncomfortably aware of the muzak and realized it was Frank Sinatra singing:

Oh, by gosh, by golly
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents
Countrysides covered with snow...

By the time my entrée arrived, I heard Johnny Mathis singing, The Christmas Song:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
and folks dressed up like Eskimos...

Please don't tell me I'm fortunate that last night was the first time I heard these tunes this year. I'm going to be hearing them over and over again for the next 30 days. And it's not just the repetition of worn out songs that gets to me. A lot of this music hits a place in me that is, well, less than holly-jolly. The older I get the more I observe how the cultural and commercial avalanche of "the holidays" has a strong tendency to stir up just the opposite of things merry, bright, and happy. So many people find this time of the year to be lonely and depressing. How came Christ's birthday to occasion this kind of response?

The expectations of joy-buoyed spirits at this time year far exceed anything most of us will ever muster through shopping, wrapping and partying. For many, inner peace is difficult enough to find at any time, let alone by mid-December and on schedule! I've sometimes wondered what would happen if the Church transferred the liturgical date of Christmas to August 25. That means that Advent would begin in late July. And of course, in terms of weather, that's just the kind of seasonal ambiance those below the equator experience. The world of commerce could still have their November-December splurge. After all, the market place only celebrates some vague "holiday" - Christmas is hardly mentioned.

Of course that's not going to happen. So my second fantasy is to transfer the date of Christmas to the last Sunday in December - every year. No more Christmas Mass schedules bumping up against Advent IV and creating a marathon that makes Santa's annual sleigh ride look easy.

...I think I've wondered off-topic. Forgive me. That's what that muzak does to me: a lot of the holly-jolly tunes stuff leave me feeling a little blue - and I know I'm not alone in that.

Just helps sometimes to get it off your chest. Thanks for listening!

117 martyrs - from where?

(Click on the image for a larger version)

As pictured above, today's saint was martyred with 116 others of whom 96 were Vientamese, 11 Spaniards, and 10 French. Of these 8 were bishops, 50 priests, and 59 lay men and women. They were martyred over the course of a few years and were canonied together in 1988.

Sometimes we think that it was only in ancient times that believers laid down their lives as martyrs for the name of Jesus but today's saint -and his 116 friends - tell a different story. For a story of great courage and faith, click on Saint of the Day under LINKS on the sidebar.

It is said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of faith. To see how the seed planted by those whom we honor today bloomed, read this story of an heir to Vietnam's faithful believers.

November 23 in the Month of All Souls

When I was a child, I remember being at a funeral at St. Thomas Church in Peabody, MA and going to the cemetery for the burial afterwards. I don't remember who had died but I remember that at the grave there was a short dialog between the priest and those gathered there. It seemed that everyone knew just what to say in response - except me. This was in the days when the whole Mass was in Latin and this dialog, in English, drew my attention. I recall that on the way home from the cemetery I asked my father about what I had heard and his trying to teach me the response. That little dialog is still part of the committal rite in the Order of Christian Funerals but only our most senior brothers and sisters seem to be familiar with it.

So, I'm offering it today for your consideration - and your prayer as you remember in November those who have died. If I recall correctly, it wasn't unusual, back in the day, for the people to join the priest in the last part of this back and forth, even though that line is his in the book.

Minister: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
All: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

Minister: May he/she rest in peace.
All: Amen.

Minister: May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
All: Amen.

I wonder how many readers here remember this prayer? How many have never heard it?

Please pray it today for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

Stone Temple Pilots?

Image: Crucified Christ on Throne/Cover of Plush/Stone Temple Pilots

Have you been working on your homework for this weekend's liturgy?

The scriptures for this Sunday can be found here and some background material on the texts and the day's liturgy can be found here.

The image above is the cover of Stone Temple Pilot's album, Plush. It pictures a crucified Christ superimposed on a royal throne - a good image of this Sunday's feast and its gospel (check out the readings to make the connection!) A large, framed version of this album cover will be in the Gathering Room at church this weekend.

(A larger than poster-size copy of the image above will be found in the Gathering Room this weekend for the Solemnity of Christ the King.)

Survey Says...

Image: RoadsideAmerica

So you thought someone in your family was the World's Largest Turkey? Think again and check this out!

Here's a little survey for after Thanksgiving Day!

1) On Thanksgiving Day, I had dinner
a) at home
b) at the home of family or friends
d) at a restaurant
5) at MacDonald's*

2) To get to dinner on Thanksgiving Day
a) I walked
b) I drove
c) I flew
d) I skateboarded

3) The turkey was
a) fresh kill
b) frozen
c) tofu

4) The cranberry sauce was
a) jellied
b) the other, awful, lumpy kind
c) never touch the stuff!

5) Minced meat is
a) meat of unknown origin
b) food of unknown origin
c) not fit for human consumption

6) The stuffing in the turkey was
a) secret-family-recipe-awesome
b) standard bread stuffing
c) Stove Top

7) My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is
a) apple pie
b) pumpkin pie
c) mince meat pie
d) 20 y.o. Tawny Port
(Hey, it's my blog - I get to make up the choices!

8) I had Thanksgiving Day dinner at
a) one house
b) two houses
c) three houses
d) four houses
e) I plead the fifth (amendment, that is - not five houses!)

9) At Thanksgiving Day dinner
a) we prayed before we ate
b) we couldn't get anyone to lead the prayer
c) we forgot to pray
d) we prayed to stop eating

10) Apart from praying at the dinner table
a) I thanked God personally today for all I have
b) I forgot to thank God personally today for all I have
c) as son as I finish this survey, I'll thank God personally for all I have!

*Trick Question! MacDonald's is closed on Thanksgiving!

-ConcordPastor

What I give thanks for...

Thanksgiving by Norman Rockwell

Today I thank God
for the gift of faith,
that strength, power and source within
showing me the way,
guiding me in the dark,
making sure my unsteady step,
giving light for me to find the truth
and hope when all seems lost...

Today I thank God
for the gift of the Church,
that wounded,rag-tag, joyful company
of sinners and saints
whose faith (see above)
binds us together
and binds us to God...

Today I thank God
for all the people
around, behind and before me;
the people who gave me life,
shaped my life,
bring me joy for today
and hope for tomorrow...

Today I thank God
for the simple tools
I have for doing his work:
words, wonder, wit, witness and wisdom-
definitely in that order!

Today I thank God for you!
Aliased or named, anonymous or silent:
you are solidly one half of an enterprise
that brings me more joy than you know.
For being there, for reading, for commenting,
for coming back again and again:
Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day in the Month of All Souls

Image: Cynthia Pinckney Ministries

For many reasons, the holidays are a difficult time for many people.

For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, Thanksgiving and Christmas (especially the "first" of each) can be particularly hard to experience. Nothing can make these moments easy but prayer can offer a path to walk through these days with greater peace and even opportunities for healing.

I'm posting this prayer a week before Thanksgiving because it might help to sit with it for a while, to pray it over several days.

Some might find it helpful to use a prayer like this as the blessing before Thanksgiving Day dinner. Others might find it helpful to pray it alone, or to share copies of it with other family members and friends.

The Lord was a man well acquainted with grief: no stranger was he to a broken heart. He is with us in our pain as surely as he is with those whom he has welcomed to his arms of peace.

In those same everlasting arms he gathers us this Thanksgiving...


Dear God,

There is an empty chair at our table,
an ache in our hearts
and tears on our faces.

We may try to shield one another
from the grief we bear
but we cannot hide it from you.

We pray for (names)
whose presence we miss 
in these homecoming days.

Open our eyes and our hearts
to the healing and warmth
of the light of your presence.

Assure us, Lord, that those we miss
have a place at your table
and a home in your heart
as well as in ours.

Open our hearts to joyful memories 
of the love we shared
with those who have gone before us.

Help us tell the stories
that make the past present
and bring us close to those we miss.

Teach us to lean on each other
and on you, Lord,
for the strength we need 
to walk through difficult times.

Give us quiet moments
with you, with our thoughts,
with our memories and prayers.

Be with us, Lord,
and hold us in your arms
even as you hold those whom we miss.

This is the day you have made, Lord:
help us to rejoice in it
and in the promise of your peace.

Amen.

(Links to prayers and reflections for the month of November)


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Thanksgiving201

Another Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Saying Grace - Norman Rockwell

O good God!

Make us grateful for all you have given us;
let our needs not blind us to all we have.

Make us grateful for those who love us;
let no jealousy separate us from hearts who hold us.

Make us grateful for those who are with us;
let no grief isolate us from their loving embrace.

Make us grateful for the good work we have done;
let our failures not hide your grace within us.

Make us grateful for the freedom we enjoy;
let no burden keep us down.

Make us grateful for the peace you give;
let no victory take its place.

Make us grateful for our dreams;
let no disappointment keep us from hope.

Make us grateful for our faith in you;
let no doubt keep us from your love.

Give us grateful hearts, O God,
to praise and thank you
in good times and in bad,
in sickness and in health,
in joy and in sorrow.

This is the day you have made, O Lord:
let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Amen.

Patron Saint of Music Makers

St. Cecilia by John Melhuish Strudwick (1849 - 1935)

Most of the stories of the saint on today's liturgical calendar are legends enjoying scant historical foundation but still held with great affection in the hearts of believers. You can read some of those legends by clicking on Saint of the Day in the LINKS section of the sidebar or by reading here. (True or not-so-true, these are great stories! I'm especially hopeful that today's saint DID convert some 400 people to the Christian faith by her preaching!

Today is a day to be grateful for those who lead us in sung prayer in so many ways in the liturgy. Find a moment between now and the weekend to thank your parish Music Director, your parish organist and pianist, your cantors, your choir members, instrumentalists and don't forget the greatest choir of all: the people of God assembled to offer praise and thanks to the Father, through the Son in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

It seems only right and just that this post should have a musical element! Here's a video of the last two minutes of the Purcell's Ode to St. Cecilia. Benito Jaurez is conducting the Coral Universidade de São Paulo. (I would like to have provided more, but this is all I could find on the Internet.)



ConcordPastor

The challenge of being a young disciple

A few of Holy Family's young disciples with a truckful of turkeys for those in need

You would have to dig pretty deep to discover that the US Bishops at the November meeting published a statement directed to Catholic teenagers. But they did - and you may read it below. In particular the bishops call on our youth to share their time, talent, treasure and tradition. I'm pleased that the young people in our parish deserve high marks in many of these areas. I wonder where they might find room for improvement in their life in and outside of our parish? Good question for me to bring to your Youth Minister, Youth Council and Youth Steering Committee! Here's the document:

Stewardship and Teenagers
The Challenge of Being a Disciple

“My appeal to you today, young people . . . is this: do not waste
your youth. Do not seek to escape from it. Live it intensely. . . .
You, young people, are not just the future of the Church and of
humanity, as if we could somehow run away from the present. . . .
The Church needs you, as young people, to manifest to the world
the face of Jesus Christ, visible in the Christian community.
Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured.”
(Pope Benedict XVI to Youth in Brazil)

When your parish priests light the Paschal Candle before entering church for the Easter Vigil ceremony in the Latin Rite, they trace symbols on the candle and say these words: “Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega; all time belongs to him, and all the ages. To him be glory and power through every age for ever. Amen."

Everything in the universe belongs to Jesus Christ—everything and everyone. Do all my time, all my talents, everything I have and am, belong to Jesus? Yes, they do! Do you and I believe that? Hopefully, yes! But what does it mean to live as though we believe that everything we have and all that we are belongs to Jesus Christ? It means loving Jesus as my brother and my savior, my best friend and my God. It means living our faith fully. It means sharing it freely as disciples of Jesus Christ by living out the Gospel value of stewardship. It means walking a mile in the other person’s shoes.

Living out the Gospel value of stewardship as a disciple means sharing your time, talents, and treasures. Why? Because everything you have to share is from God, and it is all meant for sharing. Being a disciple means sharing without counting the cost. Being a disciple means sharing even when we least feel like it, when we least can afford to do it, and when the person in need of our gift is the last person we wish to serve!

Stewardship is born of love. Think of that person you love the most or who loves you the most. Know that the love of God for you is so much more than the greatest love you have ever felt or known! The love of God is without end, and through following Christ, you have the benefit of the role model of sacrifice for the greater good. Jesus Christ is the perfect model of self-giving and loving service. Jesus himself gave us his Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is always there to show you God’s love and goodness. In Baptism you were called to the common priesthood of Jesus Christ—showing Christ’s presence in the world; you were called to be a prophet—speaking the truth courageously; and you were called to the kingly role of serving others lovingly. In Confirmation or Chrismation, you receive the power to live this call by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Eucharist sustains you and gives you the strength to respond to this call even when you don’t feel like responding!

Being a disciple, living out stewardship, cannot be done alone or without guidance. Jesus is your best friend and guide in this venture. You wouldn’t go very long without talking to your best friend or spending time together. So it is with Jesus. Build a personal relationship with him through daily prayer and weekly participation in Mass or Divine Liturgy. Choose a time every day for prayer, by yourself or perhaps in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Find the time that seems most sacred for you, and take that time to spend alone with God. Thank him and give him praise. Then ask his blessing on others. Tell him about your day with its joys and struggles; humbly share with him those times you have used your gifts for the good of others; ask his forgiveness when you have failed to do so. Go to confession on a regular basis, drawing upon the graces offered through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If possible, attend the Eucharist more than once a week. Trust us! God is always there, waiting to hear from you and wanting you to know of his unconditional love for you. Recall the words of Pope John Paul II of beloved memory, “Never forget that Jesus in the tabernacle wants you to be at his side, so that he can fill your hearts with the experience of his friendship, which alone gives meaning and fulfillment to your lives” (Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine, no. 30).

Use the Scriptures for guidance as to the ways you are called to live your life. Find stories and passages in the Bible that have meaning for you, and return to them regularly. Read about the Church’s wonderful tradition of social teaching and her powerful respect for all of life, especially the life of the unborn. Confide in trusted adults who can offer their wisdom and experience to you.

God has given you many gifts. Look around at the people in your life; think about themany opportunities you have been given; rejoice in the ways you are already using your talents for the betterment of the Church and your community. These are all gifts, and they are all from God. God has also given you the gift of faith and the Church to nurture that faith.

Stewardship is about acting for others. Discipleship is about doing for others and not counting the cost. Even the smallest act of kindness can bring joy and relief to another. You are in a unique position to reach out to your peers and share with them the unconditional love of God. Seize every opportunity to show them God’s love through your random acts of kindness: an encouraging word, a pat on the back, a helpful hand.

• Share Your Time—Visit people who are alone, especially those who are isolated dueto age or sickness. Teach what you know to a neighbor or younger sibling. Be present with the people in your life, especially your family. Offer to help. Practice saying “yes.”

• Share Your Talents—No one else can do exactly what you do. Whether singing,
cooking, drawing, or playing sports, your talents are for sharing with others. When
used generously, the good they provide is immeasurable! Seek opportunities to
participate in your parish or faith community as a greeter, altar server, lector,
extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, or assistant in the religious education
program.

• Share Your Treasure—The cost of a movie ticket or a pizza can help to prevent achildhood disease or build a house for someone with nowhere to live. Part of your
allowance or paycheck can help your parish provide more services for its community. Decide to give a certain percentage of money at your parish each week. As you live with this decision, you will grow into a lifelong habit of generosity.

• Share Your Tradition—Embrace the rites and sacraments of the Church as beautiful gifts of God, to be appreciated, loved, and shared. Invite a friend to come to Mass or Divine Liturgy with you. Pray for others, both people in your life and those in need throughout the world. Consider what plans God has for you. Whatever his call, it will require the ultimate gift of yourself—through marriage and family, or through the priesthood or consecrated life.

It is possible to live in imitation of Christ. Young and old alike, we all struggle daily to be true to who God calls us to be. The Church, especially through her sacraments, is there to nourish and guide you. It is a day-by-day journey, and the way may not always be clear. Daily prayer and weekly attendance at the Eucharist will be a tremendous help in enabling you to find your way.

The Church is grateful for your presence, our young Church, and we thank you for the gifts of energy, idealism and zeal that you share with us. As always, we encourage you to search your heart and discover ways in which you can make a difference. We thank you for your honesty as you call us to do more! This call to living out the Gospel value of stewardship is the call for all of us to do more, to be more, to love more!

Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have called us to be a Church for young people . . . a Church that is not afraid to require much, after having given much; that does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure, such as that of following Christ. We, your bishops, are asking: Come join us in the adventure!

Stewardship and Teenagers was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved for publication by the full body of bishops at its November 2007 General Meeting, authorized for publication and copyrighted by the USCCB.