Buddhists, Jews, Zionists and us Catholics

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

Buddhists, Jews, Zionists and us Catholics.

 When we learn from other religions, I think it strengthens our faith. When I made a two-week Buddhist retreat in Japan, I learned of their appreciation of nature, the treasure of a meditation garden and the desire to be one with the Supreme Being. But I saw no Buddhist orphanages, hospitals or facilities for caring for the poor. I returned home a better Catholic.

I had an aged Jewish client, who confided at lunch one day, “I am Jewish throughout. When I read the list of victims from a catastrophe, I am indifferent until I see a Jewish name—then I cry.” I said, “If a gunman entered the restaurant and said he would kill all but ten people and you were to select the ten, whom would you pick?” “All Jews,” he replied. “But what is the ten Jews were all in their late 90s? “I’d still pick the Jews,” he quickly replied. Upon later reflection, I admired his loyalty, even though it was limited to one breed of humans.

Recently I renewed friendship with a Zionist friend who spoke only about his several trips a year to Israel, his working on a commission to improve the Israeli reputation at the United Nations, relief funds for Jewish refugees, and the importance of the powerful Jewish lobby in Congress. I asked him, “If American were in conflict with Israel, as an American citizen which country would you support.” He quickly side-stepped an answer with, “That will never happen.” I had to acknowledge his devotion to a single and very limited cause. And it made me appreciate with pride the word “catholic” which defines the scope of my Catholicism.

My Zionist friend turned the light on my joy in having a faith that is concerned about all of God’s people, regardless of their identity or locale. Hurrah for the openness and all-inclusiveness of our Catholicism!

Other religions, thank you for waking me up to the ecstasy of being a Joyful Catholic! (what are thoughts about other religions? Let me hear from you! joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

Other recommended Catholic blogs

The  Anchoress

Being Frank

Divorced Catholic Moms

Recommended readings – The Week May 14 issue has two interesting article. One points out that in during the first decade of this century, the number of Catholic has increased 12%.

The other is about kooks Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who are planning to arrest the Pope when he visits Britain in September for “crimes against humanity.” (Comment: fellows, you don’t have much to do, do you?)

 The article on population growth in the May-June Mother Jones should be required reading for our top church leaders in their lofty site in the stratosphere, out-of-sight of reality.

 

 

 

 

 Quiz Results

Last week, the winner of the autographed gift copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics, is Mildred Andrews, Key West. FL The correct answers are:

1. Peter, James and John were the three apostles Jesus chose to go to the mountain top and experience the Transformation.

2. The Swiss Guards have been serving the Pope for over 500 years, beginning in 1506.

 3. St. Joseph of Arimathea is the patron saint of undertakers. _________________________________________________________

Here is this week’s quiz.  Who will be the book winner? 

1.     Who is responsible for electing the new Pope?   

2.      What was the period of the Crusades?   

3.     Who wrote, “All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly”?   

 

 

Send your answers to joyfulcatholic@comcast.net 

News Flashes 

 Catholic World News reported that in the seven years since the Iraq War was launched, 2,000 Christians have been murdered and 600,000 have fled Iraq. (Fellow Americans, don’t forget who initiated this war.)

 The ultra-conservative Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in Lincoln, Nebraska, celebrated his 75th birthday. He has done a splendid job in recruiting new seminarians, but in regard to the role of women in the church, he is as old-fashioned as knickers. He is the only bishop in the US to insist on having only male servers at Mass. Two generations from now, the old fellow will be spinning in his grave when we finally have female deacons.

 George Neumayr, editor of The Catholic Report, wrote “The Church should fight back not by defending the indefensible or hatching some contrived PR campaign, but by restoring holiness and orthodoxy to the priesthood, which is the one authentic reform that these self-appointed reformers of the Church most fear.” (comment: to this, I say “Amen!”) – The May Atlantic has a full-page ad by The Teaching Company for recordings on “Explore the History of Buddhism.” Wouldn’t it be great is they had one for “Explore the Roman Catholic Church.”

I died last night!

 

Death should never be seen as a thing far off.  It makes sense, then, to keep asking, “Am I living in such a way as to enter into eternal life with God.

St. Thomas More

 

 

 I died last night 

 

This is a thought that merits thought because one day when you are in your next existence, looking back over your shoulder, this will be a fact. In the meantime, it can be a jolting meditation for the first thing in the morning.  When you find it’s not true and you realize you still have time to live, what do you think about? For me, it sharpens my focus on what I intend to be and to do.

 

I like to call on the Holy Spirit to increase my appreciation of the multitude of gifts bestowed on me, beginning with my conception when my name was called at the gene pool and two compatible cells responded.  My thanks can focus on my family, friends, possessions and my overall physical and mental wellbeing. I often ask for a fresh awareness with awe of the mysteries of each day, ranging from our sun, 93 million miles away, to the veins on a leaf.

 

Then I like to tune into Jesus, our God-man, Man-God, and ask what He wants me to do with the rest of my life.  I trust that He knows best.

 

Many years ago, the lead song in a musical I wrote was “One Day Closer.”  The lyrics began with “I wake in the morning thrilled with the thought that I’m one day closer to Paradise” and ends with “I’ll go when He calls for me, for I have a place in Paradise. Every day it’s clearer I’m one day nearer to Paradise!”

 

Now let me know how this thought grabs you. joyfulcatholic@comcast.net

 

Interesting quotes

A good funeral is one that gets the dead where they need to go and the living where they need to be.

 

 

 Thomas Lynch Poet and undertaker in Milford, MI

 

 

Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me.

                                                          Emily Dickinson

 

And from this song by Jacques Brel, the noted Belgium singer, who died in 1978.

 

 

 

After my last supper I want everyone to leave

And finish their feast elsewhere than under my roof.

After my last supper I want them to install me

Seated alone like a king, greeting his vestal virgins.

In my pipe I’ll burn my childhood memories,

My unfulfilled dreams, the remains of my hope.

And I will only keep to clothe my soul

The idea of a rosebush and a woman’s first name.

Then I will look at the summit of my hill

Which dances, which changes and finally becomes dark.

And in the midst of the scent of flowers which will soon wither

I know that I’ll be afraid, one last time.

 

 

 

 

Admired sayings 

 

 “It takes three spaghetti dinners to get to know someone.”

   My barber-philosopher, Tony Campanaro

 

When asked about the decrease in number of Christians, Mike Huckabee replied, “I would obviously like to see an increase, but if that decrease is reflective of authenticity, I’d rather see 75% authentic Christians that 90% in which half of those don’t really mean it.” 

 

 

 

 

And what are a few of your favorite sayings?  joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)  

 

 

 

News flashes 

The Church in tight straits…

  

In these difficult financial times, realize the pressure on the Church to meet the cries for help. For example, 70% of Catholic agencies have had an increased demand for food stamps, 85% increase for rent and mortgage assistance and 42% increased request for counseling.

Ah, communications!

 

During a December wedding ceremony in Maryland, the new husband interrupted the priest by pulling out his phone and sending a Twitter and Facebook update “Gotta go, time to kiss my bride.” (Comment, I hope the bride prevented him from taking this device on their wedding night)

From the London Telegraph

 

 

 

 

Writer Oliver Marre introduced his new evidence that Shakespeare was a secret Catholic.

  

         

 

 The Evolution of God, by Robert Wright, is an ambitious account of man’s materialistic and innate searching for a “god”.  I would have found it more appealing if the subject had been a spiritual study of how God has made Himself known to man.  Also, the book would be more readable if its 587 pages were edited down to 200 pages. 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz

 

 The first to send the right answers to joyfulcatholic@comcast.net will receive a gift copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics.

 

1. After the tax collector, Levi, son of Alphaeus, became a disciple, what was his name?   

2.     In what year did Constantine, Emperor Rome legalize Christianity?    

3.     How many years have the Swiss Guards been serving the Popes?

Over 300, 400, 500, 600 years?  

 

Communiqués received

 

 

     I think Bishop Andrew Sample goofed when he cancelled the scheduled talk of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, retired auxiliary of the Detroit archdiocese.  He didn’t want his parishioners to hear the views of a Church leader who speaks his mind about being anti-war, and one who has sympathy for same-sex marriages and women in the church. Shame on you, Bishop Sample!

                                                          Edward Higgens,

 

 

 

 

 

Alton, IL

 

In your “Crank Up For Your Day” blog, I enjoyed hearing from someone else who remembers having to swing your own prop.  I also was the first woman to fly “the Ercoupe” plane. Ah, those were the days!

                                                Dorothy Warren, Kensington, MD

                            

        (And let me hear from you readers via joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

 

 

Chuckle time

  

 There is the story of a woman who had a near-death experience during an operation in a London hospital.  She saw herself in Heaven and heard a voice telling her she would survive the surgery and live for another twenty-five years.  She did recover and was so elated by the prospect of long life that, while still in the hospital, she had a tummy-tuck, face lift, additional hair implanted and lippo-suction. 

Six weeks later, when she left the hospital looking like a teenager, she was struck and killed by a truck.  In Heaven when she questioned what had happened, an apologetic voice said, “I bloody well didn’t recognize you.”

 

 

My favorite religious layperson

 

    The special honoree this week is 7-year-old Jonathan Slack of Orland Park, Ill.  Before the Christmas holidays he saw a destitute woman on a street in Chicago and was moved to tears. He wrote a letter to those in his neighborhood, requesting help for the homeless. Ten days later, he received four truckloads of good and toys which he delivered to the Su Casa Catholic Worker Homeless Center in Chicago.

And let me know about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference.  Share this with our many Joyful Catholic members.

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

 

Special Intentions List

 

As you pray with a broad brush, please include these loved ones, who have been submitted by our readers. You, too, are invited to send me names of your special persons who are in need of prayer. My address is joyfulcatholic@comcast.net. They will be on the list for 60 days. At the end of that time, if prayers are still needed, you merely have to renew the name.

Juanita Caldwell, David Abbey, Amie Ellis, Linwood “Skip” Williams, Gerry Paradiso, Nick DeCarlo, Tom Medved, Bob Haines, Eileen Grotsky, 

 Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, 

Violeta Zepeda, Rev. Joseph Healy, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo, Sharon McPike, Joe Berger, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby, Russell Edwards, Mary Darwish.

As you note, because of miraculous healings, several names have been added to our Deo Gratias list.