We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics!

  My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”..Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

-         In Philadelphia, after two harsh grand-jury reports and four injunctions, Cardinal Rigali finally put on administrative leave 17 of 37 priests accused of sexually abusing minors. This report in The Economist added, “Philadelphia’s faithful are shaken.”

-         To promote dialogue with non-believers, in Paris the Vatican conducted a “Courtyard of the Gentiles”, which were three colloquia on “religion, enlightenment, and common reason.” The event closed with an evening festival in the courtyard outside the cathedral of Notre Dame, with music, art displays and a light show. (Comment: why not try this out in America?)

-         Congressman Peter King, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, seems to have blown it in his ill prepared and poorly thought-of hearings about American Muslin Community.

-         A federal judge upheld the right of the United States Air Force Academy to hold a prayer luncheon. The action to prohibit this event was from a bastard organization known as Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

 

Today’s Martyrs

We should honor the five Iranian Pentecostal Christians who have been sentenced to a year in prison for “crimes against the Islamic order.”

Since the crackdown on Christianity that began last June, 282 people have been arrested in 34 Iranian cities.

    My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

In the January issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review, Peter Etzell, of Claissa Minnesota, told this about Fr. Frederick Kampsen: “Fr. Kampsen was a proven “builder.” Young and enthusiastic, he inspired young an old alike and soon the idea took root to build a new brick church two blocks off Main Street, net to the recently purchase rectory. During those next three years Father led our parishioners through the planning pledging and financing of a new church.

He also had a profound effect on many Protestants in our small town. There was a joy about him that was ecumenically infectious.

(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference

aljagoe@comcast.net)

 

Interesting sayings

A reader in Geneva, Switzerland, correctly questioned the quotation in the last issue by Albert Einstein. I did my own research from a collection of his sayings and couldn’t find the one referred to me. But I did find this one:       

  Knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty—it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitutes the truly religious attitude in this sense and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man.

 

 

Life itself cannot give you love, peace and joy, unless you really want it. Life just gives you time and place; it’s up to you to fill it.

Bill Basansky 

My ideas area always changing, always moving around one center, and I   am always seeing that center from somewhere else. Hence I will always be accused of inconsistency, but I will not be there to bear the accusation.

Thomas Merton (written in 1964)

 No one every told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told them are pretty, even if they aren’t.

Marilyn Monroe

 

Communiqués 

I don’t know whether to thank you or not. Your blog has morphed my concept of being Catholic.

Reggie Wentworth 

A Jew without a sense of shame for the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians is a calloused soul.

Regimra

I like your idea of letting us layfolks have a crack at theology. That puts our Catholicism down within reach and makes it enjoyable. It also incites us do a bit of our own thinking. Do it again.

Margaret McDougall 

 

Chuckle Time

In Jerusalem, a reporter interviewed an old man who claimed for 40 years he had been praying at the Western Wall for peace between Jews, Christians and Muslims, for the end of all wars, and for our children to become responsible adults and love their fellow man.

The reporter asked, “And how do you feel after doing this for so many years”

The old fellow replied, “Like I’m talking to a friggin’ wall.”

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 aljagoe@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, Isola Todd, Jill Todd, David Abbey, Linwood “Skip” Williams, Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo,

 Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby, Russell Edwards,  

Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett, 8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez, Camilus Musselman,

 Ed Block, Isobel Milligan, Peter Bartkiewiez and his family,

 Joe Toles, Camilus Musselman,   Ed Cole, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Jay Parker, William Stephenson, Roger Stoven, Bob Abbott, Denny Kline, Lois Pinkin, Larry Mannino, Cheryl DeSantis, Lenore Sommers

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Laura Marsh, Marie Lyons

Christian martyrs in the Middle East, those in refugee camps throughout the world, the Japanese victims of their recent calamity.

I pray that this event never happens, but, don’t kid yourself, it might and could occur.  Don’t let us Americans think we are immune from the horrid acts of militant Muslims. What happened in Alexandria, Egypt, during a Christmas Mass and at the Moscow airport in January 24 can take place tomorrow in New York or any other American city.  As Abraham Lincoln said when warned about a possible assassin, “If a man wants to give up his life in order to take mine, nothing can prevent his doing so.”

          If you were a booker placing bets, what would you say are the odds that we “secure” Americans will be the next target? And why not?   These savage barbarian Muslims hate us because we uphold our Judo-Christian religions, we are closely allied with Israel, and we believe in freedom of thought and behavior. 

          So far, we have been extremely lucky in that past attempts to kill us have failed because of flukes (the bomb in NY’s Time Square that failed to explode, etc.).  But our good luck won’t last forever.

          On February 17, although he said he regretted the many attacks on Christians in his country, Habeeb Mohmmed Hadi ali Al-Sadr, Iraq’s ambassador to the Holy See, said the importance of these event has been magnified by “the media and international organizations.” He also said that in the total essence of the Islamic faith “to kill a soul for no reason is to kill the whole of humanity.” This sounds good except for the phrase “for no reason.” The Muslin terrorists’ reason for killing us Christians is to rid the world of the infidels and to assure a place in paradise for those involved in these murderous attacks.  By contrast, Father Maurice Zundel, the famed Swiss mystic who died in 1975, wrote: “Jesus is Catholic because he embraces all of humanity, and it we become his disciples we also must embrace all of humanity.”

          From an editorial in America magazine: “The plight of Christians abroad demands a vigorous response from church communities in the United States. Catholics and mainline Protestants must tackle these problems with as much organized effort as do evangelicals and Jews. The old tools of denunciation of abuses and of cooperation with moderate religious leaders, though necessary, have proved too weak to hold back the advancing tide of intolerance. They should be supplemented by new strategies for mobilizing both elite and popular opinion.”

I want the above fictitious news story (1) to make us more aware of and concerned about the Christophobia that exists in other parts of the world, especially in the Middle East where we Christians are now only 2% of the population. (2) We must have empathy for and pray for those who are enduring hardships and death in order to be Christians. (3) Lastly, as Joyful Catholics, let us appreciate our great fortune of being able openly to practice and demonstrate our religion.

God, please forgive America for its sins and protect us from our enemies.

(And let me have your thoughts about this: aljagoe@comcast.net)

Other recommended Catholic blogs 

The American Catholic

The Deacon’s Bench

Quantum Theology

 

Recommended readings

Some Thoughts on God and his creatures” in the February

                                                 Homiletic & Pastoral Review

“The Value of Nonprofits” in America, February 7.

“Cruel & Unusual” in Commonweal, January 28

Quiz

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

1.     Including Sundays, how many days are there in Lent? 

2.     What two people appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?

3.  What biblical saint died and was buried twice? 

Those Frigging Militant Muslims

In Afghanistan, Mr. Musa, a 45 year old Red Cross worker and physiotherapist who lost a leg from a land mine accident in the 1990s, is to be hung because he converted to Christianity. By reason of his Catholic faith, he has been imprisoned for eight months, where he was tortured and sexually raped by inmates and guards. Because of death threats, no lawyer will defend him.

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics

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

Michael J. Sheehan Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

The Thoughts of a Caterpillar,

…while during the lava period inside its cocoon, are in three stages. The first is pre-cocoon:  “During my crawling days, I worked like a Trojan 24 hours a day, moving and eating to be in good shape for my transition day. Then, with guidance from Something Outside, from my own insides I spun enough fabric to attach to a branch and completely encircle myself into an airtight cocoon.”

          Next comes mid-term: “After this task was finished, I completely relaxed and let happen whatever was to be. I sensed a phenomena taking place within me. So be it.”

            Third is the Wow! stage. “Look at me now that I have broken out of the cocoon! Instead of a row of tractor-like legs, I have four graceful spindly ones. My body is trim with long antennas at my forehead. And attached to my back are now unfolding two large wings with a beautiful pattern of many colors. Soon, I will flap them and be airborne.

          “When I was crawling, I used to look up and see butterflies flying and I said, ‘They’ll never get me up in one of those things’ and now I am one!”

          In many ways, we Joyful Catholic can relate. Regarding the pre-cocoon time, Saint Albert the Great wrote over eight hundred years ago: So long as man lingers, trifling with the objects of the imagination and senses, he has not yet passed beyond the limits and instinct of his animal nature, which he possesses in common with the animals. They know and feel through images and their senses, nor can it be otherwise, for they have no higher powers. Not so it is with man, who by his intelligence, affections and will, is created in the image and likeness of God. Hence it is by these powers that he ought, without intermediary, purely and directly to commune with God, be united to him and cling to him 

          The mid-term period is like the passive moments following receiving Communion, and after prayer and mediation when we relax and let the Holy Trinity take over. With faith, we don’t question our inner transition taking place, and we agree with Saint Cyril of Alexandria who said in 430, “Those who have maintained an honorable and elect life, full of all excellence, and have been accounted worth of attaining to a glorious and marvelous resurrection, will be necessarily raised for above the life which men led in this world.” 

          Our Wow! stage is when we Joyful Catholics are alert and let the miracles, large and small, take place. Under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, we accomplish and achieve what we could not have done on our own.  We flourish in a new life, filled with spiritual frisson. Now, let’s soar!

(How does this grab you? aljagoe@comcast.net) 

 

Recommended Readings

- “Mary’s Theocentrism” by Fr. Joseph F. Previtali, in the October issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review.

-  “A Showdown For the Ages” in the November issue of New Oxford Review, this is a warning from Tom Brejcha,  “The longer Notre Dame presses (the prosecution of the 88 protesters of President Obama having been honored), the more estranged the university will become from the prolife movement.”

-   the article by Kevin O’Rourke, O.P., “From Intuition to   Moral Principle,” in the November 15 America.

-         “Are There No Principles Left?” in the November Catholic League Catalyst, by its president William A. Donohue.

Quiz

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

1.     What was the maiden name of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton?

2.     Which of these four was not a missionary companion of Paul?

Silas, Barnabas, John, Mark, Matthew?

3.  Next to Warsaw, what city has the largest Polish population?

Oh! Those Friggin’ Sing-a-Long Masses

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

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

Oh! Those friggin’ sing-a-long Masses 

That make the Devil dance and shout with joy to see Communion watered down to a ho-hum part of the service. I recently attended one at the Church of Saint Joachim in Rockport, MA.

          The song leader, emcee and star performer was a large gray-haired woman who, during the hour long service, only relinquished the mike twice—for the reading and then the homily.  Before distributing Communion, the priest announced, “We will first sing Communion hymn #1.”  When the song was finished, he first gave Communion to the woman emcee who gulped it down like a dog getting a tidbit and then immediately resumed the mike with “We will now sing Communion hymn #2.”

          Thus the entire service succeeded in not allowing five seconds of silence for prayer and meditation. Communion, one of the most sacred sacraments in our religion, was treated like an incidental side order during a dinner meal. No wonder the Devil is overjoyed to see the Church crippling itself by belittling the belief that Christ, who was God, can and will transpose himself into bread and wine to be consumed by true believers—the mystical union of the sacred (the Holiest of the Holy) and profane (man) becoming one.

This miraculous deed is so awesome that I doubt if anyone, including the Pope, can fully comprehend its fullness of meaning and purpose.  But that doesn’t give ground for the Church to minimize its value with distractions and no quiet time. Parents often say, “Keep children busy so they can’t get into trouble.”  Today’s Church practices, “Keep lay folks busy so they can’t think, pray or meditate.”

In Models of the Church, Cardinal Avery Dulles wrote, “The Eucharist is the climactic sacrament, signifying the deepest and most intimate union with Christ, who makes himself the life-sustaining food and drink of his spiritual family. The Eucharistic liturgy is structured in such a way that Christ addresses the congregation by word as he spoke to the disciples at the Last Supper, and then gives himself in sacramental form under the invocation of the Holy Spirit.” (Hey, pastors, are you listening?)

          I would be embarrassed to take a potential convert to a sing-a-long Mass, because he would experience more spirituality in a service at a Unitarian church.  (You readers, what are your thoughts about this? aljagoe@comcast.com)

            Recommended readings 

-         “Sanctifying, evangelizing and catechizing a parish” by Fr. Francis Peffley in the October Homiletic & Pastoral Review

-         “A moment of historic healing” in the October The Catholic World Report.

-         “Why I pray the Rosary” by Unagidon in October 8 Commonweal.  

QUIZ 

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

1. What two pairs of the Apostles had the same name?
2. Who is the new President of Catholic University, and the third lay person to serve in this role?
3. What did Elijah ride into heaven?

 News flashes and items 

-         When attending a funeral in a Presbyterian Church, I found a “Welcome” pamphlet in the pew with this message:  This dynamic congregation is serious about following Jesus Christ through worship, study, service and fellowship. Our family of faith share laughter and tears a past of our mutual caring. We offer music programs, strong Christian education for all ages, and an active mission program in the local community as well as throughout the world. (Comment: (1) If you were searching for a religion, would this appeal to you? (2) Why don’t we Catholic do the same?

-         The New York Times (10/9) The Pew Research Center Poll showed that one-half of the Catholics don’t understand Communion. (Comment: Wow! Whose fault is that?)

-         Confirming today’s materialistic world, an article in the November Money magazine reporters that to “Get the Most Happiness for Your Buck” all you have to do is (a) eat frequently in expensive restaurants, rather than occasionally in expensive ones, (b) follow the herd and enjoy what others are enjoying and (c) be sociable and don’t be  loner. 

                                Facet Short Story 

                                           Simple Equation    

Mary was the mother of Jesus;

Jesus is God;

therefore,

Mary was and is the mother of God.

Amen!

Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.

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

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

The Age of Apathy and Ignorance 

Realizing that we are the last of the Catholics in our family, last week my wife and I donated our massive family Bible to our church library.  Our splendid four children, two sons-in-laws and two daughter-in-laws have no interest in Catholicism, and our ten remarkable grandkids have little (if any) knowledge of Christianity.

          Several years ago, our adorable six-year-old granddaughter was visiting us. At breakfast one morning when I mentioned I had trouble understanding the Buddhist religion, she told me all about when Buddha was under a tree he had this revelation that he taught to his followers, etc., etc. I then asked her what she knew about the 5,000 year history of the Jews and about Jesus Christ. With the truth of youth, she said, “I haven’t the foggiest.”

        Our two generations following us are all admirable individuals—intelligent, well-educated, loving one another and their neighbors, thoughtful, sensitive, good and popular citizens in their communities and enjoyable company.  They have made themselves healthy and financially successful.  They are all good kids, of whom I am busting with pride.  Yet I am concerned about their satisfied two-dimensional lives, devoid of religion.

          St. Augustine compared religion as a bridge to a higher location.  To me, I relate it to an experience I had years ago when I would take early morning swims in the clear sea at the Costa Brava.  I enjoyed it as a refreshing way of starting the day. Then one morning I had my initial experience with a snorkeling mask.  I was stunned to see clearly the beauty of the under-water world. Before, I had been content with skimming along the surface, ignorant of the sea treasures below me. Now, thanks to my mask, like magic an entire new world opened for me.

          I feel that way about my Faith.  There are boundless spiritual treasures that Catholicism makes available for me every minute of the day.  It gives me the opportunity to view all with new and fresh sight—though the eyes of others, of Christ, of Blessed Mary, and of thousands of saints. This gives meaning, purpose and enjoyment to the hum-drum of life.  As the theologian Ewert Cousins wrote, “Theology is concerned with the ultimate level of religious mystery which is even less accessible than the mystery of the physical universe.”

 I have the uncomfortable feeling of being a frustrated billionaire who hasn’t figured out how to share his wealth.  Without intent, I am a hoarder of spiritual blessings I want to share.  My failure to pass my appreciation of religion on to my children is a puzzlement, and I don’t know the answer.  As one who has experienced this feeling, Kenda Creasy Dean, professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, said she has spend the most depressing summers of her life, interviewing teens about their faith.

As an interesting tid-bit, I read this in the North American Almanac 1929: “He who fights religion and its institutions kicks at the stars. He who incurs religion’s enmity must be a brave fighter for he may have 1,000 hands of logic, yet cannot lay low the one hand of religious prejudice.”

You readers, give me your thoughts and advice.  I welcome it!

thejoyfulcatholic@comcast.net.

Recommended readings

-         “Twelve instant ways of beautifying the Novus Ordo” by Monica Miller. PhD., in the August/September issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review.

-         “What’s Extraordinary?” by Gerald Coleman, S.S., in America, August 30 – September 6.

-         “The Traditional Sources of Thomas Merton’s Environmental Spirituality” by Patrick O’Connell PhD in Spiritual Life, fall 2010.

-         “A Tree Full of Monkeys – Why The Soul  Needs Silence” by John Garvey, in Commonweal, July 16

Lightning Bug Catholics

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.

My motto… “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”
Michael J. Sheehan
Archbishop of Santa Fe

Lightning Bug Catholics

Recently, my wife and I enjoyed an evening cookout in the park. At dusk as we sat looking over a grassy area towards the woods, we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Suddenly the area became alive with hundreds of lightning bugs. They put on a show like quiet fireworks on the 4th of July. One of the little fellows landed on the top of my hand and stayed long enough for me to observe his orange head. Then he lighted up his lower abdomen and took off.
Return home, still tingling from the awe of having witnessed this phenomena of nature, I did some research. I learned that “the bug’s light production (bioluminescence) is caused by enzyme luciferase acting on luciferin in the presence of magnesium ions, ATP, and oxygen to produce light with wavelengths from 510 to 70 nanometers.” Wow!
During the week I realized that we Joyful Catholics are the lightning bugs in the Church. Those other staid, conservative and me-only Catholics are the non-lightning bugs who go about doing their own thing, unnoticed and unnoticing. By contrast, we Joyful Catholics brighten the world around us by demonstrating our concern and love for others—perhaps with a warm smile for a stranger, a call to the lonely, an act of kindness or a note of thanks and appreciation.
As I have said before, a complacent Catholic is third rate. What great joy there is in being a Joyful Catholic!

Recommended readings

- “No Third Reading” in Homiletic & Pastoral Review
- “Saint Teresa of Avila: Prayer-Centered Reformer” in Spiritual Life
- “A Reckoning- the Price Tag for America’s Wars” in Commonweal 7/16
- “The Jesus Controversy” in America 8/2-9 (Comment: I get annoyed at us Catholics who enjoy debating “the historical Jesus”. Why can’t we just accept that he was God-Made-Man, and ponder that forever.)

Never too Late, a Conversion Story

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

Michael J Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

Never too Late, a Conversion Story

 By George Thatcher

George Thatcher is a remarkable man.  After a successful career in publishing and banking, he has continued his active involvement in helping others. Three times he was recognized as the outstanding citizen of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As an author, his fourth book, A Decade of Beach Walks, is a compilation of his daily newspaper columns in which he demonstrates his delightful Thoreau-style appreciation of nature.

          As a fifth generation Episcopalian, he has been an international church leader, serving as Honorary Lay Canon of St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi, Africa,  and heading for ten years the Bishop’s Fund for World Relief.  Then he recently converted to our Roman Catholic Church.  Here is his story:

           For me, traveling the road to Rome has been a long spiritual journey, beginning many years ago when an Anglo-Catholic rector, brimming with liturgical riches, came to the parish. Then there was the reading of Newman and Chesterton and Merton, of Muggeridge and Graham Green, of Teilhard and Dulles, and many more.  These were the days of the old American Church Union (does anyone remember?) of which I was a member. There we share a dream of the reunion of the Episcopal and the Roman Churches.

          In recent years the Lord’s call to me became frequent and more insistent. After much prayer, numerous retreats, consultations with family and friends, now an old man, I made the well-considered decision to spend the last years of my life as a Roman Catholic. I could have remained in my parish protected for a time from the drama that is unfolding elsewhere in the Episcopal Church. But I fear the wave of change sweeping the church endangers all of us who hold firmly to traditional beliefs.

          Why is it that modern churchmen devise new ideas, rejecting the teaching of the early Church fathers?  Does one of the modern revisionists have a mind or faith comparable to those of Athanasius or Augustine or Aquinas?  Yet they are eager to discard centuries of orthodox Christianity for contemporary materialistic philosophies.

          With wide open eyes, I see that the Roman Church in the U.S. is beset with problems, too, but it affords me an orthodox haven. This pope and the next assure continuation of church stability, rooted in Biblical verity and traditional values. In my new church I will simple be one of more than 50 million members in the U. S, and one of the nearly 2 billion worldwide. The catholicity appeals to me, and the spiritual leadership offered by the pope. the diocesan bishop, the pastor and luminaries like Cardinal Avery Dulles, Fr. Richard John Newman and others is something I need and want. In my 81st year, I embark on a new religious journey!

         (What is your story you would like to share?)

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

 

Interesting sayings 

More blessed is the person who greets his neighbor than the one who waits to be greeted by a neighbor or stranger. Don’t tell a person what it is to be a Catholic. Show by your joy and enthusiasm for the faith and your love for all of God’s people. Christianity is caught more than taught.

                                                Brother Ed Adams, F.S.C.

 

The Savior becomes all things to all, according to the need of each. To those who ask for joy, he becomes the vine; to those who wish to enter, he becomes the door; to those who are under the weight of sin, he becomes a lamb, a lamb slain for them. He becomes all things to all, but he remains nonetheless what he is.  

                                                Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (386)

I am ready to meet my Maker — but whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.

                                                Winston Churchill (1965)

Oh most merciful One, teach me to throw a party for the unworthy, knowing that I may be the guest of honor.

 Sister Macrina Weiderkehr, O.S.B.

 

 

Mother Teresa’s seven steps to spiritual achievement:

1.     Slow down

2.     Make some room.

3.     Open your eyes

4.     Put great love into the small things

5.     Do not tire

6.     Remember — it’s faithfulness, not success

7.     Leave the rest to Jesus.

 

My new blog friend

Thomas Peters, who lives in Washington, DC, is a splendid young lay Catholic with graduate degrees in theology. He edits the excellent American Papist blog, which I strongly endorse.  For your enjoyment, check it out. 

 

News flashes

-  Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is placing 3 to 1 odds that the Pope will resign because of the allegations of child abuse in Germany. (Comment: Paddy, you ought to stick to horse-racing.)

 

- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of  Washington has close its 80-year-old foster care and public adoption program to avoid the risk of having to accept same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents. (Comment: This is like a kennel keeper who decides no longer to care for his hundred pedigreed dogs because he might have to accept a cur.)

-   In New Zealand the Atheist Bus Campaign is fuming because of the rejection of its ad, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”  And here in USA, Annie Laurie Gaylor, of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, is protesting the issuance of a Mother Teresa stamp. (Comment: Annie Laurie, don’t you have something better to do, perhaps like empting the dishwasher?)

                                      A Shocker

Regardless of my thoughts about pro-life and pro-choice, this account sickened me, because I recognized it as a sign of today’s materialistic me-me-me society. I learned of a woman, desperate to have a child, who finally conceived with medical assistance.  Three months later, when she found she was carrying twins, she didn’t want the trouble and expense of caring for two children, so she had one of the babies aborted.

At the Vigil Mass for my much beloved friend, Msgr. W. Louis Quinn, even though the coffin was closed, I could picture this saintly man shaking his head in protest when a member of his family (who evidently had read my column “Communion-Juicy Fruit Flavor”) chewed gum throughout the service, even while receiving the Sacred Host.

 

Recommended reading

 -   In the March 3 issue of America, John J. DiIulio, Jr. author of Godly Republic, informs us about our prison problem.

-    On page 56 in The Economist (March 13) there is an excellent article about the problems of the Church in Germany.

 -   You will enjoy Father Mark Plaushin’s article, “St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609-2009” in the March issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review.

Contributions

  (Let me and others know about a special non-profit organization you support)

     joyfulcatholic@comcast.net 

 

Other recommended Catholic Blogs

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (UK)

Catholic and enjoying it.

Connell Society for a Good Time

Deeps of time

Insight Scoop

Intentional Disciples

More than enough

 

Communiqués received 

Our mother has few weeks left and we are planning her final Mass, one that is joyful, uplifting and soothing. Mom always had an unwavering affection for the Blessed Virgin; therefore we are trying to find readings and music that would reflect Mom’s embracement of her Catholic faith and joy of life, her service to others and her strength..   

                                      wetseas@aol.com

Thank you for your note, letting me know of your kind mention of our work in your blog.

                   Steve Mosher, President of Population Research Institute

As Quintanilla says there are cultural differences. However, we Catholics can be happy that the Mass in whatever language is seen and experienced permitting different Rites because it believes in cultural approach and in the enrichment of Catholic faith in different forms of worship. I belong to Syro Malabar Rite which is confined to the State of Kerala in India. When we grow in the universal faith of Catholicism giving utmost value to family and its sacredness, there will be joy and satisfaction.

                   Kalapurra Thomas

Just found your blog. Nice place you got here! By the way, last I saw, the presidential dollar coin had “In God we trust” inscribed on the edge of the coin rather than either side.

                   S. Murphy

I found young Hugo’s article about the English and Spanish Masses to be thought provoking. Let’s hope our priests conducting the English services can learn from this.

                   Adam Wentworth

Your blog is one of my favorites on BlogSpot.

                   Jim Woods “56, male, last seen 1 day ago”

Young Hugo’s article confirmed the virtues of immigration. For example, 37 of the 40 of the finalists in the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search were children of recent arrivals from China, Japan and India. What does that tell you?

Roger Bertram

My favorite religious priest, layperson or organization

Special recognition is deserved for Mark Neilson, editor of Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions, published by Creative Communications for the Parish.  For many years, I have started my day by reading Living Faith, which never fails to inspire me. It is like benefiting from a brief visit with some of the best of today’s theologians.  I recommend that you subscribe to Living Faith (www.livingfaith.com.).

Thank you, Mark, for your outstanding contribution to our Catholic community!

(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference.)

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net

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.     Which three disciples did Jesus take with him when he went up to the mountain where the Transfiguration took place?

 

2.   Who was the pope who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

           

3.     Who is the patron saint of brewers?

 

Chuckle time

In a remote Irish parish on the final day of Lent, the parish caretaker felt obligated to go to confession.  His sin was having stolen the priest’s watch. Inside the booth, in a disguised voice, he confessed he had stolen something, and the priest said to be absolved, he had to return it.

          The caretaker said, “Instead, I’ll give it to you.”

          “But I don’t want it,” replied the priest.

          After a moment of silence, the man said, “I have offered it to the man I stole it from, and he doesn’t want it.”

          “In that case,” the priest said, “I absolve you of your sins and you can keep whatever it is.”

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, Isola Todd, David Abbey, Amie Ellis, Linwood “Skip” Williams, Gerry Paradiso, Tom Medved, Eileen Grotsky,

Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo,

Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby,Russell Edwards, Rev. Lawrence Boedt, Gertrude Goldstein,

Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett,

8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez\,

Camilus Musselman

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