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

 

 

 Regarding Mary’s relationship with Jesus during the time of his ministry, (which was Frank Cerillo’s suggested topic), here are a few comment from you lay theologians:

          – I am certain there were countless times that Mary and Jesus had private times together and that she was a worthy source of inspiration and encouragement for him.       Jim,Orlando,FL.

          - Although she was interested in the things Jesus was doing, Mary was not a typical Jewish mother who wants to have a never-ending intimate involvement in a son’s adult life. I picture her as being a quiet and approving witness. AJC, New York, NY

          - I picture Mary often getting word to Jesus, “Hey, Son, I’ve made a large stew you and your buddies would enjoy. So, come and bring them along for supper tonight.” Maria, Toledo, OH

          – When Mary’s neighbors would tell her about the miraculous things Jesus was doing, she would nod with a little smile.Regina, Queenstown, NZ

- They had such a phenomenal mother-son relationship that Mary was an invisibly witness to all that Jesus was doing.  Rev. Ron.

          (And for voices from the past)

In 410, St. Augustine of Hippo wrote, Mary is indeed the Mother of Christ’s members, that is, of ourselves. For it is by her work of love that men have been born in the Church, faithful men who are the body of the head, whose mother she was in the flesh.

          Mary was more blessed in having borne Christ in her heart than having conceived Him in the flesh.

  In 1450, Saint Antoninus, a Dominican priest and archbishop of Florence, wrote, Mary visited the places where her Son had done any miraculous deed, and there she contemplated the sacred mysteries. Sometimes in Nazareth she went to the place where the angel had made his announcement to her and she had conceived the Son of God, and there she contemplated God’s boundless charity.

In 1722, Saint Veronica Giuliani, the Capuchin Poor Clare outstanding mystic, wrote in her diary about Mary, She participated in the same torments, not by way of the executioners, like Jesus, but she, by way of love and sorrow, participated in all the torments, one by one. The heart of Jesus and the heart of Mary both stood united in suffering and in love, and this they offered to God the Father for all of us mortals.

 

   

 Other recommended Catholic blogs

-         Patrick Madrid

-         Standing on my Head

-         The Hermeneutic of Continuity

 

 

Recommended Readings

-         “Muslim on Main Street” U.S. Catholic (May)

-         “Divided on Torture”  America (April 18)

-        “Time to Take Religious Freedom Seriously” The Catholic World Review                  (April)

 

Those Frigging Militant Moslems

  - After the Easter Mass in theSacred Heart Churchin Bagdad, a bomb exploded, wounding seven parishioners. Fr. Hanna Sirop, a Chaldean priest who had been a 2006 kidnapped victim, said, “Our life inIraqis full of fear, but we have to live in faith and trust.” (Note that in the past ten years, 2/3 of the Christians inIraq have departed.)

 

Big Correction ! 

In the last issue, I credited Israelas being the only Middle East Country to come to the aid of stricken Japan. I was dead wrong. AlthoughIsrael made an excellent contribution, here are the other countries which sent aid:

    Qatarsent $100 million

    Saudi Arabia$20 million

    Hong Kong$5 million

    Iran- 50,000 canned goods

    Kuwait- 240 footballs and relief goods

     Bangladesh – 2,000 blankets, plus shoes, boots and gloves

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.

My motto, “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

 

Calling You Lay Theologians to Think About Mary

A suggestion from Frank Cerillo in Monroe Township, NJ.

He points out that our Bible mentions Mary only three times during Jesus’ adult life. First at the Cana banquet when she initiates Jesus’ ministry by having him change the water into wine. A second reference is when they tell Jesus at a meeting that Mary and his brethren are outside, waiting to see him. And lastly, Mary is mentioned being at the foot of the cross.

Frank’s question is: What was the contact and relationship of Mary and her son during his three years of his ministry ? 

Your supposition is as good as that of any of the great Church theologians.  Think about this and send me your thoughts to share with your fellow readers. 

Thought joggers might be: (1) As Jesus was doing his work in his home area, how often do you think he and Mary talked, visited and perhaps enjoyed a meal together? (2) Was there a telepathic relationship which enabled Mary to be aware of what her son was doing? (3) Would Mary have been in the congregation when Jesus was teaching in the synagogue? (4) What do you think was Mary’s reputation in the community? (5) Do you think Mary had a sense of humor?

And send your comments to me at aljagoe@comcast.com.

Other recommended Catholic blogs

Conversion Diary

New Advent

Creative Minority Report

Recommended readings

“Are Theologians Necessary?” in April New Oxford Reviews.

“What I Learned from the Jesuits” in April 22 Commonweal

“Jesus Talks with a Rabbi” in April Homiletic & Pastoral Review

 

Muslims ?

 

Question: Of all the Middle East countries, including those with billions of petro-dollars, which is the only country that came to the aid of the tsunami-stricken Japanese?

Answer: Israel sent 50 doctors to set up clinics with 32 tons of equipment for orthopedics, surgical and intensive care; 18 tons on humanitarian aid, 10,000 coats, 6,000 gloves and 150 portable toilets.

Conclusion: (Draw your own.)

 

 Quiz

 Last week, the winner of the autographed copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholic is Geoffrey Brigand in Nome, Alaska. Here are the answers:

1. The first man who broke the Ten Commandments was Moses. When he came down from the mountain, he shattered the marble tablet.
2. Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first American-born canonized saint.
3. Before he became a disciple, Matthew was a tax collector.

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!