Monthly Archives: December 2013

Detecting the Eucharist — the quality of our belief

December 5, 2013 – 4:30 pm

Commentary by Dr. Jeff Mirus of catholicculture.org

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Op-ed: Will the new Vatican commission on abuse answer the one crucial question?

December 5, 2013 – 4:23 pm

By Phil Lawler

Today’s Vatican announcement that the Pope will create a new commission answers every question—except the one question everyone is asking.

What we don’t know is whether the new commission will take action against bishops who fail in their own responsibilities: bishops who cover up abuse. So we don’t know whether the commission will address the root cause of the scandal.

We know that the new commission will issue guidelines for handling sex-abuse issues. But we don’t know if bishops will follow those guidelines.

We know that the new commission will develop “safe-environment” programs for use in diocese. But we don’t know whether these programs work.

Yes, we know that the new commission will consult with “experts” on abuse. But will they keep consulting the same experts on whose advise the bishops kept placing abusive priests back into parish ministry?

We know that the new commission will address the issue of cooperation with government officials. But we don’t know whether individual bishops are willing to cooperate.

If you can’t trust the bishops, you can’t trust the Church’s response to sex-abuse complaints. The challenge facing the Church—the same urgent challenge that has been facing the Church for over a decade now—is not to establish new guidelines and procedures, not to solicit more expert advice, but to restore trust in our bishops.

from catholicculture.org

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Reflections for Friday of the First Week of Advent

December 5, 2013 – 4:17 pm

Today’s Readings from USCCB

Although the liturgies of Lent evoke the themes of darkness and blindness, these themes are fundamental to the Season of Advent. The Sacred Liturgy during Advent often uses these themes to help Christians appreciate what man is without God.

Both the First and Gospel Readings today speak to the experience of blindness. The reference in the First Reading is only in passing: it’s one of many metaphors that speak to the power that will be seen “on that day”, the day of which the Book of the Prophet Isaiah speaks at length. That day sees reversals of fortune and wonders of nature, all testifying to the majesty of the Lord’s coming.

In comparison, the Gospel Reading seems to have a simpler focus. After curing the blindness of the two men, Jesus “warned them sternly” not to tell others about the miracle, and then the cured men ignore Jesus and spread their good news. Jesus doesn’t tell them, and St. Matthew doesn’t tell us, the reason for Jesus’ warning. However, in the bigger picture of the Gospel, it seems that the good news of individuals isn’t the same as the Good News of Jesus.

Putting the two readings side by side, they point our attention in the direction of today’s Responsorial Psalm. It is not to cure physical blindness that God sent His Son into the world. Nor are wonders of Mother Nature anything but signs of the Lord’s Power. When the Psalmist declares that the Lord is his light and his salvation, he’s singing of God’s desire and ability to raise us out of our sins and out of our very world, into His own sight for eternity. To the imagery of light the Psalmist adds his admission that the “one thing” he seeks is to “gaze on the loveliness of the LORD”. Here in Psalm 27 we hear the focus of Advent come into sharp relief.

from catholicdioceseofwichita.org

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News Briefs, Dec. 5

December 5, 2013 – 4:10 pm

Catholic News Service is the official news agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read their news briefs for today.

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Pope’s wish would be to heal children

December 4, 2013 – 4:47 pm

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2013 / 12:37 pm (CNA).- During a recent visit to a parish on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis revealed that if he had the power to conduct one miracle, it would be to heal suffering children.

The Pope was visiting St. Cyril parish to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation, and afterwards spent several hours visiting with the people there. One of the teenagers who was being confirmed asked him what miracle he would perform if he could.

According to Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the Holy Father’s answer was: “To heal children, because it pains me to see children suffer.”

The Holy Father greeted the sick people at the parish one by one, embracing them with a smile and sharing words of comfort. Some wept for joy at seeing him.

He also spoke with the people present. He asked the children receiving First Communion, “Are you good? Do you know how to pray? Thank you for being here to spend this time together and get to know each other better.”

To the parents of children baptized during the year, the Pope said, “When they are baptized, we bring home not only our child but also a seed of divinity that we must help to grow.”

Patience towards children is important, he continued, “and talking with them and teaching them is wonderful.” Even more wonderful, however, is the awareness that with baptism, “A divine sign comes into the home.”

He also told them that he had never imagined becoming Pope, and he was “a little bit” anxious celebrating his first Mass after being elected, because “to face so many people is a little scary.”

“But the people were nice,” he said, adding that “the Lord has helped me to be a priest, and then a bishop and now Pope.”

Questioned about his daily schedule, the Holy Father said, “I pray, then I celebrate Mass and then I begin to work,” reading letters, documents and having meetings with cardinals, bishops, priests and lay people. Lunch is at noon, followed by half an hour of rest. Then he begins working again until night, LOR reported.

The Pope also revealed that he worked as a bouncer at a night club when he was younger. He also taught literature and psychology, and learned from his experience how to help fallen-away Catholics return to the Church.

“We don’t have to go door to door proselytizing,” he said, quoting Benedict XVI, “because the Church spreads through attraction.”

The Pope’s final gesture was to bless an unborn child and to bid farewell to the people, encouraging them to use the period of Advent to prepare well for Christmas in order to “encounter Jesus once again.”

From Catholic News Agency

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Thursday of the First Week of Advent – Reflections

December 4, 2013 – 4:40 pm

Read today’s readings.

By Marcia Shadle Cusic

The readings for today, Thursday, of the First Week of Advent call us to be faithful to the Scripture messages. We are also reminded to be confident in our trust in God. “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.” We are also reminded to keep our feet firmly planted in our trust and appreciation of how our faith and trust in God can guide us, living our lives appreciating the guidance that the Scripture messages give us.

I am reminded of the notion of “rightful pride” in reading, “He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down.” A reminder to all of us, that just when you think “you’ve got it all figured out ” and “are in charge” our lives may seem, all of a sudden, to be falling apart. We need to be reminded and live our lives remembering that God is our partner in success and in disappointment, in opportunity and in loss. And remain humbled in all that we experience in our lives. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Yes, we need to make decisions, and respond to situations but maybe we need to take a step back and consider how the Scripture messages call us to respond.

From Creighton University

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News Briefs, Dec. 4

December 4, 2013 – 4:35 pm

Catholic News Service is the official news agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read their news briefs for Dec. 4.

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Reflections on Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

December 3, 2013 – 5:05 pm

Read today’s readings from the USCCB

By Sam Pierre

Advent is a time that I often catch myself dreaming of home. The celebration of a recently married couple inviting a new member into their family always makes my heart yearn for my own family. It truly is a time when I simply want to shut myself in with those who mean the most to me and smile contentedly about how much love surrounds me. And yet, today’s first reading reminds me of how much more overwhelming the thought is of living in the house of the Lord. Our Psalm points out a similar theme in that, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.” We have reason to eagerly await our invitation into Heaven: rich foods, choice wines…I mean, Jesus throws a heck of a Christmas party! The Apostles, popes, archangels, the Blessed Virgin Mary; it’s a pretty great guest list to be on!
Meditating on the joy of living in the house of the Lord puts my heart in a beautiful state of peace and excited anticipation. However, sometimes I get homesick for Heaven and ignore the reality in which I live now. That love which we anticipate enjoying fully in Eternity is the same love which we must share with God’s people on earth.

Someone had to give up his/her dinner in order for Jesus to perform his miracle in today’s Gospel reading. Sure, Jesus did the heavy lifting when it came to multiplying the seven loaves and a few fish, but someone donated that food. Similarly, Jesus only performed the miracle, he did not walk around physically feeding the crowd, other hands served in that way. Jesus “needed” the service of those around him in order to fully bless the crowd that day.

In what ways is God calling each of us to be his hands and feet? Significant tithing is a new phenomenon for me. For the first time in my life, I am making a real paycheck and I am recognizing the call to utilize a portion in service to God. And yet, as a severely indebted medical resident, my financial resources are limited. But how many people in today’s Gospel actually served Jesus financially? Only a few. The vast majority served by organizing, spreading the food and cleaning up the leftovers. Could I donate some of my time? Might I carry some granola bars and a few inexpensive winter hats to keep in my car to offer to the homeless guy I pass on my way to the hospital each morning? How about simply going out of my way to offer a word of encouragement to a downtrodden neighbor? In spite of my newfound ability to donate financially, the Gospel is calling me to a well-rounded service approach.

Together let us meditate on the anticipated joy of our invitation into Jesus’ Heavenly party. Then let’s apply the love we derive from that excitement to acting as our Lord’s instruments of service in a multitude of ways during this giving season.

From Creighton University

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News Briefs, Dec. 3

December 3, 2013 – 4:58 pm

Catholic News Service is the official news agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read their News Briefs for today.

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Council of Cardinals meets; reform of Roman Curia on agenda

December 3, 2013 – 4:55 pm

This morning, 3 December, Pope Francis met with the Council of Cardinals, the group of eight cardinals assisting in the governance of the universal Church and examining a revision of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor bonus on the Roman Curia. Fr Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office, announced this in a briefing with journalists to explain the second session of the Cardinal’s meetings which will be taking place at the Vatican until Thursday, 5 December. The cardinals’ first session was held from 1 to 3 October. On the day’s agenda was “a thorough examination of the Roman Curia, which began with a reflection on the dicasteries”, starting with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Fr Lombardi pointed out that “it will be a matter of readjusting: we want to go in depth. This is not a marginal improvement, but a substantial revision” of Pastor bonus in order to reach a new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia. After having concelebrated at morning Mass with the Pope in the Chapel of Santa Marta, the small group, along with their secretary Bishop Marcello Semeraro, met in a room near the chapel. The agenda includes morning sessions from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 4 to 7 pm. Fr Lombardi said that the tasks have been divided among the Cardinals based on personal experience, but the responsibility of making decisions is considered to be common and shared. Since the October session, the eight cardinals have collected extensive documentation and gathered other points of view, participating in meetings of their bishops’ conferences.

L’Osservatore Romano

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