I spent too much time on Halloween (is that possible?) and now have no time to tell of all the wonders that two days wandering around a giant Catholic conference meeting people and hearing interesting talks and just generally having a great time.
So I will stagger it.
First - HI JEFF! (Is there anything so ego-swelling as having someone come up and tell you that Happy Catholic is his home page? Of course there isn't... no wonder I loved the conference)
Second - possibly the most astounding experience was seeing Bishop Kevin Farrell wandering around completely alone, simply dressed in his priestly garb, making himself utterly available to anyone who wanted to come up and talk.
FOR TWO DAYS.
Now that's how you bishop, people.
What a breath of fresh air! Even if I did get so nervous and focused on giving him a copy of Happy Catholic that I totally forgot Tom was there ... which led the good bishop to throw an arm around him and ask "what did you did to deserve that" in his Irish accent, while laughing good naturedly at me. Ah yes, a bishop of the people.
More later ...
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Jack O Lanterns
From morganglines at Flickr, some rights reserved
"Hallowe'en in a Suburb" by H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937)All of the above is lifted from Amy H. Sturgis whose daily countdown to Halloween has provided me with a lot of seasonal fun.
The steeples are white in the wild moonlight,
And the trees have a silver glare;
Past the chimneys high see the vampires fly,
And the harpies of upper air,
That flutter and laugh and stare.
For the village dead to the moon outspread
Never shone in the sunset's gleam,
But grew out of the deep that the dead years keep
Where the rivers of madness stream
Down the gulfs to a pit of dream.
A chill wind weaves through the rows of sheaves
In the meadows that shimmer pale,
And comes to twine where the headstones shine
And the ghouls of the churchyard wail
For harvests that fly and fail.
Not a breath of the strange grey gods of change
That tore from the past its own
Can quicken this hour, when a spectral power
Spreads sleep o'er the cosmic throne,
And looses the vast unknown.
So here again stretch the vale and plain
That moons long-forgotten saw,
And the dead leap gay in the pallid ray,
Sprung out of the tomb's black maw
To shake all the world with awe.
And all that the morn shall greet forlorn,
The ugliness and the pest
Of rows where thick rise the stones and brick,
Shall some day be with the rest,
And brood with the shades unblest.
Then wild in the dark let the lemurs bark,
And the leprous spires ascend;
For new and old alike in the fold
Of horror and death are penned,
For the hounds of Time to rend.
For other All Hallow's Eve goodness, don't forget my post below. Or go to these places:
- The Anchoress tells us that she still loves Halloween and has the most adorable little fellow in costume to support her words
- Myles has a scary picture, which I loved
- Brandywine Books points to an interview where the author of the Exorcist says he wasn't trying to write a horror novel, " I thought I was writing was a novel of faith in the popular dress of a thrilling and suspenseful detective story - in other words, a sermon that no one could possibly sleep through"
- Next-Door Nature tells us about the scary Raven. Scary-smart, that is!
- Joseph at Zombie Parent's Guide reviews Night of the Living Dead
- The Truth About Halloween ... it was a Christian holiday first. Both The Curt Jester and Darwin Catholic point us to this piece, which I have read before and continue to need to read just about every year
- B-Movie Catechism, one of my favorite horror movie/Catholic stops in the interwebs, has lots and lots o' links that I will be checking out. Go thou and do likewise!
- Annie's Eats has Nightmare Before Christmas Cookies. They're horribly delicious!
Worth a Thousand Words: Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash, Andrew Wilson Smith
Featured in Dappled Things, the literary magazine that celebrates truth and beauty
I had the great pleasure of meeting Bernardo Aparicio at the Dallas Ministry Conference this weekend. It was so much fun to talk to him and an equally great pleasure to look through the printed copies of his fine publication. I have enjoyed Dappled Things online. However, the printed version is my favorite and I got to look through several at Bernardo's booth. I took that opportunity to subscribe and got to choose two back issues to take home to enjoy. I can assure you that it is a treat to slowly absorb the beauty in them, both in art and words.
Well Said: God is the friend of silence.
From my quote journal.
We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature -- trees, flowers, grass -- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence ... We need silence to be able to touch souls.
Blessed Mother Teresa
Back to Basics: Lust
The third of the seven deadly sins is lust.
Next up ... deadly sin #4.
The Catholic Church believes that it's normal and healthy to be attracted to and appreciate the opposite sex. That's not lust, and it's not considered a sin.
Lust is looking at, imagining, and even treating others as mere sex objects to serve your own physical pleasures, rather than as individuals made in the image and likeness of God. Lust is having someone become something merely to please you, in fantasy or reality.
The Church says that lust depersonalizes the other person and the one having the lustful thoughts. It makes both parties nothing more than instruments of enjoyment instead of enabling them to focus on the unique gift of personhood. And it seeks to separate, divide, and isolate what God intended to be united -- love and life, the unitive and procreative dimensions of marriage...
Chastity, the virtue that moderates sexual desire, is the best remedy for lust. Chastity falls under temperance and can help to keep physical pleasure in moderation.
Catholicism For Dummies by John Trigilio
Recommended reading: Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. He examines the virtues in depth and also looks specific virtues and Beatitudes as antidotes to each of the seven deadly sins. Not a new concept but one that he writes about superbly (as always).Next up ... deadly sin #4.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Gone Until Monday
It is the time of year when that big school catalog is being worked on around here and my time is at a minimum for a month or so.
Also, I'm going to the Dallas Catholic Ministry Conference on Friday and Saturday so will be out of touch then.
I'll drop in when I can to touch base, but until then all I can say is ... I'll see everyone Monday!
Things That Go Bump in the Night ... Halloween Cometh
This is from last year for two reasons. One, of course, I have no time but can't bear to let you spend these days before All Hallow's Eve without some suggestions for diversion. The links, therefore, are from last year but the bloggers are all still out there so just see what they're offering this year to add to the variety.
Two ... it's all still good!
Spooky Reading
When reading this Top 10 List of Vampire Novels some time ago, I noticed there were a few missing that I would have included. I'm not sure these are all top ten material but there are several on that list where the descriptions left me wondering if they really warranted that spot. So we'll just say these are good 'uns and leave it at that.
We'll begin with the zombies this time, shall we? Keeping in mind that I don't like zombie movies unless they have a strong humorous side.
Two ... it's all still good!
Trick or Treating
Remember studies prove that eating sugar does not equal hyperactivity in kids. So said Nutrition Diva and I trust her. So let them have an extra Butterfinger or two.
Spooky Reading
When reading this Top 10 List of Vampire Novels some time ago, I noticed there were a few missing that I would have included. I'm not sure these are all top ten material but there are several on that list where the descriptions left me wondering if they really warranted that spot. So we'll just say these are good 'uns and leave it at that.
- Vampire$ by John Steakley
- Sunshine by Robin McKinley
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
- Already Dead by Charlie Huston
- Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan LeFanu predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by twenty years. A thumping good read although the strong hints of (vampire)girl-on-(human)girl action are quite surprising in a work that old.
- The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell
- World War Z by Max Brooks (which I have been meaning to reread) ... as well, Hannah brought home the prequel (of sorts) by Brooks ... The Zombie Survival Guide which I've been meaning to read but have heard is jolly good fun.
- Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett
- Odd Thomas (and the sequels) by Dean Koontz
- The Rite by Matt Baglio (all about training to be an exorcist)
- Holy Ghosts by Gary Jensen (who discovered his house was haunted ... if you want an overview, here's a piece he wrote for Huffington recently.
Spooky Viewing (kind of)
We'll begin with the zombies this time, shall we? Keeping in mind that I don't like zombie movies unless they have a strong humorous side.
- Shaun of the Dead
- Zombieland: A true delight AND a movie that celebrates family (still chock-full of flesh-eating zombies). Hilarious though. Rule #4: watch this movie.
- Let The Right One In
- Angel ... yes, this was a tv show and not a movie but it has the right amount of humor leavening the monsterism throughout.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
Lots And Lots Of Linky Goodness
- Amy H. Sturgis has been counting down all month with a post a day. There is a wealth of Halloween enjoyment at her place.
Text of the Day: I present "Haunted!" by Isabella Banks (1821-1897). May it give you a chill!
And so, it is said, you are haunted!
My friend, we are haunted all;
And every homestead holds a ghost
That ever has held a pall.
Do you think that the empty cradle
Has never a ghost within?
Or the unused nursery table
Hears never a ghostly din? - Recta Ratio has stored up years worth of interesting holiday stories, images, and Catholic goodness for celebrating Halloween.
Bradbury has for me made October 20th a milestone, a day in which Halloween begins to be anticipated. Halloween, the eve of All Saints' and the build-up for the Catholic Day of the Dead, All Souls', has taken some hard knocks, mostly unjustified. Opportunistic modern wiccans and pagans, especially in Salem, have claimed as their own a holiday that has nothing to do with them and their New Age, and never did.
The celebration of the day is Celtic and Christian. It is the dying time of the year, with the harvest almost all in now, and even the green leaves of summer suddenly blazing into brilliant color and then dropping to the ground. The days are growing notably colder and shorter. It is the appropriate time to recall our dead, to think about, and to pray for the all the dead. The merry season of Christmas lies ahead. But, as the liturgical year winds down over the next 5 weeks, let us pause to recall death. It is the first of the Four Last Things, after all.
If part of thinking about it is reading old gothic ghost stories over a mug of mulled cider by candlelight in the privacy of one's study, or watching movies about ghosts, witches, vampires, werewolves, and monsters, or impressing the imagination of children by decorating a "haunted house" and handing out enough candy to make them spit out teeth the next day, or carving pumpkins in imitation of the Irish custom of the carved turnip of Jack of the Lantern, or burning leaves at night, there is no harm in it. - The Anchoress is a fellow Halloween aficionado and has some good observations and tons of good links.
The other thing I love about All Hallow’s Eve is the next day: All Saints Day. That is a holy day of obligation that I particularly love, because there is an intimacy to it. In blustery weather, usually damp and chill, the Catholics troop to mass and remember those who came before us. It’s like spiritually visiting the graves of our beloved. We remember the stories and remember where we have come from, and that helps us to remember who we are. It helps remind us that we want to keep walking the straight, narrow path that will unite us all before the throne!
- biblioklept (via Steven Riddle at A Momentary Taste of Being) has some really fun stuff.
- Catholic Once Again has some great posts about zombies (near and dear to my heart, as we know) and sorting out Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day
Somebody asked me recently why Catholics like zombies. I wasn't aware we were known for that. (Though I was able to include an alarming number of Catholic/zombie links at the bottom of this post)
If Catholics are drawn to zombies, and I'm not saying we are as a whole, it may be because we are willing to face our own mortality. We challenge ourselves to look death in the eye- examine our souls- do a preflight check to see if we're prepared for eternity with God.
Back to Basics: Envy
The second of the seven deadly sins is envy.
Next up ... deadly sin #3.
Envy, another deadly sin, is the resentment of another person's good fortune or joy. Catholicism distinguishes between two kinds of envy.
Note that some spiritual writers and moralists make a distinction between envy and jealousy. They maintain that envy is the resentment of what others have, such as possessions, talent, fame, and so one, whereas jealousy is the fear of losing what you already have... Jealousy is considered to be as much a sin as envy, because it resembles that deadly sin a whole bunch...
- Material envy is when you resent others who have more money, talent, strength, beauty, friends, and so on, than you do.
- Spiritual envy is resenting others who progress in holiness, preferring that they stay at or below your level instead of being joyful and happy that they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. Spiritual envy is far worse and more evil than material envy.
The Church maintains that meekness or kindness can counter envy.
Catholicism For Dummies by John Trigilio
Recommended reading: Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. He examines the virtues in depth and also looks specific virtues and Beatitudes as antidotes to each of the seven deadly sins. Not a new concept but one that he writes about superbly (as always).Next up ... deadly sin #3.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Johnny Depp Gets His Own Back at Ricky Gervais for Golden Globe "Jokes"
We all remember Ricky Gervais's angry "jokes" from his Golden Globe emcee stint, right? Or at least we remember they happened (if you happen to be like me and not bother watching most awards programs.) One target was Johnny Depp
What happens when Ricky and Johnny meet up unexpectedly later?
This is from from Gervais’s new BBC show, Life’s Too Short, The show centers on little person Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces. Looks as if it is along the lines of Extras, which I enjoyed a lot.
This bit is cleverly done, almost uncomfortably so ... until the last words, which are a big payoff. Take the time to watch this.
Via Strange Herring.
What happens when Ricky and Johnny meet up unexpectedly later?
This is from from Gervais’s new BBC show, Life’s Too Short, The show centers on little person Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces. Looks as if it is along the lines of Extras, which I enjoyed a lot.
This bit is cleverly done, almost uncomfortably so ... until the last words, which are a big payoff. Take the time to watch this.
Via Strange Herring.
Well Said: When you don't know what to do
From my quote journal.
When you don't know what to do, do the work in front of you.
Calvin Coolidge
Back to Basics: Pride
The first of the seven deadly sins is pride. It also is the mother, the author, of all other sins. This was a new concept for me when I first came across it but so very obvious upon reflection. In the end it all comes down to a distortion of truth, does it not? How important am I? How much better am I than others? Easy to see and understand, yet this is so very hard to keep in check ... because it can manifest itself in any and every aspect of one's life.
Next up: Envy.
The sin of pride is an inordinate love of self -- a super-confidence and high esteem in your own abilities. It's also known as vanity. It exaggerates your abilities, gifts, and talents, and ignores your weaknesses, frailties, and imperfections.
In Catholicism, sinful pride is the deviation or distortion of the legitimate need of self-affirmation. Liking yourself isn't sinful. In fact, it's healthy and necessary, but when the self-perception no longer conforms to reality, and you begin to think that you're more important than you actually are, the sin of pride is rearing its ugly head...
Pride is the key to all other sins, because after you believe that you're more important than you actually are, you compensate for it when others don't agree with your judgment. You rationalize your behavior and make excuses for lying, cheating, stealing, insulting, ignoring, and such, because no one understands you like you do. In your mind, you're underestimated by the world.
That's the extreme expression of pride. A subtler example is when you refuse to accept the authority of someone else over you, be it a parent, teacher, employer, pastor, bishop or pope. Most resentment toward those in authority has nothing to do with the occasional instances of abuse of power in the course of human history. Rather anti-authoritarianism is rooted in pride: "No one is going to tell me what to do." ...
Pride also prevents you from seeking, listening to, or applying advice from others. It fools the mind into thinking that it alone has or can discover all the answers without help from anyone...
The Catholic Church teaches that humility is the best remedy for pride. It's not a false self-deprecation ... It's not denying the truth ...
In other words, although acknowledging your talents is good, humility should remind you that your talents come from God. Pride fools you into thinking that you're the source of your own greatness.
Catholicism For Dummies by John Trigilio
Recommended reading: Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. He examines the virtues in depth and also looks specific virtues and Beatitudes as antidotes to each of the seven deadly sins. Not a new concept but one that he writes about superbly (as always).Next up: Envy.
In Dallas? Going to the UDMC? Me Too! I'll Be Signing Books on Friday from 2:30-3:00 pm
Tom and I were already planning on attending the big Catholic Conference that the Dallas and Fort Worth dioceses are sponsoring next weekend.
Then I found out that St. Anthony Messenger Press is going to have a booth there and was happy to think that I could meet some of the nice folks who I've exchanged emails with over the last year. St. Anthony owns my publisher, Servant Books.
They went it one better and offered a time when we could do a book signing.
If you are there, either with your own book or wanting to buy one, I'll be signing them on Friday from 2:30 - 3:00.
And, I'll add a quote that isn't in the book. As a little bonus.
Then I found out that St. Anthony Messenger Press is going to have a booth there and was happy to think that I could meet some of the nice folks who I've exchanged emails with over the last year. St. Anthony owns my publisher, Servant Books.
They went it one better and offered a time when we could do a book signing.
If you are there, either with your own book or wanting to buy one, I'll be signing them on Friday from 2:30 - 3:00.
And, I'll add a quote that isn't in the book. As a little bonus.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fr. Dwight Longenecker on Happy Catholic: "... I will probably be stealing a lot of ideas from her."
... Julie stands things on their head and helps you to see the world in a new way in the new method of communicating in the new media: bite sized chunks.It is quite surreal to have an author whose books you admired for a long time, to whom you dared to write one of your first fan letters long ago, and whose current writing continues to provide new insights ... praise your own efforts. A wonderful, but nevertheless surreal, experience!
I plan to use this book as a daily reader. I'll keep it by my side when I'm doing the office of readings and after the Divine Office and prayer, I'll dip into Happy Catholic.
Thank you Father Dwight Longenecker!
You can read the entire review at his outstanding blog, Standing on My Head.
Lagniappe: Fred Allen
From my quote journal. Timeless, simply timeless.
What's on your mind, Senator, if you will allow the overstatement?
Fred Allen
Happy Halloween from Forgotten Classics: The Beautiful People by Charles Beaumont
A future in which rebellious teenager Mary doesn't want to be beautiful. Get it here.
Back to Basics: The Seven Deadly Sins
The opposite of the cardinal virtues are the seven deadly sins. We'll be going through these one by one, as well as the virtues that remedy each, in future posts.
Next up: Deadly Sin #1.
As you may have guessed, along with cultivating good habits, some bad habits need to be avoided. The Church maintains that seven vices in particular lead to breaking one or more of the Ten Commandments. These particular bad habits are called the seven deadly sins because, according to Catholicism, they're mortal sins -- sins that kill the life of sanctifying grace. The Church believe that if you commit a mortal sin, you forfeit heaven and opt for hell by your own free will and actions.
A mortal sin is any act or thought of a human being that turns away from God and which turns toward a created thing instead. In other words, mortal sin is the complete turning away from God and embracing something else in place... Three conditions are necessary for moral sin to exist.
Venial sins are any sins that only meet one or two of the conditions needed for a mortal sin but do not fulfill all three at the same time, or they're minor violations of the moral law, such as giving an obscene gesture to another driver while in traffic. Venial sin is less serious than mortal sin...[they] aren't deadly to the life of grace, but like minor infections in the body, if casually ignored and left untended, may deteriorate into a more serious condition...
- Grave Matter: the act itself is intrinsically evil and immoral. For example, murder, rape, incest, perjury, adultery, and so on are grave matter.
- Full Knowledge: The person must know that what they're doing or planning to do is evil and immoral...
- Deliberate Consent: The person must freely choose to commit the act or plan to do it. Someone forced against his will doesn't commit a mortal sin...
The seven deadly sins are pride, envy, lust, anger, gluttony, greed, and sloth and Pope Gregory the Great made up the list in the 6th century.
Catholicism For Dummies by John Trigilio
Recommended reading: Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. He examines the virtues in depth and also looks specific virtues and Beatitudes as antidotes to each of the seven deadly sins. Not a new concept but one that he writes about superbly (as always).Next up: Deadly Sin #1.
Going to the Heart of the Matter: Reviewing "Catholic Mass for Dummies"
For the Ordinary form, the Roman Rite uses the following colors:I originally became interested in Catholic Mass for Dummies because it might help with answers for our RCIA small group. I learned to trust authors John Trigilio and James Cafone when reading Catholicism for Dummies which was wonderfully informative and also carried the Nihil Obstat* and Imprimatur*.
[...]
- Red: Used for Pentecost; Palm Sunday; Passion of the Lord; feasts of the holy cross, martyrs, Apostles, and evangelists (except for John the Beloved Disciple); and Confirmation. Red is a symbol of the burning charity of the martyrs and their generous sacrifice, tongues of fire of the HOly Spirit, and the blood shed by our Divine Lord.
- Green: Used in Ordinary Time. It is a symbol of hope in eternal life.
- Violet or purple: Used for seasons of Advent and Lent, Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Mass of Christian burial. Purple is a symbol of penance and mortification.
- ...
Joined by Kenneth Brighenti, the same authors have joined forces again to provide this practical, step-by-step guide to the Catholic Mass. This book also has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur and is fascinatingly informative. The authors not only take us through the standard Roman Catholic Sunday Mass, but also variations for such needs as weddings, funerals, and the like. At pains to explain the history, symbolism and meaning, they also explain the changes to Mass responses which will be instituted when the new liturgical translation begins being used in Advent.
As well as explaining the structure of the Mass, they also discuss the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Latin Mass), the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Devotions, and the Byzantine rite Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy. I admit I was fairly stunned to realize that I could take this book to a Latin Mass or Byzantine Mass and follow along. They include all the actions and words of the priests and people for both. The other Catholic rites from East to West are described with the history for everything from Armenian to Dominican to Anglican covered.
In the Tools of the Trade section, we learn about the books, vestments, vessels, architecture, art, and music used in worship. This was one of the most interesting sections to me since much of the symbolism inherent in these items is that which I only knew dimly or guessed at. This section would have been much enhanced with simple sketches or photos of the items being discussed. We may know what a tunic is but an amice is something that I just can't call to mind, no matter how detailed the description. Again in this section as in the rest of the book, the authors take care to call out differences practiced in the different rites of the Church.
I especially liked that the authors were reporting the information and not giving any personal opinions. This makes the book especially useful to the wide variety of people who might be drawn to it, whether the merely curious, Catholics, potential converts, or those with specific questions about a particular practice. This is intended as a reference book and deeper theological reflections, therefore, are not found here. However, just knowing the symbolism that stretches back to the beginning of the Church is often enough to prompt the reader to their own reflections, which I found happening as I read.
There are times when we all just need to know what's going on before we dig deeper. I can think of no better place to find one's footing with the ins-and-outs of the Catholic mass than in this book.
The unalterable importance of the altarThe altar is not only the place where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered, it also represents and symbolizes Christ himself. At the beginning of Mass, the altar is always reverenced by the clergy who are concelebrating by bowing before it and kitting it before going to their respective places. Before the introductory rites start, the main celebrant, escorted by one or two deacons, may incense the altar in a very dignified and elegant movement around it. The altar is also reverenced with a kiss at the end of Mass.
All immovable altars must have altar stones, slabs of stone about the size of a netbook computer. The altar stone is placed on a full size altar (made of marble or wood). Under the stone are relics of one or more of the ancient martyrs. Even though the altar is covered with linens during Mass, the bread and wine are placed on top of the linens over the altar stone. The idea is that Mass will be celebrated over the remains of the martyrs, just as was done for three centuries when the early Christians had to worship in the catacombs to escape Roman persecution.
* Official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free from doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who granted the Nihil Obstat and the Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
Un Lun Dun by China Mieville ... progress report
Un Lun Dun by China MiévilleI was looking around for a China Mieville book to try and discovered for every enthusiastic review I'd see another saying the exact opposite. This was the only exception, which is his only book for younger readers. I dipped into it this weekend and found it almost impossible to put down.
UPDATE
Thus far I am really enjoying this book. Although any modern book with "another London" inevitably calls Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman to mind (whom Mieville tips his hat to at the beginning), this feels original and is definitely inventive. For example, Curdle is an adorable character and I wouldn't have credited the concept alone with making for a loving relationship as is obviously developing in the book.
2nd UPDATE
About halfway through and am finding it still interesting but strangely slow at the same time. Not sure if this is an editing problem or just how the author writes but he seems to go on and on when we've gotten the point and are ready to move on. Also, major plot points are telegraphed ahead of time so the "twists" aren't really "twisty" at all.
I would say that last problem is possibly because I'm an older reader than the intended audience but, upon reflection, this isn't a problem I have had with the Harry Potter books, The Graveyard Game by Neil Gaiman, or Assam & Darjeeling by T.M. Camp ... all of which feature children in fantastical settings, to greater or lesser degrees of simplicity.
I will continue reading but feel this could have used another time or two through a big trimming machine.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Cherie ...
The newest cocktail to receive our approval ... and there's a movie connection for you too! At Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.
Well Said: Conformity but not uniformity
From my quote journal.
God evidently wants variety and not standardization. He asks for conformity, but not for uniformity. The conformity here is conformity with His plan, with His truth, with the pattern provided by His Son. Conformity with the mind of God is freedom. Uniformity among the minds of men is the opposite of freedom.
by Dom Hubert Van Zeller, Holiness for Housewives
Heavenly Habits: Temperance
After yesterday's look at Fortitude, we are winding up our look at the virtues with Temperance, which appeared originally in our church bulletin.
Which will bring us to another series which ran way back in 2006 and that I'm going to revisit. Because if we don't look clearly at the mess we're trying to clean up, then we don't know what cleanser to use. Right?
Coming up: The Seven Deadly Sins!
So, the big question now would be, just what sins do these virtues counteract?Heavenly Habits: Temperance1808 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: “Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.”72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: “Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.”73 In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world.”74
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.Saint Thomas Aquinas
Temperance allows us to moderate our appetites. The word “appetites” may lead us to think primarily of physical pleasures such as those of food, drink, sex, or anything similar in which we are likely to indulge too freely. However, there are also emotional and spiritual pleasures in which we may be tempted to overindulge. A natural ability to lead may be given free sway and turn us into tyrants. A desire to serve Christ by serving others may lead to us filling all our free time with volunteering instead of focusing on our spouse and children.-------------------------------------------------------
There is nothing wrong, in and of themselves, with the desires which we enjoy and in which we take pleasure. As with all things, these are good and are given to us by God to use for the good of ourselves and others. The danger is that our natural attraction to something may become an unbridled passion which leads us seek the thing for its own sake. Temperance allows us to use our reason, surrender our will, and seek God’s will above all in these attractions and enthusiasms.
Perhaps the purest example of the need for temperance comes when we consider a child. Without being taught moderation, a child becomes increasingly self-centered. The child must be taught restraint in order to look beyond immediate gratification and seek the greater good for both himself and others. This is one reason why St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica called intemperance a “childish vice.” Allowing ourselves uncontrolled self indulgence denies us the opportunity to mature and achieve human excellence. It enslaves our will to our desires instead of leaving us free to correctly choose the greatest good.
Also worth considering is that our work toward acquiring the other cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, and fortitude cannot come to fruition without temperance. We must be able to freely submit our will to God’s in order to cooperate with His plan for each of us. In fact, when we contemplate the cardinal virtues as a whole it is easy to see how they dovetail in helping us get closer to knowing, loving, and serving God. Let us seek ways to practice these virtues in daily life that we may achieve heaven and help others there on our journey together.
-------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes72 Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31.
73 Sir 18:30.
74 Titus 2:12.
75 St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1,25,46:PL 32,1330-1331.
References
Which will bring us to another series which ran way back in 2006 and that I'm going to revisit. Because if we don't look clearly at the mess we're trying to clean up, then we don't know what cleanser to use. Right?
Coming up: The Seven Deadly Sins!
And Reamde Looked So Good ...
But this is why book bloggers you can trust are so important.
I simply do not have that sort of stamina (or maybe it is simply dissimilar reading interests).
Whatever it is, when the lady who does that gives that indictment to Reamde, I am crossing it off my list.
One down. 300 to go.
I had planned to abandon the book around page 160 or so. Other members of the Sword and Laser said "It gets better at page 300 when new characters are introduced." In a shocked sense of disbelief, I decided to press on to that point. And, okay, it really does get better at around page 300. In what universe is it okay for an author to not get to the good stuff until 300 pages in? My favorite parts of the book were from about page 300-700. The ending was not satisfying although all the ends are tied up.Here's the thing. I am in awe of Jenny because when the Booker nominees list comes out, she goes out and gets those books ... and actually reads them! And that's just one of the book awards lists she does that for.
I simply do not have that sort of stamina (or maybe it is simply dissimilar reading interests).
Whatever it is, when the lady who does that gives that indictment to Reamde, I am crossing it off my list.
One down. 300 to go.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Should Catholics Vote for a Mormon for President?
Leaving aside whether or not you support Gov. Romney, it wouldn't have occurred to me to not vote for him based on his faith. It only occurred to me when reading Scott's post at Rivets and Trees which I recommend to all of you. I am going to put enough to give you the idea but that is not the sum of what Scott says so please do click through and read the whole thing.
More than someone's religion, I care about what I can see of their previous actions and the fruit harvested from it. If Barack Obama as president has taught me nothing else, it has taught me that much. As he did before, he has gone on doing.
The first century Christians didn't get a vote and lived under pagan rule. Yet they changed the world by how they lived their faith. So if we can vote and we're not changing the world then it seems to me that worrying about someone else's religion is straining at a gnat.
What we should be looking at is ourselves in the mirror, not at the religion of the person who is leading us. How are we living as Christ's followers ... and how are we changing the world?
So, first things first. Should Catholics vote for a Mormon for president? I don't know. Can he do the job?
Second, will he do the job the way I want?
I'll worry about his faith later.
... We Catholics, I thought, are different. We’re not threatened. But now, a Catholic whose opinion I value greatly – Jimmy Akin – has stated that we do need to consider Gov. Romney’s religion during the primary. He said it twice in columns over the past few weeks. Akin appears to agree with Pastor Jeffress, who stated that when given a choice between candidates, perhaps we should pick the Christian over the Mormon. Akin goes even farther than Jeffress when he says that electing a Mormon president would “do an enormous disservice to the cause of Christ in America.” (emphasis Akin’s)I figure Romney's values are going to be very much like mine for family, faith, and so forth. Not that I care about Romney really, but to argue about his religion shows a certain small-mindedness, it seems to me. It brought forcibly to mind the Gospel reading from today's Mass.
Before I continue, I should preface the rest of what I’m about to say with the following information: I am a Catholic, and I’m married to an LDS woman. My kids are being raised in the LDS church. I live in southern Idaho, about 100 miles north of Salt Lake City. There are more Mormons per capita here than anywhere in the world. Can I pass myself off as a Mormon “expert?" Probably not, but I have lived in Mormon culture for 15 years so I’ve got some experience. Most of the people I interact with every day are Mormon. Today, I went to Mormon sacrament meeting (as I do occasionally) to see my youngest in a primary program.
Gospel Lk 13:10-17The leaders don't care that the woman was healed. They don't even argue that it wasn't a miracle. They are worried about what day it was done on. Talk about worrying about a splinter in someone's eye while ignoring the plank in their own.
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
"There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."
The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?"
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
More than someone's religion, I care about what I can see of their previous actions and the fruit harvested from it. If Barack Obama as president has taught me nothing else, it has taught me that much. As he did before, he has gone on doing.
The first century Christians didn't get a vote and lived under pagan rule. Yet they changed the world by how they lived their faith. So if we can vote and we're not changing the world then it seems to me that worrying about someone else's religion is straining at a gnat.
What we should be looking at is ourselves in the mirror, not at the religion of the person who is leading us. How are we living as Christ's followers ... and how are we changing the world?
So, first things first. Should Catholics vote for a Mormon for president? I don't know. Can he do the job?
Second, will he do the job the way I want?
I'll worry about his faith later.
Once Upon a Time ... On TV
Because with The Amazing Race and The Good Wife being taped, I had no other options.
In case you missed the pilot, here's the Wikipedia synopsis to help out.
28-year-old bail bonds collector Emma Swan is shocked when Henry, the son she gave up for adoption ten years ago, turns up in desperate need of her help. Henry believes that Emma is Snow White and Prince Charming's missing daughter, who was sent away from the Enchanted Forest to be protected from the Evil Queen's curse. Emma refuses to believe a word of Henry's story but soon finds that his hometown of Storybrooke, Maine may be more than it seems. Because it's in Storybrooke that all of the classic fairytale characters are frozen in time with no memories of their former selves – including the Evil Queen, who is Storybrooke's mayor and Henry's adoptive mother Regina.It had highs and lows (among the lowest ... Snow White in our world's hair ... this really is a horrible place!).
But overall we approved of the premise, the originality, and most of the execution. I liked the idea of the dual timeline and looking at what the fairy tale characters are doing in "real life."
We shall see ...
You can watch the pilot at the link, btw.
Heavenly Habits: Fortitude
After examining Justice, we take a look at Fortitude. This is another of the bulletin inserts I wrote for our church.
Next we'll finish up by examining the last virtue: Temperance.Heavenly Habits: Fortitude1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. “The Lord is my strength and my song.”70 “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”71
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Fortitude strengthens a man’s mind against the greatest danger, which is that of death. Now fortitude is a virtue; and it is essential to virtue to tend to good; wherefore it is in order to pursue some good that man does not fly from the danger of death. But the dangers of death arising out of sickness, storms at sea, attacks from robbers, and the like, do not seem to come on a man through his pursuing some good. On the other hand, the dangers of death which occur in battle come to man directly on account of some good, because, to wit, he is defending the common good by a just fight.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
-------------------------------------------------------We have examined prudence which helps us to know the right action to take, and justice which helps us to be fair in our actions. However, what ensures that we have the strength of character to follow through on our considered, fair plan of action when it is something we fear? The answer to that is the virtue of fortitude which strengthens our resolve and helps us conquer fear to do good.
There are different degrees of danger that we face but the constant which requires fortitude is that it must be accompanied by the desire to do good. Conquering one’s fear in order to be a daredevil is an act of daring, not fortitude. Firemen, policemen, soldiers, and other such occupations must be prepared to practice fortitude regularly. The regular person who rises to the situation in an emergency such as a man who dashes into flood waters to save a drowning child is practicing fortitude. We also have the examples of the saints who often gave their all, sometimes literally, in order to overcome their fear and do good.
On a less obvious front, we all have opportunities for fortitude in everyday life. An office worker needs fortitude despite a pang of fear when risking coworkers’ disapproval at standing up for “politically incorrect” Church teachings such as opposing abortion. A teenager needs fortitude to resist peer pressure when offered a drink at a party. The elderly wife whose husband has a debilitating illness needs fortitude to overcome her fear of an uncertain future while cheerfully tending to her husband’s needs.
It is important to realize that fortitude is not fearlessness. Fortitude does not reduce our fear. Rather, we really experience the fear but are able to endure it while holding fast to the good we intend to do. Often the act of enduring is a much more difficult process than acting. It is daily practice that can prepare us for larger acts of fortitude that may come upon us unawares.
-------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes70 Ps 118:14.
71 Jn 16:33.
References
Well Said: To have been loved so deeply ...
From my quote journal.
Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign ... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin.
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Whoa Nellie! Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing?
That sneaky fellow ... and here we thought The Avengers was the only thing he had going.
Nathan Fillion tweeted this. (via Scott Danielson)
And Huffington Post has more confirmation.
Nathan Fillion tweeted this. (via Scott Danielson)
And Huffington Post has more confirmation.
The Light Fantastic ...
The Light Fantastic by Terry PratchettMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
In The Light Fantastic only one individual can save the world from a disastrous collision. Unfortunately, the hero happens to be the singularly inept wizard Rincewind, who was last seen falling off the edge of the world...I thoroughly enjoyed this book which gives us not only Rincewind the wizard who can't do magic, but Twoflower the tourist and his Luggage (made of sapient pearwood so it can follow and protect him wherever he goes), Cohen the Barbarian, and many more memorable characters.
This is vintage Terry Pratchett which means that not only does he tell an amusing adventure story but he makes many a good commentary about people and society along the way using humor. I never would have looked for this book myself but must be grateful that my daughter Rose wanted to read about Discworld from "the beginning" and then highly recommended the book to me.
"I shall say it again: rejoice!" : Reviewing "Between Heaven and Mirth" by James Martin, SJ
Joy, humor, and laughter show one's faith in God. For Christians, an essentially hopeful outlook shows people that you believe in the Resurrection, in the power of life over death, and in the power of love over hatred. Don't you think that after the Resurrection Jesus's disciples were joyful? "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well," as the fourteenth-century mystic Blessed Julian of Norwich said. For believers in general, humor shows your trust in God, who will ultimately make all things well. Joy reveals faith.I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask me, "How can you be a Happy Catholic?" They then go on to cite the problems currently in the Church, how hard life is in general, and so on and so forth.
My answer is that happy does not mean cheerful. I'm not talking about a Pollyanna-ish insistence on always seeing the glass half full. I'm talking about a deep, underlying joy that comes from the peace of mind in knowing Jesus really has overcome the world, really is real, really does love me personally. Except in times of deep trouble or sorrow, when no one in their right mind would be able to say that they are happy, I have happiness as a foundation of my days. I must add that even in those times of trouble there is a peace lurking in the background reminding me that "all manner of things shall be well."
I suppose that I am asked that because even the best of us tend to think that faith and religion aren't real unless they are sober, serious, and definitely not amusing, humorous, or joyful. This never made sense to me because I have had too many times when God makes his point to me using a "virtual" nudge in the ribs and a chuckle. There is that stunning moment when I realize what I've gotten very wrong and then that hilarious moment when I realize just how ridiculously wrong I am ... and somehow, you know, I wind up howling with laughter and things just never seem too bad after that.
James Martin has written a book all about that very thing. He writes compellingly that holy people are joyful people, providing numerous examples of the people, their joy, and their levity ... up to and including Jesus. The main premise is that joy, humor, and laughter help us live more spiritual lives, relate to others better, and connect with God more easily.
Martin's examination of scripture and Jesus' humor will be especially valuable to those who hesitate to think that humor and playfulness have a place in faith. His case studies in scriptural joy look at a psalm, the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, and 1 Thessalonians. It gives us a fresh look at the familiar passages and perspective on the way the hearers would have understood it when the scripture was new.
I also really appreciated the chapter where Martin addressed the problem of living joyfully when life is difficult. He discusses the fact that joy doesn't mean one is happy all the time, how to find joy during times of pain, what to do if you are not a funny person, and what to do when working or living in a joyless environment. This section is almost a primer on how to look at our lives with both gravity and lightheartedness. It is one that more people than Christians would benefit from.
Naturally in a book of this sort, anecdotes and jokes are larded throughout the text. They always are illustrations of the point that Martin is making and yet, in themselves, contribute to helping look at things just a touch less seriously or from a different point of view. My favorites were the ones that came from real life, as those are the sort that are most genuinely funny. Those are often the sort that help us in painful times, as Martin points out.
Then she recounted the story of two friends whose mutual friend had died. "They missed her terribly," said [Margaret] Silf. "They planted what they thought were daffodil bulbs on her grave and grieved all winter. In the spring they returned to the grave to pay their respects and discovered a wonderful crop of ... onions! They laughed until they cried--and they are convinced their friend was right in there laughing with them.There were a few places where Martin was going so fast that he skimmed on providing all the information we needed for the book to be as solid as it could. The primary place I noticed this, and the one that kept bothering me, was his lack of distinction when he compared Zachariah's doubt at the promise of a son after many years of childlessness (who would become John the Baptist) and Mary's reasonable, straight-forward question about how she could become pregnant if she'd never "known" a man. Zachariah, the experienced priest who should have known better than to doubt, is struck mute by the angel. The simple question of the young girl, Mary, is answered. Martin's joke in the footnote that Gabriel is gentler with women was amusing but completely inaccurate and that made me a bit wary of other such confident assertions about Scripture when they came up.
Happily, there are not many instances of those problematic points. Those aside, this book is informative, engaging, and makes a solid argument for the case that joy and humor are integral parts of being human and the spiritual life. Certainly this book is much needed to help lighten the mood of those who believe that only serious attitudes will gain us the kingdom of Heaven. It most definitely is appreciated by those of us who occasionally must defend our faith because of our joy.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Weekend Joke: Then and Now
Seen around the internet and most recently sent to me by Tom K., who saw a commenter who added the last line.
Ten years ago we had
- Steve Jobs
- Bob Hope
- Johnny Cash
Now we have
- No Jobs
- No Hope
- No Cash
Don't let Kevin Bacon die!
Friday, October 21, 2011
It's Lisa Hendey Day Today ... Because the Van Stops Here!
She's rockin' that look, y'all!
Driving with her head out the window and her hair still looks good!
Check out my review of her wonderful book, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.
And, Lisa wrote a special post about Blessed John Paul II for us.
Enjoy!
And then go get a copy of her book ... you will NOT be sorry!
NOTE: I'll leave this at the top of the blog today. Scroll down for other things that I've got going on today.
NOTE: I'll leave this at the top of the blog today. Scroll down for other things that I've got going on today.
Well Said: The Cure for Death
From my quote journal.
Man’s resistance to death becomes evident: somewhere — people have constantly thought — there must be some cure for death. ... what would it really be like if we were to succeed, perhaps not in excluding death totally, but in postponing it indefinitely, in reaching an age of several hundred years? Would that be a good thing? Humanity would become extraordinarily old, there would be no more room for youth. Capacity for innovation would die, and endless life would be no paradise, if anything a condemnation.
The true cure for death must be different. It cannot lead simply to an indefinite prolongation of this current life. It would have to transform our lives from within. It would need to create a new life within us, truly fit for eternity: it would need to transform us in such a way as not to come to an end with death, but only then to begin in fullness.
What is new and exciting in the Christian message, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was and is that we are told: yes indeed, this cure for death, this true medicine of immortality, does exist. It has been found. It is within our reach. In baptism, this medicine is given to us. A new life begins in us, a life that matures in faith and is not extinguished by the death of the old life, but is only then fully revealed.
[...]
Indeed, the cure for death does exist. Christ is the tree of life, once more within our reach. If we remain close to Him, then we have life.
Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at the Easter Vigil 2010
Heavenly Habits: Justice
After learning about Prudence, we proceed to the virtue of Justice. This is another of the bulletin inserts I wrote for our church.
Next up, to help us carry through on these virtues: Fortitude.Heavenly Habits: Justice1807 Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the “virtue of religion.” Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. The just man, often mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor. “You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”68 “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”69
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.
Horace Walpole-------------------------------------------------------Justice is the virtue that ensures we treat others fairly. It is this which helps us desire that goodness is rewarded and evil punished.
Catholic teaching defines justice as one of three types:
Regardless of categories and definitions, justice toward our fellow man is an easy concept to grasp. Even small children have an innate sense of what is fair and what isn’t. It all boils down to Jesus’ words, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). This helps us keep in mind that justice practiced as a cardinal virtue is not defined strictly by civil legality. For example, abortion, legal though it may be, is a grave violation of justice as well as love. Additionally, strict legality must always be tempered by equity so that the precise appreciation of even a just law does not de facto produce an injustice.
- Commutative justice calls for fundamental fairness between individuals. If the grocery store clerk hands you too much change, you are practicing commutative justice when you give back the overpayment.
- Distributive justice is found in the relationship between an individual and a group. Largely speaking it is concerned with the fair distribution of resources to those who need them. We see an obvious example of this as citizens. The government should levy only the taxes necessary to provide services while we should pay our fair share.
- Social justice is perhaps the term mentioned the most in Catholic circles as it involves ensuring fair treatment for all in society. Welfare, right to life, feeding the poor, the environment, and many other social issues fall under this category.
Another application of justice may be a new idea to us. The virtue of religion requires that we practice justice toward God. We owe to God, our Creator, worship, praise, and gratitude. Though they should be motivated by love and not fear, these are nonetheless not optional or favors we do for God. They are instead owed to God by the virtue of our creaturely relationship to Him. Even creatures without reason praise God by living according to their natures. We, whose nature is so like to God’s, owe to Him the proper fulfillment of His plan of love for us.
Thus, when we take time for prayer to further our relationship with Him and not merely to ask for things, though that asking may be perfectly appropriate, that is a form of justice. When we obey God’s will, whether it is practicing the virtues or the many other ways we live our faith, that also is a form of justice as we respond to His right that we submit to His laws. We are giving Him what He truly is due as our creator and as the one who loves us more than any other.
If we reflect on all these manifestations of justice it becomes clear that justice forms a network, a web if you will, that defines our relationships to God and to each other. It puts a whole new spin on the motivation for playing fair in all aspects of our lives.
-------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes68 Lev 19:15.
69 Col 4:1.
References
Not Just for Moms: Reviewing "A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms" by Lisa Hendey
This wonderful collection guides readers through fifty-two saints. Some are famous, like Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and some are virtually unknown, like Chiara Badano. Each entry discusses a saint's life, how their experiences give special insights for living a holy family life, a pertinent quote by that saint, devotional suggestions for individual and family use, and daily scripture meditations and prayers. I have been using this for weeks and it is a real treasure. I especially appreciate the section where Hendey shares how she applies a saint's lesson to her life.Lessons from John Paul IIPope John Paul II is one of my favorite intercessors when I struggle with the body issues that crop up in my vocation as a mom. His prolife writings speak so eloquently about his belief in the sanctity of all human life, but for me it is the way in which he lived out his vocation that offers the most telling life lessons.
From his childhood, Karol Wojtyla loved to glorify God with his physical body. Friends from his youth describe his love for soccer and games played between rival Catholic and Jewish community teams, and his voluntary desire to "sub in" as goalkeeper for the opposing Jewish team when they found themselves short of players. This man, once described as the "Keep Fit Pope," loved kayaking, camping, hiking, and swimming. ...
Perhaps this is why my heart hurt all the more as we watched him quietly, and with tremendous dignity, accept the crosses of physical, pain, aging, and disability. For his entire papacy, John Paul II wrote and spoke about the dignity of all human life. The grace with which he accepted his physical decline in his final years gave us an eloquent lesson that encouraged me to look at the elderly and physically infirm in my own life with new, more loving eyes.
But as a wife and mom perhaps the greatest lessons I have learned from John Paul II have come from his teachings known as the "Theology of the Body." Honestly, after so many years of hearing the pontiff vilified by a society that bemoaned his commitment to thousands of years of Church teachings on the dignity of all human life, a light turned on in my heart when I read his writings and teachings for myself. ...
The excerpt above shows a bit of how Lisa Hendey surprises me when I open A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Choosing John Paul II for inclusion is not surprising, but noting the way he glorified God with his physical body definitely was. This great pope did so many wonderful things that it is difficult to say which I'd choose to discuss but Hendey, with this emphasis reminds us of how those wonderful things often keyed off of a big message in a way that we truly needed to hear in our day and age. God sends us the saints we need and Hendey's week spent with John Paul II reminds us of how women, spouses, parents, and families can learn so much from him, often in surprising ways.
This isn't the only saint which Hendey shows us from a new angle. Time and again I'd come upon a saint and think that I knew all about their main ministry only to have Hendey pick up a thread that I hadn't thought of in terms of my own life. A few examples:
- St. Thomas More: loving, wise parenthood and blended families
- St. Matthew: good money management and a proper perspective on money's place in the overall scheme of things
- Elizabeth Ann Seton: the difference a housewife makes in daily routines and steadfast witness
I'm just going to say, you need a copy. Don't let the "Moms" on the cover fool you. This is for anyone in a family ... wives, husbands, grown children ... it is simply fantastic. Trust me on this.
Lisa Hendey: Blessed John Paul II and Me
Lisa's promoting her book, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, which you already know that I love. I asked her to write something extra about a saint for us (an author's work is never done, y'all, and I'm proud to help her keep her writing credentials). The result? This great personal reflection.
Thank you, Lisa, and welcome to Happy Catholic on your tour of the Catholic blog world. (Hey, if you need extra towels, just look in that cabinet behind the sink!)
Thank you, Lisa, and welcome to Happy Catholic on your tour of the Catholic blog world. (Hey, if you need extra towels, just look in that cabinet behind the sink!)
When I set out to write a book about the lives of the saints at the request of my publisher in the early weeks of September 2010, I could never have anticipated the way in which my life would be touched personally by the project. With a blank slate and a lot of leash from Ave Maria Press and my editor Eileen Ponder, I set out to create a “dream team” of 52 saints, reflecting for several weeks upon their individual charisms and qualities. One definite on my “must include” list was – as we knew him at that time – Pope Venerable John Paul II.
As with Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the man so many of us lovingly knew as “JPII” was a saint we were able to watch, learn from and love during our own lifetimes. In many ways, his call to the New Evangelization and the celebration of the Great Jubilee in the year 2000 led me to what has now become my own life’s work. How audacious is it that one little mom, living in a suburb with a then non-Catholic spouse, two young sons, and no technical capabilities, could launch a little website that eleven years later would be welcoming millions of visitors each year to know, to love, and to celebrate our Catholic faith? And yet when he called each of us, I did my best to answer.
I put the finishing touches on my then “Pope Venerable John Paul II” chapter for A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms in late December 2010. At that time, I dwelt upon the role of his writings on the Theology of the Body had in my life, doing my best to celebrate the dignity with which he taught us to see and to treasure all human life. Little did I know that a few months later, I would be invited to attend the Vatican Blogger Meeting being held in conjunction with the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II.
Like a dream that just kept getting better, my trip to the Vatican in May 2011 found me nestled amidst a million and a half of my closest Catholic friends on Divine Mercy Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI beatified this man who had beckoned me into an ever deepening relationship with Christ, with our Church and with my spouse. When I filed past his coffin the next day, kneeling amidst a group of priests for an impromptu decade of the Rosary before the Swiss Guards moved us along to make way for the throngs of pilgrims who had come to pay their respects, I gave silent thanks.
I never met Blessed John Paul II personally in life, and yet in so many moments since his death he has been a spiritual companion, and intercessor, and a model of virtue for me. God willing, I hope to be present at his canonization. But in truth, my trip to Rome and my time spent studying the dignity of the life of this man has taught me to look around me at the everyday saints in my own life with greater awareness. Like this humble man from Poland who went on to bring peace to our world and transformation to our Church, each of us are called to the path of sainthood. My path plays out one step at a time, in simple, joyous fashion. I’ll be forever grateful for the companionship of Blessed John Paul II along that journey – wherever it may lead.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Mr. Dark wouldn't let Julie in the mirror maze after he saw her trip over her own feet ... talk about dumb luck!
Scott and I talk about the classic book of carnivals, Halloween, and how our choices shape us: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.
Is it a trick or a treat?
Find out at A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.
Is it a trick or a treat?
Find out at A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.
Heavenly Habits: Prudence
Now for a closer look at the cardinal or moral virtues. I originally wrote this as a bulletin insert for our church our church but I think it works here just as well.
Next up: the virtue of Justice.Heavenly Habits: Prudence1805 Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called “cardinal”; all the others are grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. “If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom’s] labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage.”64 These virtues are praised under other names in many passages of Scripture.
1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; “the prudent man looks where he is going.”65 “Keep sane and sober for your prayers.”66 Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle.67 It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.
Catechism of the Catholic Church-------------------------------------------------------As mentioned previously, a virtue is a good habit that helps us to behave rightly and not to give in to our own contrary impulses. The Church teaches that the “theological” virtues of faith, hope, and charity are given to us by God as gifts. We cannot acquire them by effort. He fills us with them to help us participate in the spiritual life.
On the other hand, the “cardinal” virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude are those which we can achieve through both God’s grace and our efforts. They are known as the “cardinal” virtues because the Latin root cardo means “hinge.” Prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude are the “hinges” on which other human virtues depend. All human virtues are in some way an extension of a cardinal virtue.
If God is giving us the grace already, why would we care about “practicing” virtue? Obviously, we receive God’s grace regardless but certainly it is easier to recognize and take full advantage of it if we’ve been practicing these virtues to get our souls “in shape,” so to speak. Living virtuously also gives us the daily blessings of living a joyful moral life because we are able to exert self-control more easily.
Prudence, the first of the cardinal virtues, is called the “charioteer” of the other virtues because it drives or guides them. The Catechism definition above states that prudence “disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.” Another way of saying this is that prudence allows us to use solid common sense in everyday life. A prudent person has the ability to judge when to kindly temper a potentially harsh comment, how best to avoid a volatile situation, or when it is necessary to take action to resolve a conflict. In short, prudence allows us to judge best how to act decisively but charitably.
Practicing prudence means that we must consider situations carefully before acting. We may need to consult authorities such as trusted advisers, the Catechism, or the Bible. Sometimes, we may need to take extra time to determine the right course of action. It doesn’t mean that we avoid acting, merely that the course is considered sensibly first.
Practicing prudence also helps us to overcome the modern tendencies to sit back and do nothing for fear of offending or to jump in with both feet and trample everyone with brash action. We can steer the right course both for ourselves and in influencing others’ right actions and attitudes. For some of us, acquiring the habit of prudence will seem like a super-human feat, and of course it is. We need God’s grace to perfect this virtue in ourselves. However, if we give it a helping hand by trying to acquire it through regular repetition, it will come all the easier when we need it in a pinch.
-------------------------------------------------------Footnotes64 Wis 8:7.
65 Prov 14:15.
66 1 Pet 4:7.
67 St. Thomas Aquinas, STh II-II, 47, 2.
References
On Monster Patrol: Reviewing "Night of the Living Dead Christian" by Matt Mikalatos
... I had that sudden creepy feeling that something truly horrible stood drooling over my shoulder, and with a fear-fueled shout I spun around only to discover my neighbor Lara.Matt Mikalatos has a problem. His neighborhood is overrun with monsters and he's the captain of the neighborhood watch. He meets zombies, a mad scientist and his robot, vampires, werewolves, and more. Eventually he even befriends a few of them and discovers a secret. They were all human once. In fact, they are all human now. Underneath their monstrous forms, there are humans waiting to be transformed into their true selves.
Lara and I had gone to high school together, so it was this weird thing that she lived across the street now. Weird in the sense that I couldn't help but feel a little bit less like an adult when she was around. She had her long, dark hair swept down, and a tight pair of dress slacks on, and a white collared shirt, and a black cape. Her skin looked pale, I assume because she was frightened of zombies.
"Oh, hey, Lara."
"What's all the racket?" she asked. "I heard this horrible noise in the neighborhood, and then when I looked outside I saw all those people dressed like zombies."
I laughed. "Nothing to worry about. I scared them away by pretending to be a vampire."
Now Lara was laughing too, and I noticed her thin, sharp canine teeth. It seemed a little sad to me that Lara had tried on her Halloween costume a week early, but she was single again and I knew she was lonely and bored sometimes. You going to be a vampire for Halloween?"
She grinned. "Nah. I'm going to be a pirate."
"What's with the teeth then?"
She blushed. "A vampire pirate."
More serious are the interludes where Luther the werewolf records his innermost thoughts. These are the sections where Mikalatos is challenging readers to dig deeper and take a good, hard look at their lives, their actions, and their faith.
The quest undertaken by Matt and his friends is an entertaining journey that leads to sacrifice, redemption, and ultimately the savior who transforms us all, Christ.
Monsters have long been the storyteller's device for examining the problems that we all face when, as St. Paul says in Romans 7:15, "What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate." Mikalatos uses this metaphor to good effect to show Christians new ways to look at their own behavior and where they are denying that they need Christ's help to die to self.
The author doesn't just look at how people live their lives. He also examines types of worship and churches as well. I admit that made me rather wary, knowing that Mikalatos was writing primarily for nondenominational Protestants. However, the two times that Catholics were briefly mentioned, Mikalatos made sure that they were properly understood, as far as he himself understands the Catholic faith (more on that below in the Comments for Catholics). He also took the stance which Catholics believe and affirm, that people are good underneath everything. As Peter Kreeft puts it, we are like masterpieces with big scratches on them.
The ground that is covered isn't necessarily new. Anyone who regularly practices self-examination of conscience will recognize many of the points made. However, trying to rid the neighborhood of monsters is a device that may make the most self-aware Christian realize there is something that is not reflecting properly in the mirror ... and take another look.
Mikalatos wrote a book that is laugh-out-loud funny and that had me pestering family members to read amusing passages. He also has an engaging way of shaking up readers to look at their own lives with fresh eyes. I enjoyed the book very much and feel it can offer a lot to Christians when used for personal discernment about their walk with the Lord.
There were a couple of things that Catholics would need to be open-minded about which I address below.
COMMENTS FOR CATHOLICS ... contains a couple of spoilers
1.
In one spot, the mad scientist is trying to clone Jesus using a chewed communion wafer and wine stolen from a Catholic Church. Mikalatos points out that this is a misunderstanding of transubstantiation to think that Jesus could be cloned from these. It is never stated whether the wafers and wine were consecrated before they were stolen, the theft of which would have constituted one of the gravest of mortal sins. In fact, it is a supreme desecration that gave me a nasty jolt when I read it because the host was somewhat chewed ... so I couldn't assume that consecration hadn't taken place. However, it is clear from the way that the story is written that the author is not trying to upset anyone and it is actually a logical leap for a scientist to make. Especially a "mad" one.
2.
In the end, every church the group of friends tries winds up having a serious problem. There is no church that doesn't have some sort of doctrinal error, whether real or misunderstood by one character or another. Eventually, "church" seems to be a gathering of friends and family by a river for baptism.
Now, there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that scenario for a lot of Protestants, but for Catholics the Church can't be cast aside so easily. Even Catholics who regularly criticize the Church recognize that there is great good that comes from her ... or they would leave. The Catholic point of view is that your family isn't your church, your Church is your family.
Catholics' love for their Church and her teachings goes far beyond the book's "zombie" church where everyone blindly obeys what the founder/pastor has written in his study Bible. Again, it is made pretty clear that the author isn't taking shots at any one group, at least as far as I can tell. He is just addressing believers who turn off their brains at the church door and blindly follow whatever they are told. That's a definite no-no in the Catholic faith where we are called on to be sure we understand the Church's teachings. I'd bet that every Catholic priest and bishop would laugh at the idea of parishioners who blindly do what the Church teaches without questioning it, even as they obey.
Although the author seems to cast off any sort of organized religion, in the end this story is the quest of a group of friends for individual transformation and that is how I chose to read it. Your milage may vary.
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