Some Silence for the Triduum

Circumstances won't allow my attending Holy Thursday and Good Friday Masses this year. I find that I am lucky that I've attended enough in the recent past that my memory stays hauntingly fresh. I was mentally taken there when I saw the palms on Palm Sunday and when looking ahead through the Magnificat readings this morning.

I'm going to duck out of the blog until after Easter, although I have prepared some items to take us through that most holy day of the year. I wish for all of you a very blessed Triduum, a celebratory and jubilant Easter.

See you Monday!

(This post will be "stuck" at the top of the blog until then. Just scroll down for the day's posts.)

This Was Unexpected ... and as Far as I Can Tell, It Isn't an April Fool's Joke

I have been asked to be one of three Catholics appearing tomorrow morning on The Takeaway, a live national radio show. We'll be discussing the current scandals in relation to how it has affected my faith, etc.

It will at 5 in the morning (Dallas time, CST) for the first 15 minutes. (What I suffer for the faith, right? ha!)

It will be two "ordinary people" ... one of whom is me, natch ... and a Catholic journalist.

Update
Well, that was an interesting experience. I'm glad that Tom taped it on a computer in the other room because I finished thinking that a headline would read something like, "Local Oaf on Radio Show." Upon listening, however, I was not quite as off target as memory showed. Though I believe I proved that one can still ramble even within two sentences. There is a definite talent to putting out those concise, targeted news-byte answers and I now have a new respect for those who do it.

You can listen here or at the embedded audio below. My press agent (a.k.a. Tom) went back to the page later and saw the pull quote for the story. So I guess it wasn't a total train wreck!

People are people are people throughout time. So once the first horror of what's happened is over, you kind of have to get a grip, and if you're going to remain Catholic you have to look at the bigger picture.

— Julie Davis

In which we observe a pair of adventurers in 1880's New Orleans ...

... in the Saratoga Trunk sampler at Forgotten Classics.

As well as find out about a nifty blog that reviews audio dramas.

Now with more dogs than ever! You don't want to miss this one!

Get it while it's hot!

A Little Reading on the Scandals in the Church

Screaming headlines and gossip on various blogs are not very helpful when considering the revelations of the horrible betrayals by the priests and bishops in the Irish and German Catholic church. There is no doubt that, as was done by some American priests and bishops, great evil was done to the innocent. Frankly, it broke my heart to hear about it then and it breaks my heart again to hear about it. I pray for the victims and I pray for the perpetrators.

However, it is also helpful to consider some facts to help offset the scandal mongering and misunderstandings. I recommend reading these three articles which do not excuse the evil done, but do help put things in proper perspective.

• How Could It Happen? Tracing the Causes of Sexual Abuse by the Clergy: Father James Martin, Huffington Post
• Keeping the Record Straight on Benedict and the Crisis by John Allen, National Catholic Reporter
• A Papal Conversion by John Allen, NY Times Op Ed

The Anchoress also has many more links available should anyone wish to look further.

For myself, I think the greatest value comes in reading below the links (or most of them) where she reveals some of her personal past and her answer to an embittered young man who feels betrayed into wondering if there is any true Christianity at all.

A fair question, and perhaps the one that most vividly portrays the really big picture on how personal sins are never really only about us. Our personal acts of evil (let's say it like it is, right?) always, always affect others. Those ripples flow into places we cannot possibly foresee and affect not only others, but the faith as a whole. In our personal sins we drive others away from Christ. We cannot always see the ripples but that is not the point, should never be the point. That responsibility can now be seen and it is a rock placed on the shoulders of all the faithful. No wonder we need Christ's grace.

No wonder.

This week is Holy Week when our personal sins, our personal evils, drove Christ through His Passion to save us. What better time to reflect upon personal evils and the hurt they do to others? He calls us to repent that we may believe and have eternal life. Let us look with clear eyes to see the cost.

Holy Week Reflections are Not Showing Up in RSS Feeds

At least, they're not showing up in Google. Just thought I'd mention that for anyone who, like me, depends on their RSS feed to show them ALL!

This is probably because I took old posts, updated and saved for reposting. I'd like to give y'all fresh content each time, but when I read these there is always something new that I need to see. So I figure, tradition isn't a bad thing, especially for Holy Week.

There is a series on Holy Week and a series reflecting on the wedding at Cana and the Passion. For those you actually must drop by ... in person, so to speak.

For every bad thing that anyone says about the internet ...

... there are also times when we are allowed to see the grace and love that can flow when one of our own is hurting.

If we miss the witness that great friendships can be formed and supported this way, then we are reminded. It does matter. It is real.

Invisible but real.

Like prayers.

Like love.

Like God.

We know it is there. We feel it.

I am grateful for my circles of invisible friends.

I was grateful when my dad died and you lifted us up. I am grateful now, when it is plain old everyday life.

Just wanted you to know that.

Friday Litany: Litany for Priests

It is the year of the priesthood, our diocesan newspaper was just all about Dallas priests, and we are coming into a time of the liturgical year when they are busy and tired. Hopefully, in the midst of that they will also be renewed. A long one but a good one, from that wonderful spot to find a litany that hits the spot.

Litany for Priests

Let us pray for the Holy Father:
fill him with courage and grace, Lord.

Cardinals, archbishops, and bishops:
give them a shepherd's heart, Lord.

Diocesan priests:
fill them with your Spirit, Lord.

Priests in religious orders:
perfect them in their calling, Lord.

Priests who are ill:
heal them, Lord.

Priests who are in danger:
deliver them, Lord.

Priests who are weak:
strengthen them, Lord.

Priests who are poor:
relieve them, Lord.

Priests who have lost their zeal:
renew them, Lord.

Priests who are sad:
console them, Lord.

Priests who are worried:
give them peace, Lord.

Priest who are old:
sustain them, Lord.

Priests who are alone:
accompany them, Lord.

Missionary priests:
protect them, Lord.

Priests who are preachers:
enlighten them, Lord.

Priest who direct souls:
instruct them, Lord.

Priests and religious who have died:
bring them to glory, Lord.

For all priests:
give them Your wisdom and knowledge.

For all priests:
give them Your understanding and counsel.

For all priests:
give them reverence and awe of You.

For all priests:
give them patience and love.

For all priests:
give them obedience and kindness.

For all priests:
give them a burning zeal for souls.

For all priests:
give them virtues of faith, hope and love.

For all priests:
give them an intense love for the Eucharist.

For all priests:
give them loyalty to the Holy Father and their Bishops.

For all priests:
give them respect for life and human dignity.

For all priests:
give them integrity and justice.

For all priests:
give them humility and generosity.

For all priests:
give them strength in their labors.

For all priests:
give them peace in their sufferings.

For all priests:
give them great love for the Trinity.

For all priests:
give them great love for Mary.

For all priests:
let them be the light of Christ.

For all priests:
let them be the salt of the earth.

For all priests:
let them practice sacrifice and self-denial.

For all priests:
let them be holy in body, mind and spirit.

For all priests:
let them be men of prayer.

For all priests:
may faith shine forth in them.

For all priests:
may they be concerned for our salvation.

For all priests:
may they be faithful to their priestly vocation.

For all priests:
may their hands bless and heal.

For all priests:
may they burn with love for you.

For all priests:
may all their steps be for the glory of God.

For all priests:
may the Holy Spirit fill them,
and give them His gifts in abundance.

Let us pray.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
hear the prayers we offer for our priests.
Let them know clearly the work that You are calling them to do.
Grant them every grace to answer Your call with courage,
love, and lasting dedication to Your will.
We ask Mary's intercession as their loving mother.

Amen.

I Didn't Know That: Something Interesting About Pope Benedict's Letter to the Irish

I've heard about the pope's letter, people saying that it was too mild, that there should also have been a letter to Germans and others, and so forth.

However, this has been the first time I've read anything that really surprised me. Turns out Pope Benedict has done something very new in that letter and it has slipped past everyone, more or less. Emphasis added is mine.

ROME, March 25, 2010 – Law and grace. Where earthly justice does not reach, the hand of God can. With his letter dated March 19, Benedict XVI has given the Catholics of Ireland an order never before given by a pope of the modern era to an entire national Church.

He told them not only to bring the guilty before the canonical and civil courts, but to put themselves collectively in a state of penance and purification. And not in the privacy of their consciences, but in a public form, before the eyes of all, even of their most implacable and mocking adversaries. Fasting, prayer, reading the Bible, and works of charity on all the Fridays from now until Easter of next year. Frequent sacramental confession. Continual adoration of Jesus – “ himself a victim of injustice and sin” – present in the sacred host, exposed on the altars of the churches. And for all the bishops, priests, and religious, without exception, a special period of “mission,” a long and strict course of spiritual exercises for a radical review of life.

It’s a daring step, this one taken by Pope Benedict. Because not even the prophet Jonah believed any longer that God would forgive Nineveh its sins, in spite of the penitential ashes and sackcloth worn by all, from the king to the lowliest beast of burden. ...

Read all of Sandro Magister's article here.

Cream Filled Oat Bars

Eat 'em up at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

Master Thriller, Ross Thomas

His writing is featured this week in a rerun at Forgotten Classics. Warning: explicit language, R-rating.

Lenten Online Retreat

The Anchoress is retreating from political news and focusing on the end of Lent. Here's a good place to begin.

So How's It Going With Everyone's Lenten Sacrifices?

I've discovered some very good classical music podcasts.

• Classical Music from Aspen
• Boise Philharmonic Podcast Series
• Archive Classics
  

They have just enough DJ-ish explanation to keep things going, but not enough to overshadow the music ... otherwise they'd be disqualified.

I also have found some great BBC classical shows like Discovering Music and The Early Music Show, as well as a couple of interesting BBC jazz shows like Jazz Library and Jazz Record Requests (thank you again Radio Downloader!)

Not to mention my regular favorites The Happy Hour Lounge and Theme Time Radio Hour with Bob Dylan.

However, I realized a couple of weeks ago how much I miss those spoken words when I misplaced my editing notes on that episode of Forgotten Classics and had to proof it a second time. Contrary to previous experiences, I didn't complain. I welcomed it! Oh, oh.

All that is to say that I have been struggling to keep from putting my post-Easter plan of one hour a day (to try to control the listening beast) into action now. Rationalizing, don't you know, that I see where the problem is, now I just must work on getting a handle on it.

I saw a few people here and there recently saying things like we give up things for Lent by the grace of God and if we fall, well God gives us grace then too. Or something like that.

It all sounded pretty good until I realized that part of this is about exercising (or taming) my will. If I fall, then I am supposed to get up and try again. And again. And, yes, even again if that is what it takes.

Otherwise it is all an easy thing like letting go of a New Years' resolution. I have to believe that opening that space for God is worth more struggle on my part. (Although, I here proudly report that I still haven't bought a book this year. Whew!)

Now, just to give me something to really look forward to, I received yesterday from SFFaudio, Dimiter by William "the Exorcist" Blatty.

Oh. Yeah.

Here's the skinny

Dimiter opens in the world’s most oppressive and isolated totalitarian state: Albania in the 1970s. A prisoner suspected of being an enemy agent is held by state security. An unsettling presence, though subjected to unimaginable torture he maintains an eerie silence. He escapes—and on the way to freedom, completes a mysterious mission. The prisoner is Dimiter, the American “agent from Hell.”

The scene shifts to Jerusalem, focusing on Hadassah Hospital and a cast of engaging, colorful characters: the brooding Christian Arab police detective, Peter Meral; Dr. Moses Mayo, a troubled but humorous neurologist; Samia, an attractive, sharp-tongued nurse; and assorted American and Israeli functionaries and hospital staff. All become enmeshed in a series of baffling, inexplicable deaths, until events explode in a surprising climax.

Told with unrelenting pace, Dimiter’s compelling, page-turning narrative is haunted by the search for faith and the truths of the human condition. Dimiter is William Peter Blatty’s first full novel since the 1983 publication of Legion.

Click through on the link to hear an excerpt.

As for the adding on part of Lent, I have made it to daily Mass almost every weekday. I have not managed to get into the speed-rosary in the back of the church, but it does make a wonderful background of prayer washing over me as I sit somewhat apart involved in my own communion with Jesus. So I do what I can on that front.

So that's all about me! How about everyone else? What's up with giving up and adding on for you?

Martyrdom — The Same Then and Now

Main Entry: 1mar·tyr
Pronunciation: \ˈmär-tər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness
Date: before 12th century

1 : a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion
2 : a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle
3 : victim; especially : a great or constant sufferer

Merriam-Webster

In discussing Mike Aquilina's Father's of the Church over the last two months, our Catholic women's book club has come back repeatedly to the subject of martyrdom.

Partly the issue has been clouded by the new awareness of Muslim martyrs in our lives. This has led to several talks clarifying the difference between Christian and Muslim martyrs. If only we had thought to go to the dictionary. I believe that the first definition perfectly speaks to the Christian model. The second definition also applies to Christian martyrdom and is stretched in an extreme fashion by some Muslims for their own faith. That distinction is vital. A true Christian martyr does not attack others. They are witnesses to their faith, not inflicting it on others, such as those very misguided people who bomb abortion clinics which is very unChristian behavior indeed.

This naturally led to discussion of whether it is better to stand or to run, prompted by St. Cyprian's example, who having weighed martyrdom versus leading his flock from hiding chose to flee. He is a saint and a father of the church, but his example also led to great division among the priests and faithful under his care.

The question that example raised is that if God is always on the side of life, would He want people embracing martyrdom of the "lions in the arena" type, which seemed an unhealthy thing to seek out.

This also brought up discussion of St. Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned to death. My personal view of St. Stephen is that an integral part of his personality and youth was his great enthusiasm for the truth of Christ. I can see that, again in my own imaginings, he was proclaiming the truth to all as a knight would defend his king. This view was not embraced by all present but I happen to know a number of teenage boys. To me, this fits. I do not think he sought it out or that most martyrs sought it out. It happened because of circumstances, personality, and the necessity of telling the truth.

I, myself, as one might expect, tend to go for the model that does not seek out martyrdom but does not run away either.

In the end, we came down to two exemplars who actually embody both of the qualities we found necessary. One is that no one should deliberately seek to throw their life away. The second is that when put to the test, one must witness for truth.

One such example is St. Thomas More. He wriggled this way and that to avoid having to come down to a final confrontation with Henry VIII. However, when it was unavoidable, he did not run or move his family to France which he easily could have done. He stayed where he was, continuing to do the best he could under the circumstances, and did not shirk the direct witness he was called to give. He paid with his life.

Another such example, and the one that prompted the entire discussion, was St. Perpetua. There are a few "mothers" of the church included in the end of the book and she is one. An educated noblewoman and recent convert in Carthage around 200 AD, she was arrested, imprisoned, and killed. Adding to the strain was the fact that she was a new mother and naturally very worried about her infant who eventually was smuggled to her in the prison for a time. She wrote an account of her martyrdom. In it is her witness to her pagan father, her love and anxiety over her babe, and a vision she had. I found her vision to be very heartening because it so clearly showed God's grace under such terrible circumstances and that if we are willing to stand and do our part, that He gives the strength for the rest.

"Then my brother said to me: 'Lady sister, you are now in great honor-so great that you may well pray for a vision in which you may be shown whether suffering or release be in store for you.'

And I, knowing myself to have speech of the Lord for whose sake I was suffering, confidently promised, 'Tomorrow I will brig you word.'

And I made petition and this was shown me. I saw a golden ladder of wonderful length reaching up to heaven, but so narrow that only one at a a time could go up; and on the sides of the ladder were fastened all kinds or iron weapons. And at the foot of the ladder was a huge dragon or 'serpent' which lay in wait for those going up and sought to frighten them from making the ascent.

Now the first to go up was Saturus, who had given himself up of his own accord for our sakes, because our faith was of his own building and he had not been present when we were arrested. He reached the top of the ladder, and turning, said to me, 'Perpetua, I wait for you, but take care lest the dragon bite you,' and I said, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, he will not hurt me.'

And the dragon put out his head gently, as if afraid of me, just at the foot of the ladder; and as though I were treading on the first step, I trod on his head. And I went up and saw a large garden, and sitting in the midst a tall man with white hair in the dress of a shepherd, milking sheep; and round about were many thousands clad in white. And he raised his head and looked upon me and said, 'Welcome, child.' And he called me and gave me some curds of the milk he was milking, and I received it in my joined hands and ate; and all that were round about said Amen. At the sound of the word I awoke, still eating something sweet.

And at once I told my brother, and we understood that we must suffer and henceforth began to have no hope in this world.

Source

Note that neither of these two sought out martyrdom. Indeed, they had everything to live for in this world. However, when it came down to witnessing to the truth, they could not deny it. Very important to my mind, is that dragon curled around the bottom of the ladder. Dragons or serpents are often imagery for Satan and I can imagine that the temptation to turn aside from offering a true witness may be our natural fears but also could be very strongly pushed from this source.

Mulling all this over this morning, it came to me that the one essential point we had not boiled it down to was the word "witness." Martyrs are witnesses to the truth. Whether the sort of witness we are likely to encounter in dealing with people in everyday life or the more final sort that people face all the time in other countries (there have been more Christians martyrs in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined or so I have heard ... anyone got facts on that?), we are called to be witnesses and not run away from witnessing what is true. Each of us must weigh what that means in each situation, as with all things, and also in our relationship with God.

I thought at that point to look at the dictionary. Aha.

from Greek martyr-, martys witness

How you are called upon to witness is individual to each of us. Whether we choose to stand or run is also individual and in most cases no one will ever know. Except us. And God.

Mudslinging Authors

Oscar Wilde on Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop: “One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing.”

Mark Twain: “Jane Austen? Why I go so far as to say that any library is a good library that does not contain a volume by Jane Austen. Even if it contains no other book.”

W.H. Auden on Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “There was little about melancholy that he didn’t know; there was little else that he did.”

These are just a few favorites of mine from the remarks that Sherry has gathered together. Note that I don't necessarily agree. I simply find them hilarious. Read the rest at Semicolon.

Via Brandywine Books where there are a few other amusing comments.

This is Why I Print Out Long Blog Posts to Read at My Leisure

“In research on how people read websites we found that 79 percent of our test users always scanned any new page they came across; only 16 percent read word-by-word. (Update: a newer study found that users read email newsletters even more abruptly than they read websites.)”

As I have discovered to my sorrow ... so I tend to write long emails with paragraphs of one sentence ... at least people read part of each sentence that way.

Read the whole BRIEF post from Writing, Clear and Simple with some excellent tips on writing emails and for the web.

Worst Family Christmas Ever: The Lion in Winter

Alternate headline:
The Ultimate in Scenery Chewing: There's Another Two Hours I'll Never Get Back

Additional alternate headline:
Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing

Ugh.

Good actors go 'round in circles for several hours, ending up where they began. It was the original with Katherine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton et al. A waste of time, money, and actors as far as we could tell. Which was a great disappointment.

Great sets and production. I especially enjoyed the many dogs hanging around and the chickens everywhere. That all seemed authentic.

The same two people who recommended this movie also recently strongly recommended Becket. I don't think so ... my time is precious.

Temptation and the Road to Redemption: The Surprising Honesty of "The Good Wife"

Spoilers abound below.

And I'm paraphrasing any dialogue.

As I have said before, we continue to be pleased with The Good Wife. The writers continue to produce interesting, suspenseful courtroom drama each week within a larger story arc of the "good wife" of the cheating, convicted politician.

This week the show rose to new heights while intelligently examining honesty within marriage and religion, in my opinion.

First, in Peter Florrick's attempt to reenter the political ring, he approached an influential African-American pastor for help in winning back the black female vote. What he found was an uncompromising Christian who refused to overlook a man's soul in order to curry political favor. It was refreshing to see Pastor Isaiah not deliver platitudes and not back down.

He told Peter, "Your marriage is in trouble. You don't believe it but it is. You are sleeping in separate bedrooms. You aren't repentant for what you did and your wife knows it." That is when I sat up, pointed at the TV and turned to Tom, saying, "YES! He says he's innocent of the fraud but he's never said he's sorry about the prostitute" (with whom he slept multiple times before being caught.)

To be fair, this isn't the first time I've said this and Tom doubtless is tired of hearing me say it. Now, if I feel that way, just imagine how Alicia Florrick feels. However, I digress.

It was equally refreshing to see Peter respond honestly instead of saying what the pastor would want to hear when asked, "Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save your soul?" Peter said, "I don't even know what that means."

Pastor Isaiah said, "Do you want know what it means?" Peter said, "No!"

Now, that is honest. As is Pastor Isaiah's next question, "Do you want to change?"

That strikes to the heart of the issue. Why would anyone be attracted to faith unless there was something in their own life that they wanted to be changed? Peter's rather confused response leaves the door open for further conversation. As Alicia found when she returned home, things went rather further than Peter probably expected.

What we don't know is if Peter is stringing Pastor Isaiah along, although I'd bet on Pastor Isaiah for knowing when someone is taking him for a ride. As we see later, Peter doesn't seem to be lying. We are told that there are follow-up conversations with the pastor. After Alicia has seen a small cross in Peter's room, she asks, "Are you becoming religious?" He says, "I don't know."

Again, that rings true to me. As does a later conversation when he tells her with increasing enthusiasm that, "I want to change. I want to change inside" while he thumps his heart. Been there. Feel it.

The writers didn't take the easy way out with platitudes and stereotypes. Kudos. Future developments in this area are going to be interesting.

Second, is Alicia's relationship with Will, her boss and former college sweetheart. We know they're attracted to each other although, along the lines of restraint that are the hallmark of the excellent acting on the show, they haven't done more than give us an expression on their faces every so often.

When Will was at his lowest point, you just knew he was going to give in and plant that kiss on her. What was unpredictable was whether she was going to return it, which she did ... the whole time I was saying (more like, shouting aloud), "No, NO! Don't do it. DON'T!"

So I was quite relieved when she broke off and left the building ....

... and quite upset when she was returning ...

... and quite relieved when she didn't find Will ...

... and quite upset when he found out later that she'd returned and went to talk to her about the fact that she'd been ready to pursue the kiss if only he'd been there.

What an emotional roller coaster -- I hated it.

However, it set up a interesting dilemma. Anything that might develop along those lines would be a deliberate decision, not a moment of weakness that she and Will give in to as would have happened this week. It provides a parallel for her decisions to possibly travel the road that Peter did in deliberate unfaithfulness. I like to think that she has too much integrity for that route (and Will too for that matter). It is especially interesting when Peter is pursuing internal change that may lead to personal and marital redemption.

Of course, this is the writers' skill displayed for us in setting up the tension of these conflicting and contrasting character developments.

We do not often get honesty and fine writing like this on television. The two shows I can think of off the top of my head are House, which after six seasons is still a treasure, and Bones, which although much lighter in approach doesn't flinch at examining difficult questions.

Here's hoping for much more of the same from The Good Wife.

Stand Up for Life in our Health Care

If you live in the United States and haven’t yet done so (or haven’t done so recently), take action on the health care debate.

• First, learn why the U.S. bishops insist that the current Senate legislation must be defeated.
  
  
• Next, go to www.usccb.org/action to email your senators and representatives.
  
  
• Support Bart Stupak and his remaining Democratic allies in resisting the Senate bill.
  
  
• Learn more at American Papist.

Said so perfectly by Steven D. Greydanus at his blog Decent Films that his reward is having me rip it off to present to you.

Now, please don't delay. Do this now.

I say, "Oo." You say, "long."

A music video for tea lovers.

No, really! Go see!

A Flood of Mercy and Joy, with a little bit of Happy Catholic in the mix

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Pat Gohn for her Among Women podcast. Actually, the pleasure was in the lots and lots of talking we both did. Frankly, at this moment, I can't remember just what was in the interview and what was just "between two women" (ha!).

I can't listen until after Easter, but you can hear it now. Three spots to pick it up:

• At her blog
• At her website
• At iTunes

Thanks Pat!