Te Deum laudamus!: July 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Saint Charbel, The Movie

If you liked Into Great Silence, you will probably like a movie on the life of the Maronite monk, hermit, and mystic, Saint Sharbel Makhlouf.

His name is technically spelled, Charbel, and I will use the two interchangeably.

I stumbled upon this movie on YouTube on his feast day, July 24th. I finished watching it tonight and wanted to draw attention to the fact that it is available, with English subtitles. I highly recommend watching this when you can do so in a prayerful way. It is now among my favorite movies on the saints. I wasn't surprised to read this in a report by Catholic News Agency last week on his feast day:

Charbel's superiors observed God's “supernatural power” at work in his life, and he became known as a wonder-worker even among some Muslims. In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk in a nearby hermitage dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

Saint Charbel he canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 9, 1977. Pope Paul VI, in his homily that day, said (slightly edited google translation, emphasis mine in bold):

"Yes, the kind of holiness practiced by Charbel Makhlouf is a great weight, not only for the glory of God, but for the vitality of the Church. Certainly, in the one Mystical Body of Christ, as St. Paul says (cf. Rom 12, 4-8.), Charisms are many and varied; they correspond to different functions, each with its indispensable place. We need Pastors who gather the people of God and president wisely on behalf of Christ. We need theologians who investigate the doctrine and the Magisterium… We need evangelizers and missionaries who carry the word of God over all the world's roads. We need catechists who are teachers and educators informed of faith... We need people who are dedicated directly to the support of their brothers. . . But we also need people who are available to be victims for the salvation of the world, freely accepting penance, in an incessant prayer of intercession, like Moses on the mountain, in a passionate search for the Absolute, God testifying worth to be worshiped and loved for himself. The lifestyle of these religious, monks, hermits of these is not available to all as an imitable charisma; but in its pure state, in a radical way, they embody a spirit which no faithful of Christ is taught, they have a function that the Church…"

I've encountered so many Catholics over the years who tend to think one charism over another is better, when in reality they are all needed. Some people are even dismissive of monastic, cloistered, and eremitical life. Yet, those who follow the call into these ways of life - all do work that is largely hidden to the world. Others are graced to understand the value these souls provide to the Church. In the movie we see Saint Charbel take on the penance of someone who has confessed their sins. When we do penance and prayers of intercession for others, we imitate Christ who offered Himself for our sins (Colossians 1:24). We don't need to be monastics to do this.

Why would a lay person - whether they are single or married, take interest in the life of a holy man who lived much of his life in silence and solitude? While it is not practical for father or mother to practice silence when they should be paying attention to children, there are times during the day, that anyone can choose to turn off various forms of noise - from TV and radio, to text messaging and social media. The question is, do we make use of opportunities to be in silence, and to explicitly offer that silent period up to God for the conversion of sinners or for those in purgatory? These things are hardly taught any more and they are far from passé. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead: Let us help and commemorate them.

If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.

We are also reminded, learning about someone like Saint Sharbel, about other forms of penances, but also about charity. How many times this saint had a reason to complain about someone or something. When confronted with someone who was offending him, he didn't stand there and defend himself because his feelings were hurt. He let it roll off his sleeve. He was secure in his relationship with God to not be concerned with what was said or done to him. When confronted with something troubling or evil, he turned to prayer, silence, and more penance. Making acts of reparation for someone else's sins is something foreign to those of us who were raised to value our self esteem more than our souls, or the souls of others. We need our priests and bishops to talk more about this aspect of our faith.

Some things in the movie may seem harsh or difficult for us to relate. Many of us have grown up in a culture and time when we can choose to overindulge in everything from food to things. Comfort is what the world teaches us to pursue; but is that what we learn from the Crucifixion?

We need more saints like Sharbel among us, not just to pray for us and for the Church in some distant, hidden place, but for what they can teach those close to them, and the rest of us long after they are dead and their stories become public.

Something that really endeared me to this movie, besides the great acting of each of the boys and men who played the role of Charbel from infancy to death, was looking through a different movie lens. I'm accustomed to seeing films made in the US or Italy on the lives of saints. Given that he lived in Lebanon, I was glad to see things as close to "home" as they could be in this movie. I was taken back to time and place. This wasn't about something that took place during the time of Saint Francis of Assisi, yet it seemed so. Even watching how the brothers made wine was interesting or how Saint Charbel pressed a host to be used at Mass. The movie gets into some of the interesting little miracles that happened during his life. They continued after his death, which came following a stroke he suffered during Divine Liturgy on Christmas Eve.

I also found the cinematography aesthetically pleasing. The meditation this movie pulled me into lasted long after I got done watching segments of it. I found it working on my thoughts during the day. There is a desire to be in solitude, and to go into Adoration, or to a daily Mass. The Holy Spirit can work through films like this, just as He can work through books, to move us, if we allow ourselves to be moved.

The video is embedded below, or you can go right to YouTube and watch it there. It is not high quality so the smaller the screen you watch it on the better it will look. Tablet viewing was pretty good, as was my iPhone.

The movie is at Amazon, but it does not have English subtitles. In fact, it says nothing about what language it is in, so I would not recommend getting it unless you contact the seller and ask. The version with subtitles appears to be a work on YouTube. It would be nice to see this movie formally sub-titled and marketed by sites entities like Ignatius and EWTN on DVD. The quality of the story, the scenery, and the acting, makes it a pity it is limited to YouTube, but I'm grateful it is available there.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Visiting a local Chaldean Catholic Church, and thoughts on their Divine Liturgy

I've been trying to make it around to some parishes near my home with Call to Holiness Conference flyers. Lower prices are in effect through August 15th and I'm trying to get the word out. There is a youth conference attached to it, and Chaldean Catholic priest, Fr. Anthony Kathawa, is MC'ing that. He was quite popular with the young people at the last Call to Holiness Conference.

As I walked in, the Divine Liturgy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Warren was about to get underway at 10:00. I ran up to Fr. Fadi Philip and asked him for permission to put out the flyers, which he granted. Having already satisfied my Sunday obligation, I almost left, but decided to stay for the Divine Liturgy. I had been to their Thursday evening Divine Liturgy a few times, which follows a period of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament starting at 5:00 p.m. However, I had never witnessed it on Sunday. More on the Liturgy in a moment.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established in 2013 when the Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit bought the St. Sylvester site in Warren. It closed last year and it's members merged with those of the former St. Edmund's, under the new name, St. Faustina. Given how some shuttered Catholic parishes in the U.S. have ended up vandalized, or sold off to non-Catholic christians, or even non-Christian or secular groups, I was very glad to see the church remain in Catholic hands. They had been renting the parish for some time before that, as a mission. I got somewhat attached to them the way fellow blogger, Terry Nelson got attached to the Ethiopian Catholics near his home. I agree with him - we could use to learn so much from those in other rites. Here in southeast Michigan, there are no shortage of other rites to visit.

Having Chaldean Catholics so close, and having prayed with them in the Divine Liturgy, is a constant reminder of the pain and suffering our Catholic brethren have endured through persecution. I look around at the faces of these people and wonder what they gone through, what they have witnessed, the concerns they have for family and friends back home. My heart breaks as I consider what has happened now in Mosul. Yet, I saw no signs of bitterness or anger or despair. I saw people coming to worship God and lay their fears and concerns on the altar.

Each time I have stopped in at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I have felt a warm welcome, not only by a friendly glance, but by the fact that someone will come up to me in the vestibule to chat. The very first time I went there, I must have looked like a deer in headlights. I had gotten out of work late and was very tired - too tired to go to Assumption Grotto for the 7:00 p.m. Mass and Holy Hour that followed. I noticed cars in the parking lot as I drove by the old St. Sylvester site and realized a Divine Liturgy was probably going to happen. I thought: Why not? A woman, seeing it was my first time, introduced me to the priest, Fr. Fadi. He was very encouraging, and the woman said she would sit with me in the back and explain what was happening as it went along. It was nice to have such a guide. Fr. Fadi gave me Communion in english.

Some thoughts on the Divine Liturgy

This first part of the Divine Liturgy here was in Arabic, and much of what we would call the canon was done in Aramaic. Hearing the words of consecration in the language used by Jesus is a rather profound feeling.

There is nothing casual about this Liturgy. The chanting makes it all the more solemn, as do the gestures, like the bells ringing each time the Persons of the Trinity were mentioned, and people crossing themselves. I could have listened to the chant all day long, even though I could understand none of it. I was glad to see they had booklets in the pews with some English. I was able to follow along. My only regret is not knowing what Fr. Fadi was saying in his homily.

The Divine Liturgy is structured different from the Roman rite, but certain parts are still recognizable. This appeared to be reformed in some ways, but not knowing the history of the rite, I cannot be certain. In contrast to the Roman rite, some things are arranged in different places, and there are some prayers that, quite frankly, would be beneficial. Similar prayers attracted me to the extraordinary form, and I didn't think there were others that would enable me to enter worship of God more deeply, but I found some today. There is no doubt that whether it is the ordinary form of the Roman rite, or the extraordinary form, or one of many variations of Divine Liturgy in the Catholic Church - it is a valid form of worship. But, I find certain prayers in the EF Mass and, in the Divine Liturgy, more helpful to me.

The way the sign of peace was handled was nothing at all like what we see in the ordinary form Mass. I liked that it was placed after the Creed and before the Sanctus. The priest touches the altar, then gives a sign of peace to a man I believed was a deacon. His hands appeared to be clasped and the priest appeared to clasp over them. This was done in a reserved manner. He, then, passed it along the same way to about five or six young servers who then went to the pews behind them making the same hand gesture to those in the front pews. It worked it's way from the front to the back like a wave, everyone waiting quietly to receive it from someone in front of them. Through it all, one could hear a pin drop, such was the silence and reverence. But, this needs to be taken into context of what was prayed directly before (source):

Priest	Peace be with you.
People	And also with you.
Servers	Let us give peace to one another in the love of Christ; Let us praise and beseech the Lord in purity and penance. Reverently look at what is taking place before you, the consecration of these sacred mysteries. The priest has approached to pray that through his mediation, peace may increase among you. Cast down your pride and lift up your thoughts to heaven and attentively pray in your hearts. (Sit)
Server	Be attentive and pray that peace be with us.
Priest	May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever.
People	Amen.
Priest	Lift up your hearts….

The prayer of the servers that I've emboldened includes a gentle admonishment to be attentive in our hearts. Consider that in a mere moment, at the hands of the priest, ordinary bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That prayer sets the proper mood for what is about to happen on the Altar.

This part follows the Consecration during the Invocation of the Holy Spirit:

Priest	May Your Holy Spirit come, our Lord, and rest upon this our sacrifice. May it be blessed and hallowed to become for us the forgiveness of our offenses, the hope of our resurrection from the dead, and the new life in the kingdom of Heaven with all who have pleased You. For Your wondrous graces toward us, we praise and glorify You in Your church, redeemed by the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ.
Server	Remain silent and with respect. Pray that peace be with us.
Priest	With pride and delight let us give praise, honor, glory, and worship to Your life giving and holy name now and forever.
People	Amen. In Your goodness O Lord, have mercy on us. In the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out our offenses. For we acknowledge our offenses and our sins are always before us. Let us hear the sound of joy and gladness. Turn away Your face from our sins and blot out all our guilt. A clear heart create for us O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within us. Cast us not from Your presence, and Your Holy Spirit take not from us. Give us back the joy of Your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in us.

Once again, a server admonishes the people to "remain silent and with respect." I can tell you, it already was silent and respectful, but this, to me, is a good reminder that Jesus is on the Altar. Note again, how the prayer of the people acknowledges sinfulness and seeks the help of God. We don't have too much of this kind of thing in the ordinary form of the Mass, as we do in the extraordinary form. But, I think there is even more in this Divine Liturgy. I like it.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help getting not a few petitions after Divine Liturgy

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Venerable Archbishop Sheen on "Misunderstanding the World"

One thing I like about Archbishop Sheen is his approach to discussing the faith. While he cracks a joke now and then (and is truly funny at times), he's not condescending or bitter when talking about problems in the Church. He's very matter-of-fact about it all. When you hear people quoting Archbishop Sheen, or others like Fr. Hardon, and even Bishop Schneider or Cardinal Burke, watch how they quote them. We should all convey their teachings the way they have been conveyed by them. Find originals and read, watch, and listen for yourself. Here is one such example.

A short time ago, I made another post discussing some apps and online sources for finding audio and video of Archbishop Sheen. I completed listening to a roughly 30 minute talk he gave, opening a retreat he was giving.

The specific talk to which I just listened, twice, is called, "Misunderstanding the World." (You can find other talks from, "A Retreat for Everyone" online.)

This talk took place sometime after Vatican Council II. In the talk, he discusses the confusion over the word, "World" and says this confusion resulted in chaos, especially among the clergy and religious orders, but also among the laity. He explains early in his talk that people were becoming worldly. Their attitudes towards the world were changing. And, at the same time, the Church began to interact with the world and the world with the Church.

In the beginning he speaks about the Church entering the world; and, the world entering the Church. To illustrate the first point he looks at how popes were crowned from 1914 on through Pope Paul VI. I'll let you hear it in the audio rather than try to summarize. After he explains it as he sees it, he asks the question: "Do you see the movement - the Church going into the world?"

Then he shifts into showing how the world was coming into the Church (once again here, we don't have much context yet into the word, "world." This comes later). To illustrate this next part, he makes use of the bishops at major councils. 400 years ago, at the Council of Trent, he says it was all Mediterranean, European, and Latin. Fast forward to Vatican Council I (1870), and it was unchanged. He explains, there was still, not a single bishop from Africa or Asia. Fast forward to Vatican Council II (1962-65) and he says over 60% were from North and South America, Africa, and Asia. I was thinking about how this happened at a point in time when intercontinental transportation was making real progress and not limited to ships which led to long travel times. It all seems to fit into God's plan.

At that last council he said it was not uncommon to hear people say that the Church needed to go out into the world. He then says, "…and they were indeed right [pause]… but, what is the world?"

Sheen explains that Scripture has two meanings of the word, "world." In the first case, it refers to the cosmos, to creation (he quotes from John, Chapter 1 and John 3:16). The second meaning of the word, "world," is a spiritual organization without God. He goes on to explain that when they had heard the Church was going out into the world, they had not made the distinction. "The result," he says, "was chaos among the clergy, in religious orders, and among the laity." Some people went to one of two extremes - on one side, he labels, "the psychotics;" and, on the other side, "the neurotics." He says the psychotics believe that 2 and 2 equal 5 while the neurotics believe 2 and 2 is 4, but they are mad about it.

That is just the beginning of this great talk. Later he goes in to the problem with dialogue retreats and conferences where he says people might feel like they are accomplishing something because they are talking, but it comes at a cost. I agree with him. he called them passé, but I think these things are still happening.

I hope you will take time to listen to it, perhaps more than once. See the link near the beginning of my post.

You can find the whole set of talks from this "Retreat For Everyone " at Amazon in a CD or online at the link I provided near the top of this post.

I'd like to know the year this retreat was recorded so if anyone knows, email me at TeDeumBlog (at) gmail (dot) com. I closed my comment box indefinitely some months ago for a number of reasons, chief among them, no time to moderate and discuss. Most people are discussing in social media like Facebook and elsewhere anyway.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Venerable Fulton Sheen in multi-media…

It's Saturday, I'm doing the usual Saturday pick-up and cleaning. Today, I decided to make use of a free app for iPhone and Droid with MP3 files of Venerable Archbishop Sheen. It's not all free, but a sampling. I learned that I would have to pay $8.99 to unlock all of the files. I considered just how much content there was and felt it was worth it.

This YouTube video shows how the App works.

I discovered that there were many other apps as part of an MP3 audio vault. You can find all kinds of audio to listen to. I've got the one on G.K. Chesterton and listening to a couple of free samples, I thought the quality good enough to pay the $7.99 to unlock the full set. However, the one on the Church Fathers - the few I heard - sounded like they were recorded outdoors or something. So, before unlocking addition in-app purchases, be sure to listen first to the quality of an individual set you are considering. See the full Catholic MP3 Vault options here.

At one of the Fulton J. Sheen websites, you can find most or all of these MP3's so you can click and listen to them on your computer, or download. [Edit: I just learned you have to pay a one time fee of $27 to have access to those MP3's online. However, you can find some here that are open for listening online]

Many of his videos are uploaded on YouTube and other video sites. Here is one I will probably listen to next. Here, he explains the Mass.

Of course, nothing says you need to use multi-media to know Archbishop Sheen. You can see books with the writings of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen here.

Additional resources:

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

August 1: Global Day of Eucharistic Adoration for Persecuted Christians in Middle East

By now, you have hopefully heard of the ethnic cleansing in Mosul, Iraq. ISIS terrorists forced Christians and others out of their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their directive: Convert to Islam in 24 hours, or die.

The FSSP has initiated this, asking all apostolates to join in. Given the time frame, it gives priests and people an opportunity to prepare. Here is their post:

July 22, 2014: August 1, Day of Prayer for Christians persecuted in Iraq, Syria and the Middle East

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter asks all of its apostolates around the world to dedicate Friday, August 1 to a day of prayer and penance for the Christians who are suffering terrible persecution in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East.

August 1 is the First Friday of the month and the Feast of St. Peter in Chains, which is celebrated as a Third Class Feast in FSSP houses and apostolates. It is the feast in which we read of the great power of the persevering prayer of members of the Church: “Peter therefore was kept in Prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

This feast of our Patron should be an invitation to the faithful to join us in Holy Hours and other fitting prayers to beg the Most Holy Trinity that these members of the Mystical Body may persevere in the faith, and that, like St. Peter, they may be delivered from this terrible persecution. May such a day serve as a reminder to us of the stark contrast that stands between our days of vacation and ease, and their daily struggle for survival as they are killed or exiled from their homes.

http://www.fssp.org/en/fildesmois2014.htm#Iraq

I hope bishops and priests will join this effort in their dioceses and parishes on the same day. Find an Adoration chapel and join in, regardless.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Euchre Tournament at Assumption Grotto - July 26

See the Facebook page for an upcoming Euchre Tournament at Assumption Grotto on July 26, at 5:30 PM.

The Call to Holiness Conference is set for September 12-13 at the Sterling Inn in Sterling Heights. See Archbishop Vigneron, Dale Ahlquist, Dr. Peter Kreeft, Fr. William Casey, Sr. John Dominic, and Dr. Ray Guarendi. See the Call to Holiness Website and sign up today. Early bird pricing through August 15th.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Saturday Night: St. Paul Street Evangelization Fundraiser at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Please support this fundraiser if you are able to go, or donate. I am familiar with the work of St. Paul Street Evangelization here in Detroit because I have friends who have been involved. Here is an advertisement, and an earlier letter from Archbishop Vigneron supporting the effort.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the July 16, 2001 Homily of Fr. Robert Altier

May all of my Carmelite brothers and sisters around the world have a blessed feast day.

I found a page with several homilies given over several years on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Fr. Robert Altier. Remember him?

Fr. Altier is a diocesan priest and a secular Carmelite, just like Fr. Perrone, who is the spiritual chaplain of my community which meets at Assumption Grotto on the First Saturday of every month. Yes, diocesan priests who are drawn to a particular religious spirituality can become members of their secular branches, in many cases.

Here is the one he gave on July 16, 2001 - the year of the 750th Anniversary of the Brown Scapular.

I'm going to include this note which accompanies each of the homilies:

Note: Father Altier does not write his homilies in advance, but relies solely upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

Monday July 16, 2001
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Reading I (1 Kings 18:42b-45a)
Reading II (Galatians 4:4-7)
Gospel (St. John 19:25-27)

Today we celebrate the most wonderful feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. One might wonder why Our Blessed Lady would be named after a mountain. If we think about some of the apparitions of Our Lady, when she appears in a certain city they name her after the city. In this particular case, Carmel (which in the ancient world is always considered a holy mountain) is where the hermits lived from the time of the prophet Elijah. In the first reading, we heard about Elijah going up and sitting on top of Mount Carmel (at what would be modern-day Haifa) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. He sent his servant out seven times to see if there was a cloud; there had been three years of drought at this time. Elijah prayed and up from the sea a little cloud, which symbolizes Our Lady, came to Mount Carmel. From that time on, there were hermits that lived on that mountain. They knew that the Mother of God was going to be born to the Jewish people and that she would bear the Messiah. These hermits on Mount Carmel were dedicated to the future Mother of God. They prayed for the woman who would give birth to the Messiah.

We are told, in Saint Matthew's Gospel, that after the birth of Jesus the Holy Family went down to Egypt. But then, because of fear of Herod, they came back by a different route. There were only a couple of routes that they could have taken at that time to get up to Nazareth. They took the route that goes up along the Mediterranean Coast through Caesaria Maritima and up to Mount Carmel. The tradition is that there, on Mount Carmel, the hermits gathered and Our Lady showed to them the Christ Child. There is evidence from the very early centuries of chapels that were dug into the side of the hill in the caves where the hermits lived that were dedicated to Our Lady. They were little Nativity chapels made in the form of the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem. There they worshipped God and they honored Our Blessed Lady. After that, the hermits were no longer devoted to the future Mother of the Redeemer, but to the one that they had seen, the Mother of Our Lord who had come to them and showed them Our Blessed Lord.

Today we also celebrate something else which is very wonderful: the 750th anniversary of the Brown Scapular. In 1251, Our Lady appeared to Saint Simon Stock and gave him the scapular. That is being celebrated today in a special way. If you do not have a Brown Scapular, I strongly urge you to get one. As we heard, in both the second reading and the Gospel, we are children of God and children of Our Lady, adopted sons and daughters of God. From the Cross, Our Lord said, "Behold your mother." Like any mother, Our Lady will clothe us. She has given us this garment of salvation - the Brown Scapular - and promised that anyone who dies wearing the scapular will not go to hell. Anybody who does not wear the scapular needs to stop and think about where their soul is at. Why would we not want to wear the garment of Our Lady, to take on the yoke of Christ (as the scapular covers both sides and goes over the shoulders), to be able to say that this is a sign of a life of holiness and innocence? It is Our Lady's guarantee that she will take care of her children and that she will bring us safe and sound to the glory of Heaven. That is what we celebrate today.

When we think about Our Lady and name her after a mountain, we recall that Jesus is called a mountain. We see that most clearly in Daniel's prophecy. Remember when he sees the statue with four different types of material: bronze, silver, gold, and tile. Then, he sees a little stone hewn from a mountain that becomes a huge mountain and fills the whole world; that is Jesus Christ and He is Carmel. We read Saint John of the Cross and one of his great works is called Ascent of Mount Carmel. It is the way to growth in holiness and perfection. The climbing of Mount Carmel is the climbing of the mystery of Jesus Christ, it is to enter into the depths of Christ. It is Our Lady, Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, who leads us perfectly to her Son and to the top of the mystical mountain.

Once again, there are several years worth of July 16 homilies by Fr. Altier on this page. Incidentally, I found some websites with archive material that is back online.

Here is a bit of history on the feast day:

This feast was instituted by the Carmelites between 1376 and 1386 under the title "Commemoratio B. Marif Virg. duplex" to celebrate the victory of their order over its enemies on obtaining the approbationof its name and constitution from Honorius III on 30 Jan., 1226 (see Colvenerius, "Kal. Mar.", 30 Jan. "Summa Aurea", III, 737). The feast was assigned to 16 July, because on that date in 1251, according to Carmelite traditions, the scapular was given by the Blessed Virgin to St. Simon Stock; it was first approved by Sixtus V in 1587. After Cardinal Bellarmine had examined the Carmelite traditions in 1609, it was declared the patronal feast of the order...

And we end this post with the Flos Carmeli by Floor Peeters

FLOWER of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden; Splendor of heaven, Childbearing yet maiden. None equals thee. Mother so tender, Who no man didst know, On Carmel's children Thy favours bestow. Star of the Sea. Strong stem of Jesse, Who bore one bright flower, Be ever near us And guard us each hour, who serve thee here. Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee. Strongest of armour, We trust in thy might: Under thy mantle, Hard press'd in the fight, we call to thee. Our way uncertain, Surrounded by foes, Unfailing counsel You give to those who turn to thee. O gentle Mother Who in Carmel reigns, Share with your servants That gladness you gained and now enjoy. Hail, Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see. Amen. (Alleluia.)

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Karaganda, Kazakhstan diocese is vacant after Bishop Kaleta resigns

This is a somewhat newsworthy item for those of us familiar with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC, since he is one of a handful of bishops in the small country of Kazakhstan.

Bishop Janusz Kaleta has resigned. He has had charge of the diocese of Karaganda since 2011, where Bishop Schneider served as auxiliary bishop (2006-2011). Source: VIS-News

- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, presented by Bishop Janusz Wieslaw Kaleta, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop Kaleta was is only 49. Here is paragraph 2 under CIC 401 on resignations.

§2 A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfilment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.

Whatever the reason, we should pray for Bishop Kaleta.

Vacant See and a Handful of Bishops

With regards to the Diocese of Karaganda, which is now vacant, you can count on one hand the number of bishops in Kazakhstan. Unless someone is transferred to Kazakhstan, or there is a new bishop elevated from among priests working there, I suspect after 8 years serving as an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Schneider may be headed back to his old diocese. He was in charge of the project to build a cathedral there (see interview here and news story on the dedication to of Our Lady of Fatima). Just prior to that, he was transferred to the metropolitan See of Astana.

An interesting side note, was that in 2008, Kazakhstan saw the first priestly ordination of a native of the country, at least in modern times.

More on the Church in Kazakhstan here.

COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG HAVE BEEN DISABLED INDEFINITELY.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Video: "I have 422 Friends, yet I'm lonely…"

I saw this on Facebook, then found it on YouTube to embed here. It has a great message and it is done with class. You might have to get past the commercial. It has over 44 million hits. It's called, "Look up."

COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG HAVE BEEN DISABLED INDEFINITELY.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

No. Cardinal Woelki didn't say that (Part 2)

Yesterday, I saw a blog post by Patrick Archbold, at his personal blog, Creative Minority Report, about a Catholic prelate in Germany entitled, "Putting the Homo-Heretics in Charge," I decided to do some digging into the matter to see if a controversial quote from the early spring of 2012 attributed to the Cardinal was authentic or a media-hack job that went viral. I explained in my post yesterday, why I believe it is the latter.

In that post, I had not linked to Patrick's original blogpost, as I have above now, because I was hoping he might change the title. But, after some discussion with him through private message last night, and with a public response by him to my post, I felt it was best to let people see his words and the justifications he is using since he is standing by his title, and his position on Cardinal Woelki. We pretty much agreed to disagree and parted amicably. I'm sure he is praying for me as I am praying for him.

Right now I'm interested in probing the issue deeper in order to see if we can get better clarity in the English language, and there is something worth sharing that was found late last night in German media.

A second interivew on the controversial issue with Cardinal Woelki

Last night, after my discussions with Patrick and editing my original post for further clarity on my understanding of the Cardinal's words based on a different translation of the diocesan spokesman than he had in his response to me, I went looking in German language press for more information. I can't speak or read German so I am at the mercy of an auto-translator. After many years of getting translations from Richard Chonak on various things, I've learned how easy it is to get the wrong idea about something said through an auto-translator, and even through other translators who have only a basic knowledge of the language. I've seen people persecuted over things they didn't say because of reliance on auto-translators and on translations done by people with less experience in a given language. So, that makes me cautious when I hear something about a prelate in another country.

I found some things last night and sent them to Richard Chonak. First, I found that in 2011, Cardinal Woelki hit the hornets nest in Berlin when he first took over, causing a lot of anger in the local homosexual community. Anger is an understatement. The reason they were angry is because he had been very direct about Catholic teaching and homosexual acts. Perhaps he wasn't clear enough that it was the acts he was speaking of, but in an interview in early 2012, he seemed to be trying to calm the storm. You can read the hacked version of what the German media provided, and which spread to other countries, including the U.S. in the post I made yesterday. You will find that the diocesan spokesman for Berlin stated that the Cardinal's words were, "severely truncated." We all know how that can change the entire meaning of a statement, not just the context.

Richard was able to find the original source for an interview I saw discussed that happened with Cardinal Woelki about six months after the interview in early 2012. The interviewer asks questions about that controversial quote and the Cardinal responds. Richard Chonak, in his post, "What did the Cardinal Really Say?" offers his translation of that part of the interview. I would invite everyone to read it carefully, and ask if they really believe that this Cardinal is a so-called, "homo-heretic." If he has fault in anything, it might be with the fact that he made a statement which could easily be misunderstood.

That same interview is discussed elsewhere in German media, but what prompted me to ask Richard to find the original is that they summarized part of what he said, then gave a quote, and I felt there was something missing. I was right.

The Cardinal gave examples in the original interview of what he meant when he said "recognizing the relationship." If you read the full interview at Richard's blog, Catholic Light, the way I see it, he is distinguishing between judgment of sexual acts and judgment of acts of compassion, such as caring for another who is sick. He mentions how we recognize the relationship, and respect the care given, by an adult child of an elderly parent. He then points out that a homosexual person who gives such care to a dying partner is also something to be recognized. Here again, he is not saying that we should recognize sexual activity, but the act of compassion of one human being giving care to another. Putting this into my own example, if I see a self-avowed gay man pull someone from a burning house, it's not only okay to recognize that he put his life on the line, I should respect what he did as I would any other person who does not have same-sex inclinations. By recognizing that heroic act, I am not condoning the homosexual life style.

Some will still take issue with this by continuing to interpret the entire set of words in the most damning way, rather than interpreting it in the most favorable way. What does the CCC teach us about this?

Unspecific is not equivalent to endorsement

Richard points out something worthwhile at the bottom of his post:

Overall, it sounds like the bishop’s method is close to what the reporter thought: the bishop enunciates Catholic teaching clearly as applying to intra-Church matters; but he is unspecific about what society and the state should do. There is Catholic teaching against unjust discrimination toward homosexual persons, and perhaps the bishop is only calling for observance of that. But he gave no guidance about where the state should restrain itself in granting status to same-sex couples.

I thought the same about the part where he was unspecific, but being unspecific is not equivalent to endorsing same-sex civil unions. That's just an objective fact, so let's be careful there. God didn't gift me or anyone else with reading the Cardinal's soul to state why he is being unspecific and there can be many reasons, which includes the possibility that he does not quite know how to form the words without causing more confusing. In time, he might get specific.

What we cannot do is invent dots where they do not exist to make a line go in a direction we think it is heading. We cannot fill in blanks to fit a particular narrative. And we need to question anything that puts a prelate or the pope in a bad light, whether we like it or not.

Part of the problem is that some are too quick to believe the most ridiculous things pedaled by a secular press that has proved over and again, it is willing to play with the words of our Holy Father and prelates in such a way as to change the meaning, and withhold the context. Sometimes this is done out of haste or ignorance of the consequences and other times it is done in order to further an agenda or narrative that is contrary to Catholic teaching.

I don't think the solution is to put the hierarchy into a dungeon and only let their words filter out through spokesmen. As I pointed out yesterday, if Jesus had walked the earth today, no one would have had their words tinkered with more than him. Maybe that's why he came into the world 2000 years ago instead of today.

While I take serious issue with using offensive language in reference to prelates who say something we believe to be in error, such as Patrick's headline, I understand how some of the confusion happened. What matters is how we treat it going forward.

Final Word: Pray!

One thing I hope we can all agree on is that we can do much more good for the mission of the Church by praying earnestly for Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki and for his diocese. Do a Holy Hour for him. There is no way to offend God by taking any anxiety or anger into Adoration and placing it on his shoulders. This not only helps us, it helps the Cardinal. I recommend the same for the Pope and all clerics. Catholics in ages past didn't have the internet to make them aware of every word and deed of the Holy Father, and bishops in distant places. The Church did just fine without combox warriors berating bishops and the pope every time something controversial comes out.

NOTE: I've gotten some notes from people trying to comment. Comments have been closed on this blog for several months. Blogger does not seems to allow me to prevent you from typing out a comment then seeing it go nowhere. If I hide comments, it hides all comments on every post. It also does not allow me to put a time limit on how long people can post comments so I was moderating comments to posts that were years old. On some posts, moderation can be time consuming and this was interfering with other things I needed to do. Blogger is a free tool which does have limitations. My apologies for any inconvenience.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

No. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki did not say that!

UPDATE: A later interview with the Cardinal was found, taking place about 6 months after this dust-up, and has been translated by Richard Chonak. I discuss it here and provide a link to the translation. http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2014/07/no-cardinal-woelki-didnt-say-that-part-2.html

I know little about Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, recently named to head the Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany, but I'm fairly certain that a scandalous quote attributed to him is false and I'll explain why.

So, what's this all about? First, please read the brief news piece offered by Catholic Culture yesterday as I think it has helpful information.

Now to the heart of the matter. A story was put out, I think back in 2012 in German press, that made it's way into English language (and others, I'm sure) in which the Cardinal allegedly said:

"If two homosexuals take responsibility for each other, if they are loyal to each other over the long term, then one should see this in the same way as heterosexual relations."

One blogger, reacting yesterday to the news of Cardinal Woelki's transfer from Berlin to Cologne used the misguided headline, "Putting the Homo-Heretics in Charge." Pitiful. I'm not a fan of shock-jock reactionary blogging and reporting because there is nothing like being in the room when a cigarette ash drops on gunpowder. I won't link to it because it's just distasteful. A number of combox warriors, predictably, presume it is authentic news. Needless to say, the blogpost comment section houses some pretty rash remarks about the Cardinal, and the Pope. I left a comment there and saw that it had posted, so I thought. Some 45 minutes later, I could not find my comment. Hopefully, it was simply lost and not censored out. I decided to make this post rather than try to comment there again. [confirmed it was in moderation cue]

So, it seems in 2012, secular media sources in the US, and Catholic bloggers - including professional journalists who blog, ran with the line that Cardinal Woelki gave a green light to active homosexual relationships. This despite the glaring conflict with Catholic teaching that should have had at least the Catholics checking the source, and the accuracy of the quote, even unto asking for a clarification from the diocese. Now it is getting recycled in 2014.

Rod Dreher, writing at The American Conservative, was one such person using the quote in 2012 but he at least precedes it with, "if the report is accurate." To his credit, he updated his post twice, including one with a statement from the Cardinal's Press Secretary back in 2012, saying he was grateful to have the clarification (See "Update 2" here). He writes:

UPDATE.2: A German-speaking reader, to whom I am grateful, translates Cardinal Woelki’s press secretary’s statement about the matter as follows: Press Secretary Stefan Förner explained that media reports had severely truncated [the Cardinal's] words. It is the Cardinal’s desire that homosexuals are “not discriminated against.”

The press secretary then explained [the Cardinal's statements] word for word to KATH.NET: “Cardinal Woelki set long-term homosexual relationships in which two people have already made a life-long commitment to one another in relation to [certain] heterosexual relationships which indeed are not in any case “in [proper] Catholic order” (the unmarried, those lacking commitment, etc.). A comparison with sacramental marriage between man and wife was absolutely not the theme.”

Press secretary Förner explained in concluding to KATH.NET: “Sacramental marriage between man and woman retains its special role. I see no cause for confusion.”

EDIT: Because we are dealing with a translation, the word order may not be expressed the way we would in every day English. My understanding of the one paragraph [in the translation quoted from Dreher's post update] is that the Cardinal was saying that long term homosexual relationships are not any more proper than heterosexual couples, living together, and not sacramentally married. I understand that the the heterosexual couple's relationship is ordered in the way nature intended it and that a homosexual couple's relationship is not in the natural order. Therefore, the Catholic Church could thus never consider it ordered. He seems to be saying that in either case, they are not in the [proper] Catholic order, but to my reading does not seem to be saying both are in the natural order. [I had to edit this again to correct a double-negative that was misleading].

Also, in common language we might refer to two people of the same gender, living together long term with sexual relations as having a "relationship" or having "loyalty." Such a statement could be made as a matter of objectivity without condoning the nature of the relationship or loyalty. Is it possible this is what Cardinal Woelki meant?

Falsehood spread on the internet is the gift that keeps on giving. Unfortunately, many secular and Catholic sources probably never saw that updates. Those using it today may not be scrolling down to read the updates, or they are getting the quote from others who did not know about, or did not care to share, the update, for whatever reason.

The English edition of La Stampa's, Vatican Insider website, rather than quoting the Berlin spokesman, simply stated, "The Diocese of Berlin’s press office hastened to clarify that Woelki did not mean to say that same-sex unions were the same thing as marriage." This makes it look like he said the outrageous quote, but didn't mean it that way. It's also lazy journalism suffering the effects of, "gotta get it out now; don't have time to do the homework"

What is happening to Cardinal Woelki with that distorted quote reminded me of the great story on St. Philip Neri where he tells a gossiper to bring him a chicken, but to pluck the feathers as it is brought to him. The feathers scatter all over the town. When the chicken is handed to him all plucked, he then orders the feathers all be collected again. Of course, this is impossible. That was his point - you can't get gossip and falsehood back once it comes out. It is depicted in one of my favorite movies, Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer Heaven, but on YouTube, you can only see a 3 minute clip in Italian with non-english subtitles. You get the idea. I see that happening every time there is a swift reaction and a blogpost update. Just because some news source or high-traffic blogger, or talking head tell us something, it doesn't mean we should run out and share it.

If we discover we were involved in the spread of falsehood there is a healthy remedy that is good for the soul. Often times, there are other underlying sins preceding the spread of untruths, such as sins against prudence, but hold that thought for the moment, I'll come back to it. It's good to ask a Confessor to judge if a case is venial or grave if one is unsure, but there are graces that come from expressing remorse in participation even when the conditions are not met for grave sin. There is also the counsel of the priest that can be helpful in overcoming. Gossip - in it's many forms, is one of the most addicting vices we can engage in. Our fallen nature enjoys it like prime rib.

How many times have we seen the words of our Catholic prelates truncated, snipped, and re-arranged in such a way as to put words into their mouths that they never said? Have we learned nothing about how the Angel of Darkness wants to divide and conquer? Some want to blame the Holy Father and the prelates for the fact that others miscommunicate - either ignorantly or intentionally - what they say. Others don't want them communicating with any sources other than through official archdiocesan or Vatican offices, thinking that will prevent such things. I've seen those official press releases get twisted by major news suppliers, as well, simply by omitting a few key words. I cannot imagine how the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ would have been filtered down through the kind of media machine we have today. I do know that the sins and imperfections journalists, bloggers, talking-heads, and com-box warriors would not have stopped Jesus from proclaiming the truth everywhere he went and with whatever tools were available.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that rash judgment, detraction, and calumny are all sinful - sometimes gravely sinful (CCC 2477-78). I think we are seeing many manifestations that Catholics do not understand sins against the 8th Commandment, especially as they can occur on the internet.

We, on the internet, need to slow down and start questioning sources and accuracy of quotes. What compels us to react the minute we hear something before we question it more discreetly so as not to scandalize others needlessly? I can say this because I've been equally as guilty at times of jumping on something only to wish I hadn't offered an opinion so quickly. When something sounds outrageous, it might be best to let some time pass before reacting to it. Nothing requires us to blog today on something that happened this morning, or yesterday, especially if someone's good name is at stake.

Fr. John Hardon, in his Modern Catholic Dictionary, defined sins against prudence by defect and excess. What he says about imprudence by defect applies to situations like this.

Sins against prudence that are either by defect or by excess. Sins by defect against prudence are: rashness, which acts before due consideration has been given; thoughtlessness, which neglects to take the necessary circumstances into account; and negligence, which does not give the mind sufficient time for mature deliberation.

Here is something Pope Benedict XVI said in his homily on Palm Sunday 2010 for Youth Day XXV:

Jesus walks before us and towards the heights. He leads us to what is great, pure. He leads us to that healthy air of the heights: to life in accordance with the truth; to courage that does not let itself be intimidated by the gossip of prevalent opinions; to patience that bears with and sustains the other.

Don't follow others over the proverbial cliff.

Te Deum laudamus!

Pages

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Saint Charbel, The Movie

Further Reading:

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Visiting a local Chaldean Catholic Church, and thoughts on their Divine Liturgy

Some thoughts on the Divine Liturgy

Further Reading

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Venerable Archbishop Sheen on "Misunderstanding the World"

Venerable Fulton Sheen in multi-media…

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

August 1: Global Day of Eucharistic Adoration for Persecuted Christians in Middle East

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Euchre Tournament at Assumption Grotto - July 26

Friday, July 18, 2014

Saturday Night: St. Paul Street Evangelization Fundraiser at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the July 16, 2001 Homily of Fr. Robert Altier

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Karaganda, Kazakhstan diocese is vacant after Bishop Kaleta resigns

Vacant See and a Handful of Bishops

Monday, July 14, 2014

Video: "I have 422 Friends, yet I'm lonely…"

Sunday, July 13, 2014

No. Cardinal Woelki didn't say that (Part 2)

A second interivew on the controversial issue with Cardinal Woelki

Unspecific is not equivalent to endorsement

Final Word: Pray!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

No. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki did not say that!