Cruxnow.com is reporting on comments made by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM CAP, Archbishop of Boston on the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has infected the presidential campaign this year. In an interview he had with Irish media, he warned that such speech, demonizes a minority group, and can bring about unjust treatment. He called on Americans to remember that it was that long ago, that our Irish immigrant ancestors were seen as a threat to America; and subjected to anti-immigrant treatment. He called on Americans to stop blaming our current troubles on the immigrant, and instead work together to care for one another and find solutions together.
Commission to Study Possibility of Women Deacons Appointed.
The Catholic blogosphere is abuzz with the news from the Vatican, that Pope Francis has appointed a commission of academics to study whether the ordination of women to the Permanent Diaconate is theologically possible. The commission is made up of six clergymen, and six women, two of whom are religious nuns. One of the women theologians is Phyllis Zagano, who is an author, and columnist for the National Catholic Reporter newspaper. She has been a long advocate for bringing women into the diaconate.
I personally would like to see women being able to be ordained as deacons. A vast number of Catholic women are already involved in the service of charity; serving the poor and homeless. Many Catholic women are already involved in the service of Word, through being religious educators; being lectors at Mass; and by the example of their own lives. Many Catholic women are already involved in service to the Altar, through being extraordinary Eucharistic ministers at the celebration at Mass; and by bringing communion to the homebound. And I am sure that many of these women, like the men, feel called to deepen this sense of service by becoming deacons.
Now, people should not fool themselves, or have high expectations on how soon this will come about, if at all. We have just made the very first small step, with a long road ahead for those advocating for women deacons. But, it is a beginning; may the Holy Spirit guide us!
Feast of the Porziuncola August 2, 2016
Today, Franciscans everywhere are celebrating the Feast of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels of the Porziuncola (Little Portion). Actually, a small chapel, it is one of several chapels around Assisi, Italy, that St. Francis of Assisi repaired; shortly after his conversion. He was doing this in response to a mystical encounter with the Crucified Christ, who commanded Francis to “Repair My House!” Taking the command literally, he began to repair the chapel of San Damiano, and the other chapels. It was only later that he understood his mission was to “repair,” (ie, renew) the Catholic Church.
St. Mary of the Angels became the “mother church,” of the Franciscan Order, and indeed, the entire Franciscan movement. Francis and his first followers built huts of mud, straw and wattle around the chapel, and used them as cells. The little portion of land on which the chapel stood, belonged to the Benedictine monks of Mount Subasio, who have rented the site to the Franciscans, in return for a basket of fish. Over the years, the chapel became a pilgrimage destination, and eventually, the Franciscans and Pope ordered that the simple little chapel be enclosed in a huge grand basilica; the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels.
Today, the little chapel, located in this huge basilica, will be visited by Pope Francis. It ties into the Jubilee Year of Mercy, that the Pope declared last year. The little chapel is the site of one of the most famous indulgences granted by the Catholic Church. Although the historical fact has not been proven, legend has it that St. Francis asked the Pope to grant a plenary indulgence to anyone who came to the Porziuncola chapel, praying for forgiveness of their sins. An indulgence is granted to the soul of an individual, which remits some of the temporal “punishment”or “cleansing,” that a soul must go through in purgatory, before being admitted to the full beatific vision of God in heaven. A plenary indulgence grants a full remittance. The “Porziuncola Indulgence,” was originally granted only to those who visited the chapel, later Popes expanded it to those who visited a Franciscan church, chapel, or oratory. It was finally also granted to those who visited any church designated by the local bishop, between the afternoon of August 1, to sunset on August 2. They must at least recite the Our Father or the Creed; and must go to Confession, receive Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Pope.
Indulgences is a means by which the Church illustrates the mercy and love of God for all people. And it is why Pope Francis is making the journey to Assisi, to go into a huge, ornate, basilica; to enter a very small chapel, that has the power of God’s love.
#Weekend Coffee Share 07/17/2016
Over a late night cup of coffee, I would share with you my sadness with the amount of violence that is in the news lately. The shootings of two black men by police, under circumstances, that on the surface, appear to require further investigation. We have the killing of five police officers in Dallas, TX. Then the terror attack on French citizens in the city of Nice, resulting in 84 deaths, and 202 persons injured. And now we have the killing of 3 officers in Baton Rouge, LA. Add these incidents to the others that have occurred this year, both in our nation and in the wider world; and one gets the feeling that darkness is increasing in our world. And it will, if we allow it; the Christophers, a Christian inspirational group, quotes a proverb: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” We are called to bring some love, some hope, and some light into our families and our communities. Be open to the Holy Spirit, let it inspire you, and be open to any opportunity to do some good that may come our way.
Over a cup of coffee, I had planned on sharing a report on Catholic deacons that I saw on PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly program, but then I read a post written by Deacon Bill Ditewig, in which he pointed out the errors of the report, and made corrections. Then he issued a challenge to all of us deacons; to be true instruments of peace in this world that is in so much turmoil.
Well, here’s hoping the caffeine does not keep me awake. See you again over a cup of coffee.
“…And In His Saints!” A Work of Fiction from a Real Tragedy
The French EMT helps load another stretcher into the ambulance, and shuts its doors as it takes off. She wearily turns around and looks down the street of tragedy; lined with the injured, and the dead. Just a little while ago it was full of people, celebrating the founding of a republic, celebrating Bastille Day. Then tragedy struck in this city of Nice; one maniac in a truck, mowing the people down. Now, there is fear, agony, and grief. And her heart is screaming: “Where are You in all of this?”
She closes her eyes for second. When she opens them, she is looking at the curbside. She notices for the first time, a little friar, dressed in a patched brown habit. He is holding the hand of an injured child, singing a French ditty for her.
The sound of sobbing draws her attention to two women, kneeling over a covered body. One of them is bent over with grief; the other has her arm around the grieving woman’s shoulders, holding her tight. This woman looks like she is from the Middle East. She is wearing a long blue veil; her face looks as if she has known much sorrow in her life, and now she is comforting another woman through hers.
The EMT looks further down the street of tragedy and saw a police officer standing guard. He nervously stares out into night, holding his rifle tight. The EMT blinks her eyes, because she could swear there was a girl standing next to him. She is dressed like a French peasant, with short-cropped hair. Her hand is gripping the officer’s shoulder, as with fierce eyes, she also stares into night with him. Is that a sword in her other hand?
Movement next to her drew the EMT’s attention. She stares at her medical bag, and sees that someone has placed a red rose in it. She looks quickly behind her and thinks she sees a nun, a Carmelite nun, disappearing into the crowds. She turns around again, but the people she saw, the friar, the woman in blue, the peasant girl, have also disappeared. She looks down to her bag, the rose is real. As she looks at it; she suddenly no longer feels so alone. She grabs her medical bag, takes a deep breath, and walks back down the street of tragedy.
“Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.”
Weekend Coffee Share 07/10/16
If we were having coffee, I would tell you how sadden I have been about the news of the police shootings and killing of two black men, and then the shootings of 11 police officers in Dallas, TX; resulting in deaths of five officers. There is an air of unease in the country right now; the black communities distrust and fear their police forces; the police feel threatened by the very people they have sworn to protect and serve. And there are politicians, who with their rhetoric are fanning the flames. Communities are becoming divided, hunkering down in their own enclaves, with no interest in dialogue.
It seems ironic that at Catholic Masses celebrated throughout this country, the Gospel proclaimed included these words:
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10: 25-24)
The Gospel call is to see all people as our neighbors, to respect and to love them. And to talk with each other, and find common ground to reduce the stresses that threaten to tear this republic apart; whose 240th anniversary we have just celebrated.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that my wife and I joined my siblings, and a cousin and his family at a cabin in Maine, which my aunt owns. It is on Lake Sokokis, in Limerick ME. It was too cool for swimming, but we did have a wonderful cookout.
If we were having coffee, I would share with my experience of leading a Sacrament of Baptism catechesis class for new parents who wish to have their infants baptized, and become part of the Catholic Church. I had five couples in attendance; one couple brought their newborn with them. The child slept through the class. I try to help these parents realize that the baptism of their children is not just an encounter with the love of God for the children; but also a special opportunity for them to encounter God, through the Holy Spirit. I tell them that when the priest will ask what they are asking of the Church, and they reply: “Baptism”; they and their child’s lives will be forever changed. The baby will experience a rebirth through the baptismal waters; they will have committed themselves to bring the child in the faith. And not just though placing the child in religious education classes; but by the example of their struggle to live the faith.
Well, my coffee mug is empty; it is almost midnight, and I have a long week to look forward to. See you all next time over a cup of coffee.
Burn And Beat Back the Darkness
The tragic events of the past few weeks, give the impression of a creeping darkness enveloping our world, our country, our communities, our very lives. And we appear to be powerless to beat it back.
The darkness of terrorism is creeping into our world; whether individual acts of terror, like in Orlando, Florida; or the organized terrorist attack at the airport of Istanbul and the restaurant in Bangladesh. Violence is casting a pall over the world. And it is causing another type of darkness to grow and spread; the darkness of fear and intolerance. We have politicians painting one ethnic group, one religious group, as the breeding ground for terrorists, and calling for denying them the human rights that belong to every human being. We see citizens attacking both immigrants and native born, all because of the faith they subscribe to. We see fear mongering, name calling, and personal attacks becoming standard practice among our politicians; and causing a darkness to creep into our political process. And the darkness is creeping into the hearts of all us; as we see a world plunging into chaos. The stress of daily life, in uncertain economic times, is putting out the light of hope; leaving depression, sadness, darkness.
In times such as these I find my hope in words that, though written thousands of ago, still have the power to move my heart, to set my heart aflame:
“In the beginning, the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.” (John 1: 1-5)
In Christ, when I; when any of us, encounter Him in Word and Sacrament, hope can rekindled in our hearts. And if Christ can enflame our hearts, we in turn must share that flame of hope with others, and dispel the darkness.
There is story about a Desert Father, one who spent most his life as hermit, who was approached by a disciple for guidance. The disciple had been fervent in prayer, diligent in fasting and meditating on the Scriptures. He wanted to know what more he needed to do? The Desert Father raised his hands over his head, and spread his fingers. Each finger became a tongue of fire. He said: “You can become flame.” When we have an encounter with Christ, we are called to share that experience with all those we come in contact with. We are to share the light of Christ; we are to become flame and light to the darkness around us. Let us burn with the fire of Christ.
Weekend Coffee Share – o6/19/2016
If we were sharing a cup of coffee, I would tell you that my wife and I are on Cape Cod this weekend. We are visiting her parents, and celebrating Father’s Day. The weather is beautiful; cool sea breezes, blue skies and bright sunlight. It is a nice break, a nice change of scenery for a bit. And it is a little respite from the feelings that I still have concerning the tragedy in Orlando, FL My in-laws do not have their TV on much, so I have been out of touch with the world. It is a nice break, but only a temporary one. We still have to reflect on, pray over, and act on the events of that terrible night.
Over a cup of coffee, I would tell you that since last we met, I, as a deacon, baptized two little girls into the Catholic Christian faith. One was a relative newborn, the other was a toddler. I preached a short homily, telling the assembled families and friends that we were about to witness something awesome! The power of the Holy Spirit was going to be at work before us. Through the waters of Baptism, they were brought into the Mystical Body of Christ. And their lives will be forever changed. And the lives of their parents are forever changed, for they have made a commitment to the Church to bring their children up in the Faith. I tell them that fulfilling that promise means something more than just seeing to it that their child goes to religious education classes. It means that they must show how the Faith is lived, by the example of their own lives; both the struggles and the joys. They are in my prayers.
Over a cup of coffee, I would tell that many years ago, when I was a young seminarian, I spent a couple of summers in an ecumenical program, called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. They recruited seminary and college students from all Christian denominations; to go out to various national parks, and lead Sunday worship services for park visitors and employees. We seminarians were called Student Ministers. Those of us who were Catholic, would either assist a visiting priest at Mass, or lead a Service of the Word. I had my first experiences of preaching before people back then. Some of usalso organized Bible study groups, or organized choral singing groups. We earned our keep by working for the park concessionaires; I found myself working in some kitchens in Yellowstone National Park. Recently I signed up to become a ACMNP Prayer Partner for someone who will be going to a park in Alaska. Daily, I remember this young man in my prayers; praying for his safety, and success in his ministry.
Well, the coffee cup is empty, I wish you all wellness and blessings, and hope to see you again over a hot cuppa joe.
San Damiano Cross Is Going Home!
The Franciscan blogosphere is buzzing with the news that the Cross from which Christ spoke to St. Francis of Assisi, is returning to the chapel of San Damiano!
During his period of conversion, Francis was known to visit some of the chapels that dotted the Italian landscape around Assisi. Many were in ill-repair, one of them was the chapel of San Damiano. Francis was said to have been drawn to the icon cross of Christ Crucified that was hanging in the chapel. The painter of the Byzantine style cross is unknown, but experts estimate its creation took place around 1100 AD.
The story goes that when Francis entered the chapel, and knelt before the cross, he heard the voice of Jesus Christ coming from the image on it. The Crucified Christ said to Francis: “go and repair my house, which as you can see is falling into ruins.” Francis immediately assumed that the Divine command referred only to the chapel he was in. He leaped to his feet, gave some coins to the priest in residence there, to keep the votive lamp burning in front of the cross, and then set off to purchase building materials. And the rest is, as they say, history. After rebuilding San Damiano, Francis went on to rebuild several other countryside chapels. Christ would soon lead Francis to the realization the his call was not just to repair a few chapels, but to repair the whole spiritual edifice known as the Catholic Church. The Franciscan movement he founded would draw thousands of individuals to join him. Among them, a young woman by the name of Clare of Assisi, and other women as well. They became known as the Poor Ladies of Assisi. We know them today as the Poor Clares.
Francis installed Clare and her sisters in San Damiano, and they became the custodians of the crucifix. Later, after the death of St. Clare, a basilica church was built within walls of Assisi, to house her remains. The Poor Clare community also moved into Assisi, for safety, and they brought the crucifix with them. The San Damiano Cross has been on display within the Basilica of St. Clare for many years. Now it is being returned to San Damiano, it is going home.
Belated Happy Feast Day, St. Anthony!
With the tragedy in Orlando, Florida; I forgot to write something acknowledging the feast day on June 13th of this blog’s namesake, St. Anthony of Padua.
Born in Portugal, an Augustinian monk; he wound up in Italy as Franciscan friar. He was famous for his eloquence, and skill as a preacher. During his life, and after his death, he gained a reputation as a miracle worker. The following is a prayer, asking his intercession:
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Encouraged by thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request).
O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
If there was ever a time when, as a country , and a world; we needed a miracle, it is now! So, St. Anthony, pray for us!
Musings From St. Anthony's Walnut Tree 