Behold Your Mother

Bulletin Article 1/1/12

There are a few “hot button” issues that clearly divide Catholics from the rest of the Christian world. Next to the Eucharist, Mary sits at the top of the list. There has been much confusion and misguided information about Our Mother which has caused many to question and doubt the Catholic Church all together (this is called generalization, by the way). From the idea that Catholics “worship” Mary or the argument over her Immaculate Conception to her perpetual virginity, people seem to have a hard time understanding and believing what the Church teaches about the Blessed Virgin. In light of it being her feast day today, let us look at the most common prayer we have to Our Mother, The Hail Mary. This prominent prayer of the rosary is rooted in Scripture. Obviously the first half can be found in Luke’s account of Mary visiting Elizabeth, while the second half may need a bit more digging into Scripture to find its roots.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee
This is taken directly from Luke 1. We echo the archangel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, “Hail Favored One,” we simply include her name.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Continuing the words of Elizabeth’s joyful greeting, we include the name of Jesus.

Holy Mary,
Many times in the New Testament Christians are referred to as “holy ones” (Eph 1:1, Phil 1:1, Col 1:2) Mary, in fact, was the first Christian who accepted Christ into her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also clear from the accounts of Mary in the Gospels that she was a holy woman as she recited many Psalms and Jewish prayer during the Annunciation and Visitation. Her Magnificat is an Old Testament prayer. (check out 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and then read Luke 1:46-55). It is only fitting that we call her “Holy.”

Mother of God
Not all Christians will call Mary the Mother of God as we do. In fact, many heresies arose in the early church of the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. We uphold that Jesus was fully God and fully man and therefore Mary as the mother of Jesus is the mother of God (the feast we celebrate today). In Greek she is called theotokos (God bearer).

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Many non-Catholics will argue that there is only one mediator between God and man—Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). This is correct, however if we were to read before that verse, we find,
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:1-4)
It is important to note that we do not pray to Mary or the saints for help through any of their own power, but we ask them to offer prayers and intercede for us to the Father. We trust that through living a holy life, they have been accepted into the Heavenly Kingdom where they offer prayers to the Father (Revelation 5:8). Mary has proven to be a powerful intercessor due to many miracles and apparitions over the centuries. Not to mention the fact that Jesus listened to his mother when he lived at home until he was 30, he listened to her when he began his miracles (John 2) and he listens to her still.

Where You At?

Bulletin Article 12/18/11

“Where you at?” Over the past few years, this phrase has been used in TV commercials, advertisements, song titles and, in some cases, every day conversation. Instead of “Where are you,” this phrase has become pretty popular. Personally, as someone who has written lengthy theses for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, if I were to construct a sentence in that way, my advisors and professors would rip the paper into pieces. Of course, they would then lovingly instruct me on the correct way to form a sentence.

How quick we are to criticize or judge others based on what they say or do. How many of us place expectations on everyone else in the world based on our personal life experiences? We constantly talk about the way people are supposed to be. “Why doesn’t my son like to play sports?” “Why is my daughter failing math and nothing else? She must not be working hard enough.” “That man only comes to Mass on Christmas and Easter, where is he the rest of the year?” When we place expectations on our family, friends, and neighbors, we try to place them where we want them instead of meeting them “where they’re at.” To meet them where they are would mean that we would have to understand their motivation or lack thereof in instances such as these. Not all boys like sports. Students can easily put a subject they don’t like on the back burner if they are involved with so many other activities they enjoy. Perhaps the man coming to Mass only once or twice a year has to work two or three jobs to support his family or he only comes to this particular parish for holidays. Things aren’t always the way they seem to be on the surface.

One thing we can learn from the incarnation, Christ becoming like us, is that God meets us where we are. Our God humbled himself into the form of a little baby so he could truly empathize with us and understand our human condition. As he matured as a man and began his public ministry, he always displayed great understanding of all people—even those who would put him to death. He never condemned a person for having little faith or not understanding the law; he loved them and was moved with pity for them. He didn’t condemn those who were condemned by the world. His overwhelming love for them coupled with his understanding of their individual conditions moved him to invite them into a deeper, more profound existence. We are called to be imitators of Christ. However, we need to remind ourselves that we are not Him. We are not the judge. We are not the master of the universe. We do not understand everyone else’s hearts. Rather than ripping people apart, let’s lead them towards healing. Let us meet people where they are so that Christ can enter into their hearts and transform their lives. Yes, brothers and sisters, Christ will come again. He knows where you’re at. Do you?

Master Procrastination

Bulletin Article 12/11/11

Finals? What the…! So you had all semester to read those books, but instead they were used to keep your desk from wobbling. You had 10 weeks to write that paper or prepare that presentation, but you decided to build an unbeatable fantasy football team or wait in line for hours to see Harry Potter (not to mention attending all the wonderful events Newman and FOCUS held all semester – up until now we have held 37 events, not including Mass and weekly Bible Studies). And now, as luck would have it, the semester is coming to a close. It’s time to dust off those books, disconnect the wifi and keep your focus on Microsoft Word as the cursor blinks on that blank page.

It’s amazing how we so often live in the present as if the future is so far away. For instance, what are your plans for February 22? That seems so far away, yet it will be here before you know it (by the way, that is Ash Wednesday so mark your calendars!) The final two weeks of Advent call to mind Christ’s second coming. This is something that many of us have placed aside in our faith lives because it seems like it is so far away. Many Christians put their Bible on their night stand or bookcase and let it collect dust. Many of us do not frequent the Sacraments or proclaim our faith by the way we live. We put it off-why? Christ reminds us that He is coming and we do not know when but we must be ready. We have had 2000 years to read that book. We have had 2000 years to prepare the world for Christ’s second coming. We have had most of our lives to prepare room in our hearts for Him through the sacrament of reconciliation. We don’t know when the semester of our lives will end. Spiritual Finals are coming…are you ready?

Preparation

Bulletin Article 12/4/11

Last week the readings spoke of being prepared. This week we turn the attention from ourselves to our neighbors (as Jesus so often does). We hear, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” In this line, we can sum up our responsibility as followers of Christ. One thing we can learn from the earliest Christians (see Acts of the Apostles) is that they knew the responsibility given to them to let the world know that Christ was coming. Although Christ himself told His disciples that they would know neither the day nor the hour of His second coming, they had a hunch that it was going to be fairly soon. Over the centuries the anticipation for Christ’s second coming seems to have lessened and, in some instances, been mocked. This is why the season of Advent is so special. We take four weeks, not just a day or few moments, to awake within us that unique anticipation and longing.

Not knowing the day or the hour of His coming should not scare us if we are living our lives in anticipation for it. If we believe that Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, He cured the sick, healed lepers, suffered death, rose again in accordance with the scriptures, then we must believe that He is coming again. And so my challenge this week, my brothers and sisters, is to awaken within ourselves the longing and joyful anticipation of Christ coming again. Let’s start by allowing Him to enter into our hearts and helping others to do the same. Are you prepared?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year? That’s right. The Church begins its new Liturgical Year on the First Sunday of Advent (not Jan. 1). Each year, the Church celebrates this 4-week preparatory season in order to focus our minds and hearts on the upcoming celebration of the Incarnation, God becoming like us. With the end of the semester looming, we as Catholics are celebrating a beginning. There will not be a giant ball dropping on the Salameno Center to celebrate this, but there are new changes happening within the Church. As we begin this new liturgical year and welcome the New Roman Missal, we look forward to what the Lord has in store for us—it is far better than anything we could have in mind!

An Advent Poem from Bl. John Henry NewmanThey watch for Christ
who have a sensitive, eager, apprehensive mind,
who are awake, alive, quick-sighted,
zealous in seeking and honoring Him,
who look out for Him in all that happens, and
who would not be surprised,
who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed,
if they found that he was coming at once . . .

This then is to watch:
to be detached from what is present, and
to live in the thought of Christ as He came once,
and as He will come again;
to desire His second coming, from our affectionate
and grateful remembrance of His first.

The Duty of Delight - A Book Review

First and foremost I have to admit my ignorance of Dorothy Day up until this point. I have heard people mention her in talks about social justice and service. I have heard people argue for and against her canonization. However, I never took the time to truly look into the life of this wonderful person. After doing some research (I recommend catholicworker.org) and, of course, reading The Duty of Delight, I have come to appreciate the life work of this woman. Whether or not she will ever be canonized a Saint is not up to me, nor do I feel that a simple book review would be cause for such.

Getting past the debate of sainthood for Dorothy Day, from these 752 pages, one cannot escape knowing that she truly believed that she was doing God’s will in a very unique way. Many people can read her diaries and most recently, The Duty of Delight and become confused as to her political stance and whether or not she was in line with the Church during the time she was alive. However, I believe that is irrelevant in learning who this woman truly is.

Day took time to write every day, often after long and testing hours, as she puts it, “I have been working from seven [in the morning] until twelve at night, or traveling fifteen hours by bus…” Day also described the long days that we can most relate to when the bills pile up and the deadlines approach. Through her writing, both for The Catholic Worker and her diaries one can truly enter into her day to day grind and appreciate the struggles, heartaches, sorrows, and joys. Yet she had a great self awareness that she often omitted prayers or spiritual readings after these long days. In her New Year’s Eve entry of 1935, Day writes of the importance of having “a rule” for her workers. She then writes the rule down to hold herself and her workers accountable. The rule included the Liturgy of the Hours, daily rosary and Mass, and claimed that her motto for 1936 would be “Could you not watch with me one hour,” echoing Christ during his agony in the garden.

Day was extremely learned in various subjects to due the time she spent reading and writing. Just as one can improve their knowledge of a subject such as political science by reading and writing so too can one expand upon their knowledge and love for Christ and His Church by meditating on Scripture and other spiritual works. Throughout her diary entries, Day mentions the different works she reads including, but not limited to: Vatican II documents, Papal encyclicals, Thomas Merton, and Augustine. Not only did I find it impressive that she found time to read spiritual giants, I was also struck by her devotion to time in prayer and visiting the sacraments, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and reading Magisterial writings. She did not do these things simply because of her rule, but because without them her work would be meaningless; this rule transformed her “duty” into her “Duty of Delight.” Day was always trying to better herself to ensure she could work towards the betterment of a confused society.

While some entries are a few sentences (especially towards the end of her life) others can become quite lengthy, yet one thing remains constant. This woman is relatable. While reading her words, one can enter into her thoughts and emotions. As you turn the pages, you can see her spiritual ups and downs. Her explanations of the people she encountered, her feelings towards others (most notably Peter Maurin, one of Day’s colleagues and closest friends), her relationship with her family, her abandonment to God’s will and her constant STRIVING to put other’s needs before her own can make one read this book and become inspired. Dorothy Day was real. Regardless of what poor decisions she may have made or if you think she should be canonized or not, the pages of this book offer a poetic glimpse into the life of someone who lived a life of love and service.

Purchase The Duty of Delight

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With great anticipation

Bulletin 11/6/11
Each year I find myself getting more and more excited for Advent. While most people are focusing on Halloween and Thanksgiving preparations, I am anticipating a season of anticipation. As children, we love the excitement of anticipating Christmas and, for many, Christmas is celebrated one day. One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is that we know how to celebrate! First we celebrate in anticipation the celebration of Christ’s birth, the Incarnation! For four weeks we prepare our hearts for this joyous occasion and the celebration continues long past the single day of December 25th.

Looking at the Responsorial Psalm from today, I am reminded of the Christmas hymn, O Holy Night. A line that always sticks out to me is “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” If we look at the Psalm of today, we read “O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts…” This idea of longing and desiring is not foreign to us. Each of us has desires and longings and for some reason many keep these things to ourselves. We suppress them with school work, careers, paying the bills, and other things that “need to be done.” If there is one thing the Lord has taught us through his incarnation, it is that God has desires and longings for us and they are not meant to be hidden. God became man to show us his loving plan for each of our lives. Yet we push our God given desires and dreams aside to be a mediocre citizen of this world rather than an extraordinary citizen of the Kingdom of God.

As I anticipate the anticipatory season with great anticipation, (say that 5 times fast) I challenge each of us to sit quietly each day. In that quiet, discover your God-given desires to serve his Kingdom. As the Psalmist continues, “I will remember you upon my couch, and through the night-watches I will meditate on you” Once we have discovered our hopes, dreams, and desires to serve God and His Church, we must bring them about so that we may “bless [the Lord] while I live.” By truly preparing ourselves for this wonderful season, I guarantee that your Christmas season will be filled with Peace on Earth and Good will to all…