St. Romanus of Antioch, Deacon and Martyr, (304)
St. Mawes, Abbot, (6th century)
St. Odo of Cluny, Abbot, (942)
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,—¨
so that you might imitate us.
Let’s focus today on imitating Christ and his Apostles. Let’s focus on doing what St. Paul asks, that we follow his model.
St. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians holds himself out as a model for their lives.
Paul took Jesus’ words seriously and wanted his readers to do so as well.
By the time Paul had written these letters he had already faced some stiff opposition.
The Jewish communities were out to get him. The secular authorities were watchful.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians during his second missionary journey, sometime around the year 50. He would have one more missionary journey before his final return to Jerusalem in 58. From that point onward he would be subjected to trial and remanded to Rome for a final trial, being martyred in 67.
Facing all that, Paul didn’t prepare his defense. Rather he listened to Jesus:
I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking—¨
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
Even on his journey to Rome as a prisoner, Paul brought people to the faith. Paul stayed focused on his mission.
Brothers and sisters,
In the span of thirty-four years Jesus’ work and words, the Christian faith, had spread from Jerusalem, throughout Asia Minor and to Europe. Rome and Athens had heard the name of Jesus.
Stephen and James had been martyred.
While all this was occurring, everything Jesus said would occur happened as well: wars and insurrections, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and awesome sights and mighty signs from the sky.
So thinking of Paul’s behavior, his model, and his instruction to the Churches we should ask ourselves: Was Paul and the Church concerned about the things that were going on in the world? The things Jesus said would happen around and to His followers?
The simple answer is no.
Of course there were those in the Churches who looked to the skies, at governments, at the signs and thought – as well as preached – that the end was at hand. They tried to lead people astray by focusing on the signs rather than on their job. Their job – bringing all to heaven through Jesus Christ.
Paul had to do a lot of letter writing to correct those false prophets; to take the focus off the signs and put it back on Jesus.
The Church, and all those in union with Her ignored the signs, the blowing of the winds which change each day. Instead, the Church kept its sole focus on getting its eternal work done.
This is key for us as Christians.
Jesus told us to render onto Caesar. He did not instruct us to care about which Caesar was in charge.
We know that taxes will come and go. Wars will come and go. Terrorists will come and go. Presidents and town councils will come and go. We could live in an Islamic state, a secular state, a communist state, or under a dictator. Regardless of the government, of the policy, or of the —threat level—, it is incumbent upon us to witness one message. Salvation is through Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ message is not one of travail or of pain. In mentioning the things that would occur Jesus was not acting as a soothsayer. His key message is this:
—You will be hated by all because of my name,—¨
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.—¨
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
The facts and circumstance of the world are quite secondary to the state of our eternal soul, and the accomplishment of our mission. Our lives are secured in the promise of heaven.
By imitating Jesus and His apostles, by following the lesson Paul teaches we clearly recognize that fact.
My friends,
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul clearly states:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
We worship, adore and proclaim God, and by our baptism we are joined to proclaiming our hope. Paul further tells us:
And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
some pastors and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ
Therefore, I tell you, do not look to the skies in wonder, with worry or trepidation. Do not look to politicians, the government, or soothsayers for salvation. Do not worry. God is with us. Instead get to work. We have been equipped. Build up the Body of Christ.
Amen.
St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop, (268)
St. Dionysius of Alexandria, Bishop, (265)
St. Hilda of Whitby, Virgin and Abbess, (680)
As posted at Rorate Caeli in Cardinal Etchegaray: The issue of the ordination of married men “may come about” and linked to by the Young Fogey – by the way, his comment on the posting is knowledgeable, balanced, and respectful.
It is unfortunate that so many, who claim some kind of knowledge of the Church, reduce these discussions to mindless ranting based on the perception of a race (in this case the French), a particular clergyman, or their deeply held conviction that unless everything stays as is (the man made disciplines of the Church) the world and Church will fall apart.
That argument has proven false by the mere fact that the Orthodox, the PNCC, and so many other Catholic as well as Protestant Churches can support a priest/minister and his family, not extravagantly, but modestly, and in keeping with the norms of the local community.
As the Young Fogey pointed out, no one goes into the ministry expecting to be rich (success “Gospel” evangelicals and princely priests not withstanding) or to live luxuriously. They are there to minister, to bring God’s grace through sacramental and pastoral action.
Neither the Holy Priesthood nor the Church will disintegrate if the local priest marries.
If you truly think that, you have lost faith in the promises of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church, or you never believed in that in the first place.
Oh, and on the Bishop of Rome solemnly confirming something, great for his diocese, but within the Roman Catholic understanding, did it rise to the level of an ex-cathedera statement proclaimed infallibly? I bet that a lot of folks would argue that it didn’t, and that only those wishing to see it as such see it that way.
St. Edmund of Abingdon, Bishop, (1240)
St. Eucherius of Lyons, Bishop, (449)
St. Gertrude, Virgin, (1302)
The American Papist blog is carrying a post on Fr. Francis Mary Stone & EWTN as well as periodic updates on the “situation.”
The Young Fogey pointed to that article as well as to his comment on it, which is reasonable and balanced.
It appears that Fr. Francis, the key host of EWTN’s Life on the Rock TV program has taken a leave of absence which is quickly morphing into a permanent leave of absence.
On a recent show a letter from Fr. Francis was read:
Dear Family,
Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future.
I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all.
With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN. Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation.
To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary.
Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy.
Fr Francis Mary, MFVA
As my regular readers know, the clergy of the Polish National Catholic Church are allowed to marry. They would also note that I have long stated that the vow of celibacy is an imposed discipline which is unworkable from a grace or discipline perspective. You cannot demand such gifts from the Holy Spirit, only encourage and support those with that gift while not foisting it upon others.
The American Papist blog immediately gets into requesting prayers for Fr. Francis, as well as a discussion of the “grave situation.” They remind us that all men are sinful (agreed), that [Roman] Catholics should not be scandalized (do not agree), and how this is a teaching opportunity.
Now I freely admit that the Roman Church has its own discipline. I do respect that. While I respect it, that does not imply that I or my Church agree with it. We think there is a better way.
I offer the following from my perspective:
I am saddened to see the rare mention of prayers for the woman and her family at the American Papist website.
They note that the subsitute anchor at Life on the Rock went on to say in reference to Fr. Francis’ situation:
“evil and sin do not have the last word – there’s always hope”
Of course that is par for the course. She is the sinful Eve leading good Father Francis astray. Not said outwardly, but implied by words like scandal, grave, temptation, and by Fr. Francis’ apology itself.
If I were the woman involved, that sort of apologizing would lead to a long cold silence. She is relegated to second class status, and is marked as a cause for apology and shame, even evil, the cause of sin.
That said, those sorts of reactions are trained in, gut instinct for Father Francis and others. Not exactly psychologically healthy when you are in that situation.
The grace of celibacy should be self perpetuating and not a cause for internal conflict. Here you see internal conflict — painful, and cause for an expression of regret which will later lead to more regret.
In a certain way this speaks to the fall of the many, which is often a fall well out of the limelight. Is the Roman Church’s clergy imbued with the grace of celibacy or are far to many left without the gift, left harmed by a discipline imposed by men?
As I noted, [Roman] Catholics may have good reason to be scandalized. Not so much by Fr. Francis’ decisions but firstly because EWTN has expunged Fr. Francis from its website.
He, and whatever good he did in his ministry, have been relegated to non-existence. If anything was learned from other recent scandals, covering-up is to be avoided. Were all his homilies, the programs he hosted graceless blather?
Secondly, on the issue of covering-up. Fr. Francis was somehow “helping” this woman (counseling?, spiritual guidance?, I can’t imagine financial support). That sort of relationship demands a duty, and might imply that the woman and her family were vulnerable, perhaps even taken advantage of.
Love can happen in stressful situations – but care must be used to ensure that the love is real, and not driven by need. As such, the helper must be careful. This goes back to the prayer issue – perhaps she and her family are more “in need.”
If I were to offer a prayer (and I do), I would ask that the Lord keep watch over Fr. Francis, the widow, and her family. That He protect them and that He allow them to heal and discern His will.
I wish them well and hope that they can see past the immediate to the long term. There is joy in a loving relationship between a man and a woman, if that is what they are called to. They should know that it is a special grace from God that is open to all who are called to it.
St. Leopold of Austria, Prince, (1136)
Saints Guria, Samonas, and Abibus, Martyrs, (4th century)
St. Desiderius of Cahors, Bishop, (655)
St. Josephat of Polotsk, Bishop and Martyr, (1623)
St. Dubricius, Bishop, (6th century)
St. Laurence of Dublin, Bishop, (1180)
St. Stanislaus Kostka, Virgin, (1568)
Saints Arcadius and Companions, Martyrs, (437)
St. Brice of Tours, Bishop, (444)
St. Martin of Rome, Bishop and Martyr, (656)
Saints Benedict and Companions, Martyrs, (1003)
St. Astrik of Hungary, Bishop, (1040)