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Month: May 2008

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Memorial Day Reflection

We pause today to honor…

Growing up, that is what Memorial Day was all about. Those lessons, learned as a child, are engraved, engraved and part of me. They are lessons time and tide cannot touch. They are truths that surpass the nowness of today. They tell us that history builds upon a continuity of national spirit. That continuity is more valuable than the whims of politicians and the exaggerated ideas of those who wish to hijack the national treasure. At core we are to be about honor.

National Moment of Remembrance

My father, grandfather, and most of my uncles were veterans. Those few who did not serve in the armed forces served at home. They made the steel that built the ships, planes, and tanks. They protected the home front as police officers. After their time of service they remained loyal to the ideals they fought to protect and maintain. Lessons engraved. Honor.

I saw it after my father died. The flag draped coffin, honor guard, rife salute, taps. I was only four. I saw it each year as my grandfather attended to the veterans graves, including his son’s, at St. Stanislaus cemetery in Buffalo, New York. Those men from the Adam Plewacki Post, #799 of the American Legion, walked the rows of headstones, placing flags for the fallen. I saw it as I served at Funeral Masses and assisted the priest at the cemetery. God, family, country. Lessons engraved. Honor.

Near my father’s grave was the grave of an uncle of one of my classmates. He was killed in action over Europe. Army Air Corps. On the front of his monument there was a small picture. I always stopped to pray there after visiting my father, to honor him. Honor.

Memorial Day will always be about honor. More than honor it is a fitting reminder of what we are as a country. We must pause and remember, not just the service or sacrifice of our father, uncles, brothers, grandparents, and friends, but their eyes, ears, and voices. We must take their vision, the words that they fought for, and the pledges that they took, and we must recapture them. We need their vision, the words they honored, and faithfulness to the pledges they took.

As they did, let us place the Lord God in front of all we do, first and foremost, and render Him due homage. Let us honor God and God’s way above all. Loyalty to His way protects us from the temptation to strike first, to retaliate, to exchange wrong for wrong, to sell truth for sloganeering.

Then our families. The family as core to our communal way of life. Families in communities who maintain self sufficiency, community responsibility, neighborliness, hard work, and charity. Families who sustain community for the common good, because we must live side-by-side without prejudice or scorn. People living in freedom and sharing the gifts of freedom with each other. People who will acclaim: ‘I am free – my neighbor deserves the same respect.’ People who believe that they really must be their brother’s keeper when he is in need.

Finally our nation. Not nation over all, but nation for the sake of good order and the protection of just laws. Not laws over people, and intrusive government, but a shared ideal of what a nation can do by garnering the collective will and strength of its people, only when necessary, and always vigilant against exploitation. Not a nation of invaders, but a nation wary to fight, wary to venture abroad, wary of might over right, the stick over the words.

We pause today to honor the fallen, and to honor their honor. We pause to reflect and then to turn again, to take up their honor and to be steadfast in our allegiance to God, to our families, and to our country. We pause, and with our engraved memory renewed, we take up the fight for our Country. Their ideals, our ideals, bound by honor.

O Judge of the nations, we remember before You with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people in this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — BCP (1979), Thanksgiving for Heroic Service

Fathers, PNCC

May 26 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

Having learned these things, and been fully assured that the seeming bread is not bread, though sensible to taste, but the Body of Christ; and that the seeming wine is not wine, though the taste will have it so, but the Blood of Christ; and that of this David sung of old, saying, And bread strengthens man’s heart, to make his face to shine with oil, strengthen your heart, by partaking thereof as spiritual, and make the face of your soul to shine. And so having it unveiled with a pure conscience, may you reflect as a mirror the glory of the Lord, and proceed from glory to glory, in Christ Jesus our Lord:—” To whom be honour, and might, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

Fathers, PNCC

May 25 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

Therefore Solomon also, hinting at this grace, says in Ecclesiastes, Come hither, eat your bread with joy (that is, the spiritual bread; Come hither, he calls with the call to salvation and blessing), and drink your wine with a merry heart (that is, the spiritual wine); and let oil be poured out upon your head (you see he alludes even to the mystic Chrism); and let your garments be always white, for the Lord is well pleased with your works; for before you came to Baptism, your works were vanity of vanities. But now, having put off your old garments, and put on those which are spiritually white, you must be continually robed in white: of course we mean not this, that you are always to wear white raiment; but you must be clad in the garments that are truly white and shining and spiritual, that you may say with the blessed Esaias, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with a garment of salvation, and put a robe of gladness around me. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

Fathers, PNCC

May 24 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

Also the blessed David shall advise you the meaning of this, saying, You have prepared a table before me in the presence of them that afflict me. What he says, is to this effect: Before Your coming, the evil spirits prepared a table for men, polluted and defiled and full of devilish influence; but since Your coming. O Lord, You have prepared a table before me. When the man says to God, You have prepared before me a table, what other does he indicate but that mystical and spiritual Table, which God has prepared for us over against, that is, contrary and in opposition to the evil spirits? And very truly; for that had communion with devils, but this, with God. You have anointed my head with oil. With oil He anointed thine head upon your forehead, for the seal which you have of God; that you may be made the engraving of the signet, Holiness unto God. And your cup intoxicates me, as very strong. You see that cup here spoken of, which Jesus took in His hands, and gave thanks, and said, This is My blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

Fathers, PNCC

May 23 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

Consider therefore the Bread and the Wine not as bare elements, for they are, according to the Lord’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ; for even though sense suggests this to you, yet let faith establish you. Judge not the matter from the taste, but from faith be fully assured without misgiving, that the Body and Blood of Christ have been vouchsafed to you. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

Poland - Polish - Polonia

Upcoming Polish-American events in the Albany NY area

St. Michael’s R.C. Church Parish Festival
20 Page Avenue
Cohoes, N. Y. 12047
Telephone: 518-237-5151

St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Cohoes, is having a Parish Festival on May 30th, 31st and June 1st, 2008. Hours are Fri. 5-10pm, Sat. 2-11pm, and Sun. 12-5pm.

A family oriented event with Polish-American food, amusement rides, dance group, Freckles the Clown, games of chance, raffle, and music/bands (Music Express, Echo & Donny P & Celebration). For mor information please visit the parish website or call Kazia at 518-588-0977.

Polish Community Center Polish-American Buffet

Join us on Friday June 13th, 2008 between 4-8 pm for a Polish-American buffet at the Polish Community Center located at 225 Washington Ave Ext in Albany NY. for more information please call our center at 518-456-3995 or visit our website.

Perspective, Political,

Hurray for my governor

From the AP: NY Gov: Clinton should stop Mich, Fla effort

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) —” New York Gov. David Paterson, a superdelegate who supports Hillary Rodham Clinton, said she’s showing “a little desperation” and should give up her effort to count votes from renegade primaries in Michigan and Florida.

Paterson said Thursday that Clinton shouldn’t derail the process by which the national Democratic Party stripped Michigan and Florida of their national convention delegates because they moved their primaries up to January in violation of party rules. The rules were agreed to by all the candidates, including Clinton, before she won the two January contests. Because of the violations, no candidates campaigned in either state and her rival Barack Obama took him name off the Michigan ballot.

“I would say at this point we’re starting to see a little desperation on the part of a woman I still support and will support until she makes a different determination,” Paterson told WAMC-FM. “Candidates have to be cautious in their zeal to win that they don’t trample on the process…”

Gov. Paterson understands the reality of the situation. Ms. Clinton is turning this into an argument over democracy: From the Globe and Mail

Ms. Clinton made the point herself this week at a rally in Florida.

—We believe that casting your vote is the truest expression of your will. Here in Florida, you learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren’t counted. If any votes aren’t counted, the will of the people isn’t realized and our democracy is diminished.—

…which simply is not true. As the Governor states, its about the process, a process that follows organizational rules members are bound to observe. Party nominating fights are not about democracy in the proper sense. They are about membership in the party and following its rules in regard to nominating contests. If Ms. Clinton purports that its about democracy she has no real grasp of the meaning of the term.

To make it simple for the overwrought: You belong to the Elks? You can vote in your Lodge’s elections. To do so you must follow the Elks rules for such things (and I have no idea what they are).

The leaders of Florida’s and Michigan’s Democratic Parties are at fault. They should be held to account by the members of their states’ organizations. They are the ones who blew it for their states. Problem is – they will never own up or be accountable to anyone.

Simple rule of life – if you belong to an organization and cannot follow its rules, quit and join another one whose rules you like better. People do it all the time – because they don’t like the stinkin’ rules. Rules! We don’t need no stinkin’ rules…

Fathers, PNCC

May 22 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

Christ on a certain occasion discoursing with the Jews said, Except ye eat My flesh and drink My blood, you have no life in you. They not having heard His saying in a spiritual sense were offended, and went back, supposing that He was inviting them to eat flesh.

In the Old Testament also there was show-bread; but this, as it belonged to the Old Testament, has come to an end; but in the New Testament there is Bread of heaven, and a Cup of salvation, sanctifying soul and body; for as the Bread corresponds to our body, so is the Word appropriate to our soul. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective

What is the core error here?

From the Minneapolis – St. Paul Star Tribune: After warning, family of autistic teen attends different church

The mother of a 13-year-old autistic boy who was banned by a court order from attending services at a Roman Catholic church in Bertha, Minn., woke up Sunday determined to take her son to mass.

But Carol Race changed her mind when Todd County Sheriff Pete Mikkelson met her at the end of her driveway Sunday and told her she would be arrested if she brought her son, Adam, into the Church of St. Joseph.

Instead, Race took Adam and her four other children to mass at Christ the King Church in nearby Browerville, Minn. “It occurred to me that if I step foot in [St. Joseph], they will arrest me and I won’t end up going to mass anyway,” she said.

A court hearing on the matter has been continued until June 2 so that Race can hire an attorney.

The dispute has drawn attention to what Race and advocates for the disabled say is a lack of education and understanding about autism. Race said that even though her son, who is home-schooled, sometimes acts up in church, the experience benefits him.

…

The Rev. Daniel Walz, who did not return calls left at the Church of St. Joseph parish office, wrote in court documents that Adam’s behavior was “extremely disruptive and dangerous.” He alleged that Adam, who is more than 6 feet tall and weighs over 225 pounds, spits and urinates in church and has nearly injured children and elderly people.

In an affidavit, Walz wrote: “The parish members and I have been very patient and understanding. I have made repeated efforts through Catholic Education Ministries, Caritas Family Services, and most recently, sought to try and mediate the matter with the family to ask them to voluntarily not bring Adam to church, but it has been to no avail.” The Diocese of St. Cloud said in a statement that the restraining order, issued May 9, was “a last resort…”

I’ve been following this for a few days, since it showed up on ABC. In reflecting on this my gut instinct, and the reason this gives scandal, is that the parties involved have lost sight of their Christian witness as outlined by St. Paul:

And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity. — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Douay-Rheims)

The priest is relying on a legal approach – one of the great problems among some R.C. clergy. The family is relying on its needs, and knowing the struggle of families dealing with autism I know it is hard to see beyond the immediacy of the struggle. Both need to to step back and pray for the gift of charity. Both need to act in charity toward the other. Both need to look to what builds up the Christian community, not just the parish or family, but the whole of the community. I begrudge neither. I just pray that they witness together – in mutual charity.

Fathers, PNCC

May 21 – St. Cyril of Jerusalem from the Catechetical Lectures

He once in Cana of Galilee, turned the water into wine, akin to blood, and is it incredible that He should have turned wine into blood? When called to a bodily marriage, He miraculously wrought that wonderful work; and on the children of the bride-chamber, shall He not much rather be acknowledged to have bestowed the fruition of His Body and Blood?

Wherefore with full assurance let us partake as of the Body and Blood of Christ: for in the figure of Bread is given to you His Body, and in the figure of Wine His Blood; that you by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, may be made of the same body and the same blood with Him. For thus we come to bear Christ in us, because His Body and Blood are distributed through our members; thus it is that, according to the blessed Peter, we become partakers of the divine nature. — Catechetical Lecture 22.

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