Life flows from the service of the house of God; ye lovers of life, refuse not the profit that comes thereof. The soul of man is receptive of impressions, and in whatsoever she meditates, she is dyed withal and becomes (the colour) of the same. When she hears the dirges of the wailing women, she overflows with grief and pours out tears over the departed; and when again she hears the songs and jests of the actors she waxes wanton, that with a loud voice she may pour forth laughter. When she hears evil reports, dread comes upon her; but if she hears good tidings, she is glad. And every wind that blows towards her moves her; and in whatsoever direction it be, each time she turns. When, then, she hears the sound of the service of God’s house, spiritually she is moved with love towards God; and as it were she despises the evil world and its affairs, and comes in and mingles with these godly meditations; and she cleaves to and loves that spiritual conversation. She contemns the world and its affairs and its doings; and she is steeped in these voices of holiness, and all carnal thoughts depart from her. And the soul contemns the love of the world and its pleasures, and thoughts of wantonness and remissness. And when she hears these voices that are sung to her, she is chaste and lowly and full of hope and moderation. Wherefore it is right that he who enters in to give himself to prayer should be long in God’s house.
From Twitter friend Deacon John Giglio, a link to Marketing the new Mass at Creative Minority Report. It really is very very funny (even the fine print).
O thou penitent, be insistent; and whatever thou dost ask, thou shalt receive it from the Giver of all things good. Why art thou impatient to be gone about thy business? Why art thou disquieted to depart and go about thine affairs? Why runnest thou after the world which may not be kept fast? Why hast thou spent thy days in vanity? Why are the hours of the Church esteemed by thee as idleness? Why is not the service accounted by thee as a banquet? Why art thou diligent when thou doest thine own work, but here remiss and cold and slack in asking?
Mercy hath brought thee in to this house that is full of profit; think it not loss if thou remain long herein. Be patient and listen to the sound of the Psalms which the finger of prophecy played to the words of David. Hearken to the Hymns sung by chaste women with voices of praise, which the wisdom of the Highest has given to the congregations. Hear the Prophets who, as it were through pipes of choice gold, pour forth from their mouths life into the ears of men. Hearken to the Apostles who, like the channels of rivers, are opened and water the King’s garden with lofty streams. Bend thine ear to the pulpit of the Godhead, and receive from it precious pearls. Learn and give assent to the (two) Testaments, rivers both which hold for thee life unending. Hear the New, and hearken to the Old; and see that in both one truth is spoken unto thee. Lo, thou hearest from the Old of the four rivers which flowed from the blessed source of Eden; and again in the New (thou hast) the Apostles like four rivers, who went forth into the four corners (of the world) and watered them.
The Church in the world is a great harbour, full of peace; whoso toileth, let him come in and rest at her table, Her doors are open, and her eye is good, and her heart is wide. Her table is full, and sweet is her mingled (cup) to them that are worthy. Ye lovers of the world, come in from wandering in the evil world, and rest in the inn that is full of comfort to him that enters it. Thou weary labourer, that strivest to enrich thyself by vexatious toilings, why runnest thou after riches that cannot be held fast. O thou rich, that goest astray with thy riches, possess God, and hate the wealth that after a little while shall not be thine. O thou unquiet soul, that cleavest after gold, woe to thee for that which spendeth thee with thy toiling after it! O thou that art greedy of mammon, incline thine ear hither, and cast from thee that grievous load which profiteth thee not.
Come to prayer, and bring with thee thy whole self. Let not thy mind remain in the market about thy business. If thou art here, let also thine inner man be here within the doors of the crowned (bride). Why is thy thought gone forth and distracted after affairs, so that when thou art here thou art not here, but there? Without amid the markets thy mind is wandering, (taken up) with reckonings and profits; fetch it, that it may come in and ask for its Life. Stand not with one half of thee within and one half without, lest when thou art divided thy prayer lose itself betwixt the two parts. Stand at prayer a united and complete and true man, and all whatsoever thou askest thou canst obtain from God. Why art thou impatient to be off when He has not given to thee? Stay long and knock at the Physician, and beseech Him, and bring the tears of repentance and besprinkle His doorstep; entreat much; and if for love He give not to thee, yet to importunity He will not be able to deny all her requests. Be insistent at the Physician’s door, and give not over; for if thou be backward He will not bind thee up. Why standest thou still? Importunity knows how to obtain mercy of Him; and unless He give to her she will not suffer Him to depart.
The Young Fogey links to several articles describing recent secret meetings between Church of England prelates and the Vatican. See Several Church of England bishops in secret talks with Vatican.
As commentor JohnT points out, in relation to Damian Thompson’s blog entry on this issue:
Cardinal Hume pointed out to Anglicans who were on the point of converting in the early 1990s that ‘Catholic doctrine is not an a la carte menu’ – and this is still true.
Nor is conversion a matter of ‘accommodation’.
Which is my thought exactly. This type of action requires a wholesale reordering of all that these prelates say, do, and believe (if it is indeed a true conversion rather than a lifeboat option).
What must they give up to come to Rome? What might they gain? Where might they find shelter?
The things they must give up are rather lengthy, but let’s focus on a few:
- Their status as Bishops (and their entire ordained life). Look at the Anglican Use (a terminal proposition) in the United States. Any clergy member coming over has to start over in new orders. There are no direct conversions “in Orders.”
- Their position as insiders. While they are part of the CofE they are on the inside for better or worse. In the R.C. world they will be oddities and outsiders, with their wives and children, their traditional stylings, and everything else that is part and parcel of who they are. The world’s Bishop’s Conferences will treat them like the fairly odd arms-length cousins you hope you only have to see at weddings and funerals.
- The 39 Articles et. al.
- As noted regarding the Anglican Use, their “traditions” such as the BCP and everything else Anglican, are terminal. Once they and their fellow converts die off there will be no more Anglican Use as no married men will be ordained nor will the BCP and Anglican Use be taught to up-and-coming celibate priests (except as a historical anecdote).
Still in all, I imagine that the issue of shelter is the real key. Is Rome the best shelter for these Bishops and their people? What other options might they have?
Certainly they cannot look to the Old Catholics of Europe (Utrecht v. 2.0). They are on the same track as the balance of liberal European/American Anglicanism. No port in the storm there. They could look to Orthodoxy who might accept them economically, conditioned on their acceptance of Orthodox Catholic faith and doctrine. The Russian Church or Antioch would be their best bet with Western Rite offerings. In any event I would imagine that the bishops could only come in as priests in an Orthodox solution. Then there is the PNCC ? Anyone for a read of the Declaration of Scranton and a trip across the Susquehanna?
In large measure, because of the long term relationship between Anglicans and the PNCC (back in the day when 99.9% of the faith was held in common), they would find a true Catholic home in the PNCC, and one where Anglo-Catholics and the PNCC share much more in common than the Bishops, their priests and people would find elsewhere. Why not study our history and our common faith.
Of course the choices are not easy regardless of the path because conversion is a full-on process. You may take a choice because you are fleeing a fire, but eventually you have to own up to the truth of your conversion. Bishops have a higher duty here because of their Order and their knowledge. Do you truly accept and believe the thing you purport to accept and believe in your conversion. I can say this much as a convert to the PNCC, if the conversion is true you gain access to the uninterrupted faith of the Catholic Church and its Traditions. What you give up counts very little if that is the Lord’s calling.
All conjecturing aside, I hope and pray that these Bishops, their priests, and their congregants find a home in the Catholic Faith. Whether Roman, Orthodox, or PNCC, confidence in faith and the commonly held doctrines of the first thousand years is a great joy. As Jesus told us in this weekend’s Gospel: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30).
We pray Thee, O God, not that Thou should help us carry out our own plans, but that we may be used in serving Thine: not for man’s victory over man, but for the triumph of Thy righteousness and Thy Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — From A Book of Devotions and Prayers according to the use of the Polish National Catholic Church.
The Friends Of Pruyn House are sponsoring Polish Night featuring the music of the Rymanowski Brothers Orchestra and a Polish Kitchen with Polish dishes prepared and served by the members of my parish, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa Polish National Catholic Church, on Wednesday, July 9th. Food service begins at 5pm and music runs from 6:30 —“ 9:00pm.
Pruyn House and the Town of Colonie Cultural Center are located at 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Newtonville, NY 12128. Telephone 518-783-1435 for more information.
Holy Name of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church, 98 South Prospect St., Nanticoke, PA will hold a rummage sale Tuesday, July 8, through Thursday, July 10. Hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Thursday, (bag day), 9 a.m. to noon.
Then, on another day, the Emperor Adrian ordered all her seven sons to be brought before him in company; and when he had challenged them to sacrifice to idols, and perceived that they yielded by no means to his threats and terrors, he ordered seven stakes to be fixed around the temple of Hercules, and commanded them to be stretched on the blocks there. And he ordered Crescens, the first, to be transfixed in the throat; and Julian, the second, to be stabbed in the breast; and Nemesius, the third, to be struck through the heart; and Primitivus, the fourth, to be wounded in the navel; and Justin, the fifth, to be struck through in the back with a sword; and Stracteus, the sixth, to be wounded in the side; and Eugenius, the seventh, to be cleft in twain from the head downwards.
The next day again the Emperor Adrian came to the temple of Hercules, and ordered their bodies to be carried off together, and cast into a deep pit; and the pontiffs gave to that place the name, To the Seven Biothanati. After these things the persecution ceased for a year and a half, in which period the holy bodies of all the martyrs were honoured, and consigned with all care to tumuli erected for that purpose, and their names are written in the book of life. The natal day, moreover, of the holy martyrs of Christ, the blessed Symphorosa and her seven sons, Crescens, Julian, Nemesius, Primitivus, Justin, Stracteus, and Eugenius, is held on the 18th July. Their bodies rest on the Tiburtine road, at the eighth mile-stone from the city, under the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. — Para. 3 and 4.
—Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.—
Today’s readings and the words of the Holy Gospel point us to one thing: In Christ everything is changed.
The prophet Zechariah points to the one who will come, the Savior, Who is meek, Who comes riding an ass. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, who comes to us as a very ordinary man in the humblest of circumstances. The babe from the stable comes not in triumphant array, but rather as one like us, a simple, meek, and humble man riding into town in the simplest of ways. God begins by showing us actual change. He sets our common understanding of how things should be, of what’s important, on its head.
How extraordinarily common and how perfectly clear the revelation of our Lord and Savior. The prophet Isaiah went so far as to say that the Savior:
had no form or comeliness that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
So in fact there was noting about Jesus that was attractive as man counts “attractive.” People didn’t follow Him because He was good looking or because He “had it all” as the world counts —having it all.— Rather, people followed and have been following Him for 2,000 years simnply because He changes everything.
Building on this theme St. Paul tells us
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. —¨
In other words there is nothing in or of the world, no beauty, no magnificence, no power, no weapon, no worry, no burden, no concern, nothing of the flesh at all that matters if our focus is properly on God, and our relationship with Him in spirit and in truth. That is how our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has changed things. Jesus’ clear message is that He offers us the way that is true and eternal. He has shown us the way of God and the love of God. He changed everything including the way we as His followers value everything.
The problems we face, the cares and burdens we so carefully count, the many troubles we face are taken away when we live in Him. He wipes it all out. He takes our cares and burdens away. We are assured that God looks at things differently and that He counts differently. We recognize this best when we make an act of trust – complete trust in God.
St. Paul reminds us of this when he says:
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die
Those things we thought were oh so important are not so important. The worries that trouble us are only symbols of death and decay. So Paul tells us: but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Brothers and sisters,
This past Friday’s commemoration of independence should remind us that freedom, true freedom, is only found in following Jesus’ way. True independence, true freedom, is found in the way of the Lord. That is how things are changed. Our reliance is different. We place our trust elsewhere. We live in freedom that surpasses the freedom the world and the world’s laws can offer.
Now is the time for us, as a parish, and as Christian men and women to put those things we once counted as important to death so that we can live in Christ and live forever. It is time for us to accept the change we were asked to accept on the day of our baptism.
Do we sit here and fret over burdens and cares? Do we feel the weight of labors that bind us to counting the things that only matter to the flesh? Do we look at the Holy Church’s motto – truth, work, and struggle, and see it only in relation to the truth of worldly work and worldly struggle? It is not so.
Jesus has revealed God to us. Because of this we count ourselves among the chosen, the select. Because we share in God’s revelation we are set free from those things we used to count, but only if we choose to accept the change Jesus Christ brings. When we think of truth we must think of God’s truth. When we think of work and struggle we must look to Bishop Hodur’s message that man’s true work and struggle is aimed at entry into eternal life, to being regenerated and born into a life lived according to God’s way.
All that is required is that we take up the Lord’s yoke, His way, and follow in His footsteps. Then we will leave behind the things we used to count. We will leave behind what we thought was true and focus rather on Jesus’ truth. We will trust in God. We will put our focus on faithfulness to Him which begins and ends right here, before this very altar. In doing this we will be changed because Christ came to bring that change.
The ability to change is here. Jesus is offering it to you and to me. Jesus tells us that making this change will make like sweet. We will find rest in Him, if only, if only we change. Amen.
From the Green Bay Press Gazette:
Deacon Phil S. Andrastek, age 69, Manitowoc, died Tuesday evening, July 1, 2008, at his residence. He was born Jan. 11, 1939, in Manitowoc, son of the late Stanley and Viola (Krejcie) Andrastek. Phil was a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School, Class of 1957. After graduation, he entered the United States Army National Guard until 1965. On Oct. 11, 1958, he married the former Lucy Schultz at St. Mary [Roman] Catholic Church, Manitowoc. He was a 15-year veteran of the Manitowoc Police Department as a motorcycle officer, logging over 100,000 miles with the department. Phil had a short career as the owner of “Polish Phil’s.” He was employed as a security guard at the Manitowoc Company for many years. During his retirement, Phil was a member of the maintenance staff at Silver Lake College and noon supervisor at LB Clarke School, Two Rivers. Phil was ordained a Deacon with the Green Bay Diocese in the fall of 1986, being assigned to St. Mary Catholic Church in conjunction with Manitowoc Jail Ministry. He also ministered to numerous local nursing homes as well as St. Francis of Assisi Parish where he was a member…
Figure larger than life; friend to the “little guy” and the oppressed; gifted storyteller; friendly conversationalist; generous spirit; loving husband; proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather; man of God.
Lord, grant eternal rest to our brother deacon.
Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Niech odpoczywa w pokoju, Amen.