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Interesting sign at Borders Books

I was browsing through the Borders at Crossgates Mall in Albany today.

I saw the religion section from a distance and walked over. I was particularly interested in the signs they had pointing to “Christian Fiction.”

I figured millenialist books and similar, perhaps a few other things.

Guess what I found?

Bibles and Concordances.

That about sums up the world’s attitude toward Christianity, and most faith for that matter, excepting whatever people define as their personal brand of quasi-religious “spirituality.” I give them some credit for avoiding the soft-soap approach toward their attitude.

Side note, witchcraft, tarot, etc. were in a section all their own labeled “Mysticism.”

St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
All Holy Visionaries and Mystics, pray for us.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political,

Proclaim it brother

From the BBC: Pope ‘refused audience for Rice’

Pope Benedict XVI refused a recent request by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss the Middle East and Iraq, Vatican sources say.

The Pope refused a request for an audience during the August holidays.

Senior Vatican sources told the BBC the Pope does not normally receive politicians on his annual holiday at the Castelgandolfo residence near Rome.

But one leading Italian newspaper said it was an evident snub by the Vatican towards the Bush administration.

Christian rights

There are at least two reasons why Pope Benedict may have decided peremptorily against a private meeting with Ms Rice.

First, it was Ms Rice who just before the outbreak of the Iraq war in March 2003 made it clear to a special papal envoy sent from Rome, Cardinal Pio Laghi, that the Bush administration was not interested in the views of the late Pope on the immorality of launching its planned military offensive.

Secondly, the US has responded in a manner considered unacceptable at the Vatican to the protection of the rights of Iraqi Christians under the new Iraqi constitution.

The Bush administration has told the Vatican that as coalition forces have not succeeded in securing the whole territory of Iraq, they are unable to protect non-Muslims.

Instead of meeting the Pope, Ms Rice had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican’s number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was visiting the US during August on other business.

Witness can be quiet or loud, subtle or direct. I say Amen to this approach. Would that more Christians witness in such a manner, especially in this country.

Just say no!

Christian Witness, Saints and Martyrs

Happy El-Nayrouz 1724

Coptic Cross

Today marks the Feast of El-Nayrouz, the Coptic New Year 1724. More information is available from the St. Takla website.

In the feast of El-Nayrouz we behold the opened gates of Paradise. We see our Christ coming to carry us on the clouds, together with those who already entered the Paradise. All of us will enjoy the divine throne in heaven.

The following is a prayer for the feast.

O Lord, grant us to celebrate El-Nayrouz,
So that we may ask for a blessed year for all mankind.
And that every believer has the experience of Your marvelous Day.
Thus, all will enjoy the brightness of Your glory.

Yes, Come quickly O Lord Jesus.
Our hearts are enflamed with Your love.
Our hearts ask for none except You.

Let me, O God, celebrate the Feast of El-Nayrouz unceasingly.
Let me experience this joyful gospel, the gospel of everlasting unity with You.

Wondrous is the Son who paid the price of my trip to Your divine bosoms,
And Your Holy Spirit who forms me to become a heavenly bride,
Carrying me as if with the wings of a dove that heaven may celebrate my wedding!

I see You my beloved Christ, coming to me personally,
You have chosen me to share in Your glory,
You offered Yourself, a joyful sacrifice of love.

Grant me to become an icon of You,
With a big heart, full of love to all humans,
That, I may become a source of joy to everyone.

Your dwelling in me, O Holy Spirit renews my nature,
He transforms my dark tomb into a holy sanctuary,
He converts my darkness into exceeding brightness!

Grant me with all my brethren, to fly and be with You in heaven!
Let me celebrate the feast of the martyrs as fit, that I may practice witnessing for You.
Change my life to be full of joy with You, even at the moments of my daily repentance.

You see me my Lord rejoicing in You, and You become delighted in me.
The heavenly angels see me coming to You, and they welcome me.
They receive me with exceeding joy to join them in praising You.

The sinners see me full of joy, and they get filled with hope.
They see me rejoicing, and they join me in my continuous repentance.

The prophets and the apostles and all the martyrs see me.
And they praise You for letting me accompany them in Your kingdom!

What a wonderful thing, You delight in me,
And so do all Your creation, in heaven and on earth!

But the devil runs away in front of me
As he sees Your divine joy enlightens me and shines upon my face!

Glory is to You, the source of joy and victory.

Grant me O Lord that I may celebrate the feast of the martyrs all my life,
That, I may witness to Your joyful gospel,
That, I may always be in touch with Your tremendous fatherly love,

I see You anticipating with longing for me too.

Christian Witness, Perspective

In religion news

Tabled:

From Global News: Polish [R.C.] bishops divided over right-wing head of Radio Maryja

Some Catholic bishops in Poland reportedly want the controversial priest Tadeusz Rydzyk removed as head of the country’s influential right-wing ‘Radio Maryja’ station. However, a meeting of bishops in Czestochowa this weekend failed to take a decision on the matter according to a report in the ‘Rzeczpospolita’ newspaper. Archbishop Jozef Michalik, the head of the Polish Episcopalian Conference, said that —it was not possible to judge a man because of an inconsiderate statement.—

The Redemptorist priest Rydzyk has become one of Poland’s most controversial clergymen, following a number of anti-Semitic comments. Cultivating an audience of predominantly poor and elderly rural listeners, Radio Maryja has become a platform for right-wing politicians seeking voters. Rydzyk was most recently embroiled in a controversy over having apparently called Poland’s first lady Maria Kaczynska a ‘witch’.

Power and influence or repentance and discipline? Oh the hard choices we must make. Let’s table that one bishop…

This certainly points out the dichotomy evident in Church leadership. The bishops that were courageous witnesses under the communists remain courageous. The compromisers remain as such…

What has been wrought:

From the National Catholic Reporter: Liberal Catholicism endures in pastoral church

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (National Catholic Reporter) —“ Evangelical Catholicism may be running the table in terms of official policy, but most experts say that rumors of the death of liberal Catholicism have been greatly exaggerated.

Just as the evangelical impulse is one way of responding to modernity, so too is liberalism, and most sociologists say that complex religious institutions are likely to contain both and many others —“ only sects, they argue, have the luxury of rigid consistency. Further, terms such as —evangelical— and —liberal— are ideal types rather than airtight ways of categorizing real people, and many Catholics reflect elements of both in their own thinking.

At least in the United States, many observers believe that a broad liberal instinct is firmly entrenched at the grass roots.

—I think the genie has been let out of the bottle, and there is no putting it back in,— said Richard Gaillardetz, a prominent lay theologian at the University of Toledo, Ohio, even though he conceded that —liberal Catholicism … no longer enjoys the ecclesiastical support to which many had become accustomed in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s.—

Gaillardetz argued that in the United States, liberal Catholicism is less an ideology than a —pastoral phenomenon … alive in parishes that have a flourishing catechumenate, vibrant liturgies, thoughtful and relevant preaching, and multiple lay ministerial opportunities,— as well as —in a growing number of intentional Christian communities that are determined to keep alive a vision of the church that they associate with Vatican II.—

Looking around, observers such as Gaillardetz say that the moderate-to-liberal camp probably represents a disproportionate share of the church’s ministerial workforce, meaning priests, deacons, religious, and laity, as well as the theological guild.

Nor are these attitudes confined to a class of church professionals.

In fact, the evangelical camp seems a distinct minority within the overall Catholic population. In 2005, sociologist Dean Hoge published a survey about how American Catholics define what it means to be Catholic. At the top of their list was belief in the resurrection of Jesus, the Eucharist and the other sacraments, and helping the poor.

Other traditional markers of identity were sidelined —“ only 29 percent said a celibate male clergy was important, and just 42 percent said that about the teaching authority of the Vatican. Seventy-six percent said one could be a good Catholic without going to Mass on Sunday, and 75 percent said the same about following church teaching on birth control…

And, Roman Catholic liberals are proud of their accomplishment? Pastors are proud of their pastoring?

For sure…

Now if they had only focused their energies on bring people to God through Jesus Christ, rather than focusing on the ascent of man absent God.

As they Young Fogey would probably point out, NCR drops the f-bomb (rotten fundamentalists, them against us) to describe the resident “”evil”” in their midst.

Catholic liberals in the U.S. are not different in many respects from the left-liberalism he describes and links to here.

Sadly, they missed Jeremiah week in their OT class.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, ‘No calamity shall come upon you.’

Christian Witness, Current Events, PNCC,

Who is Catholic

Bishop Hodur, the founder and first Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church saidAn address given in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1902 as compiled in Bishop Francis Hodur, Sermon Outlines and Occasional Speeches 1899 – 1922, (c) 1999 Theodore L. Zawistowski, Polish National Catholic Church, Central Diocese

When a person travels across the wide world he notices pratically everywhere, especially in large cities, splendid churches erected to the glory of Jesus Christ. Some are in the Greek style or basilicas, others are Gothic or Baroque.

These churches claim that they believe in God and Jesus Christ, that Christ the Lord is their master and Savior, but nevertheless they hate each other…

Are all of these priests, all these votaries, truly worshipers of the same God, adherents and disciples of the same Master, Jesus Christ?

If Christ should find Himself once again on earth, He would deny those who have hatred, who turn away from a brother only because he folds his hands differently in prayer or prays from a different book.

When Christ gathered His disciples before the bloody Passion, He said to them these memorable words: A new commandment I give you, that you love one another …. By this will all men know you are My disciples, if you have love [for] one another.

Already the prophet Malachi called: Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? And St. John in the thought of Christ says, that God is love and whosoever loves his brother, humanity, is a child of God, and anyone who says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar.

It is necessary to love not only those who are of the same political, social, religious conviction. We have proof in the parable of Christ about the Samaritan, a person hated by Jews, but who brings help to his neighbor attacked by robbers.

And today?

Today it is not love that characterizes the various Churches and the people of the various Churches, but hatred and contempt…

In Bishop Hodur’s words I see both a condemnation of our weakness and our sinfulness, and at the same time a call to rise above that weakness.

Many are condemning the Roman Church’s recent proclamation (really just a restatement of what it has always believed), that it is the one, true Church, all others beginning either defective or not Churches at allSee: Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church.

The condemnation is uncalled for. Condemnation cannot affect change, and even greater charity is called for. The Roman Church can declare what it pleases without affecting one hair upon anyone else’s head.

Imagine (hehe…) I condemn them, they condemn me, we condemn those over there. Then we bring John Lennon’s silly song to reality.

What we must do is continue to witness the fact that Christ lives in His Church in the manner the Spirit provides for. We must witness our faith, not in documents and pronouncements, but in a life lived in accordance with the teachings of Christ.

We do that by dialog, we do it by immense charity, we do it by lives lived in, for, and with Jesus.

May it ever be so.
May the Lord have mercy on us, for we are weak.
Lord send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, PNCC,

Congratulations, on your documents

A hearty congratulations, and welcome back:

I would like to begin by offering a hearty congratulations to my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters on the occasion of the issuance of Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

The Bishop of Rome has taken steps to reclaim something very precious, something that was lost for the vast majority of Roman Catholics, especially in the United States. That is, a spirit of deep and abiding reverence and Godwardness in the Liturgies of the Church.

I pray that your reclaiming of the Church’s patrimony will enrich your faith, deepen it, and strengthen it. I pray that this small seed will grow, and in its growth that it will support and nourish all the Rites of the Church.

A note on language:

SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM cura ad hoc tempus usque semper fuit, ut Christi Ecclesia Divinae Maiestati cultum dignum offerret, "ad laudem et gloriam nominis Sui» et "ad utilitatem totius Ecclesiae Suae sanctae».

Ummm, ok.

Mean much to you?

Me neither.

Many have posited that the Tridentine Mass is not about Latin. They continually repeat, ‘it is not about Latin.’

I understand the point. It is about focusing the congregation, the entire Church, on God.

Our relationship with God, as members of the Church, is completely interwoven with the Liturgy, most especially the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass, performed properly and devoutly, changes our perspective and enriches us.

That being said, based on my personal experience, rambling on in Latin, while quaint, will cause many of the pew dwellers to draw away, leaving behind geeky church types. The intended lesson will be wasted.

While still a Roman Catholic I attended indult Masses in Buffalo (at St. Vincent de Paul parish, since closed). I remembered it fairly well, because my very traditional Polish parish kept the old Mass alive up to 1974. I had my old missal and I was psyched for the experience.

They were very nice Masses, reverent and all, but they left me cold. I followed along, tried to be prayerful, understood what I was supposed to experience, but eh… I was looking for the glory, honor, and praise of God, and I got eh… Nice Mass, but I don’t get it…

Reading in silence is a great activity for evenings at home. It’s wonderful when you can delve into the experience of words, but it doesn’t quite work when reading distracts from focus, and focus is useless without the fullness of the context (that is culturally, linguistically, and aurally made present).

Another example.

I love Gorzkie Żale devotions during Lent. I grew up with them.

Gorzkie Żale are sung bitter lamentations reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, as seen though Mary’s eyes and emotions, and as seen by us, in our complicity in what occurred.

The context for these Lamentations was explained to me by my mother. I was young, but I understood. I would serve at these devotions. I would reflect on the context, listen to the beautiful singing, and was often moved to tears. I didn’t understand a word… they were sung in Polish.

When I joined the PNCC, which still actively promotes these devotions, I was overjoyed. I went to Gorzkie Żale one Wednesday evening, and it was sung in English.

I was crushed. Not because it was in English, but because I understood every word and every nuance. I was guilty, He bore my sins. It hit me full force and I will never forget it.

A third example.

While I was dating the future Mrs., she was still an Episcopalian. She took me to St. Boniface in Guilderland, NY. It was the first time I had ever been in an Episcopal church.

I didn’t know what to expect. My limited knowledge of Protestants left me thinking that I was in for long winded sermonizing and happy-clappy music.

The Albany Episcopal Diocese is very High Church (didn’t know what that meant at the time), and I got the Mass. I think my jaw hit the floor. The Tridentine Rite in English?

Again, the experience was enriched by my ability to understand.

So, it is about Latin in a very big way. Latin will be the disconnect for all but a few, most particularly in the United States where education in the classics, and a wider view of world history, is lacking.

As the Young Fogey rightly points out, Godward and understandable work. That will move the pew dwellers, and ease a more thorough integration.

Documents, we don’t need no … documents:

A Motu on the election of the Bishop of Rome, a Motu re-integrating the old mass, and a forthcoming document cited at Reuters and elsewhere:

The Vatican will issue another text on Tuesday [July 10, 2007] expected to declare Roman Catholicism the only true church of Jesus Christ

Quite a few documents in a three week period (by the by – I was wrong here).

The problem with documents is that they do not replace discipline. How do the Orthodox or the PNCC retain Church discipline and the faith once handed down?

To be sure, we have documents, but besides our shared heritage built upon Sacred Scripture, the Fathers, and the commonly held Councils, how do we all do it?

With the forthcoming document stating that the rest of Catholicism (not to mention Christianity) is a conglomeration of schismatics, heretics, and other such bad/misguided people, I’d wonder if it would not be so, if we had documents ❓

On a more serious note, everyone is entitled to his self declaration (why I don’t buy into the whole – oooh, the Tridentine Rite will offend the Jews – as if they have a right to define another’s core beliefs).

The Roman Church is entitled to Her own declaration and to further clarify that declaration.

That defining is not for us, nor against us. It is Her own.

A final thought:

In all, faith is the key element. It is the binding and the salve that joins the Catholic faithful.

I have found the fullness of Catholic expression in the PNCC. Godward, faithful to tradition, understood by the people. In the end I am thankful to be part of Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. May I be granted the grace that it ever be so. As we pray before communion:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit
Your death brought life to the world.
By Your holy Body and Blood free me
from all my sins and from every evil.
Keep me faithful to Your teaching and
never let me be parted from You.

Christian Witness

Independence Day – et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

Spirit of 76

Remember:

If you continue in My word, you shall be My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Recall:

If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

May we never forget where true freedom is to be found.
May we be thankful for the abundant gifts showered down upon our nation.
May we be steadfast in doing right, and repent of our wrongs.
We ask these graces through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Christian Witness, Perspective,

Pontifications est fine

The Rev. Al Kimel has discontinued his blog, Pontifications.

In his final article, Namárií«, he notes:

Becoming [Roman] Catholic has brought many blessings, but it has not healed the sorrows of my heart. Indeed, in some ways it has intensified these sorrows. But this is all very private. All I need say is that I often find them overwhelming. God is silent. I am reduced to silence.

While reading his last lines I was struck by an allusion to the film Moscow On The Hudson.

As you might recall, Robin Williams character, Vladimir, defects to the United States. At first he is overcome by the vast differences between his experiences in communist Russia and life in the United States. He is joyful and giddy, full of dreams. As the film progresses he is overcome by remorse over his decision to defect. He wants to return to his ‘home’. But, he cannot go back. In his dread he cannot go forward.

To a certain extent I imagine that the Rev. Kimel faces such a struggle. We have an inherent discomfort with our decisions, especially when faced with the realities of the world.

Past the decision, you must find your place. The Rev. Kimel will certainly find his one day. The Lord is always merciful and just.

quaerite Dominum et virtutem eius quaerite faciem eius semper recordamini mirabilium eius quae fecit signorum illius et iudiciorum oris eius semen Israhel servi eius filii Iacob electi illius ipse Dominus Deus noster in universa terra iudicia eius recordamini in sempiternum pacti eius sermonis quem praecepit in mille generationes

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political

Against the priest politician

From the Catholic News Service: Stop politicizing homilies, Vatican nuncio tells Catholic Polish clergy

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) —“ The Vatican’s ambassador to Poland has called on Catholic clergy to stop preaching politicized homilies.

“I wish liturgical services in Poland would not turn into public rallies and just dispose people to be more human and more Catholic,” said Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, the Vatican’s ambassador, or nuncio.

“We need priests, not politicians —“ and if politicians, then politicians of God’s word,” said the archbishop, whose sermon was carried by Poland’s Catholic information agency, KAI. “We also need evangelists, not economists —“ we have enough of those already in Poland to do the job. Let’s work on their spirit and conscience so they’ll become true professionals in serving all society. This is the mission of a priest…”

To which my friends in Poland, going to church and looking for spiritual sustenance would say, Deo gratias.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, Saints and Martyrs

More martyrs

As linked to by the Young Fogey from AsiaNews: A Chaldean priest and three deacons killed in Mosul:

Fr Ragheed Ganni, 34, was hit by gunfire in front of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Three deacons, who served as his aides, were also killed.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) —“ An armed group gunned down and killed Fr Ragheed Ganni and three of his aides. The murder took place right after Sunday mass in front of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mosul where Father Ragheed was parish priest. Sources told AsiaNews that hours later the bodies were still lying in the street because no one dared retrieve them. Given the situation tensions in the area remain high…

…which follows on his links to Iraq’s Catholics are being crucified.

The Assyrian News Agency reports that the martyrs are:

Father Ragheed Ganni,
Sub-deacon Basman Yousef Daud,
Sub-deacon Wahid Hanna Isho, and
Sub-deacon Gassan Isam Bidawed

Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them.

Lord, welcome home your martyrs who have washed their robes and made them white in Your blood.

Blame the Muslims? Certainly they bear responsibility for their inhumanity and the murders they have committed. But as several have pointed out, this didn’t happen under Saddam.. but rather right under the nose of George Bush’s regime.

This further supports my contention that Evangelicals of Mr. Bush’s ilk and his neo-con supporters cheer as Catholics die.

But woe…

Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’
Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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