"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
-St. Jerome
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Feast of the Archangels
I must confess that I have never celebrated my feast day before today; it is like a second birthday minus the cake. I am referring to my patron of course, St. Michael the Archangel, after whom I am named. Below is listed the popular prayer to St. Michael that many Catholics know, or at least have heard at one point or another. The story goes that one day in 1886 Pope Leo XIII was celebrating Mass when suddenly he had a vision of sorts in which he saw Satan and his many companions. Leo was so horrified after this vision that he shortly after composed a longer version of the famous St. Michael prayer that we know today. This prayer was recited at the end of Mass to call upon the heavenly intercessor for protection of the Church and its members.
I believe now more then ever it is of the utmost importance to be vigilant against the evils that so often bombard the Church. One not need look far to notice the opposition on all sides against the Church. The attacks that come from outside directed at the Church, and those which often attack Her from the inside out by Her own members. One only has to look at how the media attacks Her on a day in, day out basis.
When once asked what the greatest threat to Christianity was, G.K. Chesterton simply replied, "Christians." We are called to be the light and salt of the world and that sets the bar rather high; when we do not measure up to that, others are all too quick to point out our shortcomings. Of course no Christian is perfect (or ever will be here) but it is the goal of this earthly pigrilmage to aim for this perfection as a goal brought to completion through the grace of God. Anything else is a lack of integrity in the vocation that every Christian is called to. Mother Teresa says, "Holiness the not the priviledge of a few, but the simple duty for me and you."
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Pope and Protestants
In a change from the norm of bad news only media, the Pope was recently in Germany and met with Protestants in a gesture of good will. Benedict visited the monastery where Martin Luther lived up until he started the Reformation and talked with leaders of a large Protestant denomination. The meeting did not highlight the things that separate Catholics and Protestants, but rather affirmed the vast amount of common ground that unites all Christians.
The Pope, in a great tightrope walk of politics, kept the balance by refusing to give "concessions" of certain dogmas of faith as a further act of good will while still keeping the dialogue warm in an effort to engage. B-16 also noted that he should strive to work at Christian unity as it is "the Divine Master's supreme aspiration." He stated that such a concession is not worthy of what we call faith, for faith is something our entire lives are grounded in. They are truths that do not change, simply because truth itself cannot change. They cannot be used as tokens in a theological trading game. He probably worded it a little bit palatable then that, but oh well you get the point.
Overall, it is encouraging to see that people of different faith traditions can get together in a single room under the banner of Christian charity without regressing into a child-like political temper tantrum all too common on Fox News. Yes, we can talk and the doorway of dialogue should always remain open.
The Pope, in a great tightrope walk of politics, kept the balance by refusing to give "concessions" of certain dogmas of faith as a further act of good will while still keeping the dialogue warm in an effort to engage. B-16 also noted that he should strive to work at Christian unity as it is "the Divine Master's supreme aspiration." He stated that such a concession is not worthy of what we call faith, for faith is something our entire lives are grounded in. They are truths that do not change, simply because truth itself cannot change. They cannot be used as tokens in a theological trading game. He probably worded it a little bit palatable then that, but oh well you get the point.
Overall, it is encouraging to see that people of different faith traditions can get together in a single room under the banner of Christian charity without regressing into a child-like political temper tantrum all too common on Fox News. Yes, we can talk and the doorway of dialogue should always remain open.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Voices from the Womb
Most people push their problems under a carpet and pretend as though they do not exist; then they go about their daily business. It is only when someone holds a mirror up to man that he is forced to face himself. Voices from the Womb is just that mirror. Through the power of real-time 4D scans, Voices from the Womb allows people to see high definition, moving images of babies in the womb.
This new technology shows how a fetus is alive and well formed with all the intricacies of a human being, including a beating heart, from as early as 10 weeks old. I cannot think of any pro-choice argument being considered worthwhile after merely facing the reality of life in the womb, in this new way previously unexperienced.
For more information on 'Voices from the Womb', check out:
http://voicesfromthewomb.com/?page_id=24
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A Year in Retrospect ~ A Reflection on the Passing of Fr. Francis
It is hard to believe that it has already been one year since Fr. Francis Keenan, S.M. has passed away. He was one of the more lovable and joyful priests I have ever encountered in my life. Unfortunately, I must confess that I did not know him so well while he was alive. He is however one of the main causes as to why I am where I am now with my life.
If it were not for the passing of Fr. Francis, there is a good chance I would not have re-established contact with the Marianists. If that had not happened, I could hardly see any other reason as to why I would currently be an aspirant (a.k.a. a baby brother, new guy, brother in training, etc...). It is hard for me to believe that it has been a year since I came back to Kellenberg.
I remember so clearly walking through the doors of my old high school and into the lobby for the wake of Fr. Francis. I did not leave Kellenberg on the best of terms and I felt awkward being where I was, not being sure if anyone wanted me to be there at all. Something made me feel however that I still belonged to the school I had left, something made me feel that I had to come that night. Familiar faculty greeted me with a casual warmness that is so typical of Kellenberg. As I made my way into the auditorium, where the wake was actually taking place, I moved slowly down the aisle towards a priest whom I did know very well as a student. I was not sure how much of me he remembered though. Would he remember my name off the top of his head? Would he be happy to see me or would he care less? He was after all a priest who dealt with thousands of people, constantly coming in and out of his life on a daily basis. What impression did I make on him? I was never remarkable.
As I got closer and closer to Father, I saw him casually greeting my fellow mourners. He would shake hands and exchange a few words that amounted to no more then cliche conversation, all the while retaining his trademark smile. I expected the same for myself, but when he saw me he shouted my name to my surprise and threw his arms around me. The exchange was authentic and heart felt. Words do not express what that moment meant to me. I felt like a prodigal son in my own right. I felt I had come back to where I belonged. I felt I had come back to myself.
After that reunion I made my way along on the line past the casket of Fr. Francis. God had worked something through him in a way no human mind could have orchestrated and in a way Fr. Francis himself did not even have a direct part in. I never knew Fr. Francis that well, but I do take solace in the fact that on more then one occasion I got to share in his secret handshake and exchange a few words with him in the sacristy. Most of all I am grateful for what was worked through him by God and how Fr. Francis brought me back home.
If it were not for the passing of Fr. Francis, there is a good chance I would not have re-established contact with the Marianists. If that had not happened, I could hardly see any other reason as to why I would currently be an aspirant (a.k.a. a baby brother, new guy, brother in training, etc...). It is hard for me to believe that it has been a year since I came back to Kellenberg.
I remember so clearly walking through the doors of my old high school and into the lobby for the wake of Fr. Francis. I did not leave Kellenberg on the best of terms and I felt awkward being where I was, not being sure if anyone wanted me to be there at all. Something made me feel however that I still belonged to the school I had left, something made me feel that I had to come that night. Familiar faculty greeted me with a casual warmness that is so typical of Kellenberg. As I made my way into the auditorium, where the wake was actually taking place, I moved slowly down the aisle towards a priest whom I did know very well as a student. I was not sure how much of me he remembered though. Would he remember my name off the top of his head? Would he be happy to see me or would he care less? He was after all a priest who dealt with thousands of people, constantly coming in and out of his life on a daily basis. What impression did I make on him? I was never remarkable.
As I got closer and closer to Father, I saw him casually greeting my fellow mourners. He would shake hands and exchange a few words that amounted to no more then cliche conversation, all the while retaining his trademark smile. I expected the same for myself, but when he saw me he shouted my name to my surprise and threw his arms around me. The exchange was authentic and heart felt. Words do not express what that moment meant to me. I felt like a prodigal son in my own right. I felt I had come back to where I belonged. I felt I had come back to myself.
After that reunion I made my way along on the line past the casket of Fr. Francis. God had worked something through him in a way no human mind could have orchestrated and in a way Fr. Francis himself did not even have a direct part in. I never knew Fr. Francis that well, but I do take solace in the fact that on more then one occasion I got to share in his secret handshake and exchange a few words with him in the sacristy. Most of all I am grateful for what was worked through him by God and how Fr. Francis brought me back home.
Babbling Blogma
I believe the tagline sums up my goal pretty well, "the ins and outs of existence from a Catholic perspective." Faith is like the lens through which we see everything around us. Faith applies to those who entitle themselves believers of "something greater then themselves" and also to those who only trust the ground on which they stand (if they even believe in that). In either case though, what we believe in (or don't believe in) effects everything that we do. If it does not effect everything, you are either dead or completely apathetic. Either way you should wake up. It is our duty to question who we are and why we do the things that we do.
I encourage dialogue and I look forward to talking to you, just please be mindful of your manners. If you don't agree with what I say, please write back all the more.
Pax et Bonum.
Michael Anthony
I encourage dialogue and I look forward to talking to you, just please be mindful of your manners. If you don't agree with what I say, please write back all the more.
Pax et Bonum.
Michael Anthony
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