So….what do these popular TV shows — Law & Order and Criminal Minds — have to do with a Catholic blog? They are my favorite shows for a reason. I love the entire lineup of Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Intent, L.A.; U.K. Have you noticed? NOT ONE of the characters on any of these shows ever needs to end up in bed with a co-worker, a victim or even a date. Not one of them — zip, zilch nada. There is no sexual tension or any innuendo; nothing implied. The 2011-2012 episodes are even bleeping out swears and the raunchier sexual references.

As a Catholic this is how I like my TV shows. Characters do not need to be in bed or involved sexually in order to be a good cop or investigator. It doesn’t take away from their role. Even Dr. George Huang, the psychiatrist on SVU admitted once to being gay – but it is not something he flaunts or even expresses. The “news” came out only once in one episode. Period. This proves that shows of this caliber can indeed be extremely popular without sex. How else can there be an original show — Law & Order – that lasts for so long and end up with a record four spin-offs?

The same goes for Criminal Minds. A real psychological thriller with real good acting…that’s the way I like my TV. Congratulations to NBC for being able to show quality TV without needing the sexual exploits of their characters. Congratulations, too, to the writers and producers. I’d love to nominate them for a good Catholic version of the Emmy’s. Special thanks to actress Mariska Hargitay who portrays Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU. Thank-you for neither degrading yourself or the role of women on TV! You are quite the blessing for the many who long for good acting with a strong female in a lead role without needing to be in bed in order to crack the case or to keep your job as a detective!

Now let’s see what Hollywood can do with other shows.

So…How Will You Spend Your 40 Days of Lent?

Looking for something special to do during Lent this year? Consider joining the great national Pro-Life event called 40 Days for Life. This year’s campaign will coincide with the days of Lent — simply go to this link, find a campaign in your area and make a commitment to pray and to fast…and save a life or two!!!! http://www.40daysforlife.com/ — you’ll be glad you did!

COMMENTARY ON FAITH IN LIGHT OF HEBREWS 11:1-2

Our topic in this writing is on Faith – your journey of faith and your response to God’s call. We will look at the biblical passage of Hebrews 11:1-2 which states, “(Now) faith is assurance/evidence of things hoped for, a conviction (evidence) of things not seen.” We will unpack these two verses as experienced by our ancestors in faith.

We will begin by saying that it was not enough for God to have created you and me. In the a reading from the book of Wisdom (11:27), that we call God, “O Lover of (our) souls”. In his immense love for us, he not only created us but chose in freedom to reveal himself to us. From there, He chose – again, in freedom — to take another step toward greater intimacy with us in calling us to Himself – calling us to enter into an ever-deepening relationship with him. Faith, then, is our response to that call to divine intimacy.

The writer of Hebrews goes through a long list of people in the Old Testament that God had called to himself. He begins with Abraham – revealing to Abraham that he is the One True God. From there he calls to Abraham – calls him into a relationship after laying down the basic ground work: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you” (Gn. 12:1). “You want me to WHAT, Lord?” That’s how I would have reacted. What did Abraham do? “Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…took Sarai his wife…and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan” (Gn 12:4-5). Oh…and…Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran”!!! Look at a map sometime and check the distance from Haran in what is now Iraq to Canaan/Palestine.

But why on earth would a 75-year-old man even consider doing something so…well…radical?

We are up to our next step in the call to intimacy. God calls and makes a promise of a great blessing: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing” (Gn 12:2). But…WHY?????????????? Sheer gift!!!!!

So…God creates, God reveals, God calls…we, like Abraham respond. But the response is not just with our lips – we respond with our whole being. Abraham packed all of his belongings and family and great herds – and literally headed south – not knowing for quite some time, by the way, where the so-called “place” was that he was heading to. Kind of like today’s soldiers who get a call and are told to be ready to deploy – but then they must await another call to find out where!!!

Anyway, Abraham went in faith. He had no idea where he was going; he knew that he and his wife Sarai were both beyond child-bearing years and yet he placed his trust in God who assured him, “…count the stars if you are able to number them…So shall your descendants be” (Gn 15:5).

Abraham had to use both his intellect in agreeing to all of this and his affect…that is, faith in the heart and faith in action. Did Abraham and the others whom the writer of Hebrews refers to ever experience any doubts or unbelief? I am sure that they did. In fact, Abraham fell on his face with laughter at the thought of a child being born to him at the age of 100 (Gn. 17:17). His wife Sarai/Sarah had laughed, too (Gn 18:12). In fact, the name Isaac means laughter.

Now –imagine Abraham’s thoughts especially when God called him a “second” time by further testing Abraham’s faith: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Gn 22:2). Again, Abraham responded in faith. Hebrews says that “he reasoned that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (see 11:19). At this point, Abraham was already familiar with God and knew that God would – and did! – keep his promises.

Let’s fast-forward to the New Testament for a moment…let’s ponder the great question of Mary to the angel Gabriel: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Lk 1:34). It’s ok to not have all the answers or complete understanding. What matters is that we respond in faith. In order to do so, we must have humility and trust in the One who calls us to Himself. All three – Abraham, Mary and Jesus (as well as countless others) endured great hardship for love of God and for the sake of their people….a people not even yet called into being. Abraham did so for the offspring he hadn’t even had yet; Mary did so for the sake of her people and for all people for all time: “he (Jesus, the child to be born) shall save them from their sins” (Mt 1:21). Jesus Himself struggled, too, when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Mt 26:39). In fact, Matthew describes Jesus as “sorrowful and very distressed” (26:37).

I could go on but let’s end here with a quick review again of the steps: God created, God reveals, God calls to relationship – and promises a blessing (or blessings) in return for that faith-filled response; we respond in faith using our intellect and our will. We understand and accept our frailty if we do not fully understand and look to Jesus who, though he was God cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46) Why? “For the sake of the joy that was still in the future, He endured the Cross, despising its shame and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God” (Hb 12:2). This He endured that you and I might have life and have it to its fullness.

What Every Catholic Should Know Before Responding to a Teaching of the Magisterium

By now most of you have heard about the stir regarding something that Pope Benedict XVI reportedly said in a recent interview about the use of condoms and AIDS. If you tend to watch EWTN you likely caught newsman Raymond Arroyo’s interview of theologian George Weigel (11/25) on the matter. His response was – in short – “That’s not Magisterial teaching”.

Just what is Magisterial teaching? It comes from the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. Magisterium is a Latin term meaning “teaching”. The Magisterium has three “levels” to it: Papal, Ecumenical councils and various synods of bishops. These three are the official interpreters of Sacred Scripture (a word which means “writings”) and of Apostolic Tradition (meaning the handing on of something). However, these groups are not the possessors of Divine Revelation (what God has revealed). The entire Church is in possession of the Word of God. To use an analogy (of sorts), our Federal government in divided into three branches – Executive (the President), Legislative (Congress) and the Supreme Court. While the U.S. is in possession of the Constitution, its official interpretation belongs to the Supreme Court.

How does the Magisterium work? The Pope has the “Divine right” to pronounce dogmatic definitions as often as he deems necessary – both by way of what we call an Infallible teaching when he speaks “ex cathedra” and by way of non-infallible teachings.

Let’s look at this for a minute. An Infallible teaching is a doctrine of the faith that is solemnly defined/proclaimed and MUST be believed by the Faithful. An example of this (and the last time the Pope spoke in “ex cathedra”) is when Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in 1950. Proclaiming something “ex cathedra” rarely happens; the pronouncement is irreversible and irreformable.

An example of a non-infallible teaching is that embryonic stem-cell research is wrong. It must be obeyed but it has not been solemnly defined. Non-infallible teachings are the more frequent way that Pope teaches.

Back to Church councils (rather than the Pope acting alone) teaching infallibly: Read about the very first Church council of the Church in AD 53 – it is the entire chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles whereby it was decided in council that Gentiles coming into the Christian community did not first have to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses by living as a Jew for awhile. This decision was binding on the Church – from AD 53 till now that decision has been held (this chapter in Acts is also all you need to prove that Church councils are indeed biblical).

The next “level” of Magisterial teaching can come from various groups of Bishops. Nationally, the U.S.C.C.B. is working on documentation about the issue/debacle of immigration in the U.S. Locally, Cardinal Sean can also issue decrees that must be followed within the arch-diocese if the need is there.

However, what is officially defined must already have been a part of Church teaching and pertain to faith and morals. They cannot proclaim anything new – such as deciding to add Mary and Joseph into the Trinity. As I said above, what is defined must be done with the intention of binding the faithful.

What should be our response to the teachings of the Church? There are three appropriate responses: (1) Credenda, (2) Tenenda and (3) Obsequium Religiosum.

1. Credenda: the assent of Divine Faith – “I believe”, which is self-explanatory.

2. Tenenda: firm holding or assent – speaks to an issue that has been settled for the sake of unity. In 1994, Pope John Paul II declared that the matter of all-male priesthood is closed. Because the Church does not have the authority to ordain women as priests, it cannot ever be brought forward to someday be reconsidered.

3. Obsequium Religiosum: a religious submission of mind and will to teaching as presented. A person may not like the teaching (such as that of embryonic stem-cell harvesting) but the person is still bound to assent to it.

Why do we need a Magisterium to begin with? St. Peter insists in his second letter (ch. 2, v. 20) that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation”, because “…untaught and unstable people twist (Scriptures) to their own destruction” (2 Pet 3:16). The Magisterium is the official interpreter and guardian of the Word of God which gives the Church its unity.

Choosing Light and Life in an Age of Darkness

This month we remember the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade (1/22/73) that gave women in America the legal right to terminate the life that grows within. “Women have the right to choose” is the battle cry. But choose what? The right to choose is never an end in itself. The right to choose is about being able to choose that which is good. “Women have a right to do what they want with their own body”. Do they really? If a pregnant woman is found to be abusing drugs (whether illicit or even prescription drugs) or alcohol, she can be arrested and held in custody until the birth of the child – and subsequently charged with endangering the life of an unborn child. Somehow, the Supreme Court came to the determination that it is perfectly legal for women to use abortifacient drugs and other means to kill unborn babies but that engaging in substance abuse while pregnant with a “wanted” child is “endangering the life within”. And why is it that when the child is wanted it is called a baby, but when it is not wanted it is merely referred to as a fetus?

But what of babies conceived in rape or incest? All persons have the inherent right to life and love. Father Frank Pavone’s website, www.priestsforlife.org, has many testimonials of women who had become pregnant as a result of rape and brought the child to birth. One of these young women, “Liz” shared her story on a recent episode of his show (on EWTN). Raped at a party by her boyfriend at age 17, she badly wanted an abortion to “get rid of the problem”. Her best friend was able to convince her that she was carrying a real baby and not just a mass of tissue. “Liz” stated that it was “really hard” to come to the decision to have the child. Once she did choose life, she opted to put the child up for adoption – an open adoption. “Liz” repeatedly insisted that once the child was born “all the pain was so worth it” and that he is a source of joy for her. She added that she “never sees her rapist in him”. Her closing remark was very poignant: “Every woman is strong enough to bring her unborn child to life”.

What if a young woman is pregnant and, as happens far too often, is kicked out of the family home? The Diocese of Worcester helps to support Visitation House (visit www.visitationhouse.org and give generously), a shelter for homeless pregnant women. Now in its sixth year, the program has helped many women bring their babies to life. Great marvels are done at Visitation House. Classes are held for those wishing to earn their GED, to learn English and to assist with making a resumé and job searches; nutritious meal planning and preparing (and sticking to) budgets are also part of the program.

Another option for assistance is Worcester’s Problem Pregnancy on Pleasant Street: http://problempregnancy.org/.

Can a person be both Catholic and “pro-choice”? No, the two are incompatible – an oxymoron. God declared everything He created to be “very good”; thus every time a woman gives birth she brings another image and likeness of God into the world (Gen 1:26).

For Catholics, being “Pro-Life” does not stop with the issue of abortion – it encompasses life in all its forms: from conception to the end of natural life. We are not simply “anti-abortion”. It’s why Catholic bishops speak out for just wages and work conditions and against euthanasia, assisted suicide and the death penalty; it’s why they insist on health insurance for all, the right to a clean environment and why they condemn war. Bishop (Emeritus) Daniel P. Reilly says it this way, “we are R.C. (Roman Catholic) and not P.C.” (Politically Correct). Jesus clearly showed a preferential love of the poor and the marginalized: “He (the Holy Spirit) has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Lk 4:18).

What Catholics Should Know About Islam

Newt Gingrich is a new member of the Catholic Church. He was influenced by his Catholic (third) wife, Callista, and entered the Church on March 29, 2009. Recently they put out a video (Nine Days That Changed the World) on the role the late Pontiff, John Paul II had on the fall of Communism in Poland. However, his latest video, America at Risk makes the case that “America is at war with Islam”. On this serious issue Newt Gingrich does not speak for the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is not at war with Islam; rather, she has been engaged in dialog with Islam on many fronts for decades. An important Church document, Christian-Muslim Relations in the United States — Reflections…After Two Decades of Experience, makes the point that, “Even by September 11, 2001, there were ongoing, regularly scheduled dialogues in place co-sponsored by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Muslim organizations and councils. During these gatherings, Catholics and Muslims dialog, study and pray together – in churches and in mosques; the Catholics attend Maghrib prayers (the 4th Salat/prayer of the day, said at sunset), and the Muslims attend vespers (http://www.usccb.org/seia/borelli.shtml). Additionally, several Catholic universities (BC, Creighton, Fordham and others) have established centers for inter-religious dialog.

One of the best books written on Islam, Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam (ISBN # 978-0195168860) was written by a Catholic priest, Fr. John Esposito, founding director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. The book is important enough that Muslims give it to other Muslims.

The fact that a tiny fraction of Muslims (out of a world population of over one billion) distorts certain teachings of Islam and engages in extremist acts against Western ideology does not negate the fact that Islam is indeed a religion of peace. Did David Koresh in Waco, TX (4/19/93) represent all of Christianity when he was stock-piling weapons within his compound and having sex with girls as young as 12? He was first born-again as a Baptist, then a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Did the Rev. Jim Jones, a pastor of the Disciples of Christ/Christian Church denomination represent all of Christianity when he convinced 909 people to drink cyanide-laced KoolAid® and so bring about their deaths in Guyana on 11/18/78? Surely no-one fears these groups.

What you likely don’t know about Islam is that they venerate all the prophets, including John the Baptist and Jesus (they do not believe in his divinity) and have great devotion to the Virgin Mary (Muslims believe – like Catholics and Orthodox Christians – that Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Jesus). They especially revere her under the name of Our Lady of Fatima – Fatima was the name of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) daughter.

In the Holy Qur’An, Maryam is the only woman mentioned specifically by name. Chapter 19 is even named for her and is one of the “most beautiful” chapters in the Qur’An. Muslims have great devotion to Mary and it is not at all unusual to find Muslims on pilgrimage at many Marian Shrines. When Our Lady appeared in the town of Zeitoun, Egypt (April 2, 1968 and into 1971) it was Muslims who first saw and recognized her. Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, in Mary’s Immaculate Conception and that it is He (not Muhammad, pbuh) who will come at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.

On March 24, 2010, Sheik Mohammad Nokkari (a Muslim), was able to have the government of Lebanon pass legislature that makes March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation) a national holiday where schools, the government and other institutions are closed for the day. Sheik Nokkari is a professor of law at St. Joseph University in Beirut. He describes the Virgin Mary as “a tender and uniting mother who is our mother Mary”.
(www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1001236.htm). He says, “I felt something in my heart telling me that Mary is the one who is going to unite us”. Catholics and Muslims have more in common than most people realize.

Let us (Catholics and Muslims) unite ourselves in prayer to our Blessed Mother Mary, our Sayyida (Lady) and confide ourselves to her maternal, unifying love. Moreover, let us invite our “dear and esteemed Muslim friends” (as Pope Benedict XVI calls them) to our novenas, processions and other festal Marian events and let us receive them in fraternal love. “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love…”

New Catholic Saint Has New England Ties

On the morning of Sunday, October 17, tens of thousands of people will be at the Olympic Stadium in Montréal, Canada to watch the canonization of six new saints of the Catholic Church on jumbo screens live from the Vatican. One of those new saints will be André Bessette who built St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montréal – the largest church in the world dedicated to St. Joseph.

 

Born Alfred Bessette in 1845 in Mont St. Grégoire, he was one of 10 children of Isaac and Clothilde (Foisy) Bessette. A very sickly child due to stomach problems he still could neither read nor write at the age of 25.  After his parents died, he went to live with his aunt & uncle, Marie-Rosalie and Timothée Nadeau.

 

Later, he was said to have lived for a length of time in Woonsocket, R.I. working in the mills – until it was discovered that he could do so little because of his illness.  He also lived and worked in Moosup, CT at the American Woolen Co. on Route 14. Two of his brothers, Claude and Léon, and a sister, Léocadie, later settled in Sterling, MA.

 

Because of his frailty, the religious community (Congregation of Holy Cross) he entered in Montréal only gave him the position of doorkeeper.  He had a great devotion to St. Joseph and would anoint people who came for prayer with holy oil kept near the small space dedicated to St. Joseph.   His reputation grew far and wide but he would get angry with any who suggested that André himself had healed them rather than glorifying God through the intercession of St. Joseph.  In time, he was given permission to build a church in honor of St. Joseph if he could find the money. And find it he did.  Donations poured in. 

 

So what is it about us Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox Christians) with our devotions to saints? St. Paul exhorts us (in Hebrews 12:1) to be confident about our faith journey…because we have “so great a cloud of witnesses”.  We have both the witness of their lives and their continued prayer.  “Pray directly to God”, you say?  We certainly can and do.  However, I like to think of the Communion of Saints as my spiritual support group – people who have gone before me – been there, done that, so to speak.  If I can ask parents, friends, and fellow parishioners to pray for me, why can’t I ask someone who is already in God’s presence?  It is neither idol worship nor putting the saints on a higher plane than Jesus.  Some people I know who question invoking the saints have no qualms themselves about keeping photos (and other mementos) of deceased family members on display in their home…some even “talk” to them. Why not, then, have pictures and mementos of heroes of our great faith? 

 

Why does the Church make saints to begin with?  The Church does no such thing. Never did.  It is God who raises up certain ones for a special purpose.  He always has: Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Israel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, St. Francis, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II and countless others through the ages.  The Church simply celebrates God and the great mercies He has shown these people.  None of these “made it” of their own accord.  Both Jews and Muslims make pilgrimages to the graves of their holy people. Muslims have a great devotion to the Virgin Mary and visit Marian shrines.  In fact, a young Muslim sheik in Lebanon recently pushed through legislation that marks the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked her to be God’s mother) as a national holiday! Schools and businesses are closed on that day…it is hoped that government entities will soon follow suit.

 

Back to Brother André…on Sunday, October 31^st, Mass will be celebrated in the crypt (at the Oratory) where his body lies.  That is the event I would want to be present at.  Family members will have reserved seating and with Bessettes, Nadeaus and Foisy in my family genealogy, I am referring to myself as his “petit cousin” – his little cousin.  It is the opportunity of a lifetime and already I am invoking Blessed André’s intercession so I can be able to make this pilgrimage.   Brother André died in 1937 at the age of 91.  One million people viewed his body.  Brother André was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982.