Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 352
June 24, 2011
America the Artificial
After taking in the excitement of Universal Studios for two days with the family I commented on the fabricated, faux and artificial world that America has become. One friend commented that the entertainment culture has infected every aspect of our lives as well. Not only do we eat Italian food in a faux Tuscan villa next to a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet, but the staff have been trained to give us the 'Italian experience' and some trainee opera singer is trundled out to bellow out 'Happy Birthday' in order to amuse and delight us. At the shopping mall we don't just buy clothes and furniture and whatever else we need, but in each 'themed' store we are expected to have 'the experience.'
The shallow stupidity of it all is frightening, and then when we stop to consider we see that American Christianity has basically adopted the same, shallow, individualistic, 'experience' mentality. We've swallowed the secular culture totally and uncritically and we've adapted the Christian gospel to fit into this shallow, entertainment based culture without thinking. So the Evangelical mega-churches have become totally consumer driven, entertainment based and utilitarian in their message, and I'm sorry to say the rest of Protestantism has gone down the same path, and even more embarrassed and ashamed to say that most of Catholicism has gone down this path too.
So our churches compete with one another for members just like any other business. We run things according to our budget and our bottom line and consider people to be new members once they start contributing to the envelope stewardship plan. We incorporate entertainment styled liturgies and music and make sure our homilies are catchy, funny, a touch inspiring and most of all--short. These things, disturbing as they are, are only the symptom of a deeper malaise within American Christianity--and in this I include Catholicism.
The deeper problem is the over emphasis on 'the personal encounter with Christ'. Yes, of course Christ meets us and calls us to follow him. Yes, of course the personal encounter is important for our life in Christ, but just what is this 'personal encounter'? What does it consist of and how do we know we have had it? For the Evangelical it means 'getting saved' or 'accepting Jesus into our hearts.' However, what is unspoken and yet universally assumed is that for this to be real there ought also to be a vivid and memorable emotional experience as well.
Likewise, within certain Catholic groups there is a great emphasis on the 'encounter with Christ'. Just what this encounter consists of is never spelled out. Instead one is encouraged to 'find one's deepest desire' and there one will encounter Christ. I am increasingly of the opinion that this is really a load of hogwash. Emphasis on the 'personal encounter' apart from the objective realities of the Church and the Sacraments is a heresy--like all heresies not wrong in what it affirms, but it is wrong in what it denies (or de-emphasizes)
The desire for the 'personal experience' is a relativistic, subjective, sentimental phenomenon which, by it's very nature, either ignores, denies or de emphasizes the objective authority of the Church. It is this essentially Protestant world view which contnributes to American culture being shallow, fake and entertainment based. It is also a poison within American Christianity--both Protestant and Catholic.
The answer of course, is the objective reality of the Catholic faith. Do you want to know where to find authenticity within all the artificiality of our modern world? Are you looking to find objective reality as an answer to the subjective 'experiences' you keep having? Are you searching for something solid instead of everything sentimental? Are you looking for a rock solid encounter with Christ with no doubts? Then look to the Catholic faith which is built on a rock. Make it the center of yoru life.
The Catechism says that Christ is encountered 1. in the Scriptures 2. In the person of the priest 3. In the Eucharistic Assembly 4. In the consecrated bread and wine 4. In the person of the poor. 5. In the lives of the saints.
There is the objective source or reality--all the rest is chaff.
The shallow stupidity of it all is frightening, and then when we stop to consider we see that American Christianity has basically adopted the same, shallow, individualistic, 'experience' mentality. We've swallowed the secular culture totally and uncritically and we've adapted the Christian gospel to fit into this shallow, entertainment based culture without thinking. So the Evangelical mega-churches have become totally consumer driven, entertainment based and utilitarian in their message, and I'm sorry to say the rest of Protestantism has gone down the same path, and even more embarrassed and ashamed to say that most of Catholicism has gone down this path too.
So our churches compete with one another for members just like any other business. We run things according to our budget and our bottom line and consider people to be new members once they start contributing to the envelope stewardship plan. We incorporate entertainment styled liturgies and music and make sure our homilies are catchy, funny, a touch inspiring and most of all--short. These things, disturbing as they are, are only the symptom of a deeper malaise within American Christianity--and in this I include Catholicism.
The deeper problem is the over emphasis on 'the personal encounter with Christ'. Yes, of course Christ meets us and calls us to follow him. Yes, of course the personal encounter is important for our life in Christ, but just what is this 'personal encounter'? What does it consist of and how do we know we have had it? For the Evangelical it means 'getting saved' or 'accepting Jesus into our hearts.' However, what is unspoken and yet universally assumed is that for this to be real there ought also to be a vivid and memorable emotional experience as well.
Likewise, within certain Catholic groups there is a great emphasis on the 'encounter with Christ'. Just what this encounter consists of is never spelled out. Instead one is encouraged to 'find one's deepest desire' and there one will encounter Christ. I am increasingly of the opinion that this is really a load of hogwash. Emphasis on the 'personal encounter' apart from the objective realities of the Church and the Sacraments is a heresy--like all heresies not wrong in what it affirms, but it is wrong in what it denies (or de-emphasizes)
The desire for the 'personal experience' is a relativistic, subjective, sentimental phenomenon which, by it's very nature, either ignores, denies or de emphasizes the objective authority of the Church. It is this essentially Protestant world view which contnributes to American culture being shallow, fake and entertainment based. It is also a poison within American Christianity--both Protestant and Catholic.
The answer of course, is the objective reality of the Catholic faith. Do you want to know where to find authenticity within all the artificiality of our modern world? Are you looking to find objective reality as an answer to the subjective 'experiences' you keep having? Are you searching for something solid instead of everything sentimental? Are you looking for a rock solid encounter with Christ with no doubts? Then look to the Catholic faith which is built on a rock. Make it the center of yoru life.
The Catechism says that Christ is encountered 1. in the Scriptures 2. In the person of the priest 3. In the Eucharistic Assembly 4. In the consecrated bread and wine 4. In the person of the poor. 5. In the lives of the saints.
There is the objective source or reality--all the rest is chaff.
True Grit
They got me True Grit on DVD for my birthday, and I watched it a couple more times. It's fast becoming one of my favorite films. It's very hard in fiction or film to portray a good character. This is because truly good and saintly people are so rare and the good people we meet are so often deeply flawed. Furthermore, we usually equate goodness with perfection, piety and 'purity' and being all prim and proper. But what we mean by 'piety and purity' is more often associated with a false kind of piety and purity which has little to do with real goodness.
In True Grit you see a man who is not perfect, but he is real. He's a killer and a drunkard and a serial husband, but he believes in justice, truth and he's humble. When he saves Mattie from the rattlesnake bite--carrying her the final steps to safety--it all comes clear. This time through I noticed again the old gospel tune 'Everlasting Arms' running through the film score. Then at the end the gospel son is sung, "Oh what peace of mind, oh, what joy is mine. Leaning on the everlasting arms." Nice touch.
In True Grit you see a man who is not perfect, but he is real. He's a killer and a drunkard and a serial husband, but he believes in justice, truth and he's humble. When he saves Mattie from the rattlesnake bite--carrying her the final steps to safety--it all comes clear. This time through I noticed again the old gospel tune 'Everlasting Arms' running through the film score. Then at the end the gospel son is sung, "Oh what peace of mind, oh, what joy is mine. Leaning on the everlasting arms." Nice touch.
June 22, 2011
Vacation
I am on vacation with the family in Orlando, and will drive down to visit my sister and brother for a few days tomorrow. We're enjoyed two days at Universal Studios with the masses. What hits me about these theme parks is how all the artificiality and fakery is so very well done. Everything, of course, is built on a steel frame, but what wonders they can do with cement, a brick facade and reproduction everything.
Then I think that the whole of America is built like that. Go down any modern suburban shopping street and it is like Disneyland or Universal studios. Oh look! there's an Italian restaurant that's built to look like an villa in Tuscany. Oh look! It's a Mexican restaurant built to look like a hacienda. Why there's a shopping center built in the early American style, and there's another shopping strip built to look like a Victorian American main street. Go into the shopping mall and every shop has a fake 'mood' or an artificial 'atmosphere' right down to the uniforms of the staff, the piped in music and all of it composed and manufactured as one big illusion.
Do Americans realize how fake most of their society is? Do they realize how much the ordinary shopping experience or restaurant experience is now conditioned by movies, stage sets, theme parks and the whole entertainment society? So our dining experience, our shopping experience, our whole experience is fabricated to produce a 'mood'.
The saddest thing of all is that our homes and churches are now built like this too. "Building a church?" We'll just put up a steel box and then decorate it however you want. Want Gothic? Great. We'll make some pointed arches out of two by fours and plasterboard. Want Romanesque? No problem. We'll make round arches. Of course the arches don't actually DO anything, and the pillars are fake but it looks pretty."
Some day someone will write a book on the history of American architecture and they will have to write a chapter on the influence of the film set and theme park on the rest of teh architectural profession.
Then I think that the whole of America is built like that. Go down any modern suburban shopping street and it is like Disneyland or Universal studios. Oh look! there's an Italian restaurant that's built to look like an villa in Tuscany. Oh look! It's a Mexican restaurant built to look like a hacienda. Why there's a shopping center built in the early American style, and there's another shopping strip built to look like a Victorian American main street. Go into the shopping mall and every shop has a fake 'mood' or an artificial 'atmosphere' right down to the uniforms of the staff, the piped in music and all of it composed and manufactured as one big illusion.
Do Americans realize how fake most of their society is? Do they realize how much the ordinary shopping experience or restaurant experience is now conditioned by movies, stage sets, theme parks and the whole entertainment society? So our dining experience, our shopping experience, our whole experience is fabricated to produce a 'mood'.
The saddest thing of all is that our homes and churches are now built like this too. "Building a church?" We'll just put up a steel box and then decorate it however you want. Want Gothic? Great. We'll make some pointed arches out of two by fours and plasterboard. Want Romanesque? No problem. We'll make round arches. Of course the arches don't actually DO anything, and the pillars are fake but it looks pretty."
Some day someone will write a book on the history of American architecture and they will have to write a chapter on the influence of the film set and theme park on the rest of teh architectural profession.
June 20, 2011
When a Priest's Accused
I have no doubt that some of the priests who are now on 'administrative leave' have been falsely accused, and it is terrible to read some of the comments of those who have been gathering around in the wake of the Corapi affair like a pack of hyenas to fight with others for their bite of the corpse. I'm not saying John Corapi is innocent or guilty. We don't know, but everyone deserves a fair hearing and to judge the man too harshly for his recent decision is also unfair. We just don't know the facts. We should step back and observe and pray and hope good comes from these events.
However, we should also take the opportunity to look again at the whole matter of accusations against priests. The standards we have for our priests are just about as high as they can get. At the same time the demands we make on their time and their personalities are just about as high as they can get. Furthermore, while the standards and expectations are just about as high as they can get, at the same time the complaining and gossip and back biting against our priests is about as high as it can get. The lack of co operation, lack of appreciation, negativity and criticism is also about as high as it can get. It's basically like this: Father has to be Jesus Christ here and now, but not just Jesus Christ, but everybody's particular understanding of Jesus Christ, and if Father should fail and let someone down he gets both barrels. Not just that: Father doesn't have to even fail. He only has to be perceived as failing to get both barrels. Not only will the bad Father has done be used against him, but the good he says and does will be used against him.
Here's an example from a priest I know. Father wants to buy a couple of beautiful new statues for the church. So he gets copies of the images printed up and he distributes them to the congregation for consideration. He's being consultative. He's trying to share his vision. He's trying to inspire the congregation. He's asking if they like these and want him to buy them. He asks for their feedback, and in the first day someone offers to buy both statues. Others say how much they like them. All well and good. So Father lets slip, in his enthusiasm, that someone has already offered to buy both statues. Next thing he knows the gossip mill has gone into overdrive and the message among the faithful is, "Father has already ordered those statues. The whole consultative thing was a sham. We don't like the statues and he is imposing them on us."
No wonder priests get fed up with the negativity, lack of faith, close mindedness, sour Pharisaical attitudes of their flock. Then when someone turns around and makes an accusation, no wonder the poor priest is devastated. If he's innocent the pain is particularly bad. It is a real identification with Christ. All he can do is walk the way of the Cross, accept his fate and go the way of the sacrificial lamb.
But what if he's guilty? In this present climate guilty of what? Some priests are now accused for the most minor of failures and they are treated like serial perverts. I know of a young priest who had too many to drink one night and a fellow invited him back to his apartment and made a pass at him. The priest was sober enough to high tail it out of there, and the troubled young man (who was rejected) made an accusation against the priest and the poor guy was suspended and the whole nine yards. Other priests have fallen into a relationship with a woman which was consensual and legal. He broke his vow of celibacy, but he didn't do anything illegal or criminal. Still he is suspended and treated like a total outcast. Another priest admits to his bishop that he has a problem with pornography. It's not kiddie porn or anything illegal, but still he is removed from his parish, his computers are confiscated, he's sent for therapy, demoted and added to the 'list of priests with allegations against them.' Is any of this fair or logical or compassionate? I think not.
Yes, priests should be totally clear and clean and nothing bad should ever happen, but if the present madness continues vocations will continue to plummet, good candidates will quit, priests will simply walk out. Those with get up and go will get up and go, and who will we be left with? The very ones we wanted to be rid of--the sly, the lazy, the corrupt, the drunkards, the scheming, the mediocre and the weak.
However, we should also take the opportunity to look again at the whole matter of accusations against priests. The standards we have for our priests are just about as high as they can get. At the same time the demands we make on their time and their personalities are just about as high as they can get. Furthermore, while the standards and expectations are just about as high as they can get, at the same time the complaining and gossip and back biting against our priests is about as high as it can get. The lack of co operation, lack of appreciation, negativity and criticism is also about as high as it can get. It's basically like this: Father has to be Jesus Christ here and now, but not just Jesus Christ, but everybody's particular understanding of Jesus Christ, and if Father should fail and let someone down he gets both barrels. Not just that: Father doesn't have to even fail. He only has to be perceived as failing to get both barrels. Not only will the bad Father has done be used against him, but the good he says and does will be used against him.
Here's an example from a priest I know. Father wants to buy a couple of beautiful new statues for the church. So he gets copies of the images printed up and he distributes them to the congregation for consideration. He's being consultative. He's trying to share his vision. He's trying to inspire the congregation. He's asking if they like these and want him to buy them. He asks for their feedback, and in the first day someone offers to buy both statues. Others say how much they like them. All well and good. So Father lets slip, in his enthusiasm, that someone has already offered to buy both statues. Next thing he knows the gossip mill has gone into overdrive and the message among the faithful is, "Father has already ordered those statues. The whole consultative thing was a sham. We don't like the statues and he is imposing them on us."
No wonder priests get fed up with the negativity, lack of faith, close mindedness, sour Pharisaical attitudes of their flock. Then when someone turns around and makes an accusation, no wonder the poor priest is devastated. If he's innocent the pain is particularly bad. It is a real identification with Christ. All he can do is walk the way of the Cross, accept his fate and go the way of the sacrificial lamb.
But what if he's guilty? In this present climate guilty of what? Some priests are now accused for the most minor of failures and they are treated like serial perverts. I know of a young priest who had too many to drink one night and a fellow invited him back to his apartment and made a pass at him. The priest was sober enough to high tail it out of there, and the troubled young man (who was rejected) made an accusation against the priest and the poor guy was suspended and the whole nine yards. Other priests have fallen into a relationship with a woman which was consensual and legal. He broke his vow of celibacy, but he didn't do anything illegal or criminal. Still he is suspended and treated like a total outcast. Another priest admits to his bishop that he has a problem with pornography. It's not kiddie porn or anything illegal, but still he is removed from his parish, his computers are confiscated, he's sent for therapy, demoted and added to the 'list of priests with allegations against them.' Is any of this fair or logical or compassionate? I think not.
Yes, priests should be totally clear and clean and nothing bad should ever happen, but if the present madness continues vocations will continue to plummet, good candidates will quit, priests will simply walk out. Those with get up and go will get up and go, and who will we be left with? The very ones we wanted to be rid of--the sly, the lazy, the corrupt, the drunkards, the scheming, the mediocre and the weak.
June 19, 2011
Holy Trinity and Holy Fathers
I'm living in England and the parish priest asks me to take a confirmation class. In the group of eighth graders preparing for confirmation, Jimmy was a not one of the brightest stars. He was a bit like vanilla pudding, sweet but thick. So when it came to discussion of the Holy Trinity I wasn't too optimistic. So I gave some illustrations about the Holy Trinity--St Patrick's three leaved clover, water, ice and steam, in music, harmony, melody and rhythm. I then asked the group if they had any ideas.
Jimmy thought for a minute then said, "A cup of tea."
"A cup of tea?" I asked.
"Yeh. A cup of tea."
"Can you explain that?"
"Yeh. You take the tea bag and the hot water and the tea goes into the hot water and then you add milk. Three things in one. One in three." Then he gives me a big grin.
So discussing this with Dr Ballard--who is a much finer theologian than I--he paused for a moment and said, "I'm sorry to inform you father, but both you and Jimmy are heretics. You're guilty of modalism."
Modalism is that trinitarian heresy which says that the three persons of the trinity are 'modes' of the one God. It's also called (for those of you who like long words) Patripassianism or Neotianism or Sabellianism. Modalism sees the Trinity as three 'ways of working' or 'three masks' or 'three aspects' of the one God. Such views are heresy because orthodoxy Trinitarian Doctrine teaches that the three persons are distinct persons yet each one holds within himself the fullness of the Godhead, and the fullness of the Godhead is the unity of the three persons. You can read more on Trinitarian theology from Fr Hardon here.
Does it matter? Sure. Truth matters. It matters because modalism is one of the key heresies of the modern liberal Protestants. When I was still an Anglican the politically correct gang were busy modifying the liturgy to communicate a feminist agenda. So wherever they could they removed references to God the Father and God the Son, replacing them with circumlocutions like "Almighty God" or "Creator God" or "God the Redeemer". Most notorious is the replacement of the sacred formula for the Trinity, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Instead of this ancient and orthodox formula they like to say, "In the name of the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer."
Apart from the fact that 'sustainer' is an ugly made up word, this is also a very clear expression of modalism because the persons of the Holy Trinity are defined not by their divine personhood, but by their role, their action, or their function in the world. The other intrinsic problem with 'Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer" is that the three persons are limited by these functions. God the Father is more than a Creator, God the Son is more than the Redeemer, God the Holy Spirit is more than a Sustainer. When the persons are defined as "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" however, the fact that they are being defined as persons allows for the depth and breadth and complexity that we would expect in any personality.
There is something even more important in retaining the traditional titles of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit." It is the fact that we are persons, and we are called into relationship with persons. "Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer" is on the level of "Policeman, Artist, Teacher." These titles define roles or functions. They do not define persons. Consequently our relationship with God suffers. When God is "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" we as persons can relate more intimately with the persons of the Holy Trinity.
Which brings me to Father's Day. In the naming of the Holy Trinity we relate primarily to the Father, and this is the real target for the attack of the radical feminists. They are not so much feminists as mis-angonyists. They hate men, and especially they hate Fathers. I'm the first to admit that there are plenty of lousy fathers around, but hey, guess what, there are also plenty of lousy mothers who damage their kids.
Let's focus instead on all the wonderful fathers today. All the Dads who are loyal and strong and sporty and creative and funny and smart and holy and self sacrificing and quiet and dignified and dominant and true. Let's thank them for being images of the Heavenly Father, and let's praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit..and if we're not good Fathers let's try to be, and let us all like prodigal sons return to the Father and cry Holy, Holy, Holy...Lord God Father of Hosts.
Jimmy thought for a minute then said, "A cup of tea."
"A cup of tea?" I asked.
"Yeh. A cup of tea."
"Can you explain that?"
"Yeh. You take the tea bag and the hot water and the tea goes into the hot water and then you add milk. Three things in one. One in three." Then he gives me a big grin.
So discussing this with Dr Ballard--who is a much finer theologian than I--he paused for a moment and said, "I'm sorry to inform you father, but both you and Jimmy are heretics. You're guilty of modalism."
Modalism is that trinitarian heresy which says that the three persons of the trinity are 'modes' of the one God. It's also called (for those of you who like long words) Patripassianism or Neotianism or Sabellianism. Modalism sees the Trinity as three 'ways of working' or 'three masks' or 'three aspects' of the one God. Such views are heresy because orthodoxy Trinitarian Doctrine teaches that the three persons are distinct persons yet each one holds within himself the fullness of the Godhead, and the fullness of the Godhead is the unity of the three persons. You can read more on Trinitarian theology from Fr Hardon here.
Does it matter? Sure. Truth matters. It matters because modalism is one of the key heresies of the modern liberal Protestants. When I was still an Anglican the politically correct gang were busy modifying the liturgy to communicate a feminist agenda. So wherever they could they removed references to God the Father and God the Son, replacing them with circumlocutions like "Almighty God" or "Creator God" or "God the Redeemer". Most notorious is the replacement of the sacred formula for the Trinity, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Instead of this ancient and orthodox formula they like to say, "In the name of the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer."
Apart from the fact that 'sustainer' is an ugly made up word, this is also a very clear expression of modalism because the persons of the Holy Trinity are defined not by their divine personhood, but by their role, their action, or their function in the world. The other intrinsic problem with 'Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer" is that the three persons are limited by these functions. God the Father is more than a Creator, God the Son is more than the Redeemer, God the Holy Spirit is more than a Sustainer. When the persons are defined as "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" however, the fact that they are being defined as persons allows for the depth and breadth and complexity that we would expect in any personality.
There is something even more important in retaining the traditional titles of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit." It is the fact that we are persons, and we are called into relationship with persons. "Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer" is on the level of "Policeman, Artist, Teacher." These titles define roles or functions. They do not define persons. Consequently our relationship with God suffers. When God is "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" we as persons can relate more intimately with the persons of the Holy Trinity.
Which brings me to Father's Day. In the naming of the Holy Trinity we relate primarily to the Father, and this is the real target for the attack of the radical feminists. They are not so much feminists as mis-angonyists. They hate men, and especially they hate Fathers. I'm the first to admit that there are plenty of lousy fathers around, but hey, guess what, there are also plenty of lousy mothers who damage their kids.
Let's focus instead on all the wonderful fathers today. All the Dads who are loyal and strong and sporty and creative and funny and smart and holy and self sacrificing and quiet and dignified and dominant and true. Let's thank them for being images of the Heavenly Father, and let's praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit..and if we're not good Fathers let's try to be, and let us all like prodigal sons return to the Father and cry Holy, Holy, Holy...Lord God Father of Hosts.
June 18, 2011
Fr Corapi and Padre Pio
I have mixed emotions about the resignation of Fr Corapi from his priestly ministry. This comes at a time when I have been hearing from priests in Philadelphia about the huge injustice the men who have just been put on administrative leave are experiencing. The stories are circulating: one priest who claims he is completely innocent and that the allegations against him are from a very troubled kid he tried to help years ago who was simply a bad one, and who is sniffing a payout. Another story from Philadelphia is of a priest who is accused by a mother of a teenaged girl because the mother found the priest's cell phone number on her daughter's phone. It was there because he asked all the kids to put his number in their phones when they were out on a parish outing to a theme park in case they got lost. A third story is about a mother who reported that the priest embraced her son in an erotic way. But it was outside church after Mass in full view of everyone and the boy ran up to give Father a hug.
If these stories of innocent men being removed from ministry and persecuted and having their good names destroyed are only half true, then terrible injustices are occurring. The stories circulating are that in protest all of the Philadelphia seminarians have quit. From a human point of view who want to keep going. If someone made a false allegation against me and I was suspended--assumed guilty before being proved innocent the human side of me would also say, "Keep it. I'll get a job at McDonald's" So if Corapi is in this situation where he really is innocent, from a human point of view, I can understand how why he is just walking. "Life's too short. Fugeddaboudit. I'm outta here."
On the other hand, we are reminded of the example of Padre Pio. All sorts of allegations were made against him. He accepted every disciplinary measure with complete obedience and meekness. He continued his life of prayer and sacrifice. He went like a sheep to the slaughter. He accepted the false accusations, the calumny, the slander and the ruination of his good name. As he did so, he imitated his Lord.
I conclude therefore that the Padre Pio example is the one to follow, and every priest who in these terrible times is just waiting for the phone call saying he has been accused, should plan that route rather than the Corapi posturing and pride. One is the way of the cross --which we have all been promised. The other is the way of the world.
If these stories of innocent men being removed from ministry and persecuted and having their good names destroyed are only half true, then terrible injustices are occurring. The stories circulating are that in protest all of the Philadelphia seminarians have quit. From a human point of view who want to keep going. If someone made a false allegation against me and I was suspended--assumed guilty before being proved innocent the human side of me would also say, "Keep it. I'll get a job at McDonald's" So if Corapi is in this situation where he really is innocent, from a human point of view, I can understand how why he is just walking. "Life's too short. Fugeddaboudit. I'm outta here."
On the other hand, we are reminded of the example of Padre Pio. All sorts of allegations were made against him. He accepted every disciplinary measure with complete obedience and meekness. He continued his life of prayer and sacrifice. He went like a sheep to the slaughter. He accepted the false accusations, the calumny, the slander and the ruination of his good name. As he did so, he imitated his Lord.
I conclude therefore that the Padre Pio example is the one to follow, and every priest who in these terrible times is just waiting for the phone call saying he has been accused, should plan that route rather than the Corapi posturing and pride. One is the way of the cross --which we have all been promised. The other is the way of the world.
June 17, 2011
Mantilla Spots a Biretta
Guest blogger Mantilla Amontillado is the founder of Veritas Vestments. She holds a degree in Ecclesiastical Haberdashery from Salamanca University. She has done the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella three times on horseback and is engaged to the famous matador, Senor Augusto Torquemada.
You will never believe it hon. I am traveling in El Salvador to visit Augusto's family who have this sugar plantation out there and we are going into this church to look around and Augusto calls me over and says, "Hey hon, here is a female saint wearing a biretta! Let me tell you, Mantilla was pretty excited. So I go over to see this and he is right. Not only is it a saint wearing a biretta, but it is a Spanish saint wearing a Spanish biretta! Madre de Dios! Augusto says, "Who is she and why is she wearing a biretta?"
You are never going to believe this hon, but I am just getting Augusto to take a picture with his new camera when his relative who is named Casey comes up to see what is all the fuss you know? Casey is this American girl who is married to Augusto's first cousin who owns the plantation. He met her when he was studying at college in Texas and Casey is chewing gum and being too loud. She has lots of yellow hair and her clothes are too tight. I call her "Nut Casey" because she is kind of a crazy American Protestant you know? She is what you call it? Friskypalian or something like that. So Casey say, "Look here Tomas!" (That's her husband) "Here is proof for women's ordination. Here is a Catholic woman who is a priest. Isn't that right Mantilla? She is wearing a biretta so she must be priest."Lucky I know my stuff because I do my degree in Ecclesiastical Haberdashery at Salamanca University with Professor Monsignor Quixote. "No Casey, this is not a priestess. There is no such thing as woman priest in the Catholic Church."
So Casey starts arguing with Mantilla. She say, "Episcopalian is same as Catholic, and there is no difference because they are Catholic too, just not Roman Catholic." and she start telling me how their priest wear vestments and birettas and pray to the Blessed Mother and everything, and I say, "Look Casey, maybe you come from Texas right?" She say, "Si." I say, "But just because somebody dress like a cowboy don't make him a Texan right? It's the same with Catholic. A ten gallon hat not make a Texan and a biretta not make you Catholic." Then I tell Casey, "This is St Teresa of Avila, and she has the book and the pen and the biretta because she is Doctor of the Church. The biretta is a sign of her being a brainy theologian, not a sign of her being a priest. Women priest is Protestant not Catholic.
So Casey say, "What do you mean a Doctor of the Church? You mean she was some kind of psychiatrist?" Hon, at this point Mantilla is one hot chili pepper and I'm ready to hit Nut Casey over the head with my fan.
Instead Augusto say, "Come on Mantilla, let's go outside and get a cup of coffee." So lucky for me there is this little place where I get some really good El Salvador coffee and cool down a little, and while I'm thinking I'm coming up with a new idea you know? What if we make some of those Spanish birettas and get Catholic students to wear them instead of mortarboards for graduation time? You know there are thousands of students who wear the mortarboard. The biretta is more classy you know hon? I think there is an opportunity there and we could do something really big.
Augusto hear my idea and just smile at me that way he has, and keep sipping his coffee. I'm maybe thinking that he is thinking of something else. Who knows, maybe out here in El Salvador he is going to finally ask me the big question. Mantilla likes making birettas and vestments, but she'd rather make lots of little Augustos. You know what I mean hon?
Music Teacher Wanted
Have you ever wanted to come and join us in Greenville, South Carolina? Are you a music teacher? Want to come and work with me to develop the liturgical music side of things at St Joseph's Catholic School?
There is an opening for a full time music teacher at St Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville. Go here for details.
There is an opening for a full time music teacher at St Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville. Go here for details.
Healing Retreat
We're hosting a healing weekend retreat at Our Lady of the Rosary parish today and tomorrow. Well known author and speaker Ronda Chervin is in town and will be speaking tomorrow on 'Healing the Emotions' and 'Healing the Feminine and Masculine'. This evening I'm speaking on 'Christ's Healing Ministry' and tomorrow on 'Praying the Rosary for Inner Healing'. Rev. Dr Richard Ballard--Pastoral Associate of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish will be speaking tomorrow on 'Healing the Original Wound'.
There will be small group work, Adoration, Confession and anointing. The retreat begins at 6:00 this evening with supper (book in advance by calling the parish office - (864 422 1648) The day ends tomorrow with parish Mass at 5:15. Y'all come!
There will be small group work, Adoration, Confession and anointing. The retreat begins at 6:00 this evening with supper (book in advance by calling the parish office - (864 422 1648) The day ends tomorrow with parish Mass at 5:15. Y'all come!
June 16, 2011
Back to the Blog
I know how dull you find it when I rabbit on about how busy I am and how little time I have had for blogging, (especially as you internet potatoes out there have nothing better to do) but the month of May and June really has been exciting and busy. I've been away from the blog for the last ten days because I've been on my annual jaunt to El Salvador.
What an exciting few days! I love bouncing down the dusty roads of El Salvador in a pick up truck with a group of teenagers. We climbed a volcano, visited a coffee plantation, went to the site of the martyrdom of Romero, celebrated a village fiesta for Saint Anthony of Padua complete with fireworks during Mass, a clown after Mass, work in the local school and parish and all with a dose of reality with lots of heat and no air conditioning.
My favorite comment from the teenagers: Kid arrives home and Dad says, "Welcome to the real world." Kid pauses and says, "No Dad. I've just come from the real world."
AMEN.
What an exciting few days! I love bouncing down the dusty roads of El Salvador in a pick up truck with a group of teenagers. We climbed a volcano, visited a coffee plantation, went to the site of the martyrdom of Romero, celebrated a village fiesta for Saint Anthony of Padua complete with fireworks during Mass, a clown after Mass, work in the local school and parish and all with a dose of reality with lots of heat and no air conditioning.
My favorite comment from the teenagers: Kid arrives home and Dad says, "Welcome to the real world." Kid pauses and says, "No Dad. I've just come from the real world."
AMEN.
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