Attention Priests: Thou Shalt Blog

January 31, 2010

I am late getting to this news, but the pope recently said that priests need to take advantage of the Internet in their task of being witnesses to the gospel. Some priests are behind the curve (if you ask them if they have a blog, and they think it is something they coughed up last week, they are probably behind). Some others are ahead of the curve.

I started a blog in 2003, to deal with my frustration with what was happening in the Episcopal Church. In 2004, I started my own blog, and in 2006, I helped start Per Christum, a group blog. While I believe the Catholic blog market is saturated (by this, I mean I wish I had time to read more great blogs than I do!), it is great to see so many of the faithful taking up the cause of the Church.

The internet is the way many of us communicate. I am pretty Internet savvy, but my students are even more reliant on electronic communication. While I am not saying we should translate the Bible into “text,” and then text the whole thing to somebody (although this would make a heck of a publicity stunt), we need to deal with the newer forms of communication cropping up. E-Communication is like the printing press: it has changed the nature of communication. Some object because there is so  much bad stuff out there. Yes, there is a lot of crap on the Internet, and even more drivel being sent out on cell phone networks, but there is a lot of nonsense published on paper as well. We are called to take this medium of communication, and use it for the gospel. Kudos to the pope!


Arrogance and Changing the Liturgy

January 25, 2010

Please pray that I may be humble in all things!

Does anybody else think that changing the words of the Mass is arrogant? I think we could even level a charge of clericalism at the priests that change the Mass, because we in the congregation generally expect the Mass to be a certain way, yet priests have the ability to change the words on a whim. Evangelical types use personal charisma to justify changes, while the more liberal types use academic learning as an excuse, but the result is the same: the final arbiter of change is the priest, who has the power, at the moment, to place himself above the Church.

Why do I bring this up? We had a guest priest at Mass this past weekend, who was seeking money for a good cause, a charitable organization I respect. However, he played fast and loose with the Mass. He changed every “Father” to “Creator,” and he added the definite article to every reference to “Christ,” so every prayer ended “through Jesus the Christ…” And, to make things even more awkward, he was apparently uncomfortable even using a masculine pronoun for Jesus, so he changed “through him, with him, and in him…” to “through the Christ, with the Christ, and in the Christ.” He changed other parts as well, and I can’t recall every change. He did say the Words of Institution correctly. One positive result from this is that I followed along with the words of the Mass in the missal for the first time in years. It was pretty cool to read the words on the page, and contemplate them. Oh, and I should note that I didn’t stick around for the closing hymn either. I don’t believe we can “sing a new church into being,” and placing those words on my lips makes me feel like I am reading bad poetry.

Maybe I am assuming arrogance when it is not there, but such changes strike me as this priest saying he was better educated and more enlightened than the rest of us, including the Church that produced the Mass. He was telling me that he knew God was not male, and using masculine metaphors was outdated. He told me that the word Christ came from the Greek word meaning “anointed one,” and was a title, not a name. Having experienced them in grad school, I certainly know the background to these “battles.”

Even though I could make the case, I don’t have time in this post to explain why I think using “father” in a Mass is justified, even though we know God is not biologically male. I also understand his use of “the Christ” is based on the original Greek and Hebrew, but like it or not, in modern English, we use “Christ” as a proper noun. But, as I said, I don’t really want to argue these points, because I don’t have time, and it was not the main reason these changes upset me.

My main problem is the actual changing of the liturgy, whether to promote the priest’s pet issues, or, in some cases, to stroke his ego.  The liturgy is not an exercise in personal charisma, Academics, or biblical and historical criticism (although these have certainly shaped our understanding of the liturgy). It is not a lecture hall, theater, or a “meeting of the minds.” I would have been more than happy to have discussed God’s nature and the Messianic claims of Jesus after Mass, but changing words haphazardly during Mass was not the way to encourage open discussion; in fact when priests change the words on their own, discussion on the matter is avoided entirely. The Mass is not a show, and not a chance for anybody to “show off,” whether it is the priest, the cantors, or even me in the congregation. Improv, charisma, and academic learning are great things, but I would ask our priests to stick to the script, written and shaped by the Church, spanning time and space.



Pro-Life Group Attacks Ron Paul

January 21, 2010

Why attack one of the few members of Congress who has actually tried to do something about abortion instead of just talking about it, as most other pro-life politicians have done?

Apparently because Paul believes states should determine abortion laws, American Right to Life thinks he is pro-choice. I have news for those of us who are pro-life: overturning Roe v Wade with a constitutional amendment isn’t going to happen anytime soon, and even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, abortion laws go back to the states anyway, correct? Taking action to return abortion legislation to the states, which many, including Ron Paul, believe can be done by Congress right now, is far more realistic than an amendment. Such an action would greatly reduce the number of abortions immediately, and allow states such as mine, to outlaw abortion (the laws are already on the books). However, when Republicans have been in power, the bills that Paul introduced to take away jurisdiction from the Supreme Court in this matter have stalled.

I pray for an end to abortion, and believe the right is not in our Constitution, but I will not be played by so-called Pro Life politicians and groups attacking a guy like Paul, who, as a doctor, has actually saved the lives of the unborn, even delivering many babies for free to prevent abortions.  Maybe someone should start rating politicians on actions that they have taken to concretely and immediately reduce abortions, instead of simply rating them on rhetoric and promises.


Correcting a Symbol Deficiency

January 17, 2010

One of my favorite authors I studied in graduate school was Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Anglican romantic author and poet.  Coleridge loved symbols, and believed that symbols were the medium through which we encountered invisible realities. This is something the iconoclasts haven’t understood: in order to partake of invisible realities (such as love, etc), we must use some sort of symbol from the created order. Catholics and Orthodox have understood this, and made it a part of our theology.

A few days ago, to begin our semester on sacraments, I discussed symbols with the seventh graders. I think it is important to discuss symbol because it sets the stage for why Catholics believe that God uses earthly “stuff” to convey grace (for example the water of baptism). God doesn’t just magically and “spiritually” effect our regeneration, he uses a meaning-rich symbol from the created order in the process: water. One of the exercises I had for the class was to look at a relatively boring photo of my wife, sister-in-law, mom, nieces, and grandmother, standing on a road in a cemetery. I asked them to tell me all the symbols they see, and to tell me what invisible reality they symbolize. At first, the students didn’t come up with much. However, as they got started, they came up with ones that I didn’t even notice (for example, there were American flags on a few graves). After awhile, they began to realize that the world is full of symbols that we use to convey deep and invisible realities. I also helped them see that any great artist is going to appreciate and utilize the power of symbol.

And yet, as I was worshiping yesterday at a Catholic parish in the Cleveland area, I was noticing how purposefully empty the worship space was of symbols. The walls were white, and the crucifix was tiny and barely there. There was one banner that looked like it was out of the 1970s, that had a symbol that was intentionally made to look obscure (was it a candle flame? a sun? a child’s first finger painting creation?). In other words, if there was a symbol, it was designed to be unconnected to our experience. I remember thinking that in our natural world we are surrounded by symbols that point us to God, yet many of our modern churches purposely take these symbols away from us, perhaps seeing them either as distracting or out-of-date.

But are symbols out of date? The natural human craving for symbols hasn’t gone away, which is why even those traditionally cool to symbols, evangelicals, are discovering their value. My reading on brain waves suggests that non-verbal symbols stimulate alpha waves in the brain, which serve as a bridge to theta waves. When measuring the waves of individuals in deep meditation and spiritual experiences, theta waves are dominant. Whether you accept the science of brain waves and spirituality, nonetheless, the evidence suggests that words appeal to only one aspect of our brain’s capabilities, while visual, kinesthetic, olfactory, and auditory symbols touch us at a different level. In other words, I would argue that this is where the Gnostics erred: trying to escape the physical world misses the point. The incarnation demonstrates to us that God uses the physical world to give us grace (although obviously we must always remember the physical world is the vehicle, full of symbols, not God himself).

I truly believe that whitewashed churches devoid of sights, sounds, and smells leave us wanting more. Great movies, classic books, and even nature itself, are full of symbols, yet we have seen a period when Catholic churches have tried to strip away all their symbols. I believe that more symbols, saint statues, incense, stain glass, mosaics, etc, all help us connect to God, and correct the “symbol deficiency” many of us have sadly had to endure attending modern parishes.


It is time to pray . . .

January 13, 2010

There is an international disaster going on in Haiti.

Former Southern Baptist minister; former Presidential candidate; and long-time “religious” talk-show host Pat Robertson announces that Haiti has been “cursed” and “swore a pact to the devil”.

What an unmitigated ASS!!!

What an INSENSITIVE JERK!!!

What a THEOLOGICAL NINCOMPOOP!!!!!!!

WHAT the HELL kind of Christianity does he propose to promote???????

The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, among tens, if not hundreds of thousands of others are dead. Millions more are homeless, and potentially dying.

At this point in time — we pray, and we follow the Corporal Acts of Mercy.

Everything else is up to God.

For Pat Robertson — or anyone else of his ilk — to even SUGGEST anything otherwise, is SICK, PERVERTED, and DISGUSTING — not to say UN-CHRISTIAN in the EXTREME!!!

Readers, pray for Haiti!

Papa Z.


January: Month of the Holy Name

January 12, 2010

The Holy Name of Jesus doesn’t seem to be all that holy anymore. Not one day passes without hearing someone abuse the Name of Jesus. Believers and non-believers, they all shamelessly abuse His Name. What’s worse is that those who profess to be Christians also treat the Name of Jesus as if it was “just another name”! But, is the Name of Jesus just an ordinary name? Is there anything special in it? Is the Name of Jesus meaningless?

The holy writers of the New Testament attest to the fact that the Name of Jesus is no ordinary name. All throughout their sacred writings we are constantly told of the greatness, holiness and power of the Name of Jesus. St. Paul tells us: “In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). St. Luke the Evangelist tells us that “there is no other name [other than Jesus'] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself assures us: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name” (John 16:23). The very meaning of the Name “Jesus” proclaims its glory and power: God saves (cf. Matthew 1:21). Jesus: God saves. What a beautiful name! Let us always love that blessed Name.

Rather than keep abusing the divine name, I exhort everyone–especially Christians–to follow the example set forth in the Holy Scriptures and in the Church’s history in regard to the name of the Savior God. Whenever and wherever we hear the Name “Jesus,” let us devoutly bow our heads. Whenever and wherever we hear the Name of the Lord taken in vain, let us resolutely pray “Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum!” (English: Blessed be the Name of the Lord). Whenever and wherever we ourselves utter the Name “Jesus,” let us do so with devotion, keeping in mind that “Jesus” is the Name by which we are saved. Let us not be like the “unclean spirit” who dared to utter Jesus’ Holy Name without any love or any devotion, lest we be harshly rebuked by Jesus as he rebuked the unclean spirit: “Be silent” (cf. Mark 1:21-28)!

“Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfil in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.” –Second Council of Lyons, A.D. 1274, convened by Pope Gregory X.


Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and…Grad School?

January 11, 2010

It’s a tad shocking to see those three together in the same header, I know. But, that’s the argument made by English professor Thomas H. Benton (pen name of William Pannapacker). He examines the traits of a cult and connects those to the way graduate schooling in the liberal arts is conducted. As he mentions, such traits could easily be found in other mainstream areas (like business), but having been in grad school and having felt an emotional crisis at not continuing I can’t completely disagree.

Benton has another great article too that highlights the harsh reality of the post-graduate school job landscape, aptly titled Graduate School in the Humanities: Just Don’t Go. Although I am using my degree, I often wonder if a theology Masters could’ve been a waste of money and even time. I enjoyed the topic, but was the debt worth the opportunity to teach high school or go onto more debt or poverty to get another degree? I used to want to pursue a PhD, but over the past few years I’ve decided to wait, maybe even indefinitely.

I should post Benton’s two articles beside my computer just in case I get wistful for my grad school days.


The Irony of Mary Daly

January 9, 2010

Sarah Hey of Stand Firm looks at the obituary of Mary Daly, who passed away recently. Daly is known for teaching classes in which men were not allowed to enroll, and for frequently challenging Church Teaching. Hey’s article, entitled The Rich Irony of Mary Daly, explores why Daly was hardly a strong woman, acknowledged by the fact that she in essence believed women weren’t strong enough to defend their ideas in a class with men. And, sadly, her obituary suggests her adult life was very much controlled by the immature teasing of a little boy. Most of the strong women I know (even the ones that would gladly claim the label “feminist”) cannot identify with the radicalism of someone like Daly. Read the whole article for some excellent insights into Daly’s philosophy, which at one time involved being at Catholic Boston College.

While her type of angry activism mixed with Academic pursuits did not impress me, nonetheless, I pray for her soul to rest in peace.


Today is Epiphany (in most of the world at least!)

January 6, 2010

O God
Who on this day
through the guidance of a star
didst manifest
Thine Only-Begotten Son to the Gentiles;
mercifully grant
that we who know Thee now by faith,
may one day be brought
to the contemplation of the beauty of Thy majesty.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Epiphany!


Spiritual Resolutions

January 2, 2010

Not to detract from the joys of the Christmas season, Epiphany, or Mary, Mother of God, but the secular new year is upon us along with the time for New Year’s resolutions. While we all typically resolve to accomplish much of the same stuff like losing weight or making extra money, this is also a good time to consider how we want to grow spiritually (ideally this would’ve been done around Advent, but better late than never).

I’ve decided to deepen my faith in God by the following ways:

1. Pray the Liturgy of the Hours more frequently- I love it, but am often ‘too busy.’ I’ve bought the 4 volume set and want to better utilize it.

2. Pray the rosary more frequently- See #1 (except the 4 vol. bit). The Church recognizes the countless spiritual graces that come from this devotion. I want to be a bigger part of it.

3. Spend more time before the Blessed Sacrament- Jesus has given us his presence through the Blessed Sacrament. I need to take more advantage of this gift.

What are your spiritual resolutions? Share in the comments.


Mary, Mother of God, 2010

January 1, 2010

Happy New Year! It is 2010, and I hope and pray for a great new decade. Today is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God,  and a time to honor the reality that Mary, as theotokos, bore the God-Man, Jesus Christ, in her womb. Today is also the end of the octave of Christmas, and at one time commemorated the Circumcision of Jesus.

I often get questions about why we call Mary the “mother of God?” Some, unaware of the meaning and history of the term, believe it refers somehow to Mary being the mother of the Trinity. No Catholic, Orthodox, or classic Protestant understands the term “Mother of God” in this fashion. The title “Mother of God” means that Mary bore one person in her womb, Jesus Christ, who had two natures, human and divine. The debate over the term in the 4th and 5th centuries was not so much about Mary’s nature, but about the nature of our Lord. Thus, I include below the definition of Chalcedon, from 451 AD.

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach people to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ…


From the Church to the State

December 30, 2009

With a little bit of free time while I’m on Christmas break from teaching, I’ve been catching up on some light (yeah) reading, in this case George Ostrogorsky’s wonderful History of the Byzantine State. While the topic may seem dry to some, the numerous civil wars, usurpers, church controversies, and fascinating figures make it a very interesting read.

Today, I was reading about iconoclasm and how Constantine V proscribed iconography and even relics and prayers to the saints in an effort to allegedly purify the Church. Yet, he allowed images of the emperor (himself) to adorn church buildings! This took me back to my days studying the Arian controversy where I read that the Arians were happy to recognize that the Logos dwelt in the emperor just as much (if not more) as he did in Christ.

I’m not here to argue that rejection of the Church as an institution leads to an uncritical embracing of the State, but I still think that an independent Church is essential to checking the power of the government. Stalin’s question about the Pope and legions ignores the reality that people’s hearts can be won apart from military might. I sometimes just wonder if people’s hearts turn away from the Church if it’s not easier to secure them for the government. And, of course, Catholics can be shills for the government too.

A modern example would be how large numbers of Christians who would never allow an image of Christ in their midst so quickly and staunchly attach themselves to the flag. Even communities that would never allow any religious representation would be certain to have a US flag within the church building. I’m not arguing against the flag, by the way, just remarking about how odd it is that rules for religion can be so easily broken to apply to the State.


Christianity Today’s Top Ten Theology Stories of 2009

December 29, 2009

Christianity Today, an evangelical magazine, lists the top ten Theology stories of 2009.  It is an interesting read. I have posted a few excerpts below, with my comments, but reading the entire article is interesting!

1. Both NIV and TNIV Will Be Phased Out – …So the evangelical world reacted with shock when Zondervan and Biblica announced that the best-selling NIV and controversial TNIV would both be phased out to make way for a new translation in 2011. This story won’t disappear soon, as the translation committee headed by Doug Moo must decide whether to retain the gender-inclusive language that prevented many NIV readers from switching to the TNIV.

I grew up with the NIV, and the NIV study Bible was my first study Bible. Nowadays, I think the NIV has a Protestant bias in many places, for example, the translators render the Greek word paradosis as “tradition” when it is used negatively, and “teaching,” when it is used positively. While I don’t have a real problem with Bible translations using moderate inclusive language for people, I can understand why people objected to the TNIV, since I was educated in an environment where people would spend hours correcting hymns, texts, and liturgies to render it free from those nasty masculine pronouns.

I do find it fascinating that this hugely popular translation is being retired. I feel old now, especially since my first kid’s Bible was a NIV.

3. ELCA Okays Gay Unions, Pastors – Few observers were shocked when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved same-sex unions and decided gays and lesbians living in partnered relationships could serve as pastors. We’ve seen this story unfold in other denominations, and now we await the exodus of conservative churches…

No surprise here really. The ELCA followed TEC. The other mainlines will be there soon enough, because this is the direction most in those churches want to go.

10. ‘Coming Evangelical Collapse’ Predicted – A fixture of evangelical discourse, the jeremiad issues from a prophet who warns of judgment unless true believers repent of their sins and turn to God. Michael Spencer rejected the prophet label and professed doubt that he would be correct. But his posts on “The Coming Evangelical Collapse” nevertheless spawned a new round of soul-searching for a movement that appears to be splintering in several competing directions.

With all due respect to Evangelicals, Evangelicalism is a label that is so broad, that it is pretty unhelpful. Additionally, and again, I say this charitably, evangelicalism in many forms is about being trendy and innovative. The mega-churches may be on the way out, because that was last decade’s trendiness, but be warned that today’s trendiness will probably be viewed in a similar light in 10 years. Ever seen evangelical records from the 1980s that look so hokey today (you know, guys with permed mullets and mustaches)? As hard as it is to believe, those were super cool at one point!  It must be stressful to feel the need to innovate all the time (in this way the mainline Protestants and evangelicals are really two sides of the same coin).


Christmas is Just Getting Started!

December 26, 2009

In secular society, the Christmas season, which generally runs from Halloween to December 25th is winding down. The parties are over, the radio stations have generally stopped playing Christmas music and the trees and decorations are on their way down. Only a few traditional Catholics and Anglicans keep the old custom of putting everything up on Christmas Eve. As much as I love the holiday songs, the decorations, and other secular activities, society gets the chronology all wrong, leaving out Ordinary Time and Advent.

Yet, for Catholics and other liturgical Christians, the fun is just getting started. We have the 12 days of Christmas (kind of, thanks to various bishops conferences), feasts of Holy Family, Epiphany, Mary Mother of God, and the baptism of our Lord. And, this doesn’t include the lesser feasts of Holy Innocents, St. John, and St. Stephen. And, the Christmas festivities have traditionally lasted until Candlemas (Feb. 2nd).

So, our liturgical and holiday fun is just starting, which is actually a pretty good way to avoid the post-holiday letdown that many people experience. We get to transition back to ordinary time and it’ll be Lent before we know it!

Merry Christmas!