Per Christum

Next time you think your local Catholic Church’s liturgy is a little sub-par, be thankful you aren’t exposed to this “Episcopal” Liturgy: Pearls: God’s Holy Irritants, Thirty Years of Feminism in the Church. This is a Word file.

The service is interesting to say the least. Be sure to check out the prayers of the people. The prayers seem to mostly be political statements against those with whom they disagree, and as such they rival some ancient litanies in their disdain for the other side’s heresies (although the writers of this liturgy would never likely use the word “heresy”).

I have included an excerpt from the contemporary psalm written for the event, celebrating women’s ordination in the Episcopal Church:

And you did not go away.

In time
you grew
so large,
an internal luminescence,
that the shell
could contain
neither you nor itself,
and because of you
the shell Opened itself
to the world.

Then your beauty was seen
and prized;
your variety valued:
precious, precious, a hard bubble of light:
silver, white, ivory or baroque.

If you are a specially
irregular and rough
pearl,
named baroque
(for broke),
then you reveal
in your own amazed/amazing
body of light
all the colors
of the Universe.

Wow. Does anybody else think that not only is the theology of this liturgy “off,” but the poetry and linguistics are awful as well? I mean, does the word baroque really have anything to do with being broke? I am far from a poetry expert, but this psalm doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue or inspire me to greatness.

See, fellow Catholics, things could get a lot worse. I really hope this isn’t what Episcopalians will have to endure on a regular basis in the near future. Sadly, the days when the Episcopal church set the standard for good liturgy seem to be in the past. And lest we gloat at the troubles of another church, we must remember that we Catholics have folks in our own church who could easily have written this feminist liturgy.

As Advent approaches in less than a week, I have thought about the upcoming seasons a bit. Advent and Christmas are two of my favorite church seasons. Heck, I like them all for different reasons and on different levels, but Advent and Christmas have always stood out.

I think a lot of it has to do with the way my family celebrated the two seasons when I was a child. Growing up, I loved the times surrounding Christmas. People were generous and giving, and I saw family members I rarely saw other times. The season was contemplative and, in a way, mystical, filled with numerous symbols of light piercing the winter darkness. We played music on our stereo that was old and time-tested, and we were connected to lyrics and music from an earlier - sometimes much earlier - era. Basically, at least for a month a year, we allowed ourselves to be sacramental, traditional, mystical, and ritualistic, even if we didn’t really know it! And you know what, it was these very things that made us look forward to the season so eagerly.

Let me explain. We, an evangelical Protestant family, were not normally very sacramental, ritualistic, or overtly traditional in the way we did things. Usually our house didn’t have a lot of Christian statues or images. We weren’t opposed to them or anything; we just didn’t have them around. However, around Christmas, we had nativity sets, pictures of the baby Jesus, and even had decorations related to saints: Saint Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary! We put electric candles in the windows, and lit real ones in the house. We brought part of God’s creation into our house, and decorated it with lights, and the fragrant pine tree became more than just a mere tree, but symbolic of the Christmas spirit. That almost sounds sacramental! We even put some lights up outside, but not as many as our friends and neighbors. We prayed around the Advent wreath together as a family. I remember looking forward to the weekly ritual of the lighting of the Advent wreath. I don’t remember much about our Advent theology, but I remember how special and meaningful that little ritual was.

Once when I was talking to a Protestant who was considering becoming Catholic, I remember describing my being drawn to Catholicism like this: I guess I just wanted it to be like Christmas all year long. I think I said this partly in jest, but there is a lot of truth to it. Think about it: most people start acting very Catholic around the Christmas season. Many Christians bring out the externals, and the more the better: nativity sets, trees, statues, lights, saint Nicholas images, and so forth. Very few think of these externals as distracting them from the true meaning of Christmas, but rather as leading them to the true meaning of Christmas. This includes lights and candles, which brighten the winter darkness, and (even though most people probably don’t make the connection) symbolize the light of Christ. All of this is very sacramental. Also, I notice that around Christmas time, many evangelical Christians embrace ritual and tradition, and understand the reason good ritual can be so powerful and meaningful. The Advent Wreath, setting up the Nativity set, trimming the tree, visiting grandma on the 24th, picking up Aunt Margaret at the nursing home for Christmas dinner, and the yearly Christmas Eve service are all examples of rituals many of us would never do without, and which we faithfully repeat every single year. In fact, many of us would get very angry if these rituals were tampered with, or even discontinued in the name of “doing something new.”

Of course after Christmas Day, I usually became deeply saddened: Christmas was over! We had to wait a whole year for more tradition, lights, and rituals. I remember once leaving up a clear star-of-Bethlehem ornament in my window for a few weeks after Christmas, just to kind of keep the spirit alive. If only I had known about Epiphany, which is symbolized by the star of Bethlehem. We did celebrate Easter in our house, but Easter never had the same feeling to it that Christmas did, mainly because we didn’t have as much ritual and tradition associated with it. However, when I became Catholic, the whole year basically began to possess that “Christmas feeling.” In the Catholic calendar (and the Orthodox and many Protestant calendars), not only does Christmas last over 12 days, but we then get to celebrate Epiphany and observe Lent, and the queen of feasts, Easter, soon follows. And throughout the whole year we have plenty of saint days, each with their own rituals. Plus, all of these festivities provide an excuse for big family and church festivities! As an example, I have often thought of having a huge Annunciation Party. It would be a nice break from the Lenten fast, and I know I would probably be the only person in town having one. The opportunities, spiritual and otherwise, are endless with the Church Year. After my brother and I became Catholic, I remember both of us commenting about how “Easter now feels like Christmas.” Perhaps we have a new angle when presenting the Catholic Calendar: “The Church Year: It Feels Like Christmas All Year Long!”

Image Taken by Me on Christmas Eve 2005

I have been silent online over the last few days, because I am spending time with my family during my Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving!

However, I wanted to blog a little bit about Christ the King Sunday, which is celebrated tomorrow. Besides being a sign that Advent is on its way, Christ the King Sunday is an important feast in its own right, when we celebrate Christ as the loving and just king and lord of all. I remember learning more about the feast in 2003, when I was about ready to leave the Episcopal church. At the time, I was involved in a downtown parish as a seminarian. The vestry and rector were discussing the upcoming Sunday, which was Christ the King. A vestry member made a comment about Sunday being Christ the King, and how much he hated it, because he disliked “king” language, which was patriarchal and oppressive. The rector said something similar. I, not exactly thrilled to be at a meeting at a liberal parish during my free time, suggested maybe we should celebrate, “Christ our Democratically Elected Leader Sunday” instead.

There were a few uncomfortable laughs following my comment. After the meeting, the rector and I discussed Christ the King Sunday, and he told me how kings are oppressive, and celebrating Christ as king may make people feel uncomfortable, and so forth. I tried to explain to him how Jesus is the perfect just and loving king, and how Jesus’ role as king is one of servanthood, and not oppression. I said that he acts as a humble exemplar for earthly rulers, and is fair and just even when the will of the people may not be. I don’t think the rector was convinced. Nonetheless, this discussion made me think more about Christ the King Sunday than I ever had, which is a good thing.

Happy Feast of Christ the King!

The Evangelists … it may be said are in many places found to disagree with each other. Yet this very thing is a great proof of their truthfulness. For if they had agreed exactly in all respects, even as to time and place and to the using of the same words, none of our enemies would believe that they had not met together and had not written what they wrote in accord with some human compact; for such perfect agreement could not have come from candidness. But as it is, the discord which seems to be present in little matters shields them from every suspicion and clearly vindicates the character of the writers.

From Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew

Image from: Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

According to speculation by Ruth Gledhill, Pope Benedict XVI may be reaching out to Anglicans in a real way in 2007. This is really just speculation at this point, but the possibility of an Anglican Rite or an expansion of the Anglican Use program would be very interesting. William Tighe, one of the most learned and intelligent Catholics online, suggests that in January a few Episcopal bishops are going to retire. At least one (who ordains women) will become Catholic, reverting to the Catholic faith of his childhood, but there is a possibility both bishops will swim the Tiber. I have no idea who they are. Anybody know whom William Tighe has in mind? Either way, this is a move that would certainly put pressure on the Catholic Church to do something more substantial for Anglicans who want to be Catholic, but wish to retain their Anglican heritage. According to Tighe (see the comments in the post of Gledhill above), Bishop Nazir-Ali of the Church of England is aware of this, and it will be a major point of discussion when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams visits the Vatican.

Some may think the Catholic Church is being merely opportunistic here. I disagree. I think this quote from Gledhill’s blog gets at the heart of the matter:

All the evidence from the US, and indeed England, is that churches that embrace wholeheartedly the liberal agenda fall into inexorable decline. Sometimes even pretty rapid decline.

That isn’t meant to be a judgemental statement on liberalism. From a secular perspective, and just for the record, I myself endorse gay rights, women’s rights and the rest.

But the facts speak for themselves. Liberalism in the Anglican Communion is proving to be a recipe for decline. If that’s what the liberals want, then fine.

But what a wonderful opportunity for an imaginative Pope, to set up a personal prelature for traditionalist Anglicans to find a home in.

The Anglican Communion now consists of mostly reformed evangelicals or mainline Protestant progressives, and these two parties are the future of the Anglican Communion. Since the 1960s, the Anglican church has moved farther and farther away from Orthodoxy or Catholicism, so official reunions with these Churches seem unlikely. So maybe it is finally time for the pope to reach out to traditionalist Anglicans, who are simply looking for a good home. In fairness, I see nothing wrong with Anglican leaders reaching out to our disgruntled progressives.

We live in interesting times to say the least. As a former Anglican, I believe the Catholic Church can benefit from embracing the best of Anglicanism, including Anglican priests themselves. Plus, if classical Anglicans know how to do anything, it is produce good liturgy, and we could sure use some of that!

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops just finished a meeting. They have released a few documents (.pdf format):

Statement on Iraq
This statement basically calls for a dialog on how best to deal with the situation in Iraq that suggests moving past the extreme and unrealistic rhetoric of both sides.

Married Love and the Gift of Life
This document discusses what a sacramental marriage entails. The main focus is contraception. Most of the document is a helpful FAQ on the Catholic Teaching about artificial birth control. I am sure critics will say, “but most Catholics ignore Church Teaching on contraception anyway, right?” This is why we need a document like this in the first place, but more so, we need bishops, priests, and laypeople who are willing to take its contents and teach other Catholics the hows and whys of Catholic Teaching on artificial contraception (and love and marriage).

Ministry to Persons with A Homosexual Orientation
I am sure this is going to be the most talked about statement from the bishops. Already gay activist groups are starting to grumble, and I am sure some fundamentalists will decry the emphasis on the dignity of all humans, including gays and lesbians. We won’t please either side, but I think what we have here is a solid Catholic document that balances Apostolic Teaching with modern pastoral sensitivity. Richard Evans has an interesting take on this document and the Catholic group “Dignity,” called Heterophobia Anyone??.

Happy are Those Who Are Called to His Supper
This document is basically a FAQ about the Catholic Teaching on Holy Communion. I find it interesting that the USCCB is releasing basic catechetical teaching via press releases these days, but such is the state of Catholic education I guess. On page 6 the bishops begin to address who may receive communion, and who should not. Much of this is review, in that the bishops remind those in a state of mortal sin to refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Pages 10-12 are probably the most controversial, and contain this paragraph:

If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definitive teaching on moral issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain.

However, we must remember that making the choice to obstinately reject Church Teaching has always been a serious sin, and is called heresy. The document distinguishes obstinate dissenters who know what they are doing and do it anyway, from those faithful Catholics with questions or minor doubts.

The document finishes with information on how to prepare to worthily receive Holy Communion. The appendix discusses limited instances when non-Catholics are permitted to receive the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.

Overall these documents seem tough, yet pastoral, which is just what the American Church needs right now.

According to Gerald over at The Cafeteria is Closed, Maia Nolan is no longer editor of the Anchorage Catholic Newspaper.

Some of you may remember that I posted about Maia Nolan and her situation on this blog a few months ago. The issue was that Nolan openly taught against Church Tradition on many issues, yet was given the editor position of a diocesan newspaper in Alaska. Her personal beliefs came to light when Catholic World News found her blog and posted some of her thoughts. Many of the posts in question were only available on Google’s cache, because she hastily deleted them. It created an uproar online, and she is no longer the editor, and now the job description asks the applicant to be faithful to Church Teaching. Of course that should go without saying. I mean, would a staunch democrat be allowed to edit a Republican newspaper, or vice-versa? I doubt it.

I do wish Nolan the best of luck in her future endeavors, even though I still believe that editors of diocesan newspapers should be Catholics faithful to the Magisterium.

Dave Hartline’s forthcoming book, The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism, is available now for pre-order. The book may be pre-ordered by writing cathsales@tds.net or by calling 800-932-3826. If you would like a copy, but cannot afford one, please let me know and I will try to make sure you get one. I am going to get a hold of some copies for school and Christmas gifts (and for me of course!).

From my conversations with Dave, and seeing information about the book online, I think it looks to be an important book. The book is basically the good news that orthodox Catholicism is on the rise, and the silliness done in the “spirit of Vatican II” that started in the 1970s is beginning to decline as that particular generation gets older, although the effects of the silliness are still being seen (as the post below about the “Halloween Mass” shows). In fact, Dave’s book is much-needed good news since we are constantly barraged with the bad news. The book is not only about Catholicism, but about Protestantism as well. Dave interviews people from all denominations, and he even spent some time at the 2006 Episcopal General Convention.

Dave runs The Catholic Report, a Catholic News site/blog.

The video below is footage of a Mass at the Corpus Christi Parish in Aliso Viejo, California, which is in The Diocese of Orange County. The event basically involves Mass participants dressed up in Halloween costumes during the service, not to mention integrating the costume theme into the mass itself. Needless to say, it is disrespectful to the sacrifice of the Mass, takes away from the sacredness of the event, is filled with liturgical abuses, and is, to put it bluntly, pretty damn hokey. I thought “Clown Masses” were bad enough, but then we have this.

I will let you watch this for yourself and form your own opinions. I really don’t have to say much. I mean, doesn’t a priest dressed as Barney processing into the parish to the Addams Family theme pretty much speak for itself? Maybe I am the weird one here, but what person in his or her right mind is going to be drawn to Catholicism or even Christianity in general based on ridiculous displays such as this? Someone searching for the sacred is going to have to look elsewhere. It is a shame, because officially we Catholics have such a sacred and powerful Mass. How about a fun Halloween costume party after the Mass at some point, rather than during a sacred Christian mystery?

Thanks for Jason for emailing this to me, and Lutherpunk for posting it as well.

This is one of the worst manifestations of today’s entitlement mentality that I have ever seen:

COPENHAGEN, Denmark Nov 3, 2006 (AP)— Rap star Kanye West was named Best Hip Hop artist, but still came off as a sore loser at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

West apparently was so disappointed at not winning for Best Video that he crashed the stage Thursday in Copenhagen when the award was being presented to Justice and Simian for “We Are Your Friends.”

In a tirade riddled with expletives, West said he should have won the prize for his video “Touch The Sky,” because it “cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it. I was jumping across canyons.”

“If I don’t win, the awards show loses credibility,” West said.

Ted Haggard, now former president of the National Association of Evangelical Christians, and pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado, has been accused of having a relationship with a male prostitute. As of now Haggard claims that he simply bought meth off the man, named Mike Jones, and received a massage from him, but that is all. This all sounds very Clintonian to me. I suspect in the future we will find out Haggard did more than this. His actions were very stupid, and he should be as forthcoming as possible now to prevent further embarrassment later.

Considering Haggard’s staunch support of president Bush and his strong, vocal, stance against gay sex, he is being pounced on from all sides. The” sarcastic left” has been particularly vicious (and yes there is a sarcastic right too). I suspect they have a good reason to be upset, since while calling their lifestyles into question, he was living the same lifestyle. However, sarcasm, popular on Christian blogs these days, is not supposed to be our response.

I have no great love for Haggard’s style of Christianity myself: glitzy, congregationalist, megachurch, adrenaline-driven, almost exclusively republican, and so forth. However, I can’t help feel sorry for the guy. I mean he obviously has strong same-sex attractions, and seems to have given in and sought out sex from a prostitute, not to mention buying drugs! His life is pretty much ruined, and his family is deeply wounded I am sure. However, I think those who are rejoicing in the downfall of this man, a man they probably loathe, are sinning as well. Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son? The rejoicing in this parable occurred at repentance, not when the son “got what he deserved.” Our society, motivated by pride, the chief of sins, encourages us to rejoice when others, especially ones we don’t like, get their due.

While I think that Haggard must deal with the temporal punishments (from his church or US law) to come, should he sincerely repent, God is ready to forgive him. And God can even forgive his hypocrisy, a sin of which we are all guilty at some time in our lives. And we are called to forgive as well, no matter how hard. In fact, we are called not to rejoice in the sins and downfalls of others, but rejoice once they repent. Society will likely never forgive Haggard, but God can.

‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and now is found.’ And they began to make merry. Luke 15:24 (RSV).

Today is All Souls Day, when we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Praying for the dead is a very ancient Christian custom, and practiced today by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutherans.

I have always found comfort in All Souls Day. Our culture, in my opinion, suffers from amnesia, i.e. a serious lack of concern for history. If it didn’t happen today or yesterday, it is old news. These days families don’t share stories from the past, and many kids grow up knowing nothing about their departed relatives. And in our perpetual state of hurriedness, finding time to spend with our relatives is scarce, so after they pass away we feel as if we missed out on the time we had to get close to them. All Souls Day is a chance to correct these issues. It is a time to pray for our departed relatives. It is a time to remember them, visit their graves, and celebrate them.

When I started looking for names of people to pray for on All Souls Day, I found out about relatives I never knew I had. One, named Edna, passed away as a young child in a sanitarium around the 1920s. Has anyone ever prayed for this child’s soul? Has anyone bothered to even remember her since that time? In most people’s eyes she is probably not even worth remembering. Well, in God’s eyes she is, and that is why I remember her and pray for her soul.

So for all our departed friends and relatives, especially for those whose souls nobody bothers to pray for:

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

A blessed All Souls Day to everyone.

For those on the Catholic liturgical calendar, today is the Solemnity of All Saints. Happy All Saints Day! I leave you with this prayer in praise of the Saints, from an anonymous 10th century Christian:

How shining and splendid are your gifts, O Lord
which you give us for our eternal well-being.
Your glory shines radiantly in your saints, O God
In the honour and noble victory of the martyrs.
The white-robed company follow you,
bright with their abundant faith;
They scorned the wicked words of those with this world’s power.
For you they sustained fierce beatings, chains, and torments,
they were drained by cruel punishments.
They bore their holy witness to you
who were grounded deep within their hearts;
they were sustained by patience and constancy.
Endowed with your everlasting grace,
may we rejoice forever
with the martyrs in our bright fatherland.
O Christ, in your goodness,
grant to us the gracious heavenly realms of eternal life.
From All Saints Day Prayers