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February 03, 2010
> 10:20 AM
re-thoughts on prayer and liturgy > 4 Since we are... back in Ordinary Time at the moment - here's another post I wrote in 2008, talking about a liturgical spirituality based in the ordinary. I re-read this just a few minutes ago and I say, it is good. There are, for some perhaps, a couple of radical suggestions toward the end. I'm still 110% with those. Good stuff - regular rhythm of everyday life - love and not fear - Peace to you. -------------------------------------------------- Back to Ordinary (from 01/14/2008)  Back to the brown book, back to Ordinary Time. I'm pretty sure this is my favorite liturgical season. I'm not sure it's considered a "season," per se, but it's my favorite time block on the calendar. Weird, you say? Maybe. I think I just prefer the regular rhythm of everyday life as opposed to the somewhat intense focus on a particular event or Truth in the life of Christ and the Church.I don't mean to say that I don't appreciate the celebration of say, Lent or Advent or Christmas or Easter. I think we need those constant reminders interrupting the rhythm of our lives. Over and over, year after year, to live that in and out, up and down of the calendar is good. I believe that. I wonder, though, if sometimes we don't get a little carried away with the celebrations such that they become things that we wait for during Ordinary Time, just tolerating things until November or February. I've heard some people say they wish we'd back Advent up into October to make it longer. Mmmmmmm, I don't think I'd be in favor of that. If anything, make it shorter. I don't think it's the healthiest thing to live our lives waiting for big, spectacular events. If we can't "feel spiritual" or close to God during the ordinary part of the year, we have some problems. And nobody's asking for my vote, but strip out all the "obligation" attached to any of these feast days, and to any fasting or abstinence attached to them. That is not to say there shouldn't be an encouragement to do certain things or to gather with the whole Church to worship at certain times. Certainly there should be, but attaching an ultimate penalty to these things is counter-productive to real spiritual development. Yes, I really do think so. Would you rather your children obey your rules out of love and respect or from fear of being punished - and not just punished but kicked out of the freakin' house? I hope our answer would be, love. And fear does not produce love. I don't think so. Anyway, we should all develop a rhythm to our spiritual lives that is solidly entrenched in Ordinary Time. The special seasons should be pleasant interruptions in an already solid rhythm of life focused on our Life in Christ. Christmas is wonderful, and waiting for it in Advent is great, but the now is that Christ is alive, as God and Man, and living in us. Easter is amazing and the relative darkness of Lent is a helpful thing, but now, He lives forever in eternity and is constantly inviting us into His present Life. Let's do what we can to constantly be hearing that invitation and saying yes to it. Labels: church year, liturgy, re-post 5 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | January 29, 2010 > 10:31 PM re-thoughts on prayer and liturgy > 3 Here's some stuff I used in my recent retreat talks as well. This is a sort of fleshed-out outline of a homily I taught/preached at the Easter Vigil of 2007 - done in cooperation between the faith community I used to lead and our friends, St. Patrick's Anglican church here in Lexington. I both sung the Exultet and preached the homily - yes I did. :) I took a bit of a perhaps unusual tack by not talking particularly about Easter, but about the liturgy of the Church in general, how it forms us, living in the rhythm of it, etc. So, even though it's not even Lent yet, much less Easter, it fits. Have at it... ----------------------------------- Vigil Homily (from 04/14/2007) I said a bit back that I might put up the outline (most of it actually) of the homily I gave at our Easter Vigil celebration. And so here I am doin' it..
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permalink | e-mail me | November 22, 2009 > 10:04 AM Christ the King  This is actually a re-post from 2007. I couldn't think of anything better I could share with you on this feast day. The words of Thomas Merton about Christ the King, since I heard them, have always rung in my ears: "Christ is a king who does not control by power... who does not control by law." Swallow that, but make sure you chew on it for a good while first or you might choke.Tomorrow [actually today] is the feast of Christ the King. I found an image I think is appropriate for how Christ showed Himself as King to us, for us. I don't really have a lot to say about that right now but I also wanted to share a two minute section of audio with you - of Thomas Merton speaking about Christ the King, on or near that same feast day in 1968, in Bangkok Thailand. So this was recorded about two weeks before he died. The quality isn't the greatest, but what he says is very well worth letting sink in. Listen well. > Merton on Christ the King Labels: church, liturgy, merton 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | November 01, 2009 > 10:09 AM a litany for all saints I want to name a few people who are not in this realm of existence any more, but who (I am confident) are with God in a fullness of Life that we cannot truly understand at this point. Not all of them are officially "canonized" - they don't have to be. I often ask my siblings in the heavenly arena to pray for me, for us. Our connection with them has not ended. The Communion of Saints includes both them and us. So here is my own personal litany...
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permalink | e-mail me | June 19, 2009 > 3:16 PM sacred heart 09  Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the hear of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. This is the convenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. —Jeremiah 31:33 Labels: church year, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | June 14, 2009 > 10:23 PM the Body of Christ  Down in adoration falling, This great Sacrament we hail; Over ancient forms of worship Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith will tell us Christ is present, When our human senses fail. Word made flesh, the bread of nature, By his word to flesh he turns; Wine into his blood he changes: What though sense no change discerns? Only be the heart in earnest, Faith its lesson quickly learns. Today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi. We celebrated in a special way this central part of our worship as the Body - the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus in our midst, given as our spiritual food. It's not the only way Jesus is present among us, or in us, but this is one of the more tangible ways we can receive Him, come into union with Him, experience His Life.  We did the procession as well. The Bishop carried the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance out of the church and we all processed around the block singing the hymn above. I like that hymn. Those are only two verses I chose to share - the first and the fourth. That part about our senses not seeing any change but our faith learning the lesson - good stuff. He spoke about the symbolism of how we receive Christ into ourselves in the church and take Him out into the world - also good stuff. Labels: church, liturgy, sacraments 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | June 07, 2009 > 12:57 PM trinity Blessed be God the Father and his only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit: for he has shown that he loves us. + Let us pray to our God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, we praise you: Father all-powerful, Christ our Lord and Savior, Spirit of love. You reveal yourself in the depths of our being, drawing us to share in your life and your love. One God, three Persons, be near to the people formed in your image, close to the world your love brings to life. We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever. Amen. + Today is Trinity Sunday, when we celebrate the essence of God as three in One, God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Of course this deep revelation of Who God Is, is special to all of us who are Christians. Although we don't fully understand it with our intellects, we are made able by His Grace to spiritually understand it, and Him. As we are being transformed into His Image, in and through the action of the Trinitarian God, we become more and more able to grasp the significance of this mystery. I have a personal connection to God as Trinity in that I was birthed into Christ in a church called Holy Trinity - and wait, that's not all! The man who opened the Gospel of Christ to me, who baptized and confirmed me, who was a deeply important early mentor and spiritual director to me, was a member of a religious order called The Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity - Fr. Killian Mooney, S.T. There Trinity Missions aren't there in Harlan any more - not for a long time, but there were there for quite a while and I was a product, so to speak, of their missions there. I'm grateful they were there and that Fr. Killian was there in the right place and right time to help usher me into the Kingdom. I could probably say a lot more about God as Trinity and our own nature as His Children, community, etc., but that's really all that I have for today. Peace. Labels: church, liturgy, theology 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | May 31, 2009 > 9:19 PM go and be  Pentecost. The Easter season is officially over. Time to get Ordinary again. Today their waiting came to an end and the Holy Spirit "came down" upon them, and within them, to give them power - to give US power to serve, to go and be Christ to the world - to Love as He Loves, to speak as He spoke, to be the continuation of the Incarnation. ALL of us. All of us. Not just the Bishops and the Priests and Deacons and Pastors and Ministers. The Holy Spirit is given to us all, as members of the One Body. So, don't just sit there. GO and BE. You don't have to do some big spectacular thing. That's not necessary. Just be in Him - continue to do what belongs to being in Him and then you will be who and what you're supposed to be.Labels: christian life, church, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | January 11, 2009 > 3:04 PM baptism of the Lord "When the Lord had been baptized, the heavens opened, and the Spirit came down like a dove to rest upon him. Then the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased."Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children born of water and Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | January 02, 2009 > 3:46 PM basil & gregory > prayer number 4  Today is the feast of St.s Basil and Gregory (Nazianzen) - two of the great Eastern Fathers of the Church. I know this from the Office. I also happened to go to daily Mass today and Fr. John gave a little preamble about them. You can read a little about Basil here and Gregory here.Now, what really made me want to blog today was that also Fr. John chose to use Eucharistic Prayer No. 4 today at Mass, which he informed us was written, by and large, by St. Basil. I don't think I've ever heard it used before, not that I remember. It really is beautiful. And the deep connection with the ancient Church, praying this 1700 year old prayer, was striking a significant chord inside me. So, here it is... PrefaceSome of that will be very familiar to Catholics at least. But the longer sections are quite fuller. This prayer encopasses a more complete synopsis of our salvation history - very creedal in places. I typed all that so I hope there are no mistakes. Anyway, I thought the language was great and wanted to share it with you. Peace to you today. St.s Basil and Gregory, ora pro nobis. Labels: catholic, eucharist, liturgy, saints 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | December 21, 2008 > 9:49 PM sometimes little things happen  Sometimes at Mass, little things happen here and there. Every now and then it has to do with the homily (not that they're bad in our parish, they're generally pretty decent). More often it's connected to the Word or some part of the Eucharistic liturgy. The Gospel tonight was the story of the Annunciation and Mary's great yes. This is always a good one for me. I pray for the Grace to be able to say yes like that on a constant basis. It doesn't always happen, but He continues to work on me, in me.Tonight also during the liturgy of the Eucharist at some point - offering maybe - the song was Mary Did You Know. I have always found this a very emotional song - to meditate as I hear or sing it on what His Mother, our Mother, went through and experienced when Jesus was a baby. When it gets to parts like... Did you know That your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when you kiss your little baby You've kissed the face of God ...generally, I can hardly hold myself together. It's sort of like a holy sadness of some sort just comes over me and I just cry. I looked up at our particular crucifix, with Mary and John at the feet - her looking up at Him, and think of her holding Him in her arms as a baby. Mary did you know your baby boy was going to suffer like that? O Lord. And then during Communion, Breath of Heaven - I just wanted to lay on the floor... Breath of heaven, Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy. Breath of heaven. ...as I had just taken His Life in the Eucharist into myself - as I knew He was doing His work inside me, that only HE can do. Grateful. Grateful. Labels: advent, eucharist, liturgy, mary, worship 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | October 15, 2008 > 1:53 PM verbum today  Today I went to Mass at Noon. I do that sometimes - not every week, but here and there. I'm starting to think it would be good if I made it a regular practice, at least one daily Mass per week. Anyway, I went to St. Peter's, as usual, and as I was praying/sitting quietly before the Mass started, I was looking at the old Latin inscription that goes around the half-spherical cover that is over the high altar in the back of the Sanctuary there. I've cropped it out in the photo to the left. It's not very clear. I need to get a closer, more focused photo of that sometimes. It's a beautiful piece in itself - gold reflective under with the symbol of the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove, on the outside the Chi Rho at the top with vines and branches with grapes coming down, that inscription - it's a feast for meditative eyes. So, here is the inscription...ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST ET HABITAVIT IN NOBIS Today as I sat there, I was determined to figure out what that meant. So, eventually, with what knowledge of Latin I have, I did. It was very cool to be able to do that, first. And the translation was wonderful. I read it to myself several times again. And today - today, when thoughts of a conversation I've been involved in recently about the Word, how it's used, and to a degree how it's seen in Catholic circles, was rolling around in my head. AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US And so HE did. Jesus, the Word of God. And I saw multiple meanings there - that inscription just above the tabernacle, and the Word read and spoken into our ears and hearts in the community of faith constantly, and Christ in us who now share in His Divine Nature. And at the Table of the Word today - the readings: Romans 8:22-27 and John 15:1-8 - even the Response - "Your Words, O Lord, are light and life." One more thing to tip things over - the old priest, at the end of the Gospel reading says, "please remain standing" - no homily. So, the Word was doing it's own work in our hearts. The Word, the Word, the Word everywhere - making His dwelling among us, in us. He is the Vine and we are the branches. As He lives in His Father, so we live in Him, and share their Life - that's the Gospel folks - the center and core. Labels: catholic, liturgy, spiritual formation 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | August 27, 2008 > 10:02 AM ray ray, guitars, and holding hands   I love a quiet, stripped-down Mass. If I go to daily Mass it's usually there on the right - St. Peter's downtown. Usually not more than 20 people there at Noon. Very quiet, no singing, sometimes no homily, simple Mass. I like that a lot. I like singing too. It would seem that a lot of Catholic parish members do not, since they don't. Of course my kids don't either - I don't get it.Where we typically go to Mass is on the left - Christ the King, the Cathedral for the Lexington Diocese. 2,700 families it is said - families. Talk about a megachurch. Not nearly all of these "members" show up ever. If they did, they'd have to tack on 15 more Masses on the weekends. As it is, there are 5, including the Vigil on Saturday. We have become Sunday at 5pm folks. This is a Mass that many traditionalists would love to hate, I imagine. It's the LifeTeen Mass. For some of my Protestant friends, it's much like a Catholic Mass and a Vineyard service had a baby. Let me tell you something - I like it. Now, if you don't, well go to the 8:45am Mass. There's a very good choir, very traditional music, etc. Guess what? I like that too. I find no reason to pit one against the other. At the center, both are the Mass. There is a worshipful reverence at/in both. The Catholic Church is, after all, said to be the Church of the great both/and. That's a good thing if you ask me, which perhaps you didn't but oh well, there's a free one for you. Agnus dei, qui tollis pecata mundi, misserere nobis. Agnus dei, qui tollis pecata mundi, misserere nobis. Agnus dei, qui tollis pecata mundi, dona nobis pacem. We actually hear and pray this, in a certain form, at the Mass we attend. My kids love to kid, "Ray Ray was there tonight." They know what it means. I've made sure of that. And I like that. I like a bit of Latin every now and then. If I know what it means, it works. If not, from my heart, it's kind of pointless. Even though it has a sort of culturo-sentimental tug in my emotional area, I have no illusion that Latin is some kind of inherently holy language given by God. Of course, language in general was given by God, in a sense, as a way for us to communicate. Latin happened to develop in the Italian region in a certain time period, long before the Church was around, from other languages I'm sure. Same with Greek and even Hebrew and Aramaic. Under it all, they're just languages that people speak, or did speak, in certain areas of the world. Latin was sort of adopted by the Church for practical reasons at the time, since it was the common language that tied together most of the European known world at the time. This was so because of oppresive Roman conquest - imperialist expansion - so the reason that Latin was common was certainly not "holy" by any stretch of the imagination. It was simply baptized like many other things, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's smart actually. To hold on to it, or yearn for it as if it's an angelic tongue, though, is another thing. Not sure that's really something we need to be doing. I like guitars too, even when played in the Mass - oh my. Guitars are musical instruments, developed from other musical instruments that mankind has used over the millenia for entertainment, worship, etc. They are much like organs, instruments, except much more ancient, along with their forebears, the lute. Some like organs, some like guitars, some like banjos or fiddles (violins if you prefer, depends on how you play them). I'm not sure our time and energy is best spent trying to make cases about which one is somehow (and how this is done is beyond me and I'm pretty damn smart) more inherently "reverent" or condusive to worship than another. Let's stick with the great both/and and get on with it. Please. I could go on and on - and on, but I'll lose steam after a bit. Holding hands is good, for instance, but I don't prefer to do it when I'm praying the Our Father in Mass. You will find my hands raised in the Orans position though. What I also don't do is gaze around to see all the other hand-holders while grinding about how somehow horrible that is in my heart - while praying the Our Father. OK, that really is it for today. It's a fine soft day out there, as they say in Ireland. We have a constant fine mist of rain blowing around today - just like Erin. The garden will love that. Pax vobiscum. Labels: catholic, church, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | August 02, 2008 > 9:59 AM liturgical prayer > recall  Two years ago, almost exactly, I hosted a small liturgical prayer seminar in our home. My friend Pete Matthews was my co-conspirator. We asked our friend Dave Nixon to come from Cincinnati to help lead the discussion. It turned out a very helpful time both for those of us who were already familiar with this kind of prayer, as well as for some who weren't.A week or so ago, Peter posted 3 Reasons to Pray the Daily Office, which reminded me of the seminar and the fact that I recorded it as it happened and posted the files on my blog. So, I'm reposting them again here in case anyone's interested in listening in on some conversation about liturgical prayer. It gets very interesting in places. Again, they're not short, and the sound quality is not professional, but it's worth a listen I think. Let me do this too: I'll post my original sort of disclaimer I put as I offered these files before... There were about 15 people present from various church backgrounds, all sharing their own stories and experiences as they relate to liturgical prayer, community life, etc. I'm sure a couple of things were said in reference to some denomination or tradition or another. Please don't take offense - we weren't making grandiose "statements" as a unit about anything. Just wanted to make that brief disclaimer. I hope the content of the seminar is helpful to someone. Peace.> Liturgical Prayer Seminar - Part One (approx. 20mb > Liturgical Prayer Seminar - Part Two (approx. 18mb) Somehow, I feel as if part of my vocation in life is to help people understand things like this, this kind of prayer, this sort of life-rhythm, among other things. It seems I've been doing this for the last few years. I pray that God gives me the Grace to continue doing so. Labels: catholic, ecumenism, liturgical prayer, liturgy, prayer 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | May 05, 2008 > 2:40 PM on may 5th or thereabouts Get ready for some prime blog rehash! You've got to dip back into your archives sometimes to keep things rollin' you know. So here we go. I went back to several previous May 5th posts, or as close to May 5th as I could get. One is an awesome two-part series which is very relevant to (and seeded mind you) my recent post about union with God. There's another soteriological post in the list too - woo hoo! What can I tell you - these are the things I think and wrestle around with in my mind. I may have even evolved a little more since some of this, but I think it's still good. Some of the comments are interesting too - if you get froggy, try to read them as well - even if they say there are (0) comments, they're there.
technorati tags > union with god, christian mysticism, soteriology, theology, salvation Labels: catholic, liturgical prayer, liturgy, spiritual formation, theology 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | March 20, 2008 > 10:43 AM holy thursday thoughts Holy Thursday - the culmination of Lent, the beginning of the three big days of Easter. I think I'm actually looking forward to going to Mass tonight. Here's what's not much to look forward to: not being there with anyone else who looks forward to it. Liz has to work tonight, so I'll be dragging the three kids that live at home now along with me. Yes, I'm making them go. This WILL be as much of a family thing as I can get it to be. But that's not pleasant at all for me really. They'll survive I'm thinkin'. They may even be fed in some way that even they are not acutely aware of. I pray that will be so. We'll be taking part in the whole Triduum liturgy, so there will be ample opportunity for something to sink in. I admit, I have sentimental affection for the Holy Week liturgies, from younger days. I would be very pleasantly surprised if any of what I'll be participating in this week comes close to measuring up to those notions in my head and heart. They don't have to. I know that. It would just be nice. I also have this odd juxtaposition in my head between this year and last year about this time. Last year at the Easter Vigil, the community I lead and our friends as the local St. Patrick's Anglican church worshipped together. I was wearing an alb and stole and preaching the homily. This year, not so much. There is, in that, an odd mixture of comfort at being "back home" and the discomfort of the feeling of loss. I ask for Grace to learn how to deal with that. Tonight - the Mass of the Lord's Supper - the initiation of the Holy Eucharist that we still share. Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the Eucharist. At every Mass, this is my highlight - feasting on His Mystical and Sacramental Presence - tangibly taking Him into myself - saying yes to His offering of Himself to me, to all of us. Do I understand it? Not totally. Do you? Let me answer that for you - No. Do we need to fully understand it in order to share in it? I would hope not. Is there some faith that is required? I think so - just as in hearing Him in His Word - for that to actually affect us, we need to mix what is heard with faith. In the Eucharist as well, it seems, we need to mix with faith our reception of the Sacrament in order for Grace to be "activated" inside us. I'm not sure we can neatly quantify this faith, number it and lay it out. Faith in... the fact that He IS present, really present, Sacramentally; His love for us and desire to heal us from our brokenness; the fact that some kind of real substantive transformation will happen in us as we receive Him and His Life in this way. I pray His Presence will permeate me, my family and all of you during these holy days, and continue to do so even when the days aren't called holy. technorati tags > holy thursday, eucharist, holy week Labels: catholic, easter, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | February 06, 2008 > 1:27 PM ashes, ashes, we've all fallen down I just thought that was cleaver, so there. Which mean, probably, that somebody's said it before at some point - oh well. It's Ash Wednesday - that means the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Today - I feel nothing. Maybe that's good. It's not about feeling anything I don't guess. I wonder, when I speak in a rather colloquial manner, do certain people tune me out as possibly someone who has little of substance to say? Interesting question in the middle of my thought-train there. So, like I said, Lent begins today and even though I don't feel anything about it really, I do have a couple of thoughts...
technorati tags > lent, liturgy, catholicism, lenten disciplines Labels: catholic, church, lent, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | January 14, 2008 > 10:36 AM back to ordinary Back to the brown book, back to Ordinary Time. I'm pretty sure this is my favorite liturgical season. I'm not sure it's considered a "season," per se, but it's my favorite time block on the calendar. Weird, you say? Maybe. I think I just prefer the regular rhythm of everyday life as opposed to the somewhat intense focus on a particular event or Truth in the life of Christ and the Church.I don't mean to say that I don't appreciate the celebration of say, Lent or Advent or Christmas or Easter. I think we need those constant reminders interrupting the rhythm of our lives. Over and over, year after year, to live that in and out, up and down of the calendar is good. I believe that. I wonder, though, if sometimes we don't get a little carried away with the celebrations such that they become things that we wait for during Ordinary Time, just tolerating things until November or February. I've heard some people say they wish we'd back Advent up into October to make it longer. Mmmmmmm, I don't think I'd be in favor of that. If anything, make it shorter. I don't think it's the healthiest thing to live our lives waiting for big, spectacular events. If we can't "feel spiritual" or close to God during the ordinary part of the year, we have some problems. And nobody's asking for my vote, but strip out all the "obligation" attached to any of these feast days, and to any fasting or abstinence attached to them. That is not to say there shouldn't be an encouragement to do certain things or to gather with the whole Church to worship at certain times. Certainly there should be, but attaching an ultimate penalty to these things is counter-productive to real spiritual development. Yes, I really do think so. Would you rather your children obey your rules out of love and respect or from fear of being punished - and not just punished but kicked out of the freakin' house? I hope our answer would be, love. And fear does not produce love. I don't think so. Anyway, we should all develop a rhythm to our spiritual lives that is solidly entrenched in Ordinary Time. The special seasons should be pleasant interruptions in an already solid rhythm of life focused on our Life in Christ. Christmas is wonderful, and waiting for it in Advent is great, but the now is that Christ is alive, as God and Man, and living in us. Easter is amazing and the relative darkness of Lent is a helpful thing, but now, He lives forever in eternity and is constantly inviting us into His present Life. Let's do what we can to constantly be hearing that invitation and saying yes to it. technorati tags > ordinary time, liturgical calendar 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | January 01, 2008 > 1:55 PM mary, mother of God, the incarnation, and us  Today is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Why? Because she's special and played a unique and special role in the economy of our Salvation. Because in the ancient Tradition of the Church, she has been considered the Mother of God and our Mother.Why now, during the Christmas season? When else? If there is an appropriate time for such a feast day, this is it. Because this is the season in which the Incarnation became a reality with her cooperation. She became His Mother at Christmas. Part of, if not most of, the significance of Mary in the whole story, our whole story, is that she is one of us. She is not God, or a god (really, she's not). Anyone who treats her as such or thinks of her in that way is out of the orthodox theological park. Back to this: She is us - our hope that we too can be totally immersed in the Essence of God, fully transformed into His Image. In our understanding of the Communion of Saints, we believe she has a special place among all those Saints that have passed over into the heavenly dimension. We believe that they can still pray for us ("help" us). So, she can certainly help us, intercede for us. Today is a day we can especially honor her and ask for her intercession. Why is a holy day of obligation with an attached penalty of mortal sin? Wow, I won't even try to fully answer that as I'd like to. I'll say this. I believe it's unfortunate that these days have a load of guilt attached to them. It's not necessary. Sure, maybe a good many Catholics won't go to Mass on holy days if the "obligation" and fear weren't attached to it -- annnd, so what? It's about fear. Will I go to Mass tonight? Sure, we're going. Am I going because I'm afraid the Life of God will be ripped out of my insides if I don't? God forbid - God forbid. Does this take some kind of power or honor away from Jesus or the rest of the Godhead? If it does for you, then back off Mary and re-assess how you think of her. It shouldn't. It doesn't have to. It doesn't for me. As I alluded to before, the point of Mary is Jesus. There would be no honor for Mary if she weren't HIS Mother, if she wasn't made pure and holy BY HIM. Any place she has of honor or veneration has been given to her BY HIM. If your Mary does not point to her Son, then your Mary needs a re-haul. Your view of her needs re-hauling actually, but you get my point. This is my Son, and the Son of God, look at Him with your whole being. Whatever glory shining from my face comes from He Who IS Light. Let's hear her saying that. technorati tags > mary, mother of god, virgin mary, incarnation Labels: catholic, liturgy, mary, theology 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | December 30, 2007 > 3:40 PM holy family > church > frustration  Today is the feast of the Holy Family. That's Jesus, Mary and Joseph if you didn't know. Our holy family went to Mass this morning - well, we went to the church twice - first to take the kids to CCD and Confirmation class an hour early, except there were no classes today - who knew? Not us. So, go back home, wait for about 15-20 more minutes and go back. Our holy family got to sit together today, which has been unusual. I like it when we can sit together - well, wait, maybe I do. We are 6 and take up about half a pew in our church presently. Only I am going up for Communion at the moment, since all this began, until everyone else is Confirmed. That's getting old. I doubt there is much real anticipation in my crew to receive Christ in the Eucharist - probably more that they won't have to all trail out of the long pew to let everybody else by or back in during the awkward process. I just want us all to be together in the thing. I want things to settle into a more regular rhythm. Please, Lord, soon! In addition to that, our holy family is not quite all your quiet, calm, meditative type. There is slightly hyperactive constant drumming on things (all these kids are 12 and over mind you), today gum was discovered, messing with each other, whispering at the most inappropriate times, etc., etc., etc. All of this acts together to raise my blood pressure. I am likely the most distracted person by all these goings-on. I try. I try to chill and not be bothered by it. But it's damn hard folks. So, add that to learning a new ecclesiastical world for my family, getting used to new things. I just pray always that none of this ends up turning them against God and the Church. I pray that they aren't too frustrated by it, such that it pushes them away from the beauty of the Eucharist as opposed to drawing them toward it. Blessed Mary, our Mother, St. Joseph, pray for my holy family, that we may all be bound, first with Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit and woven together in this big complicated Body. Labels: catholic, church, liturgy, reversion 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | December 27, 2007 > 9:44 AM Christmas is still here > liturgical lifestyle  The Christmas candle is lit, the presents are opened, much food has been eaten and, in our case, about 170 miles have been driven. No snow, though, but that's another story.Christmas is still here. We sort of culturally celebrate Christmas for so long back into Advent these days that we have forgotten that the Christmas season actually starts at midnight on Christmas Eve and goes on 12 days till Epiphany. So, keep your tree up! Keep the decorations around for a bit. Linger in it. Take advantage of the liturgical season we've been given by our spiritual forebears. I'll quote myself from a homily I taught/preached last Easter Vigil. It fits here as well. I talked about the Liturgy itself and how it forms us as a people. This work we are doing is doing a work in us.These were sort of the bullet points. Each of them can be drawn out. Analogy after analogy can be layered on them. The family farm analogy is the one that came to me as very relevant to a liturgical lifestyle. That's what this seasonal business is about, it's about a lifestyle, not just one day here and another there - not just "holy days of obligation" - certainly not just the cultural observations connected to the seasons. It's a Liturgical Lifestyle. This lifestyle has been handed down to us. We choose to take it up and live it. Intentional - it's intentional. God's Grace be with us to continue living it - it's the only way we can. technorati tags > christmas, liturgy, christmas season 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | December 04, 2007 > 9:25 AM advent > what are we waiting on? What are we waiting on? You ever say that? I know you've heard somebody say it in some context or another. That's the question that popped into my head this morning as concerns Advent. This liturgical season in the Church year is about waiting, awaiting the coming of our Savior, the Messiah. Soooo, here's the thing: hasn't He already come? Why are we waiting on someone who's already here? Is that what we're doing really - waiting on Jesus to come as a little baby in a manger? That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? Of course, there are different kinds of "sense." What are we waiting on again? I didn't say did I? Lots of questions today. Well, it would seem, we're not really waiting, literally, for Jesus to come to Earth. In time, that already happened, and it very likely wasn't in December either, so what's up? There is a sense in which we are putting ourselves in that place, in the place of those who were, at that time, anticipating the coming of a Savior, a new King. Liturgically speaking, we are, as the Church, re-inhabiting that event. We are, by doing that, reminding ourselves of our Story - the big Story of all stories. That's what liturgy is about - it's that work that we do, that particular work that continues to place us in the Story, the Story of our Redemption, the Recreation Story. The theory is that as we do this, over and over and over again, that it starts sinking in - deeper and deeper - and helps to facilitate our transformation into His Image. So, our waiting now is a liturgical waiting, a waiting of reminder. Our waiting now is also a mystical waiting, a waiting on the inside for God, for Jesus, for our Savior as the Holy Spirit gives Him to us, in many different ways. We hear this, perhaps, during Advent, that we are to be awaiting God as He will choose to enter our lives. I'm not sure we always get that though. It's a little esoteric. Mystical things are like that - a little weird. God, to us, is a lot weird most of the time. He describes Himself in many ways in the Scriptures, using quite a number of analogies. None of them quite nail Him down - nailing God down, yeah, not going to happen. I'm convinced we will understand Him even as He understands Himself one day, but there's a lot between then and now. As we grow spiritually, though, here and now, we are made more and more able to get Him, to experience Him and His Life, to hear the door when He's knocking. We are made more and more able to welcome Him when He comes, on a daily basis, not just at the end of our lives or at the end of time. Our biggest concern should be how we are welcoming Him right now, today, as we live and move on a daily basis - not in the sweet by and by, not when we die. All that will come but we are here, being touched by eternity "now." Now is sort of an eternal concept really - the always now. We are slowly learning to see like God sees. Slowly. We are waiting for His arrival. We are waiting for His constant arrival. We are waiting for ourselves to be made able to see Him as always here. We are waiting for the "silence of God" in our hearts to dissipate as His Voice grows ever clearer to our inward ears. We are waiting for our dim vision of Him to be cleared by His perfect light. We've still got some waiting to do. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall dawn upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. –Luke 1:78-79 technorati tags > advent, liturgical calendar ---------------- Listening to: Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal) Labels: advent, liturgy, spiritual formation 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | November 24, 2007 > 6:54 PM Christ the king > merton Tomorrow is the feast of Christ the King. I found an image I think is appropriate for how Christ showed Himself as King to us, for us. I don't really have a lot to say about that right now but I also wanted to share a two minute section of audio with you - of Thomas Merton speaking about Christ the King, on or near that same feast day in 1968, in Bangkok Thailand. So this was recorded about two weeks before he died. The quality isn't the greatest, but what he says is very well worth letting sink in. Listen well.> Merton on Christ the King technorati tags > christ the king, thomas merton Labels: church, liturgy, merton 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | November 01, 2007 > 8:38 PM all saints  Happy All Saints Day. Today we celebrate all those Saints who have gone on to the fullness of their Salvation before us, whether known, unknown, canonized or not. Their fullness of Life now is hope for us. We also focus today on the concept of the Communion of Saints - all those who belong to and are grafted into Christ, whether here on earth, or those in the heavenly realm (purgatorial front hallway all the way deep into the Bridal chamber). We ask for their help, their prayers - prayers from the big-picture perspective.We went to Mass tonight to join in the celebration with the whole Church. The Bishop presided and I'm sure he'd want to know I liked his homily quite a bit. :) He spoke of the big and the small, all of us, all the Saints we know of and those whom we have known in our lives and know now. He went on into the Gospel reading, the Beatitudes, and borrowed a little from Pope Benedict's take in his new book, about how this list is really a veiled Christology, if you will. They describe Jesus. He is the personification of the Beatitudes, and as much as we allow Him to permeate our lives and change us, they will also be biographical of us. Our hope is in Him, in Whom we trust to create in us His own Life. Good stuff - THE stuff. I leave you with a litany of sorts - of Saints I have known and of some whom I one day will know. I honor them as my now older siblings in Christ. I look to them for aid in my own journey which is still pretty sticky at times. Ora Pro Nobis.... - Father Killian Mooney - Camilla Bauer - Mark Palmer - Chad Canipe - Verna Nelson - Francis of Assisi - Patrick of Ireland - Columba of Ireland - Benedict of Nursia - Thomas Merton - Mary, Mother of God technorati tags > all saints, beatitudes Labels: church, liturgy, theology 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | August 06, 2007 > 8:43 PM transiguration > another dimension  Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. The Gospel of Luke 9:28b-36 For a while now, every time I hear this story, every time the liturgy brings it around to our attention, I have thought of it like this: First, it's a very mystical scene here. This is not the normal fare, even in the Gospels. The Bible is a book full of miracles but even with that, this is a glorious picture we've been painted. It's not fully comprehensible either. It sounds like we should understand what we're hearing but really, we're only seeing shadows, glimpses. Then I think, as one will, of what happened and the men there, the Apostles, who saw it, part of it. I wonder what they saw and how they saw it. I know what is written, but I also know that even though a man "wrote" it while inspired by the Holy Spirit, he was still in this realm of existence and could only grasp so much without being fully enveloped in the reality of what it was he was trying to describe there. He was still in process and so are we. Our knowledge is not yet perfect. I think of a couple of other things - this light, shining, clouds, the two Prophets appearing. The I wonder how it was that the three Apostles knew who they were looking at. Did Jesus introduce them? Didn't seem like. Did they have name tags hanging around their necks? I kind of doubt it. Oh, they recognized them from the pictur... wait. So, this was Elijah and Moses - they knew that, they just did. Now, I don't want to put too much into one thing here, but bear with me. I think it fits. I believe this is in the folds of the Scriptural garment here with its many layers. I believe, for just a few minutes, Jesus pulled back the veil. I mean THE veil - the one that separates this dimension from that one, over there. And I believe that light, that eternal light was a reflection of the Kind of Light that, presently, we cannot fully comprehend. So, in anticipation of the great reconnection that He was in the process of enacting, He opened the gates, as it were. And a few very weird things happened. Things that don't totally make a ton of earthly sense. I see this as a moment of dimensional unity, where the Apostles, for just a little bit, knew as they were known. But they didn't understand what was happening to them at the time. Thus the reaction after. I'm sure they grew to understand later, and I'm really sure they know now what they were experiencing. The Transfiguration wasn't just about Jesus. It was about us, all of us. It IS about us, about the amazing journey we are now on. He has drawn us into His Fullness. And the more we allow ourselves to be opened up, drawn in further, the more we will be transformed, transfigured ourselves. The Transfiguration is a first taste of the fullness of Eternal Life here and now. So when it comes around every year, we should take that opportunity to think of the fullness of Life to which we have been called. We should be extremely grateful that, ultimately, He has not left us confused on the mountain side. Ultimately, we are now in Him, and being drawn ever deeper into the Life of the Transfigured One. technorati tags > the transfiguration, heaven, metaphysics, christian mysticism 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | July 07, 2007 > 11:58 AM motu proprio > summorum pontificum Yeah, that's Latin. I know, I know, "he's Catholic again, so there he goes, automatically goin' nuts over some Papal decree" - yee ha! Funny. Yes, I'm Catholic, but even if you're not and you think about the whole Church at all and care about things like that, this is a little bit historical. A good chunk of Christianity's life was very significantly shifted and affected after the second Vatican Council - mostly by the unfortunate aftermath which, apparently, wasn't necessary. Everybody knows about that, so everybody should probably at least be aware of this deal. My opinion, and yes I have read it (it's not that long), is that this is meant to be, and will be as much as people allow it to be, a unifying thing. It sounds refreshing. And no, I'm not a big kooky Latin Mass person who things Vatican II was a horrible mistake. Not at all. I've always been a little fascinated by the Latin liturgy. I've only been to one "old Mass" ever, when I was a teenager, in Colorado. It was interesting. I remember lots of standing and kneeling, not much sitting. I remember the Priest being so old he had to be helped up on the altar. I remember him being a little grumpy with me in the confessional because I didn't really know the old rite. Anyway, whatever that's all about. I think the reforms of the Council were necessary and good and certainly, if you ask me, Vatican III wouldn't be a bad idea. As I read the Pope's letter to the Bishops which accompanied the Motu Proprio, I was struck by one portion which I thought I'd quote here. It should be appreciated, I would think, by some of my siblings out there who aren't Catholic. Interesting stuff. Looking back over the past, to the divisions which in the course of the centuries have rent the Body of Christ, one continually has the impression that, at critical moments when divisions were coming about, not enough was done by the Churchi's leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity. One has the impression that omissions on the part of the Church have had their share of blame for the fact that these divisions were able to harden. This glance at the past imposes an obligation on us today: to make every effort to make it possible for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew. I think of a sentence in the Second Letter to the Corinthians, where Paul writes: "Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return... widen your hearts also!" (2 Cor 6:11-13). Paul was certainly speaking in another context, but his exhortation can and must touch us too, precisely on this subject. Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.This is a humble admission, as I read it, that many in the Catholic world would probably not be willing to make. I figure this, coming from Benedict himself, goes pretty far, whatever any other Catholics may or may not be willing to say or do. Here is the link to download a PDF of the document from the American Bishops. It includes the document itself and the letter to the Bishops and I'm sure some stuff of theirs too. Interesting days we live in. Pax vobiscum. technorati tags > catholicism, catholic church, liturgy, latin mass, motu proprio, vatican II Labels: catholic, church, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | June 10, 2007 > 10:37 AM the Body of our Lord  Today is celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, aka, Corpus Christi. We who believe in that direction are called to meditate a bit on the Sacramental gift God has given the Church in the Eucharist. And yes, I am quite convinced that this gift is very Real and very much more than merely an opportunity to have a memorial meal every quarter. I think there's more to be thankful for than that.I don't mean to go into some large discussion of Eucharistic theology here. I only mean to remind myself and the rest of us, of this great Gift - that the Gift if Jesus Himself. I'll leave you with the Fathers... "The flesh feeds on the Body and Blood of Christ, that the soul may grow fat on God." - Tertullian "What seems bread is not bread, though bread by taste; but the Body of Christ. What seems wine is not wine, though taste will have it so; but the Blood of Christ." - St. Cyril of Jerusalem "The sacrament you receive is made what it is by the Word of Christ. If the word of Elijah had such power as to bring down fire from heaven, shall not the Word of Christ have power to change the nature of the elements?" - St. Ambrose of Milan "There is one Christ everywhere, complete both in this world and in the other; one body. Though offered in many places, He is but one body so there is but one sacrifice... We offer now what was offered then." - St. John Chrysostom technorati tags > corpus christi, eucharist, liturgy Labels: catholic, church, liturgy, theology 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | June 03, 2007 > 5:21 PM Holy Trinity  Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be, world without end. Amen. technorati tags > holy trinity sunday, liturgical calendar 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | May 28, 2007 > 10:18 AM ordinary time > wedding missed > etc. I hate when I do something stupid, especially when it may well hurt someone I care about. Peter and Jackie are married and who remembered their wedding was Saturday? Not me. That's what you call lame. Sorry guys. I'm happy for you - that you found each other and are now connected forever. I remember when Peter was telling me about this girl who worked at the front desk at the Seminary. He just kept visiting her there for some reason, then tennis, then, well then they got married Saturday and I missed it! Shit. Oh well, I'm sure they had a wonderful day. We're back to Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. I think, honestly, this is my favorite "season" - the un-season. I just like the normal, regular rhythm. It's wonderful that it's interrupted throughout the year with seasons of celebration which focus on different parts in salvation history. We need to remind ourselves of these things constantly. I don't think we'll ever be done with that as long as we're here. It's not always that exciting, not always lots of candles and incense, but always there is deep meaning running through every Psalm we pray, every Scripture we read and meditate on, every liturgy we celebrate with the Body. So we keep on. technorati tags > ordinary time, liturgical calendar, peter white 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | May 27, 2007 > 4:40 PM holy ghos' holy ghos' holy ghos' Yes, it is Pentecost. And I'm being liturgically lame today, for which, yes, I do feel a tad guilty. I'll have to deal with that I guess. If you've never heard the Holy Spirit referred to as the Holy Ghos', then it would be hard to explain. It's a Charismatic/Pentecostal thing. Sure, it leans into the black ecclesial culture, of which we were basically a part for about 10 years.Parts of that whole charismatic period I'm very glad to be away from, and some parts, some of you may be surprised to hear, I miss a little bit sometimes. The cultural mix I miss a good bit. That was one of the best parts of our old church, the black/white mix - a freedom of interracial interaction, no "politically correct" pressure, just life together. That happened in Jerusalem there that day as well - the fire came down in the midst of an eclectic crew of people. All Jews, yes, but from many nations, languages, cultures. Thus was the Church birthed, as a a truly catholic entity, for all people. Soon there would be trouble as the Jews mixed with the Gentiles, but God called them to account. He still is. The Power and inhabiting Life of God was not given to a Jewish sect, but to the whole world. We're all a part of one another now. OK, that was total Pentecost-ramble there. - I took Conor and McKenzie to the park today for a while and my fish count went up by one! - Liz and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary tomorrow - and no work, cool! - I guess I should mention rest as it's in the tags - today was actually restful, that's good. technorati tags > pentecost, liturgical calendar, rest, mental health, family Labels: catholic, family, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | April 14, 2007 > 4:47 PM vigil homily I said a bit back that I might put up the outline (most of it actually) of the homily I gave at our Easter Vigil celebration. And so here I am doin' it..
technorati tags > easter, easter vigil, liturgy, st. patrick's anglican church, vine & branches christian community, liturgy, easter, lexington kentucky Labels: church, easter, liturgy 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | April 08, 2007 > 11:38 AM alleluia! He is Risen! In case you didn't know yet. Yes, they went to the tomb this morning and nobody was home.  ...or, if you prefer...  I thought that was pretty funny. BAM! "TOMB DOOR, OPEN!" Good time celebrating the Easter Vigil with St. Patrick's last night. It's a long service but a good one. Good seeing those people and meeting a few new folks. I was nervous but singing the Exultet was very cool. I doubt anyone recorded any of last night so you'll just have to trust it was alright. This is the recording I used to practice. Thanks Fr. Tim. I also, personally, think I looked pretty dang good in those vestments too but you know (thanks Bryan for recording that). Kyle was very excited that I was "properly vested" for once - hee hee. Liz did a great job on making my white Easter stole. Now, for the other liturgical colors. I may put up a transcript of the little homily I did last night too - a Vigil homily not about the Resurrection - well, there you go. Happy Easter. technorati tags > easter, easter vigil, st. patrick's anglican church, vine & branches christian community, liturgy, easter, lexington kentucky Labels: church, easter, liturgy, vbcc 0 comments
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permalink | e-mail me | April 03, 2007 > 4:03 PM the great vigil of easter  You are invited, you know - if you're around, to worship with us as we celebrate the Easter Vigil this coming Saturday night at 8pm here in Lexington. St. Patrick's Church and Vine & Branches Christian Community will be cooperating in this great liturgy. We're excited about being able to do this with friends in the Church here in town. Please join us at South Elkhorn Christian Church (the property where St. Pat's meets) on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. It may be one of your only opportunities to see me in vestments. And if you come just for that I hope you are slain in the Spirit in front of everyone. Pax vobiscum. technorati tags > holy week, easter vigil, st. patrick's anglican church, vine & branches christian community, liturgy, easter, lexington kentucky Labels: catholic, church, easter, liturgy, vbcc 0 comments
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