This morning as I sat down and prayed morning prayer I came across this prayer in the intentions: Jesus remain with us throughout the day. This immediately struck me this morning in a new way as I have prayed this intention before in the normal cycle of following the prescribed prayers of the church for both morning and evening prayers.
But recently, on a retreat led by Archbishop Hughes, he suggested when praying daily prayer, stop and meditate on something that resonates. And today this intention did just that.
While I certainly understand the intent of that individual prayer I thought about how we could pray that intention differently. In reality, Jesus does stay with us throughout the day. Like Sunday's Gospel when Jesus is coming toward John the Baptist, He is always coming to us. And I believe he dwells with us, always.
Perhaps we should pray for the grace and awareness of His presence with us throughout our day. In fact it is most likely that when we trudge along with the normalness of our everyday existence it is us that forgets or losses focus on Jesus' presence with us today, and everyday and every minute of everyday.
May our prayer then be; Lord Jesus, help us to be more keenly aware that you are with me throughout this day and everyday. Thank you for the gift of your presence!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Devout Catholic and Kennedy in-law passes away
>>>The famous Kennedy clan in-law remained a devout Catholic all his life; a daily communicant and what must have been a huge distraction at a Kennedy family gathering, he remained pro-life. In fact, since he became the 1972 VP running mate with George McGovern he has the distinction of being the last pro-life Democrat on a national ticket. That alone speaks volumes. But his life was rich as you will read here:
Sargent Shriver is dead at age 95(CNN)
R. Sargent Shriver, who was responsible for launching the U.S. Peace Corps after marrying into the Kennedy family and joining John F. Kennedy's White House, has died, according to his family.
Shriver, whose full name was Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., was 95. He had suffered for years from Alzheimer's disease.
The family released a statement, saying Shriver died Tuesday "surrounded by his five children, five children in-law, and his 19 grandchildren."
"He lived to make the world a more joyful, faithful, and compassionate place," the family's statement said. "He worked on stages both large and small but in the end, he will be best known for his love of others. No one ever came into his presence without feeling his passion and his enthusiasm for them."
President Barack Obama said he was "deeply saddened" over the death of Shriver, whom he called "one of the brightest lights of the greatest generation."
"Of his many enduring contributions, he will perhaps best be remembered as the founding director of the Peace Corps, helping make it possible for generations of Americans to serve as ambassadors of goodwill abroad," Obama said. "His loss will be felt in all of the communities around the world that have been touched by Peace Corps volunteers over the past half century and all of the lives that have been made better by his efforts to address inequality and injustice here at home."
After overseeing the Peace Corps launch in the early 1960s, Shriver went on to serve subsequent presidential administrations and kept up his activism throughout his life, becoming a chief architect of President Lyndon B. Johnson's war on poverty and later heading the Special Olympics, which was founded by his wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Shriver's entree into the Kennedy family was Joseph P. Kennedy, the family patriarch, who hired him to run a business venture in Chicago. According to the Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, the work led to an introduction to Eunice Kennedy, whose siblings included JFK, Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy.
2009: 'The Alzheimer's Project' RELATED TOPICS
Sargent Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
John F. Kennedy
Peace Corps
Special Olympics
Shriver and Eunice Kennedy married in 1953.
Shriver served as JFK's Midwest campaign manager for his 1960 presidential bid before heading the Peace Corps' launch, which was seen as part of a new approach to the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
"He told me that everyone in Washington seemed to think that the Peace Corps was going to be the biggest fiasco in history," Shriver told Time magazine in 1963 of Kennedy's request that he head the program, "and it would be much easier to fire a relative than a friend."
In 2011, the Peace Corps is celebrating its 50th anniversary. More than 200,000 volunteers have served in 139 counties on issues ranging from education to public health to environmental preservation through the program, according to the Peace Corps' website.
The Peace Corps Tuesday mourned the loss "of our founder, friend and guiding light."
The Special Olympics, in a statement, said Shriver was an "advocate for the poor and powerless, and he compiled an unparalleled record of public service at every tier, from the local level to the world community."
After John F. Kennedy, his brother-in-law, was assassinated in 1963, Shriver was tapped by Johnson to launch the White House Office of Economic Opportunity, which comprised a handful of anti-poverty programs.
In a series of maneuvers that spoke to Shriver's penchant for working across the political aisle, he served as Republican President Richard Nixon's ambassador to France before becoming Democrat George McGovern's running mate in 1972, as the two unsuccessfully tried to unseat Nixon.
McGovern named Shriver as his running mate after his first choice, Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri, stepped down after revealing he'd had psychiatric treatment that included electroshock therapy.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Shriver served as chairman of the board of Special Olympics International, which Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded in 1968. The organization sponsors sports training and events around the world for people with intellectual disabilities.
Shriver, who was born in Westminster, Maryland, in 1915 and who graduated from Yale, also was long active in the Roman Catholic Church.
President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died in 2009.
The Shrivers had five children including Maria Shriver, the media personality and former first lady of California; and Timothy P. Shriver, who now heads Special Olympics International.
Maria Shriver's husband, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said his father-in-law's life "is a blueprint for those of us who aspire to place the needs of others above our own."
Sargent Shriver is dead at age 95(CNN)
R. Sargent Shriver, who was responsible for launching the U.S. Peace Corps after marrying into the Kennedy family and joining John F. Kennedy's White House, has died, according to his family.
Shriver, whose full name was Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., was 95. He had suffered for years from Alzheimer's disease.
The family released a statement, saying Shriver died Tuesday "surrounded by his five children, five children in-law, and his 19 grandchildren."
"He lived to make the world a more joyful, faithful, and compassionate place," the family's statement said. "He worked on stages both large and small but in the end, he will be best known for his love of others. No one ever came into his presence without feeling his passion and his enthusiasm for them."
President Barack Obama said he was "deeply saddened" over the death of Shriver, whom he called "one of the brightest lights of the greatest generation."
"Of his many enduring contributions, he will perhaps best be remembered as the founding director of the Peace Corps, helping make it possible for generations of Americans to serve as ambassadors of goodwill abroad," Obama said. "His loss will be felt in all of the communities around the world that have been touched by Peace Corps volunteers over the past half century and all of the lives that have been made better by his efforts to address inequality and injustice here at home."
After overseeing the Peace Corps launch in the early 1960s, Shriver went on to serve subsequent presidential administrations and kept up his activism throughout his life, becoming a chief architect of President Lyndon B. Johnson's war on poverty and later heading the Special Olympics, which was founded by his wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Shriver's entree into the Kennedy family was Joseph P. Kennedy, the family patriarch, who hired him to run a business venture in Chicago. According to the Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, the work led to an introduction to Eunice Kennedy, whose siblings included JFK, Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy.
2009: 'The Alzheimer's Project' RELATED TOPICS
Sargent Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
John F. Kennedy
Peace Corps
Special Olympics
Shriver and Eunice Kennedy married in 1953.
Shriver served as JFK's Midwest campaign manager for his 1960 presidential bid before heading the Peace Corps' launch, which was seen as part of a new approach to the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
"He told me that everyone in Washington seemed to think that the Peace Corps was going to be the biggest fiasco in history," Shriver told Time magazine in 1963 of Kennedy's request that he head the program, "and it would be much easier to fire a relative than a friend."
In 2011, the Peace Corps is celebrating its 50th anniversary. More than 200,000 volunteers have served in 139 counties on issues ranging from education to public health to environmental preservation through the program, according to the Peace Corps' website.
The Peace Corps Tuesday mourned the loss "of our founder, friend and guiding light."
The Special Olympics, in a statement, said Shriver was an "advocate for the poor and powerless, and he compiled an unparalleled record of public service at every tier, from the local level to the world community."
After John F. Kennedy, his brother-in-law, was assassinated in 1963, Shriver was tapped by Johnson to launch the White House Office of Economic Opportunity, which comprised a handful of anti-poverty programs.
In a series of maneuvers that spoke to Shriver's penchant for working across the political aisle, he served as Republican President Richard Nixon's ambassador to France before becoming Democrat George McGovern's running mate in 1972, as the two unsuccessfully tried to unseat Nixon.
McGovern named Shriver as his running mate after his first choice, Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri, stepped down after revealing he'd had psychiatric treatment that included electroshock therapy.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Shriver served as chairman of the board of Special Olympics International, which Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded in 1968. The organization sponsors sports training and events around the world for people with intellectual disabilities.
Shriver, who was born in Westminster, Maryland, in 1915 and who graduated from Yale, also was long active in the Roman Catholic Church.
President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died in 2009.
The Shrivers had five children including Maria Shriver, the media personality and former first lady of California; and Timothy P. Shriver, who now heads Special Olympics International.
Maria Shriver's husband, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said his father-in-law's life "is a blueprint for those of us who aspire to place the needs of others above our own."
Monday, January 17, 2011
An explanation of "abitadeacon"
With the recent move to a new parish in Covington, La someone asked me if I was going to keep my internet monicker. At my farewell party yesterday, rather tongue-in-cheek style, my pastor suggested some new nicknames. Since my new parish is meeting and worshipping in an old retail space that once sold tropical fish maybe I could try Holy Mackerel Deacon. And because I minister in prison he also suggested inmate deacon.
Then one of my Deacon brothers on the internet mentioned recently that he often wondered about the origin of the name.
When I was ordained in 2008 one of my goals was to keep my family and friends apprised of the ministry entrusted to me. I found this fulfilling but a little tedious. Someone suggested I try blogging. Not being a computer genius I thought this would never happen. Then one cold and uneventful weekend in February, just two months after ordination, I sat down with the computer and gave it a shot.
Much to my surprise, it looked manageable. I was prompted to name the blog so I kept coming up with bunches of ideas, none of which my wife liked. She suggested abitadeacon. We live in Abita Springs, La. and everyone shortens it to Abita. And my home parish, which also was my first assignment, St. Jane's, is in the heart of Abita Springs. But not wanting to be too pretentious I was concerned about the name because as the new Deacon at St. Jane's I was number 4. Yep, when I came along we had 4 permanent deacons.
Over here on the Northshore of New Orleans, towns run together. So even though I live 10 miles from the church my mailing address is Abita Springs,zip code 70420. So I pulled out the phone book and my 3 predecessors all lived elsewhere; even though two are much closer to the church than yours truly. One has a Mandeville address, zip code 70471; another Covington, zip code 70433 and one in Bogalusa, zip code 70427. It seemed good to me to claim the name abitadeacon!
And now that I've moved it still seems fitting to be known as "abitadeacon".
Then one of my Deacon brothers on the internet mentioned recently that he often wondered about the origin of the name.
When I was ordained in 2008 one of my goals was to keep my family and friends apprised of the ministry entrusted to me. I found this fulfilling but a little tedious. Someone suggested I try blogging. Not being a computer genius I thought this would never happen. Then one cold and uneventful weekend in February, just two months after ordination, I sat down with the computer and gave it a shot.
Much to my surprise, it looked manageable. I was prompted to name the blog so I kept coming up with bunches of ideas, none of which my wife liked. She suggested abitadeacon. We live in Abita Springs, La. and everyone shortens it to Abita. And my home parish, which also was my first assignment, St. Jane's, is in the heart of Abita Springs. But not wanting to be too pretentious I was concerned about the name because as the new Deacon at St. Jane's I was number 4. Yep, when I came along we had 4 permanent deacons.
Over here on the Northshore of New Orleans, towns run together. So even though I live 10 miles from the church my mailing address is Abita Springs,zip code 70420. So I pulled out the phone book and my 3 predecessors all lived elsewhere; even though two are much closer to the church than yours truly. One has a Mandeville address, zip code 70471; another Covington, zip code 70433 and one in Bogalusa, zip code 70427. It seemed good to me to claim the name abitadeacon!
And now that I've moved it still seems fitting to be known as "abitadeacon".
Beating up on Deacons; no big deal
So much on the blogs this past weekend concerning Permanent Deacons. One topic that has been ignited on many blogs regards the issue of celibacy and continence of the Permanent Deacon. So some canon law professor reads the Code and posits that even Permanent Deacons must be celibate, at least continent. In other words, stop having sex. Well, that's news to me and I guess my wife too. But as a good husband I plan to spare her the details of this debate. Breaking news: I was married for 31 years on the day the Church ordained me; I was already very much not celibate. Moot point. As the information I provide below indicates, as a Permanent Deacon I indeed must follow conditional celibacy. If my wife would die before I do, Deacon Mike won't be getting remarried. Now I realize, glancing way into the future I trust, that this will disappoint many an eligible lady. I indeed understand this discipline and will be faithful to it provided this circumstance ever occurs. How can we, as a Church, look at the married Permanent Diaconate, and all of a sudden say no sex. As a Church do we not teach the sacredness and gift of sex, within marriage, open to procreation? Are not all 7 sacraments valid? Before I received the Sacraments of Holy Orders(and yes, Permanent Deacons do receive Holy Orders) I received the Sacrament of Marriage.
And amazingly, there is enough background on the reason the Code reads as it does relative to Canon 277 and then we can't forget to look at Canon 1042.
So until my letter arrives in the mail, me and the Mrs. will be acting like me and the Mrs.
Now tonight there is a little blub circulating out there about Deacons are not really called to charity or service. Now that we have the restoration of the Permanent Deacon approaching 43 years I guess some good natured folk just can't leave well enough alone. One of the arguments is that the Deacon is ordained to be of service to the Bishop. Duh. No kidding. And so my Bishop has assigned me to work with men in prison. Is this not service. Others that I know are sent by the Bishop to the foodbank, homeless shelter, hospital, nursing home, rehab programs, juvenile facilities. This is service. The Permanent Deacon indeed serves a parish too, and he may do many things. We preach, we assist at the altar at Mass, we Baptize (those under the age of 7), we witness marriages and we can do wake services. But we may also work with the youth group, the St. Vincent de Paul group or other function of service. I truly believe that my ability to preach effectively on Sunday flows from my service Monday thru Saturday. And most importantly, and as repeated below, it's not what we do it is who we are.
And we must remember that by the grace of ordination we are sealed with an indelible character; as a Permanent Deacon, the Church says that I serve as Christ the Servant; not in the same way as the Priest serves in the "person" of Christ; as in confession, at Mass, annointing the sick, baptizing adults, etc.
When it comes to the Permanent Deacon; to my many "more Catholic than the Pope" crowd, or those who wish to deny traditions that in fact date to apostolic, not medieval times, follow the words in the Gospel of St. John: be not afraid.
Please read the following straight from the USCCB and that which is in bold is my emphasis:
Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons
Who is a Deacon?
A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or "orders," of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.
What are these "various ministries" of the Deacon?
All ordained ministers in the Church are called to functions of Word, Sacrament, and Charity, but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise these functions in various ways. As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshalling the Church's resources to meet those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs. But no matter what specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other words, it is not only WHAT a deacon does, but WHO a deacon is, that is important.
Why do some deacons become priests?
For many years ordained ministers "ascended" from one office to another, culminating in ordination to the presbyterate, or priesthood. The Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), however, authorized the restoration of the diaconate as a PERMANENT order of ministry. So, while students for the priesthood are still ordained deacons prior to their ordination as priests, there are more than 13, 000 deacons in the United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these so-called "transitional" and "permanent deacons."
May married men be ordained deacons?
Yes. The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate, when it was restored as a permanent order in the hierarchy, could be opened to "mature married men," later clarified to mean men over the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Also in keeping with ancient practice is the expectation that while a married man may be ordained, an ordained man, if his wife should die, may not marry again without special permission.
"Celibacy Affects Every Deacon: In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon, married or unmarried. Understanding the nature of celibacy—its value and its practice—are essential to the married deacon. Not only does this understanding strengthen and nurture his own commitment to marital chastity, but it also helps to prepare him for the possibility of living celibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern is particularly unique within the diaconate. Tragically, some deacons who were married at the time of ordination only begin to face the issues involved with celibacy upon the death of their wives. As difficult as this process is, all deacons need to appreciate the impact celibacy can have on their lives and ministry." -- National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, par. 72.
Is a Deacon ordained for the Parish or the Diocese?
Whenever a person is ordained, he is to serve the diocesan Church. Deacons are no different in this regard: they are assigned by the bishop to ministries for which the bishop perceives a great need, and for which the deacon may have special gifts or talents. Most often, this will be within a parish setting, just as most priests serve in a parish. Once assigned to the parish, the deacon and any other clergy assigned to the parish minister under the immediate supervision of the pastor. However, this assignment may be changed at the request of the deacon or the initiative of the bishop.
How do I find out more about becoming a Deacon?
The best place to start is with your pastor, who can put you in touch with the Director of Deacons for your diocese. The Director will be able to outline the various requirements and processes to be followed.
And amazingly, there is enough background on the reason the Code reads as it does relative to Canon 277 and then we can't forget to look at Canon 1042.
So until my letter arrives in the mail, me and the Mrs. will be acting like me and the Mrs.
Now tonight there is a little blub circulating out there about Deacons are not really called to charity or service. Now that we have the restoration of the Permanent Deacon approaching 43 years I guess some good natured folk just can't leave well enough alone. One of the arguments is that the Deacon is ordained to be of service to the Bishop. Duh. No kidding. And so my Bishop has assigned me to work with men in prison. Is this not service. Others that I know are sent by the Bishop to the foodbank, homeless shelter, hospital, nursing home, rehab programs, juvenile facilities. This is service. The Permanent Deacon indeed serves a parish too, and he may do many things. We preach, we assist at the altar at Mass, we Baptize (those under the age of 7), we witness marriages and we can do wake services. But we may also work with the youth group, the St. Vincent de Paul group or other function of service. I truly believe that my ability to preach effectively on Sunday flows from my service Monday thru Saturday. And most importantly, and as repeated below, it's not what we do it is who we are.
And we must remember that by the grace of ordination we are sealed with an indelible character; as a Permanent Deacon, the Church says that I serve as Christ the Servant; not in the same way as the Priest serves in the "person" of Christ; as in confession, at Mass, annointing the sick, baptizing adults, etc.
When it comes to the Permanent Deacon; to my many "more Catholic than the Pope" crowd, or those who wish to deny traditions that in fact date to apostolic, not medieval times, follow the words in the Gospel of St. John: be not afraid.
Please read the following straight from the USCCB and that which is in bold is my emphasis:
Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons
Who is a Deacon?
A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or "orders," of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.
What are these "various ministries" of the Deacon?
All ordained ministers in the Church are called to functions of Word, Sacrament, and Charity, but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise these functions in various ways. As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshalling the Church's resources to meet those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs. But no matter what specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other words, it is not only WHAT a deacon does, but WHO a deacon is, that is important.
Why do some deacons become priests?
For many years ordained ministers "ascended" from one office to another, culminating in ordination to the presbyterate, or priesthood. The Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), however, authorized the restoration of the diaconate as a PERMANENT order of ministry. So, while students for the priesthood are still ordained deacons prior to their ordination as priests, there are more than 13, 000 deacons in the United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these so-called "transitional" and "permanent deacons."
May married men be ordained deacons?
Yes. The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate, when it was restored as a permanent order in the hierarchy, could be opened to "mature married men," later clarified to mean men over the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Also in keeping with ancient practice is the expectation that while a married man may be ordained, an ordained man, if his wife should die, may not marry again without special permission.
"Celibacy Affects Every Deacon: In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon, married or unmarried. Understanding the nature of celibacy—its value and its practice—are essential to the married deacon. Not only does this understanding strengthen and nurture his own commitment to marital chastity, but it also helps to prepare him for the possibility of living celibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern is particularly unique within the diaconate. Tragically, some deacons who were married at the time of ordination only begin to face the issues involved with celibacy upon the death of their wives. As difficult as this process is, all deacons need to appreciate the impact celibacy can have on their lives and ministry." -- National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, par. 72.
Is a Deacon ordained for the Parish or the Diocese?
Whenever a person is ordained, he is to serve the diocesan Church. Deacons are no different in this regard: they are assigned by the bishop to ministries for which the bishop perceives a great need, and for which the deacon may have special gifts or talents. Most often, this will be within a parish setting, just as most priests serve in a parish. Once assigned to the parish, the deacon and any other clergy assigned to the parish minister under the immediate supervision of the pastor. However, this assignment may be changed at the request of the deacon or the initiative of the bishop.
How do I find out more about becoming a Deacon?
The best place to start is with your pastor, who can put you in touch with the Director of Deacons for your diocese. The Director will be able to outline the various requirements and processes to be followed.
Made in the Image & Likeness of God; a pastoral on racial harmony
In 2006 the now retired Archbishop of New Orleans issued a pastoral letter on racism. I used this letter in a prayer service during my formation while studying and discerning my call to the diaconate. I published this thoughtful, sensitive pastoral last year on MLK day and do so again. Please read with open mind and open heart:
http://www.arch-no.org/12.15_pastoral_final.pdf
http://www.arch-no.org/12.15_pastoral_final.pdf
Dr. Martin Luther King and why he still matters
>>>This is a great article by Fr. Rober Barron. Today is a great holiday and a day all should pause and consider that the life, legacy and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King still matter today. Those who follow Christ and long for real social justice would do well to follow his model; non-violent, passionate and changing hearts. Enjoy this great post:
Culture: Why Dr. King Still Matters
It goes without saying that Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the most pivotal figures in American history, easily ranking in importance with Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. He almost single-handedly affected a social change as significant as the abolition of slavery, and he did so without prompting a civil war. What is perhaps less obvious is that he continues to be an indispensable model for our current political and religious discourse. I would like to focus on three dimensions of Dr. King’s work which remain, I’m convinced, of crucial importance today: his advocacy of non-violence, his manner of bringing Christianity into the public square, and his use of language as a means of social transformation.
There are, both within the animal kingdom and among human beings, two classical responses to aggression: fight or flight. When one is attacked, one typically either answers the attack or acquiesces to it. But neither strategy, in the long run, really solves the problem; indeed both tend to exacerbate the situation, the first by awakening further violence and the second by encouraging, even justifying, it. An ardent student of both the Sermon on the Mount and the campaigns of Gandhi, Dr. King saw that there was a third way, beyond both fighting back and giving in, namely, the path of provocative non-violence, “turning the other cheek.” The one who turns the other cheek, he saw, is not passively surrendering to violence; rather, he is courageously standing his ground and refusing to cooperate with the assumptions and behavior patterns of his aggressor. He is actively interrupting the cycle of aggression and is, at the same time, providing a mirror in which the attacker sees his own violence and is, ideally, moved to repentance. Armed with this New Testament strategy, King encouraged his followers to march on Selma, to sit down at segregated lunch counters, to endure taunts, attack dogs, water cannons, imprisonment, and even death. The courageous non-violence of the civil rights generation gummed up the works of a morally flawed, dysfunctional system and exposed its wickedness to the world. I would hope that, under the inspiration of Dr. King, an entire army of Christians, trained in the theory and practice of non-violence, would arise, especially in our cities where the cycle of violence is so pernicious.
Not only was King a prophetic advocate of non-violent social change; he was also a deft spokesperson for Christianity within the political arena. Dr. King was, first and foremost, a pastor and preacher of Christ’s Gospel. The pulpit in the Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was his home base, his anchor; and no one could possibly doubt that his commitment to social justice was born from his more fundamental Christian commitment. Yet he knew that he had to bring his message to a wider world and to make his case, not simply in churches, but in the religiously neutral space of the civil society. And so he found within his own Christian tradition, language and concepts that were deeply congruent with American ideals and which had, therefore, a persuasive power to any American, regardless of religious background. For instance, in his “Letter From the Birmingham City Jail,” he appealed to Thomas Aquinas’s conviction that unjust civil laws are violations of the moral law and hence offensive to the God who is the ultimate source of all law. And in his greatest piece of oratory, the magnificent “I Have a Dream” speech, he channelled the prophet Isaiah, saying “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain make low, the rough places shall be made plain and crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” But then he specified that this Biblical vision was congruent with “the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed—we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He found a way, in short, of bringing religious language and ideas into the public realm persuasively and non-offensively. He was not an advocate of that extreme liberalism, sadly all too evident today, which would simply eliminate religion from the public square entirely. May his tribe increase.
Finally, I would draw attention to King’s masterful use of language. With the possible exception of Winston Churchill, Dr. King was the most gifted poet among public figures in the twentieth century. Very much like Churchill, he knew that, at certain times and under certain circumstances, the most effective agent of social transformation is language itself. The truths conveyed by these phrases are powerful enough, but just listen to the music: “The arm of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice; Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; say that I was a drum major for righteousness; Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California…Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.” The ancient rhetoricians taught us that people are moved by the ideas ingredient in a speech, but perhaps just as much by the rhythm, harmony, verve, energy, and swing of the language itself. When you watch old films of Dr. King speaking, you notice that he really sang his speeches more than spoke them. Christianity is a religion preoccupied with the power of the word, for Christians know that God’s word became flesh in Jesus. May a new generation of Christian leaders arise who learn from King how to use language to move people’s hearts.
Martin Luther King was not a saint, and I’m not advocating his canonization. But on this anniversary of his birth, I am proposing him as a powerful model for all those who want to light a fire on the earth.
Culture: Why Dr. King Still Matters
It goes without saying that Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the most pivotal figures in American history, easily ranking in importance with Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. He almost single-handedly affected a social change as significant as the abolition of slavery, and he did so without prompting a civil war. What is perhaps less obvious is that he continues to be an indispensable model for our current political and religious discourse. I would like to focus on three dimensions of Dr. King’s work which remain, I’m convinced, of crucial importance today: his advocacy of non-violence, his manner of bringing Christianity into the public square, and his use of language as a means of social transformation.
There are, both within the animal kingdom and among human beings, two classical responses to aggression: fight or flight. When one is attacked, one typically either answers the attack or acquiesces to it. But neither strategy, in the long run, really solves the problem; indeed both tend to exacerbate the situation, the first by awakening further violence and the second by encouraging, even justifying, it. An ardent student of both the Sermon on the Mount and the campaigns of Gandhi, Dr. King saw that there was a third way, beyond both fighting back and giving in, namely, the path of provocative non-violence, “turning the other cheek.” The one who turns the other cheek, he saw, is not passively surrendering to violence; rather, he is courageously standing his ground and refusing to cooperate with the assumptions and behavior patterns of his aggressor. He is actively interrupting the cycle of aggression and is, at the same time, providing a mirror in which the attacker sees his own violence and is, ideally, moved to repentance. Armed with this New Testament strategy, King encouraged his followers to march on Selma, to sit down at segregated lunch counters, to endure taunts, attack dogs, water cannons, imprisonment, and even death. The courageous non-violence of the civil rights generation gummed up the works of a morally flawed, dysfunctional system and exposed its wickedness to the world. I would hope that, under the inspiration of Dr. King, an entire army of Christians, trained in the theory and practice of non-violence, would arise, especially in our cities where the cycle of violence is so pernicious.
Not only was King a prophetic advocate of non-violent social change; he was also a deft spokesperson for Christianity within the political arena. Dr. King was, first and foremost, a pastor and preacher of Christ’s Gospel. The pulpit in the Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was his home base, his anchor; and no one could possibly doubt that his commitment to social justice was born from his more fundamental Christian commitment. Yet he knew that he had to bring his message to a wider world and to make his case, not simply in churches, but in the religiously neutral space of the civil society. And so he found within his own Christian tradition, language and concepts that were deeply congruent with American ideals and which had, therefore, a persuasive power to any American, regardless of religious background. For instance, in his “Letter From the Birmingham City Jail,” he appealed to Thomas Aquinas’s conviction that unjust civil laws are violations of the moral law and hence offensive to the God who is the ultimate source of all law. And in his greatest piece of oratory, the magnificent “I Have a Dream” speech, he channelled the prophet Isaiah, saying “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain make low, the rough places shall be made plain and crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” But then he specified that this Biblical vision was congruent with “the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed—we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He found a way, in short, of bringing religious language and ideas into the public realm persuasively and non-offensively. He was not an advocate of that extreme liberalism, sadly all too evident today, which would simply eliminate religion from the public square entirely. May his tribe increase.
Finally, I would draw attention to King’s masterful use of language. With the possible exception of Winston Churchill, Dr. King was the most gifted poet among public figures in the twentieth century. Very much like Churchill, he knew that, at certain times and under certain circumstances, the most effective agent of social transformation is language itself. The truths conveyed by these phrases are powerful enough, but just listen to the music: “The arm of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice; Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; say that I was a drum major for righteousness; Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California…Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.” The ancient rhetoricians taught us that people are moved by the ideas ingredient in a speech, but perhaps just as much by the rhythm, harmony, verve, energy, and swing of the language itself. When you watch old films of Dr. King speaking, you notice that he really sang his speeches more than spoke them. Christianity is a religion preoccupied with the power of the word, for Christians know that God’s word became flesh in Jesus. May a new generation of Christian leaders arise who learn from King how to use language to move people’s hearts.
Martin Luther King was not a saint, and I’m not advocating his canonization. But on this anniversary of his birth, I am proposing him as a powerful model for all those who want to light a fire on the earth.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
St. Jane de Chantal Parish; not good-bye, see you around
Today was my farewell Mass and luncheon to the parish where I have served, in one way or another, for 16 years. St. Jane de Chantal Parish has been home since my family and I moved to Abita Springs from a westbank neighborhood of New Orleans. The beautiful old church, right in the middle of town, was calling to me from the first day I laid eyes on her in November 1995. This is important because in November 1995 I had drifted away from church and God's love. This beautiful church kept calling and me and my family walked through the doors. After a brief meeting with the pastor, where I explained my journey, or lack of a journey, he said to me: you are home, welcome home. And the rest, as they say, is history. We joined the parish, got active, enrolled our youngest in CCD, I joined the Knights of Columbus and began to teach and lector and even was elected to the parish council. While at St. Jane's I heard the vocational call to the diaconate. I did my entire 5 years of formation while still at St, Jane's and was thrilled at my assignment as ordination drew near: I was to be assigned at St. Jane's. And I have served as a Deacon here since December 13, 2008.
Having moved on to my new assignment, Most Holy Trinity, I was asked to come back today and assist Mass and preach one last time and to enjoy a luncheon with so many good friends. I decided today to preach on my journey back to God through the doors of St. Jane's Church and challenged those present to be thankful for the gift God has given us in St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church right there in Abita Springs.
As Mass ended and we retired to the parish hall many came to celebrate and the outpouring of love, support, food and gifts was overwhelming. What a special day this was. I know I will remember today for a long,long time. I was touched over and over again by the outpouring of affection and support.
In leaving St. Jane's today I recall the words from today's responsorial psalm: Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will. Knowing that I am indeed following God's will makes leaving St. Jane's possible. And knowing now of the ministry that awaits me at Most Holy Trinity I'm ready to get busy.
As I said today to those gathered; this is not really a good-bye but more of a see you around. I wish to express my thanks to all of our St. Jane family that made today possible, to the staff of St. Janes and to Father's Robert and Raymond and my three brother Deacons, Frans, Don and Mark.
And I certainly thank my wife Wendy and my youngest, Elizabeth, who were present with me today as they have always been, especially through my diaconate journey these past 8 years.
Not good-bye; see you around.
St. Jane de Chantal, pray for us!
Having moved on to my new assignment, Most Holy Trinity, I was asked to come back today and assist Mass and preach one last time and to enjoy a luncheon with so many good friends. I decided today to preach on my journey back to God through the doors of St. Jane's Church and challenged those present to be thankful for the gift God has given us in St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church right there in Abita Springs.
As Mass ended and we retired to the parish hall many came to celebrate and the outpouring of love, support, food and gifts was overwhelming. What a special day this was. I know I will remember today for a long,long time. I was touched over and over again by the outpouring of affection and support.
In leaving St. Jane's today I recall the words from today's responsorial psalm: Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will. Knowing that I am indeed following God's will makes leaving St. Jane's possible. And knowing now of the ministry that awaits me at Most Holy Trinity I'm ready to get busy.
As I said today to those gathered; this is not really a good-bye but more of a see you around. I wish to express my thanks to all of our St. Jane family that made today possible, to the staff of St. Janes and to Father's Robert and Raymond and my three brother Deacons, Frans, Don and Mark.
And I certainly thank my wife Wendy and my youngest, Elizabeth, who were present with me today as they have always been, especially through my diaconate journey these past 8 years.
Not good-bye; see you around.
St. Jane de Chantal, pray for us!
St. Anthony of the Desert
SAINT ANTHONY of the DESERT
Patriarch of Monastic Life
(251-356)
Saint Anthony was born in the year 251, in Upper Egypt. Hearing at Mass the words, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,” he gave away all his vast possessions — staying only to see that his sister’s education was completed — and retired into the desert. He then begged an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life, and he also visited various solitaries, undertaking to copy the principal virtue of each.
To serve God more perfectly, Anthony immured himself in a ruin, building up the door so that none could enter. Here the devils assaulted him furiously, appearing as various monsters, and even wounding him severely; but his courage never failed, and he overcame them all by confidence in God and by the sign of the cross. One night, while Anthony was in his solitude, many devils scourged him so terribly that he lay as if dead. A friend found him in this condition, and believing him dead carried him home. But when Anthony came to himself he persuaded his friend to take him back, in spite of his wounds, to his solitude. Here, prostrate from weakness, he defied the devils, saying, “I fear you not; you cannot separate me from the love of Christ.” After more vain assaults the devils fled, and Christ appeared to Anthony in His glory.
Saint Anthony’s only food was bread and water, which he never tasted before sunset, and sometimes only once in two, three, or four days. He wore sackcloth and sheepskin, and he often knelt in prayer from sunset to sunrise.
His admirers became so many and so insistent that he was eventually persuaded to found two monasteries for them and to give them a rule of life. These were the first monasteries ever to be founded, and Saint Anthony is, therefore, the father of cenobites of monks. In 311 he went to Alexandria to take part in the Arian controversy and to comfort those who were being persecuted by Maximinus. This visit lasted for a few days only, after which he retired into a solitude even more remote so that he might cut himself off completely from his admirers. When he was over ninety, he was commanded by God in a vision to search the desert for Saint Paul the Hermit. He is said to have survived until the age of a hundred and five, when he died peacefully in a cave on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea. Saint Athanasius, his biographer, says that the mere knowledge of how Saint Anthony lived is a good guide to virtue.
Patriarch of Monastic Life
(251-356)
Saint Anthony was born in the year 251, in Upper Egypt. Hearing at Mass the words, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,” he gave away all his vast possessions — staying only to see that his sister’s education was completed — and retired into the desert. He then begged an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life, and he also visited various solitaries, undertaking to copy the principal virtue of each.
To serve God more perfectly, Anthony immured himself in a ruin, building up the door so that none could enter. Here the devils assaulted him furiously, appearing as various monsters, and even wounding him severely; but his courage never failed, and he overcame them all by confidence in God and by the sign of the cross. One night, while Anthony was in his solitude, many devils scourged him so terribly that he lay as if dead. A friend found him in this condition, and believing him dead carried him home. But when Anthony came to himself he persuaded his friend to take him back, in spite of his wounds, to his solitude. Here, prostrate from weakness, he defied the devils, saying, “I fear you not; you cannot separate me from the love of Christ.” After more vain assaults the devils fled, and Christ appeared to Anthony in His glory.
Saint Anthony’s only food was bread and water, which he never tasted before sunset, and sometimes only once in two, three, or four days. He wore sackcloth and sheepskin, and he often knelt in prayer from sunset to sunrise.
His admirers became so many and so insistent that he was eventually persuaded to found two monasteries for them and to give them a rule of life. These were the first monasteries ever to be founded, and Saint Anthony is, therefore, the father of cenobites of monks. In 311 he went to Alexandria to take part in the Arian controversy and to comfort those who were being persecuted by Maximinus. This visit lasted for a few days only, after which he retired into a solitude even more remote so that he might cut himself off completely from his admirers. When he was over ninety, he was commanded by God in a vision to search the desert for Saint Paul the Hermit. He is said to have survived until the age of a hundred and five, when he died peacefully in a cave on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea. Saint Athanasius, his biographer, says that the mere knowledge of how Saint Anthony lived is a good guide to virtue.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Turning a corner in formation
January brings many new things and for the Deacon community of New Orleans it is another semester of formation activities. As we gather together on this cold Saturday in January, it's just one class of candidates; our 2012 group. The 2010 men are now brother Deacons. For the 2012 class today marks a turning of a corner if you will. First, it's more than 50% in and secondly, the men begin Clinical Pastoral Training(CPT).
CPT is a 6 month period of training and actual hands-on experience in ministry. The candidates are assigned ministries in local hospitals, prisons, hospice care, mental health units and homeless facilities. The candidates are called to visit these ministries weekly, be present to those who they meet at each facility and listen and learn. For many, it will be the first time they have set foot in such environments. Going to a prison or visiting a hospice patient or meeting a homeless person face to face is both a challenging and life changing moment in time.
The candidates are strictly charged with being present, trusting that being available to these children of God is gift itself. They are not to fix anything or interfere with anything; just be present and listen. After the weekly visit, they meet in class and share their experiences, being always mindful of the confidentiality of those they minister to.
Many times this experience leads to a ministry post ordination. For me that has been the case. I did my CPT at the Rayburn Prison and was thrilled to go back to Rayburn as their Deacon. I'm equally glad that the diaconate has entrusted one of the candidates to us at Rayburn and I'm happy to say he has made his first visit.
Through CPT, our candidates realize that there truly is a community of hurting and broken people; our brothers and sisters. May God send more laborers into the vineyard to minister to all of them!
CPT is a 6 month period of training and actual hands-on experience in ministry. The candidates are assigned ministries in local hospitals, prisons, hospice care, mental health units and homeless facilities. The candidates are called to visit these ministries weekly, be present to those who they meet at each facility and listen and learn. For many, it will be the first time they have set foot in such environments. Going to a prison or visiting a hospice patient or meeting a homeless person face to face is both a challenging and life changing moment in time.
The candidates are strictly charged with being present, trusting that being available to these children of God is gift itself. They are not to fix anything or interfere with anything; just be present and listen. After the weekly visit, they meet in class and share their experiences, being always mindful of the confidentiality of those they minister to.
Many times this experience leads to a ministry post ordination. For me that has been the case. I did my CPT at the Rayburn Prison and was thrilled to go back to Rayburn as their Deacon. I'm equally glad that the diaconate has entrusted one of the candidates to us at Rayburn and I'm happy to say he has made his first visit.
Through CPT, our candidates realize that there truly is a community of hurting and broken people; our brothers and sisters. May God send more laborers into the vineyard to minister to all of them!
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