Fr. Bob's Corner

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. When I read this prayer by this holy man, the founder of the Jesuits, I became very uncomfortable. Could I pray this prayer, I pondered? Yes, I thought, but parts of it I would not really mean. In fact, I would be praying just the opposite in the next breath.

Everything that we are and have is a gift from God. Ultimately, all that is really important is God’s love and God’s grace, but in this mortal world of flesh and blood my liberty, memory, understanding are very important to me.

This prayer is about imitating Jesus, and forsaking all, but I must say that I have a long way to go yet. How about you?

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Having a wonderful time. Here are the links to some of the pictures I have uploaded to flickr. They are not very organized, but you can see what I have been up to, and where I’ve been taking in the sights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/parishpictures/sets/72157606048655495/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/parishpictures/sets/72157606045137408/

The six hour flight from Montreal to Zurich was uneventful and ordinary, but the short flight from Zurich to Geneva was a blur of people, rushing crowds,moving sidewalks, and even a short underground train ride with passengers transferring to various flights crammed body to body in what looked like Toronto or Montreal Metro subway cars. People rushed from the cars onto the platform to security inspection lines in a frenzied blur when we arrived at the dis-embarking station. Most seemed to know where they were going, but I had no idea whether or not I was at the right transfer station. Fortunately, luck was with me, and I was at the right place and made my connection just in time. The flight to Geneva only took 30 minutes on a flight heading for Moscow. After a fretful 20 minute wait for my baggage from Montreal. I was sure my baggage would be delayed, but it magically appeared and I was through customs in two minutes. I was greeted by my sister (Louise) and brother-in-law. Bert (brother-in-law) said a quick word of welcome as he was heading Khazistan for four days.

In about twenty minutes my sister and I were at her beautiful condo in Morges. After lunch we did a little shopping – mostly to pickup a few items I had not been able to bring with me. We did a quick run through of a store called Hornbach’s ( similar to Home Depot) to look at European Appliances. European Appliances tend to be better designed to fit in small spaces etc… wish this was the case in Canada. Here are a couple of pictures at Hornbach’s.

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This morning’s ‘Globe and Mail’ had this to say about Dr. Morgentaler’s Award from the Order of Canada:

The debate that Dr. Morgentaler came to symbolize in Canada was not simply about abortion, but about what kind of abortion – procedures provided in the relative safety of a hospital or clinic, or the equivalent as provided in back alleys? The liberty of women to make their own decisions regarding reproduction is not a small victory, and it has had an enormous impact on Canadian women and Canadian society. A failure to have recognized Dr. Morgentaler’s critical role in advancing the health and liberty of women would have been timid – especially as it applies to a man of such courage and conviction. (Globe & Mail – July 2, 2008)

I would have preferred the ‘timid’ and not given the award to Dr. Morgentaler. For those that do not recognize the presence of human life before birth, or believe that it is solely a woman’s choice, and that the unborn have no rights, this is indeed a victory for Abortion. But for Canadians who recognize human life in the womb and the human rights of the unborn, this is a very sad day in Canada.

There is no denying that Morgentaler is courageous and a man of conviction when it comes to believing that the unborn are not human and have no rights, but it seems to me to be irresponsible to give this award to him. How many teenagers and young women will decide that abortion is the right thing for them based upon the grounds that Canadians must think so. After all, didn’t Canada award Dr. Morgentaler, the order of Canada? WE DON’T ALL THINK SO! IN FACT, WE VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE ON THE GROUNDS THAT ABORTION IS TAKING A HUMAN LIFE. IT IS KILLING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING! This is what many believe, and for the ‘Order of Canada’ to ignore this fact is irresponsible, and tarnishes the award in my eyes, as well as, I believe the eyes of many others.

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Religion is a bad word in certain quarters of our society, and the world at large. Some people say: “Religion causes too much pain and tragedy. I’ll have nothing to do with it. It should be eradicated.” Here’s a response from a religious sister to this very question. I think it proves helpful in forming our own personal response to those that write religion off. How do you respond to those that believe that religion is a bad thing for the world?

WHAT IS RELIGION ABOUT?
The Sufi tell of disciples who, when the death of their master was clearly imminent, became totally bereft. “If you leave us, Master,” they pleaded, “how will we know what to do?” And the master replied, “I am nothing but a finger pointing at the moon. Perhaps when I am gone you will see the moon.” The meaning is clear: It is God that religion must be about, not itself. When religion makes itself God, it ceases to be religion.

But when religion becomes the bridge that leads to God, it stretches us to live to the limits of human possibility. It requires us to be everything we can possibly be: kind, generous, honest, loving, compassionate, just. It defines the standards of the human condition. It sets the parameters within which we direct our institutions. It provides the basis for the ethics that guide our human relationships. It sets out to enable us to be fully human, human beings.

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