Fr. Bob's Corner

Does God really matter? For some, God not only does not matter – God is superstition – God is rules – God is ……….

QUOTE: “Why God Matters-How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert is a Catholic living story filled with life journeys shared by this daughter and father duo. Why God Matters reminds us to draw faith from the ordinary daily life and through shared family experiences.”(Blog Review: Simply Stacy)

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I recently read Fr. Richard Richard Rohr’s Book: Hope Against Darkness. (The Transforming Vision of St. Francis in an Age of Anxiety) Some of you might find it to be a particularly relevant given the upheaval in our world at the present time. It is also a good Lenten book, in my opinion.

Fr. Richard (a Franciscan priest) is founder and animator of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is the author of numerous books, including Jesus’ Plan for a New World, The Sermon on the Mount with John Feister (St. Anthony Messenger Press). Besides his Center in New Mexico, he gives retreats and lectures internationally. He also emails free of charge a daily Meditation to which I subscribe. I thought today’s particularly moving and insightful so I am including it here. You might like to subscribe yourself – there is a link below.

SUFFERING

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[Fr. Edward L. Cleary is a professor of political science and the director of Latin American studies at Providence College.]

Fr. Edward Cleary has just published a new book on faith, religion, and the Latin American people. It is a must read for all those interested in our brothers and sisters in this part of America. In the last forty years much has happened to undermine the faith of these staunchly catholic people. But, there are seeds of hope, and wonderful things happening that offer promise for the future of Christianity and the the Catholic Church in this part of the world. Although the Pentecostal Church has spear headed a major religious revival and recruited thousands of new members, Catholicism has become more dynamic and fostered a more committed faith response. Just listen to these statistics that Fr. Cleary reports:

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Catholic Broadcaster, Fr. Dave a Paulist priest on Sirius Radio, interviewed the Award-winning journalist and Chief Vatican Analyst for both CNN and NPR, John L. Allen, Jr. on July 18, 2007. Father Dave focuses on John Allen’s new book about the mega-trends that are shaping the global Catholic church. First however he asks John Allen about his thoughts on the recent 660 million dollar financial settlement by the Arch-Diocese of Los Angeles headed by Cardinal Mahoney, and related issues. To hear, click: LISTEN

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Doubleday has just released a book containing Mother Teresa private letters to her confessors and superiors. Astonishingly, we discover that the ‘Saint of the Gutters of Calcutta’, could not feel or sense God’s presence in her heart for most of her ministry in Calcutta. Prior to beginning her work she had been a visionary and even shared a conversation she had with Jesus as he hung on the cross.

With unflinching determination she continued her work with the poor and dying while her heart anguished over the Lord’s distance. Her writings, never meant for publication, portray a woman that is lonely and desperate for the ‘feeling of God’ in her life, work, and heart.

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THE MONK UPSTAIRS
By Tim Farrington (2007)
Ron Charles recently reviewed this Novel in the Washington Post. In his review he comments on the authors first Novel about an ex-monk:
The Monk Downstairs earned praise from a variety of venues; the New York Times chose it as a “Notable Book of the Year.”
Now, Farrington has returned with a sequel called The Monk Upstairs, and, if anything, he concentrates on the function of prayer even more, but he still maintains the same ironic humor that welcomes readers of any religion — or no religion.

After reading his review, I was left thinking that this is a book I should read. I’ll let you know what I think, when I get a chance to read it. Please feel free to comment, if you have read it.

When people pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV news, they generally aren’t looking for a Sunday school lesson. This creates a challenge for journalists covering religious leaders, since most of their public utterances are devoted either to expounding their faith, or urging people to behave. The way reporters solve the problem is by combing through those utterances to find statements presumed to have broad, non-sectarian significance, normally because they apply to matters of politics or culture.
The result is that the real concerns of religious leaders, and the priority they assign to those concerns, often don’t come across terribly clearly — not because reporters aren’t doing their jobs, but because of how the news business works in a secular world. Recent coverage of Benedict XVI’s new book, Jesus of Nazareth, offers a good example. Read Full Review

Pearl S. Buck won the Nobel Prize in literature, the first American woman to do so. By the time of her death in 1973, Pearl would publish over seventy books: novels, collections of stories, biography and autobiography, poetry, drama, children’s literature, and translations from the Chinese. Here is a short inspirational story:

All Things Christmas: Stories and Poems: Christmas Day in the Morning

Ave Maria Press is offering free of charge a new web resource called Exploring Deus Caritas Est. This is a four-part discussion resource written to help small groups and individuals explore the major themes of Pope Benedict’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, “God is Love.”

The author of this resource, Anthony Garascia, is a pastoral minister in South Bend, Indiana, parish and long-time marriage and family counselor. He is the author of Before “I Do”, Catholic Remarriage: A Workbook for Couples, and Getting Married, Living Together: A Guide for Engaged Couples, all published by Ave Maria Press.

Exploring Deus Caritas Est is found at avemariapress.com. The first session is available for download now as a PDF. The remaining three sessions become available during the next couple of weeks. A complete schedule of release dates is available on the web site.

This may be a good self-directed retreat for individuals and small groups.
Ave Maria Press (Find in downloads at this link)

Waiting in Joyful Hope: “(Upcoming film) The Nativity Story
November 17th, 2006

I’ve been asked to help spread the word about a film that will be released this Christmas: The Nativity Story. Although I haven’t seen it myself, T.O. over in…errr…T.O. has posted a review on her blog. Sounds interesting.”