Not long ago, the Pope, while encouraging faith sharing and evangelization through the internet, also spoke of “giving the internet a soul.” Danielle Bean took up his challenge of ‘soul giving’. Maybe you won’t agree with everything she suggests, but the topic, in my opinion, is long overdue for thoughtful discussion. I welcome the post, and I think many others will also welcome and appreciate it. 10 WAY TO GIVE THE INTERNET A SOUL
Questioning one’s faith is something that many Catholics feel uncomfortable about. Yet, if our faith is to grow and develop in this digitalized age – an age of information and message bombardment, we need to know how to approach and respond to questions of faith. Here is an excellent article that might be of some help to you: ARTICLE
How do we learn about faith? The other day I asked a lady of Scottish heritage at St. Mary’s Parish (who is in her late 80’s) how she learned her prayers and catechism. What she told me was not about books, but the story of her mother, her brothers and sisters, and of a faith that was taught from the heart and lips of her mother. (The Scottish people were story tellers and passed on their customs, culture, and faith orally – the oral tradition.) I asked her if she would write down a few words, and a few days later she gave me a hand written note. I have decided to type most of it up, and to share it with you. It is a story of faith, a loving mother, of memory, and the oral tradition. Today many Catholics find it difficult to express their faith – they just don’t have the words or the vocabulary. This might help us to appreciate the ways of another era, and to learn a little from days gone by.
I learned at a very young age that prayer was top priority in my life. I came from a large family and it was at the age of 3 that we started to learn our prayers. At 3 years of age our prayer was learning to bless ourselves. I can still see my mother with my younger siblings, guiding their hands in making the Sign of the Cross. That was our first prayer, and we didn’t move on to the ‘Our Father” until we could bless ourselves without help, and we didn’t move on to the ‘Hail Mary’ until we made no mistakes in the ‘Our Father’, and so on down the line.
The task seemed to fall on mother. She would sit on a chair in the kitchen and each one of us would take our turn of kneeling in front of her. We would repeat word for word after her each prayer each night until we could say it well. These prayers were always said immediately after supper in the evening so the younger ones could get to bed and the older ones could do their homework This was a nightly ritual. Then the Rosary was recited before the rest of us went to bed.
My mother and her siblings must have learned their prayers the same way from my grandmother’s knees. I presume this to be so as whenever we went to visit our grandparents, as small children, the last thing we did before retiring for the night was kneel at Grandma’s knees and say whatever prayers we had learned up until then. I taught my own children exactly the same way and this was repeated down the line.
When it came to learning my catechism it was much the same way. My mother taught me until I was able to read well enough to be able to study it myself, but a lot of the Catechism, for me, was by rote – mechanical – a lot of it like my prayers.
Religious Literacy is as much a concern today, as it was in the life of this lady and her mother. We need to know our prayers etc., if we are to celebrate and share the faith. Some of you might be interested in watching this brief video: Thomas Groome speaks about the idea of “religious literacy.”
Sarah Reinhard describes herself as a catholic wife, mother, writer, convert, and farm girl. She has a blog called, snoringscholar.com, and is a regular columnist on CatholicMom.com. This Lent she is doing a little something different by posting a series called, a different perspective. I’m not sure what will be said by the author of this series, a woman called Brittany, but if you are trying to understand a little more about faith, and the lack of faith in others, it might be a good read. Only two posts have been made so far, and it is hard to tell where it is all going. Sarah Reinhard is definitely a staunch catholic, and so I am cautiously recommending this little series. Will it be helpful in understanding those who have little or no faith remains to be seen, but I suspect that she will be able to inspire some insights into the world of agnosticism, and lost faith.
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There are times in everyone’s life when we feel like pulling up the covers and not getting up. Moments when all hope seems to despair, and there is never going to be a sunrise again. This is normal. This is what it means to be human.
Watch this video and think of those times when you beat the odds, conquered despair, and did the seemingly impossible.
As Christians we are called to celebrate life as a precious gift, and to share the Good News and to proclaim Hope. Sometimes it’s hard, but in faith we rely on God’s grace, and never give up even though our efforts seem miniscule, or even useless. Remember, Jesus told us that the Kingdom is found in the tiniest of seeds: (Mark 4:30-33) No mater how bad things seem to be, we must never forget that God is with us.
I captured a few pictures from the EWTN Broadcast of the Youth Rally with The Pope. It was a glorious meeting filled with African Music, Welcoming Messages, Youth Testimonies, and a short speech by Pope Benedict encouraging the youth to be faithful to their Christian Identity. He challenged the youth to make life long decisions and commitments – the true test of real maturity in every age: Dare to make definite decisions – life long commitments, and don’t give in to doubt, corruption, and hedonism. You are the seed – the seed of the new City, the New Jerusalem, he said, and the only way to grow the seed is to die to love. Bring to life the Holy City, the Pope challenged, as the crowds applauded enthusiastically. Towards the end of the event a young man in a wheel chair came on to the stage with the Pope and sang a moving song to Jesus My Friend. The young man appeared to have been crippled during the recent civil war, and as he sang I’m sure many a tear of thanksgiving and hope were shed as he made God’s love strong and visible.
Think back to the good old days when most Catholics and Protestants went to church each Sunday? These are often touted as the ‘golden days’ when few doubted God’s existence, and our churches were filled with generous contributors, and everyone, or almost everyone, professed to be Christian. Now think, was the world any more loving, honest, merciful, forgiving, than it is today. Maybe, but in my humble experience, I remember little evidence. When all were Christian, most felt quite satisfied with the status quo, and felt little challenge to explore and deepen faith.
Of course, I speak in generalities, and there were some memorable and wonderful people who I remember, and still consider saints. The point I want to make is just this. Faith is a gift that must never grow stagnant, or be taken for granted. It is about being light amidst the darkness. Maybe the times we live in, and the ‘crisis of faith’ we perceive around us, is God’s way of shaking things up, and drawing us into a more committed relationship with God, one another, and the world – a deeper and more mature faith.
A few days ago, I came across a little article by a protestant pastor in New Brunswick. He writes about, “the spiritual life of the disciples in relationship with Jesus, and how this might help us understand. and put into perspective the ‘crisis in faith’ we all talk about and lament. Instead of longing for the good old days, he focuses on the present in terms of the past, and poses some questions of discernment for us:
“Do we allow people to challenge convention, become disillusioned, doubt, and even question God and the faith? Do we allow this even as Jesus did? Can we perhaps begin to see that these moments might actually be expressions of faith? Can we consider the possibility that someone abandoning their faith and leaving the church could actually be a potential development in their spirituality, a stage where they are being beckoned to abandon their child-like faith to move toward a more mature and adult faith? And can we allow people to linger in any of these movements without time limits? I think these are important questions to consider.” (David Hayward)
I think, if you take the time to read his full article, and spend some time trying to answer his questions, then you might find yourself a little more open to the faith journey of the other, and for that matter, yourself. I am not proposing that everything he says should be literally accepted and applied, as the gospel truth. But the questions and ‘movements’ he speak about should help us to broaden our perspective and approach to faith. When Jesus met the women at the well, he opened her heart to receive the living waters of faith. We too, are called to do the same. How we go about it, is the never ending question. Here is the full article by Pastor David Hayward:
I’ve been thinking of the spiritual life of the disciples in relationship with Jesus, and how this might help me understand myself as well as those in my community, as well as those who have left:
I realize this is a very rough draft, but I’m thinking along these lines because, for the most part, the church does not provide room for people going through these same movements the disciples did. Do we allow people to challenge convention, become disillusioned, doubt, and even question God and the faith? Do we allow this even as Jesus did? Can we perhaps begin to see that these moments might actually be expressions of faith? Can we consider the possibility that someone abandoning their faith and leaving the church could actually be a potential development in their spirituality, a stage where they are being beckoned to abandon their child-like faith to move toward a more mature and adult faith? And can we allow people to linger in any of these movements without time limits? I think these are important questions to consider.
Chief Fontaine insisted a number of times on the need for rebuilding the relationship between the Catholic Church in Canada with Native Peoples. He was addressing Canada’s Bishops.
“I don’t want to look at the hurts of the past,” he said. “I want to recommit ourselves and to talk about the future. So much in the past was also good and healthy, and we can build on this and learn.” At the same time, he acknowledged, “this will be a difficult journey, because too many Canadians do not believe in us, the Aboriginal Peoples.”
Full Story:
Ottawa-CCCB)… Relations between the Catholic Church and Canadian Aboriginal communities were the focus for the opening day of the annual meeting of Catholic Bishops from across Canada. Their meeting will continue until this Friday at the Nav Canada Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, with about 90 Bishops in attendance.
In his opening report on the activities over the past year, Archbishop V. James Weisgerber, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, already signaled that Aboriginal questions would be a key element of the meeting.
“One of the major aspects about the history of the evangelization of our country is our partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples,” Archbishop Weisgerber stated. “As part of the story of the Paschal Mystery, it too is a history marked by both glory and tears, deeds of generosity and betrayal, the dawning of new light and continuing shadows of darkness. Most of all, it is part of the constant reminder, in the words of Paul, that we are to be ambassadors for Christ and witnesses of reconciliation,” he said, citing Saint Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (chapter 5, verses18 and 20).
Archbishop V. James Weisgerber, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The call for reconciliation, after recent years in settling difficult issues from the former Indian Residential Schools, was also highlighted by Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who spoke to the Bishops just before noon. In a 30-minute address, Chief Fontaine insisted a number of times on the need for rebuilding the relationship between the Catholic Church in Canada with Native Peoples.
“I don’t want to look at the hurts of the past,” he said. “I want to recommit ourselves and to talk about the future. So much in the past was also good and healthy, and we can build on this and learn.” At the same time, he acknowledged, “this will be a difficult journey, because too many Canadians do not believe in us, the Aboriginal Peoples.”
At the end of the day, three Aboriginal Canadians were awarded the Benemerenti Pontifical Medal by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, in acknowledgement of the work of the Council for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion with Aboriginal Peoples. The three members of First Nations communities who were honoured were Mrs Nicole O’Bomsawin from Quebec, Mrs Shirley Leon from British Columbia, and Judge Graydon Nicholas from New Brunswick, who were among the first members to be named by the CCCB to the Aboriginal Council after it was launched 10 years ago.
Other items on the opening day of the Plenary included a review by the Bishops of Canada of the International Eucharistic Congress held in Quebec City earlier this year. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec City and head of the organizing committee, said he is convinced there will be a positive impact on all the Church in Canada because of the Eucharistic Congress. How could it be otherwise, he asked, given the unfathomable riches of the Eucharist? Cardinal Ouellet also proposed a number of ways how the experience of the Congress in Quebec City could assist Canadian dioceses and parishes to continue living the faith experience of the Congress.
A major part of the afternoon of the opening day of the Plenary was also devoted to preparations for the Synod of Bishops on The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, which will meet 5-26 October in Rome. The members of the Plenary Assembly shared their observations and suggestions with the six Canadian Bishops who will be participating in the Synod.
Canadian Bishops involved in preparations for the next Synod of Bishops on the Word of God: from left to right, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.; Cardinal Marc Ouellet; Archbishop Anthony Mancini (substitute delegate); Bishop Raymond St-Gelais; Bishop Louis Dicaire (substitute delegate); Bishop Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.; Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, O.S.B.M.; and Bishop Luc Bouchard.
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.
Religion at its best gives substance to life. Most of all, it enables us to find meaning in life. It gives purpose to the human condition. It sets the human compass toward home. It requires us to be more than we ever thought we could become. It raises our sights beyond ourselves. It sets standards for us that are above the lowest level of the self.
Religion, this great treasure-house of the faith, is the history of our family heroes. It presents us with an historic stream of witnesses from every people on earth who chose the holy, in the face of rejection and ridicule, whatever the cost to themselves. They dared courage, rather than cooperation with evil. They chose love, rather than law. They stood for justice, rather than self-interest. They sought the transcendent, rather than the immediate.
We walk in line with those, religion reminds us, who gave themselves for the great things of God. Doubters themselves perhaps, thinkers always, they clung to faith beyond the institution itself, beyond the “answers,” because there is a place, they knew, where answers end. And it is religion that taught them that.
At the same time, no doubt about it, religion is often religion’s own worst enemy. The tension between religion at its best and religion at its worst drives people from church to church, searching for authenticity. It drives them, as well, from the God of the institution to the God of the spirit within. When religion makes itself God, when religion gets between the soul and God, when religion demands what the spirit deplores—a division of peoples, diminishment of the self, and closed-mindedness—religion becomes the problem.
Then spirituality is the only valid answer to the cry of the soul for the kind of life that makes life possible.
– from Called to Question: a spiritual memoir by Joan Chittister (Sheed & Ward)
This weekend I am preaching on two very significant, if not the most significant Christians responsible for the spread of Christianity after the Ascension of Jesus. This weekend we celebrate the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.
Peter and Paul were both very different characters. Peter was a fisherman in Capernum. He was not a scholar or highly educated man, but he had natural leadership abilities, and in some ways he had what we call today ‘street smarts’. He could think on his feet, assume leadership, and he was totally sincere in his love for God. But, as we see though out the gospels, he was impetuous, stubborn, opinionated, etc.. In other word he was not perfect.
Paul was a gifted scholar schooled in the Jewish faith. And, as a Roman citizen he was schooled in Greek thought, and the Roman culture. He was zealous for the faith of his Jewish ancestors, and abhorred the Jewish Christians. In the Acts of the Apostles we are informed that he was responsible for the death of St. Stephen.
Shortly after the Ascension, he met the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and after this he became a fervent Christian intent on converting the gentiles to Christianity. He was known as a great preacher! He was also, I suspect, a thorn in the side of many Jewish Christians who believed you had to be a Jew first, and then a Christian. He strongly disagreed with many of the first Christians with Jewish roots, and thus the Council of Jerusalem was called in 66AD. Paul won!
Paul, though gifted, talented and filled with faith was not perfect either. In reading the Acts of the Apostles and his letters, one perceives a very fiery, determined, and some what impatient person. Like Peter, he had his weaknesses and imperfections, but he was absolutely (zealously) sincere in his convictions, while humbly and publicly acknowledging his weaknesses. Paul was a man who truly trusted in God’s love and mercy
I guess what inspires me the most about St. Peter, and St. Paul, is God’s ability to work through sincere, generous, and loving hearts that are not perfect. The Bible presents both men in a way that acknowledges their real humanness, even though they were saints. No syrupy lives of the saints for them devoid of all those things that we know to be imperfect and human in all of us, you and I included.
Jesus said it, himself, he came to rescue and save sinners. In his infinite compassion he healed, inspired and comforted. That is what he did, and does today. How reassuring it is to know, that if we are sincere in our faith, and allow Jesus into our hearts, God will work through our gifts, talents, and even our human weakness in bringing hope and salvation to our brothers and sisters in this modern world. This is what he did with Peter, our first Pope, and Paul, the evangelizer to the nations, and does with you and I today. All we need to do is to invite him into our life and into our hearts, and be his followers, his disciples.
Christianity is all about being loved by God, and the joy that comes from knowing and loving God. It is about hope and joy, mercy and forgiveness. God, indeed, is love!
