The Homily

What a treasure the homily can be, Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his Apostolic Exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis in 2007:

The homily

46. Given the importance of the word of God, the quality of homilies needs to be improved. The homily is "part of the liturgical action" (139), and is meant to foster a deeper understanding of the word of God, so that it can bear fruit in the lives of the faithful. Hence ordained ministers must "prepare the homily carefully, based on an adequate knowledge of Sacred Scripture" (140). Generic and abstract homilies should be avoided. In particular, I ask these ministers to preach in such a way that the homily closely relates the proclamation of the word of God to the sacramental celebration (141) and the life of the community, so that the word of God truly becomes the Church's vital nourishment and support (142). The catechetical and paraenetic aim of the homily should not be forgotten. During the course of the liturgical year it is appropriate to offer the faithful, prudently and on the basis of the three-year lectionary, "thematic" homilies treating the great themes of the Christian faith, on the basis of what has been authoritatively proposed by the Magisterium in the four "pillars" of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the recent Compendium, namely: the profession of faith, the celebration of the Christian mystery, life in Christ and Christian prayer (143).

Therefore, it is the chance to speak to the congregation about the Word of God, it's meaning and the relationship it still so very much has in modern day lives. We have not outgrown the Word of God, Christ's teachings, nor have we outgrown apostolic leadership.

For me, the homily holds something special and desparate at the same time. Years ago, I prayed for a husband who was stronger spiritually to come into my life, what God sent me was a man who has a heart of gold, a brilliant mind, and a belief system that was put to sleep years before I came into the picture. He had questions, however, and I found that I needed to have the answers. Fast-film forward and today, after years of study and asking my own questions, I am a Master Catechist teaching our children and answering the questions my knight-in-shining armour may have.

One of the questions he had lately was during a severe winter storm last weekend, which quickly turned to an icey nightmare over night. As we were watching the news tickertape slowly announcing the closings for Sunday morning services, we all particularily got a kick out of one, "The Church of the Open Door...closed". Hahahah!!! we all roared. But then my knight asked, "Will Fr. cancel Mass tomorrow?" Not a second later, our eldest daughter replied, "No, Dad, Mass is never cancelled, Priests by their vocation must celebrate Mass everyday. If no one shows up, Fr. will still be at Church saying Mass." I smiled. The next day was not the first time in the many years that we have been married, that my non-Catholic knight escorted our daughters and I to Mass on treacherous weather days. I have often wondered if he does this without question or complaint to make sure we get there safely or because he is curious to see if I am the only crazy Catholic heck-bent to get to Mass come rain, sleet, or snowstorm.

Back to the homily, with each year that I am blessed to be the wife of this scientist boy (as he deemed himself once to cheer me up)I have seen him listening more intently to the homily with our daughters...they are listening, maybe searching for an unanswered question. The homilies can be such treasure-troves of Christ's love and direction for us. They can be filled with 'nuggets' as a friend of mine calls them.

Every Sunday, every day, every time Mass is celebrated is one more chance to answer someone's question, someone's yearning for more knowledge, someone's need for consolation, vindication, or condemnation. It is the one time that the priest has an opportunity to touch someone maybe off the street who came in to get warm, he has a captive audience.

Sometimes it's the last chance, a one time missed. The homily is a treasure, it can do so much for just one person, or many. A treasure-trove of love and guidance.

Catholic Fire: Harry Knox: An Anti-Catholic Bigot who needs to resign now

Catholic Fire: Harry Knox: An Anti-Catholic Bigot who needs to resign now

Please read over Jean's discoveries and sign the petition.

Thank you!

Catholic Company Book Review: Spirit and Life

It was time to choose another book to review for The Catholic Company. Checking out the many selections, I came across Dr. Hahn’s book “Spirit & Life, Essays on Interpreting the Bible in Ordinary Time.” This prolific writer of top selling books has inspired me, gave me a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church through his conversion story in, ‘Rome Sweet Home’ removed my fear of reading Revelation in his book, “The Lamb’s Supper” and made me laugh at times watching his Salvation History videos made many years ago.

The thing about Dr. Scott Hahn, is that he is so darn smart! He has studied scripture for his entire adult life, from college as an aspiring future preacher through his conversion to the Catholic Church during his Presbyterian ministry to his present work as both professorship of Scripture and theology at Franciscan U. and founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology (www.salvationhistory.com). He knows the Bible forwards, backwards and in many interpretations, I’m sure. Dr. Hahn’s presence in my life through his works, I don’t even want to think of where I would be if a dear friend loaned me his videos, revealed to me the true beauty of the Catholic Church, her truth, love, and perfect stance in our world.

Well, onto the book review, “Spirit & Life…” is a short paperback of 156 pages, divided into 2 parts, Spirit and Life. In Spirit, (Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written” – Dei Verbum, no. 12.) Dr. Hahn, discusses the Word as a Symphony, “Beethoven’s Fifth and ninth will shake us to our souls if we let them”, but Word of God, His Church will “shake you like no symphony ever has.” Through the Word, the signs and symbols of our faith, the Eucharist the Catholic Church is a symphony of beauty and truth bring us all closer to our God and His love and care.

Dr. Hahn discusses the “Hermeneutic of Faith” (I had to look up hermeneutic: an interpretation of text or religion.) to understand where this chapter was going. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Now Benedict XVI) was quoted all over this chapter with Dei Verbum. About the resurrection, he quotes the pope, the resurrection is “God’s defense of Jesus against the official interpretation of the Old Testament as given by the competent Jewish authorities.” In the Scripture’s Liturgical Sense, Dr. Hahn shows how study of the canon and covenant has illuminated both the cultic content and context of the Bible, showing the relationship clearer of the formal and material unity of Scripture and liturgy, the later existing for liturgy and in large part is about liturgy.

The second part, Life is rich with Dr. Hahn’s discussion on the Cathedral, the etiology of the bishop/priest roles from the original father of the family domestic to the father of the church. He talks about Matthew, the Gospel of fulfillment, the signs of the times, A Biblical Approach to “Pentecostal” Phenomena, Christ in Majesty, Scary Jesus and “My Words are Spirit and Life”: Teachings from the Scriptural and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

Finally, Dr. Hahn's interpretation of the Bible in Ordinary time is a treasure of his knowledge. He has traveled to so many places, seen so many beautiful things that are Catholic, his love of the Catholic Church is abundant. Recently, my daughter and I traveled with our parish to Washington, DC for the annual January March for Life. We celebrated Mass with our bishops and thousands of fellow Catholics in the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I was simply mesmerized by the mosaic behind the Altar in the upper Church, "Christ in Majesty". Dr. Hahn's take on this amazing mosaic is beautiful.

It was a pleasure reading these essays, I am never disappointed with Dr. Hahn's work.

Sunday Snippets: Catholic Carnival

Rann, over at "This that and the other thing" has been a great linky host for Catholic bloggers to gather on Sundays. Please check her blog out and especially on Sundays to see who has linked up and sending a treasure or a nugget of their lives to share with you.

I finally made it

January 22, 2010, 11:30 am at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, my daugher and I sat in a pew among thousands of other Catholics and friends making a stand in the defense of our unborn precious fellow human beings. Singing the Processional Hymn, "All Creatures of Our God and King" the moment caught me, I couldn't continue singing, tears flooded my eyes. I found myself saying,

"I'm here, I finally made it here for you."

Tears flooded my eyes and ran down my face without warning. All I could do was stare into the face of the "Christ in Majesty" behind the altar with His mighty expression, strong muscular physique, flames of power, and glorious nature knowing full well that we have let Him down on this one. At this moment we were presenting ourselves in penance and sorrow for the millions of souls that went unrecognized and discarded as inconvenient matter.

Our Mass, the state of North Carolina, was celebrated by our 2 bishops, with my bishop serving as the Homilist. He began by telling us about the plight in Haiti with the people there calling out to us, "We need help! We need prayers!" and how America is coming to their aid, including the Catholic Church of America with second collections being donated and medical teams serving in Haiti. He then turned to our children in the womb who are calling out as well, "We need help! We need prayers!" They are defenceless and vulnerable to destruction. We need to hear their pleas and continue to fight for their rights to be born and pursue healthy happiness in our world. It was a beautiful talk and message for all the faithful to take to their homes and communities.

After Mass, we went to where the march began, the seminarians were in abundance, dressed in their black and looking so young and excited! The clergy were there in great numbers as well. The young were everywhere, even my 14-year old daughter accompanied me in determination to be counted as a supporter of life and the defenseless babies. There was peace in the faces in every direction and the signs were productive and to the point. From where my daughter and I were, we didn't see or hear any speakers and I am told that we missed some moving witnessing. All in all, however, the message is clear to me, our nation is waking up, smelling the sterile deaf determination of the administration to cleanse our nation of every thread of morality left from our founding fathers. Our nation is a Christian nation and we want to make that known. The numbers count, the witnesses count, and life at all phases count and deserve respect, protection, and love.

Yes, dear ones, I finally made it here for you. God willing my daughter and I will be here for you next year and as long as it takes to protect you and give you the love and care you so deserve.

Generosity and the separation of church and state

About a year ago, I starting another blog, "keeping my ear to the ground" which is where I wanted to just talk about politics with a Catholic worldview. It got to a point where I felt that I needed to separate my emotions concerning politics from this blog. But today, I wanted to touch on something that was quite disturbing to me and I know many others concerning this new president of the United States.

During a European trip, the president described our country as not being a Christian nation, and at another time, the citizens of our country as arrogant at times.

My heart sank at the arrogance of this man to even come close to thinking that much less speaking it on foreign grounds.

This morning at Mass, at the request of the Pope, all parishes in the United States were to have a second collection for the people of Haiti. I have been an usher for over 4 years now, so I know that the second collection isn't as large as the regular collection, but this morning.....wow. Nearly every family gave something, 20's 10's, checks, whatever they had in their purses and wallets were donated. The baskets were brimming!

Back in the pew with my family, I was able to catch my breath and realize what I had just witnessed. The people in my parish are truly generous, loving, caring, and above all moved to help all they can. We are helpless as we sit in front of the TV watching the devastation, pain, suffering, and death of these people. We are helpless in physically helping this nation pick up the pieces for the most part, but we can reach out some way. My parish did that today. We are even sending out a group of physicians and nurses to the area later this week or next.

Arrogant, not Christian? As the saying goes, when you point a judgemental finger at your neighbor, there are 4 fingers pointing back at yourself.

Catholic Carnivals on Sundays

It has been several months since the official Catholic Carnivals ceased to exist, I personally miss it. I think several of us tried to keep it going to help our dear host keep it going, but alas it was not to continue.

Anyway, happy news has come with Rann taking the helm in her own way and hosting a place to link our favorite posts from the week at her blog, please check it out, I noticed several great bloggers have posted a nugget for this week.

Blessings