Hear Ye, Deacons of the World! The Task of Evangelization

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father’s address on February 18 to the Filipino bishops making their ad limina visit contained the following comment:

When self-sufficiency and freedom are severed from their dependence upon and completion in God, the human person creates for himself a false destiny and loses sight of the eternal joy for which he has been made. The path to rediscovering humanity’s true destiny can only be found in the re-establishment of the priority of God in the heart and mind of every person. Above all, to keep God at the center of the life of the faithful, the preaching of you and your clergy must be personal in its focus so that each Catholic will grasp in his or her innermost depths the life-transforming fact that God exists, that he loves us, and that in Christ he answers the deepest questions of our lives. Your great task in evangelization is therefore to propose a personal relationship with Christ as key to complete fulfillment.”

Wow! Listen up deacons! Our preaching must be personal, affirming the existence of God and his love for us, and Jesus as the answer to our deepest questions.

The task of evangelization is to propose a personal relationship with Christ, the key to all fulfillment.

Deacons, let us take our preaching seriously, and proclaim boldly as our Holy Father mandates us to do, as each of our bishops on the day of our ordination sent us forth to do: Be Heralds of the Gospel of Christ!

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Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I would like to draw your attention to an article in Catholic News Agency about Msgr. Richard Antall, a priest of the diocese of Cleveland who has spent 20 of the last 25 years as a missionary in El Salvador.

Fr. Antall was in seminary around the same time I was, and is from the same diocese as Frs. Robert Kropac and Steve Valenga, both of whom were classmates of mine in Rome in the late 1970s.

Fr. Antall has written several books: The Way of Compassion (1997), Witnesses to Calvary (2000), and Jesus Has a Question for You (2002). He has also written many articles in the Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor.

He was recently awarded the Noble Friend of El Salvador award by the Salvadoran legislature.

Read more at the link above.

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A Diocese Responds

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Matthew Gambino, of Catholic New Service has reported that a new grand jury report has brought criminal indictments against several former archdiocese of Philadelphia priests. The charges include rape, assault and other felonies related to minors.

Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia announce three initiatives subsequent to the grand jury report. These include an immediate re-examination of cases of 37 priests said by the grand jury to have credible allegations of child sexual abuse. A former victim advocate has been hired to advise Cardinal Rigali how to address the needs of victims more effectively. A new position has been created called the “delegate for investigations” who will forward every allegation of abuse as soon as it is received to the proper civil authorities. There is also now someone hired as a clergy support associate to help ensure priests in active ministry comply with the “Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries,” a code of conduct for clergy developed in 2003.

Cardinal Rigali has said, “The release of the Philadelphia grand jury report…. brings great sadness and distress to every Catholic, to every person…. Once again, the issue of the sexual abuse of minors is raised, as well as the role of the church and her leaders in addressing this abuse. As Catholics, we are hurt and confused, and perhaps even quite angry and feeling betrayed.”–Catholic News Service.

Read the whole article at: Catholic News Service.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Reading something ninety-nine times is not the same as reading it a hundred times.” — Jewish proverb

(Good for us to remember when meditating upon a well-known Scripture passage!)

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Catholics Come Home! We Welcome You!

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Deacon Bob

To all who are thinking of the Catholic Church but have questions, listen and see.

To all who have left the Church, coming home has never been easier. We are family. We welcome you.

Please listen to the talk given by Jeff Cavins regarding his conversion to Catholicism. It is well worth the time you will spend. Click on this link: Catholics Come Home – Lighthouse Media. Scroll down to the Free Inspirational Talks section and click on “I’m Not Being Fed.” Enjoy!

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Blessed Marianne of Molokai

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

We have all heard of St. Damien of Molokai, the priest that ministered to the lepers of that Hawaiian island in the late 19th Century who died of the dreaded disease. Did you know, though, that Molokai is proud of another person to be beatified in May? Her name is Marianne of Molokai.

Marianne of Molokai is Hawaii’s second candidate for sainthood. She was a Franciscan sister who ministered also to the sick of that island. Her name was originally Barbara Koob and was born on January 23, 1838 in what is now SE Hessen, Germany. She became a sister of St. Francis in Syracuse, New York on November 19, 1862 and was a nurse administrator at St. Joseph Hospital in 1879 in Syracuse. She arrived in Hawaii on November 8, 1883 and set up the Malulani Hospital on the island of Maui. She met Fr. Damien in January 1884.

To read more of her, log on to: Hawaii Catholic Herald and read about a recent Mass commemorating her. You can also log on to another article at: Hawaii Catholic Herald for additional information about her life.

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The Wisdom of God

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

In today’s Office of Readings, St. Anthanasius offers a beautiful reflection on the Wisdom of God.

I just love St. Anthansius, and his theology! Always so rich in imagery and deep in his understanding of Christ.

Here is a snippet of his treatise, Discourse Against the Arians. My translation of the Italian text used.

“The Wisdom of God is creator and author of all things. Therefore it is said, ‘You have made all things in your wisdom’ and ‘The earth has been filled with your creation’ (cf. Wisdom 103,24) Now since all of creation does not exist by itself, but in an orderly manner, it pleased God to be commensurate with all things created by his Wisdom,  to imprint in all things and in each thing in particular a certain mark and semblance of his image so that it would be well known that creation has been adorned with Wisdom, and that our work may be worthy of God.

“Just as our word is an image of the Word, who is the Son of God, so too in us wisdom is made in the image of the same Word who  is Wisdom itself. …. God  no longer wishes to be known by means of images and shadows of wisdom, as in the days past. He wanted that this same true Wisdom assume flesh, become human and undergo death on the cross so that through faith, that is rooted in him, all believers would be able to be saved.

“The Wisdom of God manifested himself and the Father through his own image, impressed on all creation. Because of this, one could say he is created. To go on, the same Wisdom, who is the Word, is made man, as St. John affirms. Death destroyed and humanity freed, he manifested himself most clearly and, by means of him, the Father….

“Thus the whole earth is refilled with knowledge of him. Knowledge of th Father is solely through the Son and knowledge of the Son is solely through the Father.”

St. Anthanasius was arguing with the Arians many many centuries ago. Arius was a priest who began to teach that Jesus was not equal to the Father, but was created.  There were many facets to his heresy that the early Fathers of the Church dealt with.  St. Anthanasius was one of the principle voices against Arian bishops and priest, especially in the East.

I think it is beautiful to reflect on how God leaves his imprint on all of creation, that all of creation is good, and that the wisdom of humanity in some way reflects the Wisdom of God, who is the Word of God, Jesus Christ. This explains to us also why human reason and divine faith are not in opposition or in contradiction, but rather faith informs reason and is supported by true human wisdom.

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Quote for Deacons

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“We deacons are called to avoid the spotlight in what we do and to be servants of Jesus, knowing that it is he who provides us the strength and wisdom to live diaconal lives.” — Deacon Bob

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Diaconal Quote for the Day

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“[A deacon] does not simply receive a sacrament when he is ordained. He becomes a sacrament. His very person is meant to proclaim, wherever he is, that the risen Jesus who is alive and present in the Eucharist, is the same Jesus we encounter when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned…” – Bishop Larry Silva

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Odometer Reading

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Came back from Minneapolis last night and twenty miles out of the city I had to stop and change two tires. I blame the pot holes in the city streets for the problem!

Talking about cars, I took a look at the site meter for Catholic Faith and Reflections and saw we have passed the 280,000 mark. Thanks again everyone for stopping by! Leave a comment when you do. Let me know what you are interested in reading about and I’ll see if I can oblige.

Blessings on all of you.

Deacon Bob

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Stay with me Lord, because I am weak and I need your strength, that I may not fall so often.” — St. Pio of Pietrelcina, OFM Cap.

Posted in Prayer and Meditation, Saints and Prophets | 1 Comment

iPhone Confessions?

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The news outlets have been abuzz with reports about a new application for the iPhone titled Confession: A Roman Catholic App developed by a South Bend, Indiana publisher, Little iApps, LLC.

I have not seen this application, nor have I talked to anyone who has seen it or used it. One thing I know for sure, it cannot be a substitute for celebration of the Sacrament of Penance in the physical presence of a priest with faculties to absolve.

Patrick Leinen, a developer and cofounder of Little iApps, is reported by the Catholic News Agency (see link below) to have said that the application is to give cradle Catholics a guide to confession and a personalized examination of conscience based upon the user’s age, vocation and sex. It is reported that Little iApps were appropriately concerned that this application were in “communion with the Church” and “in support of our lifestyles” as Catholics. Two priests, Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, the executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, and Fr. Dan Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. The application is reported to have been submitted to the local ordinary, Bishop Kevin, C. Rhodes of Fort Wayne-South Bend for an imprimatur and the nihil obstat. I am uncertain whether they have been granted.

As far as I am concerned, if this application leads more people back to the confessional, then it is a wonderful thing, and a good use of technology in service of the Gospel.

Here are the sources of the information cited above:

Catholic News Agency.

Also: Catholic News Service.

Posted in Church News, Sacraments | 4 Comments

John Paul II Website from the Vatican

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Check this out. A website recently launched, I believe, from the Vatican on the upcoming beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II.

It is in several languages, and has some interesting information, even several webcams from Vatican City.

It is very well done. Enjoy!

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Hot Off the Press?

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I heard on Catholic talk radio this morning as I was driving into work that the Pope is excited about a new catechism that is to be released in March that is geared toward adolescents and young adults. The new catechism will be published by Ignatius Press, it was reported, and entitled YouCat.

Apparently, this catechism will cover everything covered in the Catechism of the Catholic Church but in a question and answer form and in language more easily accessed by the younger generation. The report said that the Pope has said that the young today need to be better catechized than the generation before them, and need to know their faith as well as a computer expert knows his or her program or a musician knows the music.

I will try to find out more about this. Took me by surprise.

UPDATE: It has been already released by Ignatius and is out of stock. This is the official catechism of World Youth Day. It is 300 pages long and costs less than $20.

Posted in Catechism of the Catholic Church, Church News | 2 Comments

Humor for the Day

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” — Anonymous

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