Feb
27
2010
I was invited by the organizers of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel based Destination Jesus (a high school retreat) to address the young men and women on Sunday morning of the weekend-long retreat. I think it a conspiracy. After two sleepless nights on a hard gym floor, the participants are not in the mood or condition to listen to a verbose priest opine about topics important to young Christians.
This year, I focused my remarks on two elements of particular danger to young people: narcissism and mediocrity. Acknowledging that I am not an expert, I am exceedingly concerned about these issues and how they affect our spiritual growth and ultimate destiny.
Good for a laugh: In the climax of my remarks during Destination Jesus, I was urging the young people to embrace humility and fight narcissism. I told them “you are not the center of the universe; the world does not revolve around you; you are not special.” It is not easy to be a prophet of negativity, especially when a couple of hours later, Bishop Higi came to celebrate Mass and commented at the end of the Liturgy, “I appreciate that you are here, it is a unique experience. You are special, very special, and don’t let anyone tell you different!”
That does not help a priest’s career.
This is a serious issue and it is important to note that neither Bishop Higi, nor myself, was wrong. Bishop Higi, for instance, was communicating the unique and unrepeatable properties of each human person. I was talking about narcissism, the narcissism that is increasingly becoming a more noticeable problem today. I am sad to report, narcissism seems to have a number of causes as well a number of degrees. Some varieties can be pathological, but most are “ordinary” and, in fact, characteristics of narcissism can be discovered in all of us. Hence, this is the source of my interest in narcissism.
I believe Douglas McManaman defines the problem well in his article “Narcissism and the Dynamics of Evil.” McManaman writes that “The egotist must see his reflection through the eyes of others, and so others become a means to his own affirmation, a means to his own conviction that he really exists.” If it was not so heinous and destructive, the plight of the narcissist would be most pitiable. Nevertheless, and this is extremely important, the evil of narcissism is in the fact that one person uses another as a “means to his own affirmation.”
Whenever we use another human being as a “means” to an “end” we sin gravely. For example, people may use one another for sexual pleasure: pre-maritally, homosexually, pornographically, with contraception within marriage, or in other forms of sexual abuse. At root is the use of a human being for the fulfillment of one’s own needs and pleasure. There are other, more common, examples of narcissism: I am a friend of a person because they have money and I believe I may benefit, that is narcissism; I befriend a popular or important person because I believe it will enhance my own social standing, that is narcissism; I focus on my own career and my personal advancement, while neglecting the human development of my own children, that is narcissism; I only watch what I want to watch on television, with no regard to what others in the room would like to view, that is narcissism; a friend who may be mourning or may be troubled and so comes to another friend for consolation but is stifled because he/she does not want to hear it, that is narcissism; the parents send a young man or woman off to college and the student refuses to go to class and uses the opportunity to “party”, this is indeed, narcissism.
The manner in which we raise our children today has created a world in which people lack the fundamental knowledge that they are loved and have every reason to exist in our world. Therefore, most of us are left to convince ourselves we are loveable and good and have purpose in our existence. The search for that knowledge may be obtained in a good manner or in a negative manner. McManaman continues, “If he will not achieve this through the pursuit of virtue, he will do so through the affirmation, praise, and adulation of others, or through their fear of him.”
Hopefully, you see the problem… otherwise, you may be part of the problem.
Because I believe this to be so fundamentally important to our society as well as our Church today, I have compiled a list of narcissistic behaviors that we can use, hopefully, as a self-examination to determine if narcissism (no matter the degree) might be discovered in ourselves, those we love, and those we want to help. I have gleaned most of these from The Narcissistic Epidemic (2009) by Twenge and Campbell:
Sense of Entitlement – [In the sense that “my needs” are greater than any others', that I deserve the best, and I should not be asked to do the work of a “commoner.”]
Lack of Empathy – [After all, someone who is grieving or suffering or troubled becomes a competitor for what little affirmation may be had in our world. The narcissist is about getting affirmation, not giving.]
Overconfidence/Superiority – [As an example, we experience people who may enjoy the spotlight and want to stand in the presence of an admiring crowd and “wax eloquently” while giving a speech, but when the narcissist does so, he typically lacks substance. Its all for show.]
Exploitation of Relationships – [Anyone who lives with a narcissist can tell you stories… many stories. Narcissists are very good at the game: under the presumption of friendship or love, they will take advantage of an individual and will terminate the relationship as soon as he/she has exhausted its usefulness to the narcissist.]
Self-Centeredness
Self-Indulgence
Self-Absorption
Self-Expression – [Common in young women and men who are taught to “make an appearance” by the exploitation of their body and beauty.]
Self-Admiration – [All of these “Self-” characteristics are self-explanatory]
Life Orientation toward Fun – [For the narcissist, life is all about the pleasure and fun and excitement one can gain. Work? Service? Contributions to society? Only if it elicits love and affection and public standing for the narcissist.]
Competitiveness – [A narcissist must always be brighter, more beautiful, more popular, more (fill in the blank), especially if he/she is to receive the adulation of others.]
Self-Promotion – [Fits well with the profile.]
Materialistic – [The narcissist always has to own the best and the newest in order to hold the attention of others, and typically goes into debt trying.]
Finally, there is an even more sinister side to the issue: everything described above is usually very cleverly hidden (especially by a pathological narcissist) behind a charismatic and outgoing personality. In other words, one usually does not see it coming. It is only during the aftermath that one recognizes the work of a narcissist. In addition, a narcissistic person does not like to be told he/she is narcissistic. This makes confronting a narcissist impossible and worthless: he/she is usually not interested. Further, he/she usually attempts to turn the criticism and blame to the accuser or someone else because the psyche of the narcissist is too fragile to admit failure or weakness. But again, he will not admit fault unless by doing so, it endears him to others. It is manipulation. The authors of The Narcissistic Family (1994) contend that it is not the narcissist that suffers, it is all those around him/her who suffer.
So, why should a priest expend so much energy on a psychological issue? It is because our culture, intentionally or not, is forming men and women to be narcissistic.
Twenge and Campell have observed that we raise our young people to think they are the center of the universe, that they are special (not unique and unrepeatable); that if they conclude 2 +2 = 5, they get an A+; that if they place last in a sport, they get a trophy; that as children, they have rights of an adult and can disregard the needs of others, that appearance is more important than character. This is not to mention that fact that the basic self-worth of an individual is often questionable today. An amateur can predict how this is going to end. We are not being fair to young people to raise them in this manner.
Even more, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns us specifically that the future conflict “will unveil the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception…. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh” (675).
Detractors, please be patient. This information is not to attack or judge anyone. We can all use it as an examination to ensure we have not fallen into the trap of the Fowler. The antidote to all of this is simple: grow in the virtue of humility (a rootedness or groundedness in reality (i.e., self-knowledge, acceptance of faults/weaknesses, knowledge that we are loved by God, even in our neediness and sinfulness) and always make the good of the other, genuinely and sincerely, a priority. I catch myself regularly and work hard to eliminate narcissism from my own daily routine. The love and respect afforded a priest can be intoxicating and can easily turn narcissistic. We must all be “on guard.”
Jan
24
2010
A friend of mine, who is a priest, was on a commercial jet last month and was seated next to a young man who was a member of the United States Marine Corps. Although the Marine was not Catholic, an amicable conversation began between the two. Not long into the conversation, the deeper, more pressing issues, which had been troubling the young man, began to surface. “Father, why does God allow evil and hatred to flourish in the world?” And other questions, “Why do innocent people suffer for the sins of others?” and “Will God forgive?” “Should I fear death and what about judgment?”
Fortunately, the young Marine was sitting next to the right person and the priest began to answer his questions thoroughly and patiently. Yes, there are answers. As the flight continued, the Marine thought reflectively and paid a wonderful complement, “Why don’t the Marines employ men like you to answer these questions instead of counselors and psychologists who shrug their shoulders and give us inadequate answers?”
As I was reading Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be by Father Larry Richards, I recalle
d this story. Yes, there are answers! We live in a world which has become so morally relativistic, men (and women) seldom know what to think today. Confusion reigns in our innermost thoughts and it affects our lives. Because of the state of our culture, life is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for young people. This time, for men young and old, Father Larry, thoroughly and patiently, provides answers to the questions men are asking today.
The tone of Father’s book is conversational; there is no overpowering theology or incomprehensible philosophy. Father Larry provides the advice and counsel every man needs today. And, although the book resembles a conversation one might have sitting at a ball game, a restaurant or playing a game of golf, it is also filled with challenges and the wherewithal to achieve spiritual, emotional and fundamental growth.
Father Larry, who has worked extensively with young men as a teacher in Catholic schools as well as a speaker for Catholic Men’s Conferences, knows how to talk to men: no chatter, no fluff, no pointless dribble. He is as tough as he is comical. Consider the wit: On our culture’s obsession with sports, Father Larry constructs an imaginary conversation between a braggadocios father and his son, “When I was your age, son, I was a state champion football player.” And the man’s son, providing perspective, will look at him and say, “Shut up, Dad. You are just fat and bald now – nobody cares!” Or, responding to the concerns of a student who is concerned that he comes from a dysfunctional family, Father Larry quips, “Really? Well, join the crowd. Everybody comes from a dysfunctional family.” And his advice on prayer: “Shut up and let God speak to you for an hour.” Even though he writes beautifully about the relationship between God as father and men as sons, he quotes Hebrews, “He scourges every son He acknowledges” and concludes, “Aren’t you excited?” And finally, Father writes, “If you say, ‘Oh no, Father, I am not holy.’ I would have to call you over and hit you. Of course you are holy.”
Christian Men, young especially, but older too, will benefit greatly from this book. Men respond most especially to being challenged. Men actually crave a challenge and Father Larry is not timid on that account. (He is also a man of integrity and it helps that he only challenges where he himself has been tested.) This is where he becomes real:
“You must realize that being holy is sometimes going to hurt you. It is going to take you to the cross. It is going to be painful. The more you let Christ live inside of you, the more you are going to die to yourself. That is why there is no holiness, there is no Christianity, there is no loving Jesus, unless there is the love of the cross in our lives. We have to love the cross. We have to embrace the cross and we have to desire the cross. Jesus said, ‘If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Mt 16:24).
Yes, there are answers. And you will find solid answers and timely advice in this book. It is doubtful St. John of the Cross or St. Ignatius of Loyola would have discovered never-before-revealed spiritual insights in this book, but for the rest of us, Joe, Scott, Bill, Mike, and the rest, it is a book to read.
SPREAD THE WORD:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Carmel, Indiana, will host a presentation by Father Larry Richards at 7 PM, Thursday, February 4, 2010, in the church proper. A nationally known speaker, mission preacher and retreat master, Father Richards will present a talk to Catholic men on his new book Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be. He will also be available to sign books following the presentation.
Dec
27
2009
I delivered a sermon for the Feast of the Holy Family that I anticipated might cause some commotion. I was amazed, however, at the positive response the sermon drew, especially among men. Here is the homily for your review:
I am going to begin our reflection with a metaphor. Say that an animal is traveling across the desert. The animal is hot and near exhaustion when he comes upon a watering hole. His instinct is strong and the desire to drink the water is overwhelming. Actually, his desire to drink is so overwhelming that he does not notice the other dead animals all around the tainted water hole. He drinks deeply of the water and, as a result, he, too, dies. Later, a man comes along the same path. He, too, is hot and tired, near exhaustion. He, too, is overwhelmed with a desire to drink the cool water. Yet, he hesitates and he notices the carcasses all around the water hole. He REASONS that the water must be poisoned. He decides he must not drink… and he moves on, looking for a fresh and safe water supply.
Our situation is no different. Together we are on a journey through life that has taken us through an arid culture that has become sinister and increasingly dark. All of us, everyone, is exhausted and need to be replenished. But from what will we drink? Hundreds have gone before us and have tried to quench their thirst with water that will only lead to death. Nobody wants to be told to “do this” or “not to do that”, and the result is always the same: the carcasses are piled all around us; the stench from rotten corpses is so repugnant we feel the urge to vomit… and yet, we continue to drink of this water anyway, always with the same result – extramarital sex (including premarital sex and affairs), contraception, pornography (including chat rooms), abortion, placing careers and money above other more important needs of the family, disregard for the spiritual wellbeing of the family, in a word, selfishness. Young people, too: drugs and alcohol, premarital sex, obsession with our appearance, excessive and violent electronic games, inappropriate movies and music… we drink deeply of this water and, as those who have tried this before, we surely die.
Today, when I talk about the situation of the American family, I often encounter anger. I, in no way believe that I have every answer or understand every nuance of raising a family. But I have been in the homes of countless people and have talked with hundreds of young people and yet, when I give advise or counsel, my advice [and that is all it is, it can be regarded or disregarded] often makes people angry. They do not consider my words or the Wisdom of the Church and, before long, their efforts end in disaster.
This is what has happened to us:
In the 19th century, the father was a pillar of the family. Because most fathers worked on farms with their sons, there was ample interaction. Boys became men by learning and working -side by side- with their fathers. Daughters had the benefit of knowing and learning from their fathers as well. But after the industrial revolution, the men left the farms and, as a result, were absent from the 
family for at least 8 hours (and sometimes more) per day. In addition, we saw the rise of the career; in order to advance at work, men had to give more of themselves to their career and less to their families.
Likewise, in the 1940’s with World War II and the 1960’s under the influence of the feminist movement, women also left the home. Before we jump to a conclusion here: I have no problem with certain aspects of the women’s movement; however, I do not understand why in the movement’s push to have women work in the workforce, they simultaneously made millions of mothers feel inadequate. Mothers began to question their personal worth as well as their irreplaceable importance as the other pillar of the family.
Breathe deep here: this is not a judgment for fathers or mothers, it is only an observation!
This is the truth: a woman’s genius is in her ability to nurture. I have watched this; it is beautiful and sometimes breathtaking. I love to watch a mother in her interaction with her children. It is much more than being a homemaker; there is something mysterious at work in the vocation of a mother.
A man’s genius is in his ability to mentor. A father cannot be replaced. That, too, is a central truth. Our modern culture has either allowed men to falter in their responsibility or has even gone as far as to destroy a man’s contribution to the family.
The first five years of a child’s life is the most important. The child learns about him or herself in those years. If mother and father are not present to him or her, the child is at a distinct 
disadvantage – for the rest of his or her life. Parents need to know that, following the birth of their child, every single second, whether they are at work or play or whether they are with their children or at work, for good or for ill, they are teaching their children.
Pope Benedict has been teaching this for years. Recently, he taught a profound truth when he wrote, “We can love ourselves only if we have first been loved by someone else. The life a mother gives to her child is not just physical life; she gives total life when she [teaches her child about love].” Perhaps, since we have experienced great change in our social systems, the art of nurturing and mentoring has been lost. I am afraid some of us do not know any better. Nonetheless, the need remains! Parents have an unbelievably challenging task.
The Pope also told us: “It is only when life has been accepted and is perceived as accepted that it becomes also acceptable. Man is that strange creature that needs not just physical birth but also appreciation if he is to subsist… If an individual is to accept himself, someone must say to him: “It is good that you exist” – someone must say it, not with words, but with that act of the entire being that we call love.”
This is not learned just anywhere; it must be learned in the home – and it is a lesson that takes years to teach. More than that and because of the many negative and evil influences in our world, I think children must actually be convinced of this by his/her parents.
Why do we have politicians and sports figures and movie stars and husbands and wives and even priests who are obsessed with power and sex and money? Simply –and sadly- because this validation / affirmation / permission to exist, was never given to them in the home. Nobody is at fault… it is simply an art that seems to have been lost by our current culture.
The Church teaches that the purpose of marriage is the unity of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. The primary education that parents provide for their children is this “affirmation of their existence in love”, followed by years of training in the virtues as well as character development. Consider this: if a child does not know love, his/her own validation, he/she, in turn, cannot love. And how, I must ask, will they recognize it and receive it from God? Not recognizing and receiving God’s love is condemnation for eternity.
What can we do?
- Parents must remember the most important responsibility they have to their child is not material needs or social needs, it is the eternal destiny (heaven or hell) of the child.
- We must rediscover the importance of our vocations as fathers and mothers… as well as the art of mentoring and nurturing. Much of this can be found in your instinct and common sense. I, personally, would evaluate, suspiciously, every idea about parenting and family that comes from the culture.
- Ask someone in their eighties! We lost sight of family somewhere along the way, grandparents lived in a world quite different than ours.
- Please, pray at home as a family. There is nothing more powerful than to see a father kneeling in prayer along side his wife.
- Take responsibility for the spiritual formation of children.
- Know that marriage is difficult – it cannot be neglected or taken for granted.
- Above all, we as a church (laity and ordained) need to work together for the family. Be aware: some in our world are trying to drive a wedge between us.
This is why the Church focuses on the Holy Family this weekend. It is our prayer today that we learn from the Holy Family… not as some unreachable standard that we will never see. We pray that we might learn from Mary and Joseph, we pray for their prayers – that they might bring the peace of Bethlehem to our own families.
It is never too late for any of us, so be of good cheer. We all belong to the family of Our Heavenly Father; none of us is lost.
But it is well time we begin to take the vocation of the family very very seriously. As a matter of fact, I would go as far as to say it is time to fight heroically for the family, and every single child among us.
Dec
12
2009
While I was the administrator of the Cathedral parish of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Lafayette, Indiana, a few years ago, I wanted to encourage the faithful to observe a holy Advent before moving on to the celebration of Christmas. But I did not want to chastise the faithful for “celebrating Christmas during Advent.” I concluded that a wonderful way to recapture the liturgical calendar was to emphasize the Christmas Octave. Since we published the article found below on the Cathedral website, it has been borrowed and used by folks all over the internet. So, I thought I would re-post it here. I had to go back to the Cathedral website and steal it for my new blog… hope I do not get sued for plagiarism!
THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
From the Latin word, Octava, comes the ancient practice of celebrating Christmas for eight wonderful days. We would like to invite you to allow Christmas its proper observance – by continuing the celebration for eight days. We are celebrating the Word made Flesh! Can we properly celebrate this unfathomable mystery in just one morning? By observing the Octave, we hope to “re-order” our Christmas observance, quite frankly, away from the modern American practice of celebrating Christmas during December (when the Church observes Advent) while disregarding the Christmas Season. By December 26, the candles are snuffed, the weight has been gained, and we cast a forlorn look toward spring as so many are burned-out on reindeer, elves and candy canes.
We would like to assist your family in their return to the ancient practices of this worthwhile observance and root them more firmly in the Christian tradition. Respect is due to the practices you and your family have developed at home. The traditions you have developed are not, in some way, incorrect. Yet, adopting some of these practices suggested below will unite your family to the traditions and customs observed for centuries by our Catholic ancestors.
Why celebrate for eight days? The practice actually is as ancient as the Old Testament. The Hebrew people observed many of their feasts for a period of eight days. The “Feast of Tabernacles” and the “Dedication of the Temple” are two of the more notable. Later, the Roman Emperor Constantine continued the tradition by celebrating the dedication of basilicas in the Christian World for the same period of eight days. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, which closed in 1965, the Church granted certain feasts the dignity of an octave. In addition to the more prominent liturgical observations of Easter, Pentecost, Epiphany, the feasts of Sts. Peter and St. Paul, St. Lawrence, and St. Agnes were observed. Today we celebrate two feasts with Octaves: Easter (being the more prominent) and Christmas.
Again, so why celebrate for eight days? Life in the ancient world was so hectic and filled with pressure and families had grown apart and were being swept up in the older pagan traditions, the Church granted a period of eight days in order to contemplate the mysteries experienced in the Church’s liturgy. Comparatively speaking, we obviously need the Octave even more than the Christians of the ancient world! The ancient world did not have television, shopping malls, computers, telephones, fast food, automobiles, magazines and newspapers… if the Ancients were busily distracted, what has become of us!? We need to enjoy this time! If you need, take off work, visit family, feast, attend Mass, praise God, visit the poor, celebrate charity, and most of all be humbled before the Mystery: The Word of God has become man!
December 25; the First Day of the Christmas Octave,
the Nativity of the Lord
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Father, we are filled with the new light by the coming of your Word among us. May the light of faith shine in our words and actions. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Luke 2:1-14; the Story of the Nativity
Catechesis: Recently, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged his flock to overcome the “commercial contamination” of Christmas by rediscovering the Child Jesus, the Son of God made man out of love. There is nothing like a bit of guilt for Christmas morning! Yet, everyone mumbles to him or herself that “next year, we are going to cut back.” And every year, the commercial aspect of Christmas reigns out of control. The Holy Father wants us to experience the fullness of the Church’s celebration: “The authentic spirit of Christmas is, “he said recently, ‘characterized by recollection, sobriety, a joy that is not exterior but profound.’”
Activity: To regain the true meaning of our observance, the Holy Father suggested we focus on the tradition of placing a Nativity crib in our homes as a way of teaching the Christian faith, especially to children. Pope Benedict XVI encourages us to continue the custom of placing the crib in the home, as it “can be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith and transmitting it to one’s children. The manger helps us to contemplate the mystery of God’s love who revealed himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave.” If you do not have a crib, take some time today to make one or use a Christmas greeting card. Otherwise, sometime today, gather around the crib to sing, to pray and to adore the Christ child.
December 26; the Second Day of the Christmas Octave,
St. Stephen, First Martyr
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Lord, today we celebrate the entrance of Saint Stephen into eternal glory. He died praying for those who killed him. Help us to imitate his goodness and to love our enemies. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Acts of the Apostles 6:8-10; 7:54-59; The Story of St. Stephen’s Martyrdom
Catechesis: One wonders why the Church would celebrate the feast of a martyr on the Second Day of the Octave of Christ’s nativity. Pope John Paul II supplied the answer: “The Church calls the day of martyrdom a dies natalis (day of birth). Indeed, by virtue of Christ’s death and Resurrection, the death of the martyr is a birth in Heaven. This is why it is so meaningful to celebrate the first martyr the day after Christmas: Jesus who was born in Bethlehem gave his life for us so that we too, reborn “from on high” through faith and Baptism, might be willing to give up our own lives for love of our brothers and sisters” (John Paul II, Angelus, Feast of St. Stephen, 2002).
Activity: “Boxing Day” is a popular tradition in England, Germany and Holland. A practiced developed in the middle-ages whereby priests opened the parish poor box and distributed the wealth to the poor on the feast of St. Stephen. Similarly, the laity imitated the Church’s practice and kept their own poor “boxes” throughout the year. On the day following Christmas, the box was opened, the money tallied, and distributed to the poor. Eventually, Boxing Day became a day of giving and receiving gifts.
The poor, according to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council is defined as “anyone in need.” Today, find those people: the lonely, the forgotten, the shut-in, the sick, the materially poor, the spiritually poor, and give them the gift of your presence. Do not be cynical. Do not underestimate the value of your presence, the love you bring and the care you give. We live in a world where many are poor, they await you on this day.
December 27; the Third Day of the Christmas Octave,
St. John the Apostle, Evangelist is SUPPRESSED THIS YEAR FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (BELOW)
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “God our Father, you have revealed the mysteries of your Word through John the apostle. By prayer and reflection may we come to understand the wisdom he taught. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: 1 John 1:1-4; The Word of Life
Catechesis: Today we celebrate the memory of St. John the Evangelist who wrote a Book of the Gospel, three letters and, some hold, the Book of Revelation. St. John, of whom it can be said knew Jesus more intimately than anyone (other than his mother), gave us lofty concepts of great theological consequence. St. John’s writings are the source of our knowledge of Christ’s pre-existence as the Word of God, his “mission” to bring light to the world, and the sacred truth that Jesus is God made man. The theme of St. John’s Gospel focuses on Christ’s Divinity as well as the mournful response of his own people who, “did not accept him” (John 1:11). St. John is worthily considered the “evangelist of the divinity of Christ.”
Activity: Take time today to “study the Sacred Page.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,’ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.” Then, quoting St. Jerome, the Catechism reminds us that “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (133).
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Father, help us to live as the Holy Family, united in respect and love. Bring us to the joy and peace of your eternal home. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Luke 2:22-40; Jesus Became Strong, Filled with Wisdom
Catechesis: There are two pillars of our Christian society responsible for the common good and the welfare of our people. In recent years, both of these pillars have come under demonic attack: the family and the priesthood. A society which allows unimaginable perversions of the family to occur, most especially in the name of “tolerance” and “fairness,” is doomed to destruction. Jesus, through his own earthly family, demonstrates the importance of the “traditional” family to the world. Thus, families must come to see the impact their influence has on society for the good of all – and rise up to this challenge.
Activity: Today, gather the members of your family together and consecrate your family to the protection of the
Holy Family:
“O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who came to enlighten the world with Your teaching and example, willed to pass the greater part of Your life humbly and in subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously take to Yourself our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to You this day. Defend us, guard us, and establish among us Your holy fear, true peace, and harmony in Christian love; in order that by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Your family all of us without exception may be able to attain to eternal happiness.
“Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and our Mother, by your kindly intercession make this, our humble offering, acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings. O Saint Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, help us by your prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and you for all eternity.” (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father) Consecration by: Father Francis L. Filas, SJ
December 28; the Fourth Day of the Christmas Octave,
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Father, the Holy Innocents offered you praise by the death they suffered for Christ. May our lives bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Matthew 2:13-18; The Story of the Holy Innocents
Catechesis: When one considers the slaughter of the children, one cannot but think of today’s modern scourge of abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and assisted suicide. Perhaps this may sound insensitive to our modern ears, but consider the parallels: Herod was paranoid of loosing his throne. He was quite familiar with the prophecy of Numbers 24, “I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel… Edom shall be dispossessed.” Herod was an Edomite; and he saw the same “sign” that the Magi saw. This left him with one choice: to “die to self” and choose to follow Christ, or to resist – to fight for control, to have things his way, to violate the rights of others in an attempt to keep his power. And, for the same reasons, we succumb to these temptations as Herod did. Remember the unborn and those women and men who have been deeply wounded by the curse of abortion, especially today.
Activity: Christmas is a time for children. Perhaps today we can focus upon them once again. Children are a sign of life and hope, of joy and innocence, of true and “unconditional” love. Spend time with a child or a young person this day. Read to a boy or a girl, play basketball with an adolescent, go to the movies together, or, perhaps, just listen to him or her. The day need not be extravagant. Simply making time to be with them and giving them your attention will make their day quite meaningful.
December 29; the Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave,
Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Almighty God, you granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Matthew 16:24-27; Jesus calls “Follow Me.”
Catechesis: (Mark 8:36). Pope John Paul II, before his death, cautioned us that “the confusion between good and evil” is the “most dangerous crisis which can afflict man.” It is in this ‘affliction’ that the martyrs find their vocation. “By their eloquent and attractive example, of a life completely transfigured by the splendor of the moral truth, the martyrs… light up every period of history by reawakening its moral sense” (Veritatis Splendor 92). The man we celebrate today played a role, 835 years ago, in reawakening a sense of justice in his own world. Thomas’s is an interesting story. After becoming the chancellor to Henry II, he was chosen by the king to be Archbishop of Canterbury. As the story goes, Thomas went from being “a patron of play-actors and a follower of hounds” to his exalted vocation as a “shepherd of souls.” As Henry II continually restricted the liberty of the Church, the conflict between St. Thomas Becket and the king grew. Eventually, the Archbishop of Canterbury was assassinated in his own cathedral by the “order” of the king who said, “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”. As the assassins approached St. Thomas in his Cathedral he declared, “I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and Peace.” After his murder, Thomas became instantly famous.
Activity: Today would be a good day to bring reconciliation to those with whom we are separated for the sake of unity and peace. Thomas longed for liberty and peace to reign in the Church. We must take care not to be the cause of separation and division. This undoubtedly may be difficult to do, but we can at least pray for those with whom we have become estranged. The effort we put forth in our attempts to be reconciled is far less burdensome than carrying the anger and hurt and pain of past conflicts. Today, make an attempt at reconciliation.
December 30; the Sixth Day of the Christmas Octave,
December 31; the Seventh Day of the Christmas Octave,
Sylvester I, Pope
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Lord, help and sustain your people by the prayers of Pope Sylvester. Guide us always in this present life and bring us to the joy that never ends. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Matthew 16:13-19; The Keys of the Kingdom
Catechesis: On this, the seventh day in the octave of Christmas, Holy Mother Church remembers St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor. Pope Sylvester reigned as Pontiff for 21 years, was a friend of the Emperor Constantine and endorsed the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325. Some refer to Sylvester as the “peace Pope” as he became pope shortly after the end of centuries of bloody persecution. Like many of our early saints, legends have arisen around his memory: he is said to have freed Emperor Constantine from leprosy by baptism and killed a “ferocious dragon” that was contaminating the air with his “poisonous breath.”
Activity: Have you ever stopped to think about where we would be without our Church? What if we lacked the opportunity for reconciliation, Confirmation or Holy Communion. What if we lacked the gift of our faith – the faith that has been passed down to us from the time of the Apostles? What if we lacked a Supreme Pontiff and the world was ruled by the tyranny of evil, selfishness and hatred? Today, pray fervently for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and for his collaborators, the Bishops of the world, and pray especially today for the person – parent, grandparent, priest, religious brother or sister, catechist or friend – who first taught you your faith.
January 1; The Eighth Day of the Christmas Octave,
The Mother of God
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “God our Father, may we always profit by the prayers of the Virgin Mother Mary, for you bring us life and salvation through Jesus Christ her Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Sprit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Luke 2:16-21; Mary Kept All Things in Her Heart
Catechesis: “Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church’s Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the ‘Seat of Wisdom’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 721). Today’s feast, Mary the Mother of God, was first celebrated on January 1st in the seventh century. But in 1967, Rome also inaugurated this day as a world day of prayer for peace. After all, we have celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace for the past eight days, it is proper to reserve this day for “intense prayer for peace, education towards peace and those values inextricably linked with it, such as liberty, fraternal solidarity, the dignity of the human person, respect for nature, the right to work, the sacredness of human life, and the denunciation of injustices which trouble the conscience of man and threaten peace.”
Activity: Due to our fast-paced lives and how accustomed we have become to the electronic age, praying the rosary can be bothersome, even “painful” to some. Surprising is the number of Catholics who do not even know how to pray the rosary. Today, gather to pray the family rosary that, through Our Lady, Queen of Peace, we may have peace in our hearts, our homes and our community, nation and world. For further encouragement, consider this list of benefits for praying the rosary:
1. It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. It purifies our souls, washing away sin.
3. It gives us victory over all our enemies.
4. It makes it easy for us to practice virtue.
5. It sets us on fire with love of Our Lord.
6. It enriches us with graces and merits.
7. It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men; and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God.
Nov
23
2009
Someone once called me a mischievous imp. I have no idea what they were talking about.
Nonetheless, I have an idea for your Thanksgiving dinner which is a -blame free!- way to cause great chaos and strife at the dinner table, especially when the Protestant in-laws arrive!
As children, we are often taught a vision of the first Thanksgiving Day which is very romanticized: a huddled mass of Puritan Pilgrims alone on a huge continent; exposed to harsh elements, disease, hostile Natives and fearful isolation.
[Perhaps I am dating myself, the new Thanksgiving Day taught in schools is probably more like this: White men in Europe, who hate Indians and beautiful land, came to North America to rape, destroy, exploit, brutalize, oppress, kill and plunder (which is pretty much what Native Americans did to each other, but that is never taught by school teachers).]
Even so, I hate to lose my romantic notion. Yet, the truth is always more glorious than fiction.
Because we were all raised and educated in a largely Protestant country (just a fact), we may have missed some important aspects of our country’s history!
On August 28, 1565, Don Pedro Menendez, a famous Spanish Admiral, arrived off the coast of Florida. His voyage had been commissioned by King Philip II, and after crossing the expanse of the Atlantic, dropped anchor on the Feast of St. Augustine. The admiral, his soldiers and settlers (600 people in all), founded what today is still called St. Augustine, Florida. Their first act in the New World was to give thanks to God and they did so by celebrating Mass. It is said that Mass has been said in that location every day since.
In addition, the Recollect Fathers (a reformed Franciscan order) began their settlement in present day Quebec in 1615! Ministering to the Native Americans as far south as present day New York.
So the conclusion: the colony at Plymouth Rock, which Americans will fondly remember this week [and rightfully so] was not founded until December 21, 1620. Yet, St. Augustine, Florida, was founded August 28, 1565, which means the Catholic Spaniards were in the New World 55 years before the English Puritans! In addition, the Recollect Fathers were in present day Quebec in 1615. So, again, the Catholic French were in Quebec [and hundreds of miles further north in a harsher climate] 5 years before the Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock!
Now if that does not make your turkey dry, try this: back in England, a man named George Calvert of Yorkshire converted to Catholicism in 1624. Because of his conversion, he was forced to resign as Secretary of State, but was soon named the first Lord of Baltimore. Following his death, his son, Cecil Calvert, established the colony of Maryland. The irony of history is this: Protestants in England were persecuting their own (those who later became the Puritan Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock) as well as Catholics.
As the story goes, Cecil Calvert, 200 Catholics, and a handful of Protestants set sail from England on November 22, 1633, for the promise of the New World. These Catholic pilgrims traveled not on the Mayflower, but on the Ark and the Dove and, remarkably, would not arrive in Maryland until the following March.
Because we live in a largely Protestant country, these facts were not taught in our schools.
And so it is, that in Florida, Maryland, and Quebec, Canada, the men and women who so bravely traveled to the New World, paused to do what Christians have done for centuries before them: turned to give thanks to Almighty God by celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Indeed, the word Eucharist comes from the Greek words: eucharistein and eulogein which are words that refer to the action of giving thanks to God.
Thus, the Mass commemorates God’s work of creation, redemption, and sanctification (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1328). Perhaps, for Catholics, consideration should be given to “giving thanks” on Thanksgiving Day by attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist… just as Catholics have been giving thanks to God on this continent for over 400 years!
And this week, as we Gather Together to, hopefully, give thanks to God, take care to remember our brothers and sisters serving in the Armed Forces.
Also, remember to give thanks to God for a country, although not perfect, where men and women from every faith, creed, or religion can peacefully live and work with each other and pause, as we have since Abraham Lincoln established the first Thanksgiving, to give thanks to a God so unbelievable in his love and generosity as to surpass all efforts to thank him.
Nov
15
2009
As a boy growing up in a Catholic home and attending Catholic schools, I developed a naïve outlook about the relationship between the people of Christian Churches. My parents also instilled a strong sense of patriotism in their sons and daughters. So, as a young adult, I thought that all Christian people dwelt together in unity and mutual respect and harmony. The shock came in college when I, for the first time, encountered non-Catholic Christians who were (in an attempt to be ecumenical) anti-Catholic. As a strong adherent to the Catholic Tradition, I was knocked to the ground when I discovered how hostile some (mostly fundamentalists) were toward my Church and faith. Unfortunately, that resulted in a period of time for me characterized by distrust and even dislike of all things Protestant.
But that attitude is not going to work for a man who lives in a diocese whose territory is only eight percent Catholic! We dwell in a land where we live with and among our Protestant brothers and sisters and, as a Protestant friend and I agree, we Christians must be united against the onslaught of an increasingly pagan culture.
But allow me to share a couple of stories from the past month which have served to rekindle the fire in my belly: stories of Protestants who have exhibited such faith as to inspire and encourage me.
The first came when a young man, who was actually a baptized Catholic but raised Protestant, approached me after Mass one day. He was curious about “things Catholic” and following a friendly conversation, wanted to meet to discuss theology. We met at Starbucks. After our initial greeting and pleasantries, I asked him if I could share some passages from Sacred Scripture and some conclusions by the Early Church Fathers. He eagerly agreed and listened attentively to all that I had to share. Then, quite startlingly, he threw up his hands and blurted out, “Wow, all my life I knew these passages, but I never saw these things before!” He was smiling and filled with excitement. It was great to see! (I am sure everyone in Starbucks thought we were freaks!) For my part, I marveled at this young man’s faith and his conviction of the Truth of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, he told me that “most of his friends who were fallen away Catholics left the Church because they do not know their faith.”
The other is the young lady who is my “trainer” in my local gym. I am sure she thinks I am an odd one, but between sets of exercises, we have great discussions of theology and philosophy (which I use as an excuse to catch my breath). Everything about her and her husband is centered on Christ Jesus. She does not hesitate to openly seek to keep the will of God in her life. She is filled with faith, humble, and eager to please Our Lord. When I hear people like Hillary Clinton who loves to talk about “dangerous” “right-wing” “religious extremists” in reference to Christians, I often think of my trainer. How frightening, she believes and loves Jesus Christ!
Finally, I was in the AT&T store the other day to attend to my iphone and was assisted by a “nice young man.” He saw that I was a priest (it is kind of obvious), and began an “illicit” conversation –I am sure his boss was not happy- about religion and spirituality. He even reached below the counter and handed me a book that he wanted me to read and even went as far as to clean my phone so that we would have more time to talk. Sincere, convicted, bold; he was an impressive young man.
All of this has me contemplating Catholic people. Recently, I celebrated Mass in a parish that was so dead, I was afraid my heart would stop beating as the congregation was sucking the life out of my body. Why are Catholics not enthused about their faith? Why don’t they exhibit the same excitement and joy as our Protestant brothers and sisters? Catholics are sitting on a gold mine of theology, philosophy and grace… where is the eagerness to share the faith and the promise of eternal life with everyone they meet? I know Catholics believe and are saved… but why do they not get a little excited about that gift? Maybe a full-blown persecution would help; that is when we seem to do our best!
Oct
29
2009
It’s beginning already. People are coming to me, usually in hushed voices and faces masking anxiety, to ask, “Will the world really come to an end in the year 2012?”
Another young man is concerned that the magnetic field surrounding the earth will shift about the same time… and will wreak so great a natural chaos that we will all perish in the aftermath.
Others have discovered the “Prophecy of St. Malachi” and [even though the Vatican has determined the prophecy to be a fraud] are convinced that we have only one more pope after Benedict XVI dies and the world will come to an end.
Much of this latest hysteria is based on the new film, 2012, of which I know nothing – other than the anxiety it is producing. Remember, the more we talk about this movie, the more money the producers of the movie make, which is exactly what they want. For the few that may not know, the movie is based on the calendar produced by the Mayan people (which, ironically, had their own end about the 9th century, not the 21st) and that ends in the year 2012. With 2012, we have the end of time and the end of the world.
Can you imagine an old Mayan sage leaning over to scrawl the year 2013 at the top of his page and finds he is out of paper? He grunts. He lifts himself out of his chair to open his supply closet and, “Darn, I forgot to pick up more paper.” “Oh well, maybe… What’s this? The boys are getting together for a ball game?” Distracted, he never gets back to his calendar. His wife picks up his work and sticks it in a closet and now the end of the world will occur in 2012!
Here we go again. Does anyone remember Y2K?
Here is an important question: Why worry about the year 2012? Why give it a second thought? If you are one of those who must be worried about something, allow me to provide worthy topics to fuel your anxiety:
Abortion. Whether you are opposed to abortion or not, has it ever occurred to you that the death of 30 million unborn children –again, whether you are opposed to abortion or not- will have unimaginable consequences to our society and to us as individuals?
Children. Divorce, working parents, a broken education system, drugs, Internet pornography, alcohol, sex and many other negative influences are destroying our youth. Facebook, MTV, electronic games, Hollywood, and a sinister culture now dominate their minds.
Church. The divide grows daily. Relativism, individualism, and apathy are attacking the basic unity of the Church. As Cardinal Ratzinger [Pope Benedict] once said, “[E]ven in the Church there is a drifting apart of faction and groups, which are hardly still able to recognize one another as members of the same community.” Scandal, secularism, a loss of identity, continual attacks from outside and within; Holy Mother Church is under extraordinary pressure.
Government. Without entering partisan politics, now we must worry about the fact that the American people do not trust those who govern them, nor do they have any confidence in their ability to lead. Strange things are happening in government today, and most of us wave a hand and say, “There is nothing I can do about it.”
Culture. Men and women are becoming more and more estranged from one another; families are shattered; men are measured by their ability to remember sports statistics; women, lied to for years, have lost their identity; and relativism has ascended her throne and has become quite comfortable. Walk through a shopping mall with a discerning mind, then be ready to be appalled.
In other words, why worry about the year 2012, the earth’s magnetic field, the Prophecy of St. Malachi? There are far more important issues which should consume our minds… and prayers. Then again, why worry at all? Our Savior, Jesus Christ proclaimed, “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
As a high school student mused as he considered the prospect of the ‘end of the world’, “Well, if you are worried about it, you are not living correctly.”
I suggest we take this up for discussion again, in the year 2013.
Oct
23
2009
I am pleased to have Mr. Brandon Kern work with me as my assistant. Sometimes he can be mouthy, but overall he is one of the most reliable assistants I have ever had. He is a sudent at IUPUI, majoring in Computer and Information Technology.
I asked him to explain Twitter, a new technology that the Office of Vocations has adopted:
In today’s world, where we are always on the go, we tend to miss things sometimes. We might miss what is going on with our family and friends, our work, the new, etc. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing a times. But there are times when we need to be connected; when we need to know what is happening. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, recently talked about how some of the newer forms of technology can be used for good today. They can be used to evangelize and strengthen our faith. With the creation of the new Office of Vocations website, we decided to put some of these tools to use, Twitter being one of them.
In a nutshell, Twitter is simply a social networking site that allows users to stay connected with one another. Each user can send out updates, which are called “Tweets,” and those who are following 
that user will see that update. You will see these updates on the home page of Twitter once you log in. You can even get updates sent to your cell phone! This could be compared to status updates in Facebook. The Priest Forever website will mainly be using Twitter to let you know when there is a new blog post, but there might be other updates, too, that relate to the happenings of vocations in the diocese and any other noteworthy news.
I would highly encourage you to sign up for Twitter if you do not already have an account, and make sure that you follow priestforeverIN. It will be a way for you to stay connected with vocations in this diocese and possibly even learn a thing or two from the blog postings of the vocations director! Brandon Kern
Oct
15
2009
Hard for me to hear are the many complaints lodged against nature and, specifically, autumn. I do not understand men and women who complain about the cycle of the seasons, as if personally insulted that with October comes cooler weather, rain, wind, shorter days. I would suggest that the more “divorced” we are from the natural world, the more depraved and deprived we will become as a people. We live in a time when a person can rise in the morning, leave the house via the car parked in the attached garage, arrive at work in an underground parking lot and enter the office – all without one breath of fresh air!
The sun sets at Mount Savior Monastery, New York.
Do not discount these words! The natural world is vitally important to the spirituality of most of our saints. We often think of St. Francis of Assisi when we think of nature, but forget St. Patrick, Saint Therese Lisieux, St. Augustine … actually, chances are great that your favorite saint has written about the place of nature in his/her life. Keep in mind, however, as Christians we see the natural world as created by God and a sign which points to his existence and providence, rather than something to worship in itself. Thus, our appreciation of nature is a means to an end… not an end in itself. When it becomes an end in itself, we rediscover the irrational world of our pagan ancestors.
Not too long ago, I found some thoughts by St. John Chrysostom which encapsulates the great gift the fall and winter can be to us. St. John was writing about the “night,” but his words may be applied to the changing of the seasons as well. He begins, “If you are willing to reflect on the meaning of night, you will also discover the infinite providence of the Creator” and he will show how the night re-orders our lives back to God. Read on: “Night restores the tired body and relaxes limbs which are tense through the efforts of the day. By means of rest, night helps them to regain their rhythm. And not only that, but night sets you free from sorrow and relieves your worries. It often reduces fever by making sleep a cure and by changing itself into the doctor’s assistant.”
Now, if you can move beyond the superficial narcissism of statements like, “I have to have a pretty sunny day in order to function properly” you can enter more deeply into the mystery of life. Rather than fight the changing of the seasons, enter into them! The months of October, November, December and January, is that time for us to “relax limbs, rest, and regain rhythm.” Due to hectic summers, due to our work schedule, due to the infinite tasks of our agenda, we need to restore our tired bodies, our tired lives. You may choose to be depressed and saddened by the seasons… and increase anti-depressant intake or sit under a light to fight “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” Or, you can enter into the rhythm and allow yourself to rediscover the cycle; reflect, pray, breathe, and see the work of God.
St. John continues his reflection of the night: “At night, as in a time of truce, the exhausted soul and the worn out body regain their energy and are prepared to take up their daily activity again. On the other hand, if we prolong the day into night by staying awake to work or even to do nothing, we are condemning ourselves to being useless because gradually our strength is wasted (On Providence 7, 26).” Likewise, in our refection on fall, the same could be said. If we wish to disregard the seasons and their value to our spiritual wellbeing, we do so to our own disadvantage. We are free to keep pushing ourselves to exhaustion. Or you can allow yourself the time to replenish the exhausted soul by walking in the woods, visiting an orchard, or simply watching leaves fall from trees (which in itself seems to summon the heart to refection). In short, relearn what our fathers and mothers knew, that God speaks to us in the natural world.
To close, I want to share a passage from the poem “When the Frost is on the Punkin” written by James Whitcomb Riley who grew up about 10 miles from my boyhood farm. Our mother would recite his poems to us as children:
“They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.”
Oct
7
2009
There is nothing more satisfying for me than to take a break and go with friends to a movie. If the movie is thought provoking and moving, all the better. I like to be entertained, challenged and educated while watching movies… that is why I do not see many movies today! Those who know me are aware of my disgust with Hollywood. Case in point is the new movie Antichrist. I have seen reviews of this movie hailing it as innovative and revolutionary. Take this headline from an article on film.com “Antichrist Is the Most Beautiful Piece of Muddled Art You Might Never See.” Nothing like calling garbage, garbage. No, I have not seen the movie, nor will I. I have read enough and recommend you not read about this film as the premise is something you do not want to carry with you.
It amazes me what these people get away with in the name of art… if the author, director, producer or actors of this movie lived in your neighborhood, you would not let your children near their yard. But because they call this art, they are granted money and fame and are revered. I know, I know, “We call this Freedom of Speech, Father.” Someone show me a free society that lacks responsibility and still exists.
Enough of this! Let’s consider a great film which was recommended by Seminarian Dominic Petan via my brother, Father Richard. After hearing my brother’s review, I actually felt drawn to view the movie. I ordered online and, honestly, started watching the film at about 1 AM (just to see what it was like) and was so engrossed, I finished the movie at 3 AM! Not to mention the fact that the movie is in German and provides English subtitles. The intensity of the movie and the subtitles left me with a headache, but it was worth it.
The film, Sophie Scholl, was directed by Marc Rohermund and was a 2005 Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. I am watching more and more subtitled foreign films these days – a testament to the creativity bankruptcy currently affecting Hollywood. I think the actress who plays Sophie Scholl (Julia Jentsch) contributes greatly to bringing Sophie to life, but it is her story which is so very compelling. A twenty-one year old student during the Nazi Regime in Germany, Sophie and her brother form The White Rose, an underground resistance group comprised of university students. I want you to see the movie, so I will not reveal any of the details here, but will say that she is arrested and in a trial which reminds one of Joan of Arc, she goes before her tribunal to bravely witness to the truth. She is courageous and intelligent. She defends most of the things we, too often, take for granted: conscience, human dignity, and freedom.
If I had a daughter, she would be intimately familiar with the story of Sophie Scholl – a true heroine.
But Father Denis Robinson, the Rector of St. Meinrad, found an article by Simon Caldwell (“Woman who defied Hitler was ‘inspired by Newman’”, 3 April 2009) that provided a couple of unexpected historical twists.
First, Caldwell writes “Cardinal John Henry Newman was an inspiration of Germany’s greatest heroine in defying Adolf Hitler, scholars have claimed.” Cardinal Newman, (1890) was a priest and cardinal who converted from Anglicanism in October 1845 and, according to recent rumors, may very well be on his way to canonization in the Catholic Church. You can even hear his words on the lips of Sophie during her trial in the movie, although the movie is secular and not intended to promote religion.
Then there was this: “Sophie and Hans [her brother] both asked to be received into the Catholic Church an hour before they were executed but were dissuaded by their pastor who argued that such a decision would upset their mother, a Lutheran lay preacher.” Obviously, these two details were not included in the movie, but it matters not.
I would recommend you see the movie and be inspired by Sophie was Father Robinson, Father Richard, Dominic and I were. We need this kind of “entertainment” today.
When stories can be told like Sophie Scholl, producers of such films as Antichrist ought to be ashamed of themselves.