December 8
Today we celebrate in the Catholic Church that Mary, Our Dear Mother, and the model for Holy Mother Church, was conceived without original sin, unlike any other human being born after Adam and Eve. This was so that Mary would be a spotless tabernacle in which the baby Jesus could repose prior to his birth.
Look at it logically, with your made in the image and likeness of God hat on. Could it have been any other way?
Some very good Catholic writers have put their thoughts to digital paper to honour Mary today.
Jennifer Hartline, wife of a US Army major, mother, home school teacher to her three daughters, and a pretty talented writer has a meditation on the First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation, about Mary and the fruit of the mystery that we pray for when we pray this mystery, humility. You can read it here.
Monsignor Charles Pope, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, has an article today on the Fittingness and Faithfulness of the Immaculate Conception. In the article he describes three perspectives on Mary and her Immaculate Conception, the fittingness of it, the biblical support for it, and finally what the early Fathers of the Church taught back in reported writings.
Anne Bender, the writer of Imprisoned in My Bones blog, has an interesting perspective, speaking of perspectives. She speaks of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and some of what it means to and for her. She speaks of devotion to Mary, and about the job of every Christian, to live as Mary did totally devoted to the desires of her son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You can read her reflections here.
Stephen McElligott, from Ireland, over at Loyal to the Magisterium, leaves us with a quote from one of his favourite spiritual writers Vasulla Ryden, who claims to write only what Jesus tells here. His posting is titled Run to Your Blessed Mother.
We Catholics love our Dear Mother, though most of us do not know particularly why. She is a mother to us. She is the Mother of Our Dear Saviour. She is for us the Queen of Heaven. She is the example of what Life in Christ is about. She is also the woman of my last writer's article.
She, this day, is the subject of an article by Taylor Marshall, a former Episcopal priest, who came home to Rome 4 years ago, and brought with him a love of Our Lord and His Mother that he shares over at Canterbury Tales blog. In this particular instalment of his writings, he reminds us that in the Latin Vulgate Genesis 3:15 says: "She will crush the head of Satan." He reminds us that Mary has a role in human salvation, of course, by the grace of God. She is a willing instrument of her and our Father,and of her son, Our Lord. You can read his article Who Crushes Satan's Head in Genesis 3:15.
Personally, I have nothing further to add that would enhance the writing of these fine Catholic Christians, other than to say Amen, and Amen.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Song That Silenced the Cappuccino Machine
A Story to Warm Your Heart
Whether this is a TRUE story or just a story that is true does not really matter. It will warm your heart, and remind you maybe of times when coincidences occurred in your life, that were really God-incidences as one of my friends calls them.
H/T Bob Starks
Whether this is a TRUE story or just a story that is true does not really matter. It will warm your heart, and remind you maybe of times when coincidences occurred in your life, that were really God-incidences as one of my friends calls them.
H/T Bob Starks
It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square . Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.
For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing. It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.
After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked. "No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?"
To my delight, she accepted my invitation.. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"
"Well. ... do you know any hymns?"
Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."
"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one.
"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"
My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one." She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.
Why should I be discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.
I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me.
When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!" But the ovation continued..
I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"
"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.
"Why is that?"
"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."
"Really!" I exclaimed.
"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual.. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week."
I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"
She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.
Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.
God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that God could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting God and singing the songs, everything's gonna be okay.
The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...
AND Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now!! God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.
God bless you by passing this on to someone else, if you'd like.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
So I Was Going to Drive Over to the Corner For Some Milk
But That Would be a Challenge
As you can see, well you can't see really, our car that has the snow tires on it (Our Ontario Car) is parked on our driveway, I think. At least, I think we have a driveway. Last time I saw it on Saturday, we had a driveway.
Here in London, Ontario, we have what is called "lake effect" snow from time to time. Usually it hits about 30 miles east of us at Woodstock, and it did there too. But, we have about 3 feet of it and London is officially closed for business for the day, actually about the second day in a row. Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario were reported last night to have had a "trace" of snow.
Well, there was a driveway there a few days ago. In fact, last night it was plowed by our snow plowing friend.
But, it is beautiful looking out our back window at the park beyond our fence.
So, My Dear Wife and I are hunkered down (without milk - oh the sacrifices we must make). She is playing Christmas music, this being her favourite musical time of the year. Another sacrifice is that we loaned our Christmas movies (all 15 of them) to two of our daughters last night, who braved the elements to come and check up on us.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Advent in preparation for Christmas.
But, in three weeks, My Dear Wife and I will be on the road, if we can find it, heading to a warmer (snow free) winter in Tucson Arizona.
The scene outside our windows is gorgeous, and I really do like it, and it will be nice for us that we only get to enjoy it for one month, instead of five.
Currier and Ives have nothing on us today.
As you can see, well you can't see really, our car that has the snow tires on it (Our Ontario Car) is parked on our driveway, I think. At least, I think we have a driveway. Last time I saw it on Saturday, we had a driveway.
Here in London, Ontario, we have what is called "lake effect" snow from time to time. Usually it hits about 30 miles east of us at Woodstock, and it did there too. But, we have about 3 feet of it and London is officially closed for business for the day, actually about the second day in a row. Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario were reported last night to have had a "trace" of snow.
Well, there was a driveway there a few days ago. In fact, last night it was plowed by our snow plowing friend.
But, it is beautiful looking out our back window at the park beyond our fence.
So, My Dear Wife and I are hunkered down (without milk - oh the sacrifices we must make). She is playing Christmas music, this being her favourite musical time of the year. Another sacrifice is that we loaned our Christmas movies (all 15 of them) to two of our daughters last night, who braved the elements to come and check up on us.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Advent in preparation for Christmas.
But, in three weeks, My Dear Wife and I will be on the road, if we can find it, heading to a warmer (snow free) winter in Tucson Arizona.
The scene outside our windows is gorgeous, and I really do like it, and it will be nice for us that we only get to enjoy it for one month, instead of five.
Currier and Ives have nothing on us today.
I had a Dream - Redux
And It Seems to Be Growing Clearer
Usually when I have a dream, I don't remember a thing about it. It disappears, and all I can remember is that I was having a dream. Well, the one I reported a few days ago was different, and continues to unfold in my thoughts and prayers. As it does it draws me deeper into the mystery of Jesus, Our Lord.
As I understood it at the time, I was a newly ordained and young priest, and I was going to Mass with a priest I did not know, and with Father Michael Prieur, who I have known for a long time. In relating it, I picked up on our membership in the royal priesthood by virtue of our Baptism into Jesus Christ. In fact, I think I got the essence of the dream, but it just took a few days for the symbolism of it to sink in for me.
Looking back, I realise that though I did not know the other priest, he was somehow familiar to me. He was dressed in beautiful vestments that were a familiar and very specific blue and were trimmed with gold. They were the type of vestments that we see very seldom, where rather than flowing they were the stiffer backed ones with the rounded edges that we see occasionally, usually in videos.
As we had been approaching the altar, I noticed that I was not in vestments, and that Father Prieur was actually vested as a Deacon, not as a priest, with a deacon's stole on, hanging from left to right. It was Father Prieur that described the Eucharist as I relayed it in the earlier post, and only he and the priest were on the altar.
Just after New Years this year, now 11 months ago, I met with Father Prieur at St. Peter's Seminary, and described our meeting at the time here. I was well aware that day, that Jesus was present with us when we met. I saw Him sitting across from us, leaning in to our conversation, smiling at us both, and loving us, and enjoying being with us.
As I have pondered on this wonderful dream of the other night, I realised that I know who the priest was, and is. Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, I did not recognise that He was in our midst, that He is the center of the Mass, that it was all about Him, Our Blessed Saviour and Lord.
Normally at Mass, Father Prieur would be in priestly vestments, and would celebrate or concelebrate with any other priests present. But, if the Bridegroom is present, would someone stand in for Him? Would you need an alter Christus to celebrate the forever sacrifice of Christ on the Cross if He is there in body? No, in fact in this particular Mass, there was to be only one celebrant.
But, it was Father Prieur that spoke about what Eucharist meant, as the Mass was about to begin. He presented the mystery of Eucharist for us in that dream, as our beloved priests do every time we attend Mass. Just, this time, he did it in words, the words of a teacher, and believer, rather than is his actions.
Oh, how I wish I had stayed asleep longer to see the Mass unfold, though maybe I know what it would have been, and maybe I have seen it before.
I wrote earlier this year about a simple miracle of the Eucharist that happened to me many years ago, about seeing the priest, a close friend of mine at the time, raising the bread during the consecration, and it then dissolving into Christ on the Cross that was behind him.
I remember saying to this priest on one occasion as we shared a meal, that it must be so wonderful to be able to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Though I have loved our dear priests for a long time, I have also been envious of them being able to stand in front of us, and bring to life the most simple yet wonderful miracles of the Eucharist, not by their power, but by the grace and love of Jesus, present with them and in them, and in us. As this dream unfolded for me, the envy disappeared, but the awe did not.
The vestments of blue that Jesus was wearing in my dream were a hidden clue to me, until I pondered that over the last few days as well. In fact, it gave me an indication as to who He is. The blue of the vestments was the blue that we associate with Our Dear Mother Mary. Those who have prayed the Rosary with any devotion or who have looked at what Our Dear Mother has said in her appearances around the world, know that she always points to her son, Our Lord. She does not take honour for her own self, but reflects all honour that she has and deserves, because of her unique obedience to the call the Father gave her, back to her son.
Father Prieur was honouring Jesus in this Mass, by vesting as a deacon, and by inviting the congregation into the mystery as Mass was about to begin.
It is now clear to me that in my dream, I was a stand in for all of us. We are royal priests, and no we have not been called to Holy Orders, but we have been called to holiness, to submission to the will of God, to love Him above all, and to love one another. For Father Prieur and for all priests, the call is almost the same, except that they have been given a responsibility to make Jesus known to us, and present to us in a special way, as a reminder that He is always with us. Emmanuel, God With Us.
Those of us who have been baptised into the Catholic Vision of the faith of our fathers, and above all faith in Our Saviour and his work of redemption of us and for us, are called to share what we know with our brothers and sisters around the world. That is simply that He lives, and is with us this very day, and always. He is present in each one of us, but He is also very specifically present as He said He was and will be, in the Eucharist. It is the most difficult of Catholic teachings, and it is ultimately the one that makes many walk away.
But, for those of us who believe we must ask: "But, Master to where would we go?" If you believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, there is nowhere you can go, except running to the Catholic Church.
As I approached the table of the Lord this weekend to receive His Body and His Blood, I recalled the feeling inside of me the day that I saw the bread dissolve into the Crucifix many years ago, knowing then that I knew that I knew, and yet this day I knew it even deeper.
Dear Reader, I adjure you to listen to your heart, where He and the Father have taken up their home. In this Advent season, we prepare our hearts for Him, who came to be with us, and to show us the greatest love that one can give. And, if you can, receive the Eucharist as His Body and His Blood, not just as a symbol, but Jesus present for you and then in you. Allow the Eucharist to heal the stony heart, to soften it to His presence.
Dear Jesus, Emmanuel, drain me of those things that separate me from your abundant love for me, and for all mankind. Open my eyes, like the blind man, not to just see the world around me, but to see you in me, and in my brothers and sisters.
Remember and pray for our dear brothers who are priests, that they will remain faithful to their call to ministry, and that God will protect them from all evil that would seek to separate them from this wonderful call of service upon their lives.
Please also pray for the seminaries that form our priests, that they will be and remain faithful to their calling, and in particular for St. Peter's Seminary here in London, Ontario that will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012.
May Our Dear Saviour make His Presence known to you each and every day of your life, and may you grow more deeply into the great Mystery of His Love for you.
And then if you have time, listen to Amy Grant singing Emmanuel, God With Us.
Usually when I have a dream, I don't remember a thing about it. It disappears, and all I can remember is that I was having a dream. Well, the one I reported a few days ago was different, and continues to unfold in my thoughts and prayers. As it does it draws me deeper into the mystery of Jesus, Our Lord.
As I understood it at the time, I was a newly ordained and young priest, and I was going to Mass with a priest I did not know, and with Father Michael Prieur, who I have known for a long time. In relating it, I picked up on our membership in the royal priesthood by virtue of our Baptism into Jesus Christ. In fact, I think I got the essence of the dream, but it just took a few days for the symbolism of it to sink in for me.
Looking back, I realise that though I did not know the other priest, he was somehow familiar to me. He was dressed in beautiful vestments that were a familiar and very specific blue and were trimmed with gold. They were the type of vestments that we see very seldom, where rather than flowing they were the stiffer backed ones with the rounded edges that we see occasionally, usually in videos.
As we had been approaching the altar, I noticed that I was not in vestments, and that Father Prieur was actually vested as a Deacon, not as a priest, with a deacon's stole on, hanging from left to right. It was Father Prieur that described the Eucharist as I relayed it in the earlier post, and only he and the priest were on the altar.
Just after New Years this year, now 11 months ago, I met with Father Prieur at St. Peter's Seminary, and described our meeting at the time here. I was well aware that day, that Jesus was present with us when we met. I saw Him sitting across from us, leaning in to our conversation, smiling at us both, and loving us, and enjoying being with us.
As I have pondered on this wonderful dream of the other night, I realised that I know who the priest was, and is. Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, I did not recognise that He was in our midst, that He is the center of the Mass, that it was all about Him, Our Blessed Saviour and Lord.
Normally at Mass, Father Prieur would be in priestly vestments, and would celebrate or concelebrate with any other priests present. But, if the Bridegroom is present, would someone stand in for Him? Would you need an alter Christus to celebrate the forever sacrifice of Christ on the Cross if He is there in body? No, in fact in this particular Mass, there was to be only one celebrant.
But, it was Father Prieur that spoke about what Eucharist meant, as the Mass was about to begin. He presented the mystery of Eucharist for us in that dream, as our beloved priests do every time we attend Mass. Just, this time, he did it in words, the words of a teacher, and believer, rather than is his actions.
Oh, how I wish I had stayed asleep longer to see the Mass unfold, though maybe I know what it would have been, and maybe I have seen it before.
I wrote earlier this year about a simple miracle of the Eucharist that happened to me many years ago, about seeing the priest, a close friend of mine at the time, raising the bread during the consecration, and it then dissolving into Christ on the Cross that was behind him.
I remember saying to this priest on one occasion as we shared a meal, that it must be so wonderful to be able to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Though I have loved our dear priests for a long time, I have also been envious of them being able to stand in front of us, and bring to life the most simple yet wonderful miracles of the Eucharist, not by their power, but by the grace and love of Jesus, present with them and in them, and in us. As this dream unfolded for me, the envy disappeared, but the awe did not.
The vestments of blue that Jesus was wearing in my dream were a hidden clue to me, until I pondered that over the last few days as well. In fact, it gave me an indication as to who He is. The blue of the vestments was the blue that we associate with Our Dear Mother Mary. Those who have prayed the Rosary with any devotion or who have looked at what Our Dear Mother has said in her appearances around the world, know that she always points to her son, Our Lord. She does not take honour for her own self, but reflects all honour that she has and deserves, because of her unique obedience to the call the Father gave her, back to her son.
Father Prieur was honouring Jesus in this Mass, by vesting as a deacon, and by inviting the congregation into the mystery as Mass was about to begin.
It is now clear to me that in my dream, I was a stand in for all of us. We are royal priests, and no we have not been called to Holy Orders, but we have been called to holiness, to submission to the will of God, to love Him above all, and to love one another. For Father Prieur and for all priests, the call is almost the same, except that they have been given a responsibility to make Jesus known to us, and present to us in a special way, as a reminder that He is always with us. Emmanuel, God With Us.
Those of us who have been baptised into the Catholic Vision of the faith of our fathers, and above all faith in Our Saviour and his work of redemption of us and for us, are called to share what we know with our brothers and sisters around the world. That is simply that He lives, and is with us this very day, and always. He is present in each one of us, but He is also very specifically present as He said He was and will be, in the Eucharist. It is the most difficult of Catholic teachings, and it is ultimately the one that makes many walk away.
But, for those of us who believe we must ask: "But, Master to where would we go?" If you believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, there is nowhere you can go, except running to the Catholic Church.
As I approached the table of the Lord this weekend to receive His Body and His Blood, I recalled the feeling inside of me the day that I saw the bread dissolve into the Crucifix many years ago, knowing then that I knew that I knew, and yet this day I knew it even deeper.
Dear Reader, I adjure you to listen to your heart, where He and the Father have taken up their home. In this Advent season, we prepare our hearts for Him, who came to be with us, and to show us the greatest love that one can give. And, if you can, receive the Eucharist as His Body and His Blood, not just as a symbol, but Jesus present for you and then in you. Allow the Eucharist to heal the stony heart, to soften it to His presence.
Dear Jesus, Emmanuel, drain me of those things that separate me from your abundant love for me, and for all mankind. Open my eyes, like the blind man, not to just see the world around me, but to see you in me, and in my brothers and sisters.
Remember and pray for our dear brothers who are priests, that they will remain faithful to their call to ministry, and that God will protect them from all evil that would seek to separate them from this wonderful call of service upon their lives.
Please also pray for the seminaries that form our priests, that they will be and remain faithful to their calling, and in particular for St. Peter's Seminary here in London, Ontario that will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012.
May Our Dear Saviour make His Presence known to you each and every day of your life, and may you grow more deeply into the great Mystery of His Love for you.
And then if you have time, listen to Amy Grant singing Emmanuel, God With Us.
Monday, December 6, 2010
A Dandy One is Gone
Turn Out The Lights the Party's Over
You may remember Dandy Don Meredith, onetime quarterback of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and former boradcaster on Monday Night Football.
He passed away from a brain hemhorrage on Sunday. He is remembered for many things but this line from a Willie Nelson song was his trademark when broadcasting a blowout.
You may remember Dandy Don Meredith, onetime quarterback of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and former boradcaster on Monday Night Football.
He passed away from a brain hemhorrage on Sunday. He is remembered for many things but this line from a Willie Nelson song was his trademark when broadcasting a blowout.
The Lord's Prayer - You Gotta Hear This
Andrea Bocelli with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
God inhabits the praises of His People. Don't get all doctrinal about where this is (Mormon Tabernacle). It is a beautiful place, with an amazing orchestra, beautiful organist, fantastic choir and Andrea Bocelli, who has one of the finest voices alive.
Let God's anointing come upon you as you hear the words that His Son Jesus Christ gave us to pray.
David Foster introduces this video of a magnificent rendition of the Our Father.
H/t Norm Sutherland
God inhabits the praises of His People. Don't get all doctrinal about where this is (Mormon Tabernacle). It is a beautiful place, with an amazing orchestra, beautiful organist, fantastic choir and Andrea Bocelli, who has one of the finest voices alive.
Let God's anointing come upon you as you hear the words that His Son Jesus Christ gave us to pray.
David Foster introduces this video of a magnificent rendition of the Our Father.
H/t Norm Sutherland
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I Had a Dream
An Impossible Dream to Be Sure, But Prophetic in a Sense
Last night, I went to bed as usual, and slept as usual, except about 4 am I had a dream, a most wonderful dream, from which I awoke joyful, and excited. Eventually, I returned to a peaceful sleep, but the dream remains with me now.
For the past few weeks I have been praying a prayer with my prayer partners and on my own that Gus Lloyd received one morning from the Lord, called Drain Me of Me. You can see it over to the left on my blog page, or read about it here.
The prayer asks God to remove all those parts of me (or you if you pray it) that separate me from Him, my pride, arrogance, ignorance, all those things that are not of Him. I think the dream I had was somewhat of an answer to the prayer.
In the dream, I was a newly ordained and young priest (no grey hair, no wife), and I was to participate in my first daily mass since ordination. I was with two other priests, one I did not know, and one I know very well, and admire, Father Michael Prieur of St. Peter's Seminary. Father Prieur has been in my thoughts and prayers a lot lately, as of course are the other priests we know and pray for, but he holds a special place in my heart, since I have known him and his faithfulness for so many years.
Before Mass was to begin, one of the priests looked out to the congregation and explained the Eucharist to them with such clarity and power that that is what woke me up.
Here is what was basically said in the dream:
I will never be an ordained priest, but I do not think that was the point of the dream. All believers are members of the royal priesthood, and though that does not confer on us the ability to consecrate the Eucharist, it does confer on us the responsibility to bring the Good News of the Gospel of Salvation to our brothers and sisters here on the earth. It is our solemn duty, and one we must not shirk. So, let us all go forward and bring the Good News to one and all. Let our actions speak of our love for Jesus, and let our words then support our actions.
Last night, I went to bed as usual, and slept as usual, except about 4 am I had a dream, a most wonderful dream, from which I awoke joyful, and excited. Eventually, I returned to a peaceful sleep, but the dream remains with me now.
For the past few weeks I have been praying a prayer with my prayer partners and on my own that Gus Lloyd received one morning from the Lord, called Drain Me of Me. You can see it over to the left on my blog page, or read about it here.
The prayer asks God to remove all those parts of me (or you if you pray it) that separate me from Him, my pride, arrogance, ignorance, all those things that are not of Him. I think the dream I had was somewhat of an answer to the prayer.
In the dream, I was a newly ordained and young priest (no grey hair, no wife), and I was to participate in my first daily mass since ordination. I was with two other priests, one I did not know, and one I know very well, and admire, Father Michael Prieur of St. Peter's Seminary. Father Prieur has been in my thoughts and prayers a lot lately, as of course are the other priests we know and pray for, but he holds a special place in my heart, since I have known him and his faithfulness for so many years.
Before Mass was to begin, one of the priests looked out to the congregation and explained the Eucharist to them with such clarity and power that that is what woke me up.
Here is what was basically said in the dream:
Today, dear brothers and sisters, you will approach the table of Christ to receive the Eucharist which we celebrate this morning. This Eucharist will have been consecrated at the hands of an unworthy but willing servant of God. In mystery, this bread and wine will be transformed into the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.I do not know if I have done justice to what I heard in my dream. But, I cannot hardly wait to go to Mass and receive Communion.
So, when you approach to receive the bread and wine, do not be fooled by your senses. It will look just like bread and wine, as it did before the Consecration. Yet, we know in our hearts that it has in fact been transformed into the Body and Blood of Our Dear Lord, who shed His Blood and gave up His Body at our hands on Calvary. So, listen to your hearts, not your eyes, as you come forward.
In one of the prayers of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we pray: "Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."
What a seemingly arrogant statement to make. How can I offer Jesus up to the Father?. . . It is really quite simple. Just as our elected officials when they do something such as permit abortion, it is the same as we ourselves doing it. They are speaking for us and standing in for us, as we have elected them to do. So, too when we do not stand against any evil, we are at least unwittingly participating in that very evil. And so it was with the Crucifixion of Our Dear Lord. Our ancestors, who were guilty of sin, crucified He who was without sin, not only for their sins, but for all sins that would be committed ever in history. They, in this act of terrible aggression against the Ruler of the World, unknowingly offered His Death up to God. So, it then becomes very fitting for us to actually verbally make the same offer specifically to God the Father, joining our sins and ourselves with this terrible act, through which salvation came into the world.
So, when you approach the table of the Lord to receive Him, know that you are in fact receiving Him, and take Him tenderly into yourself. Let His love for you, the love that died for you, enter you and nourish you, as you join with all the saints of God who have known this truth throughout the ages, and have cherished it and honoured it.
I will never be an ordained priest, but I do not think that was the point of the dream. All believers are members of the royal priesthood, and though that does not confer on us the ability to consecrate the Eucharist, it does confer on us the responsibility to bring the Good News of the Gospel of Salvation to our brothers and sisters here on the earth. It is our solemn duty, and one we must not shirk. So, let us all go forward and bring the Good News to one and all. Let our actions speak of our love for Jesus, and let our words then support our actions.
Friday, December 3, 2010
December 25 is a Holiday BUT IT's CHRISTMAS PEOPLE
That's Christmas With a Capital "C"
I have a button on my jacket this time of year that says:"It's OK. Wish Me a Merry Christmas." The reason I have that button is because we celebrate Christmas this time of year, every year, and plan to do so as long as we have breath. Yes, it is a Happy Holiday. Thank you for noticing, but this holiday is about the birth of the Saviour of the World. Yes, Jesus Christ.
This celebration is not about the Jesus Christ that is peppered almost seemlessly into the speech of people who are angry over this or that, though it is His Name being taken in vain at such times. No, we celebrate the man/God who was born over 2,000 years ago, who came from heaven to be with us here on earth, and to set us free from our sins, including the one of taking His Name in vain. He died and was resurrected for you and for me, and would have come for just one of us, if there was only one here. That is sacrificial love.
So, do you think it would be okay for those of us who believe in Him to celebrate a day in memory of His Birth, and not compromise it? Do you think our failure to compromise matters? What about the scripture verse, Matthew 10:33, that says: "but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." I don't want that verse on my head, so Christmas it is for me.
We here in North America have as the bulk of our heritage, people who came to this country to have religious freedom, either as Catholic Christians or as those who look to the Reformation. So, when companies and governments do the politically correct thing, if it can be called so, and take away something important from our heritage in the interest of not offending someone's feelings, we need to stand against it.
So, if you want to do something about it, you can order buttons like mine for yourself and your friends at Wish Me A Merry Christmas.
And you can listen to and pass on this song from their web site, and the song that follows, "Christmas With a Capital "C""from the Go Fish Guys:
It's Christmas. Time to party for the Lord.
I have a button on my jacket this time of year that says:"It's OK. Wish Me a Merry Christmas." The reason I have that button is because we celebrate Christmas this time of year, every year, and plan to do so as long as we have breath. Yes, it is a Happy Holiday. Thank you for noticing, but this holiday is about the birth of the Saviour of the World. Yes, Jesus Christ.
This celebration is not about the Jesus Christ that is peppered almost seemlessly into the speech of people who are angry over this or that, though it is His Name being taken in vain at such times. No, we celebrate the man/God who was born over 2,000 years ago, who came from heaven to be with us here on earth, and to set us free from our sins, including the one of taking His Name in vain. He died and was resurrected for you and for me, and would have come for just one of us, if there was only one here. That is sacrificial love.
So, do you think it would be okay for those of us who believe in Him to celebrate a day in memory of His Birth, and not compromise it? Do you think our failure to compromise matters? What about the scripture verse, Matthew 10:33, that says: "but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." I don't want that verse on my head, so Christmas it is for me.
We here in North America have as the bulk of our heritage, people who came to this country to have religious freedom, either as Catholic Christians or as those who look to the Reformation. So, when companies and governments do the politically correct thing, if it can be called so, and take away something important from our heritage in the interest of not offending someone's feelings, we need to stand against it.
So, if you want to do something about it, you can order buttons like mine for yourself and your friends at Wish Me A Merry Christmas.
And you can listen to and pass on this song from their web site, and the song that follows, "Christmas With a Capital "C""from the Go Fish Guys:
It's Christmas. Time to party for the Lord.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Salvation
Loyal to the Magisterium
There are things that bug me to no end about Christianity. One among them is the minimalist approach of some of our fundamentalist brethren. Foremost among the topics for minimalism in my opinion is Salvation. I have attempted to debate it fruitlesly with one Christian brother over at Father Tim Moyle's blog, Where the Rubber Hits the Road, though not lately.
For Christians, the operative phrase on doctrine is "Don't confuse me with facts. My mind's made up." Yet, there are hundreds and hundreds of different sets of doctrinal beliefs that have separated Christians from each other over the centuries, as each group splits off from their last group because of the interpretation of scripture, which remains proof positive that Sola Scriptura is a farce, well meaning, but a farce.
You would think that if Jesus compared us to sheep that we would follow where we are led. Well, in fact we do follow where we are led. It just happens that we are led often by wolves in sheep's clothing, claiming to speak for the Master, but without His authority.
So, I plan to remain Loyal to the Magisterium, as Stephen McElligott who writes under the blog title "Loyal to the Magisterium" does. I appreciate Stephen's heart for the truth, and his ability to cut to the chase. Here is his incisive cut at a small part of Catholicism and Salvation, under the article name "Christianity not about good works?" where we stumble with our Christian brothers to discern the ONE TRUTH.
We will tell the truth, as we discern the truth from the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, through scripture and tradition combined,and faithful witness of those who have gone before.
Maybe by our efforts, you will have the opportunity to know the Truth, for the Truth will set you free.
There are things that bug me to no end about Christianity. One among them is the minimalist approach of some of our fundamentalist brethren. Foremost among the topics for minimalism in my opinion is Salvation. I have attempted to debate it fruitlesly with one Christian brother over at Father Tim Moyle's blog, Where the Rubber Hits the Road, though not lately.
For Christians, the operative phrase on doctrine is "Don't confuse me with facts. My mind's made up." Yet, there are hundreds and hundreds of different sets of doctrinal beliefs that have separated Christians from each other over the centuries, as each group splits off from their last group because of the interpretation of scripture, which remains proof positive that Sola Scriptura is a farce, well meaning, but a farce.
You would think that if Jesus compared us to sheep that we would follow where we are led. Well, in fact we do follow where we are led. It just happens that we are led often by wolves in sheep's clothing, claiming to speak for the Master, but without His authority.
So, I plan to remain Loyal to the Magisterium, as Stephen McElligott who writes under the blog title "Loyal to the Magisterium" does. I appreciate Stephen's heart for the truth, and his ability to cut to the chase. Here is his incisive cut at a small part of Catholicism and Salvation, under the article name "Christianity not about good works?" where we stumble with our Christian brothers to discern the ONE TRUTH.
Over the years I have endlessly debated my protestant brethren upon their doctrine of ”once saved always saved”.They are rising up in Christianity, and particularly in Catholic Christianity a number of men and women who are seeking to present the Catholic truth that we understand, that has been passed down to us for 2,000 years. We have come late to the party, because we were not as well catechised as our other Christian brothers and sisters, but we are here now, and we do not plan to go away any time soon.
Of the many quotes in scriptures that protestants use to prove such a doctrine, none can be more infamous than that of:
Ephesians:2:8-9: ” For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; Not of works, that no man may glory.”But St.James on the contrary says:
”Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?” ( James:2:24 )Why is it that Saint Paul tells us on one hand that we are not saved by works and St.James on the other informs the faithful that they are indeed saved by works and not just faith only? It seems like an apparent contradiction but we know truth can not contradict truth. Both James and Paul are speaking of two different types of works. St.Paul is talking about the works of the mosaic law which is no longer binding upon Christians and James is talking about good works done in a system of grace.
St.Paul reminding us of the Gospel passage Matthew:16:27 teaches that God ”will render to every man according to his works.”
Why would Paul in his letters to the Ephesians tell us ”not of works” and in his letters to the romans exhort the faithful that God ”will render to every man according to his works.”? Truth can not contradict truth. Paul is showing a difference between two completely different works as demonstrated in the previous paragraphs.
Nowhere in scripture does the Bible ever tell us we are saved by ”faith only.” Furthermore, nowhere in scripture can one find the words ”faith only” except in James:2:24 were we are instructed: ”by works a man is justified; and not by faith only”
We will tell the truth, as we discern the truth from the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, through scripture and tradition combined,and faithful witness of those who have gone before.
Maybe by our efforts, you will have the opportunity to know the Truth, for the Truth will set you free.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)