Something happened this week, beginning with a Feast of the Assumption Mass, that was quite remarkable.
This Holy Day holds a special meaning for me, with my own mother.
Every summer, our family would go to New York to visit my mother's relatives. It was great fun, as my Grandfather (straight from Sicily) lived
in Coney Island.
On August 15th, my mother would be sure to take me to the beach, telling me that we should "take a dip" into the ocean to honor that day. It's funny-we never went to Mass, but it was a yearly ritual.
August 15th is the only Holy Day I could ever remember. It was the only one ever mentioned in our family.
This mystery was somewhat solved when I saw an Italian Princess on The Journey Home program. She said that Aug. 15th was a greatly celebrated holiday for Italians, with much festivity attached to it. That explained it.
I went to a 7pm Mass, celebrated by a Mexican priest. His homily was simple; go back to Mary-she will help you. His word hit my heart. I'm in very tough circumstances right now, and I knew I needed "extra help." I also knew she would be there for me.
Next day I said the Rosary. I flipped on the TV, and a guest on EWTN was describing how halfway through a Rosary, he had a revelation about himself that opened his eyes to God.
Within a few hours I had a revelation of what to do about a situation in my life that seemed to have no solution. How do I know it's God? Because although the facts of this matter had existed for months, I could NEVER have put it together as a plan for my life the way He did for me at that moment.
I knew that I knew that I KNEW I had to try God's plan. I'll keep you posted. There are many steps involved, but if it's God's will, He will strengthen me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
EWTN Radio
Last Wednesday afternoon I had the great pleasure of speaking to Father Mitch Pacwa on his radio program from 3-4 pm on EWTN Radio.
This program is hosted by different people-but I wanted to speak with Father Pacwa in particular for reasons I will explain.
Since I am a revert to the Church after decades of absence, I at first dismissed the things about the changes in the Mass I found disturbing.
Four years later, however, I am still troubled. This is the reason for my call to Fr. Pacwa. I needed to speak with someone who had been a Catholic for a long enough time to remember Mass BEFORE all of these changes. Vatican II was in effect for years before my straying, but everything remained the same at that time.
In 2010, however I found the folllowing things horrifying:
1. The multitude of hymns (not all Catholic) sung at Mass. Before every reading,after every reading, during communion, and worst of all AFTER the Mass is ended by the Priest. We were even admonished a few months ago that there were "THREE verses" of the final hymn-lest we were tempted to leave.
There are now CHAIRS on the Altar. WHY? The Priests get tired? No.
They're for the Prients to sit down and wait for the music to end. Tail wagging dog?
Looking in the hymnal, I noticed that many of the hymns were not Catholic in origin. You can easily note the publishers.
Why so many songs, I kept asking myself. I'm afraid that the Catholic Church got the notion that the Protestant Churches were bringing in more members because of their music. Maybe so-but not THIS music.
2. Casual dress by women servers. I'm not against Altar Girls-if they are
dressed in proper vestments, with hair tied back. When there's a CHOIR,
they wear robes, no? But for some odd reason, the women assisting at the Mass wear whatever they choose. Green leisure suits, tight sweaters,
sleeveless dresses, anything goes.
It's simply a matter of respect for being on the Altar that contains the
presence of God. They should wear some sort of vestments if they are to
be on the altar.
When I asked Fr. Pacwa about these things, I truly thought he would chuckle and tell me to pray to accept the changes. He chuckled, all right, but said "There are more than a few people who feel as you do".
I short, he agreed with me, also mentioning the Latin Mass. (Yes! I would love to see the Latin Mass restored.) He said that my homework was to go out and make my feelings known; perhaps be instrumental in changing this.
It totally floored me; I had expected the usual "party line". But I am excited about this, now, and this is my first contribution to this cause.
Thank you, Fr. Pacwa.
Does anyone agree?
This program is hosted by different people-but I wanted to speak with Father Pacwa in particular for reasons I will explain.
Since I am a revert to the Church after decades of absence, I at first dismissed the things about the changes in the Mass I found disturbing.
Four years later, however, I am still troubled. This is the reason for my call to Fr. Pacwa. I needed to speak with someone who had been a Catholic for a long enough time to remember Mass BEFORE all of these changes. Vatican II was in effect for years before my straying, but everything remained the same at that time.
In 2010, however I found the folllowing things horrifying:
1. The multitude of hymns (not all Catholic) sung at Mass. Before every reading,after every reading, during communion, and worst of all AFTER the Mass is ended by the Priest. We were even admonished a few months ago that there were "THREE verses" of the final hymn-lest we were tempted to leave.
There are now CHAIRS on the Altar. WHY? The Priests get tired? No.
They're for the Prients to sit down and wait for the music to end. Tail wagging dog?
Looking in the hymnal, I noticed that many of the hymns were not Catholic in origin. You can easily note the publishers.
Why so many songs, I kept asking myself. I'm afraid that the Catholic Church got the notion that the Protestant Churches were bringing in more members because of their music. Maybe so-but not THIS music.
2. Casual dress by women servers. I'm not against Altar Girls-if they are
dressed in proper vestments, with hair tied back. When there's a CHOIR,
they wear robes, no? But for some odd reason, the women assisting at the Mass wear whatever they choose. Green leisure suits, tight sweaters,
sleeveless dresses, anything goes.
It's simply a matter of respect for being on the Altar that contains the
presence of God. They should wear some sort of vestments if they are to
be on the altar.
When I asked Fr. Pacwa about these things, I truly thought he would chuckle and tell me to pray to accept the changes. He chuckled, all right, but said "There are more than a few people who feel as you do".
I short, he agreed with me, also mentioning the Latin Mass. (Yes! I would love to see the Latin Mass restored.) He said that my homework was to go out and make my feelings known; perhaps be instrumental in changing this.
It totally floored me; I had expected the usual "party line". But I am excited about this, now, and this is my first contribution to this cause.
Thank you, Fr. Pacwa.
Does anyone agree?
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Why This Blog?
Nobody's reading it YET, but somebody MAY, in the future. So here goes...
When I came back to the Church, a little over four years ago, I was given the grace of understanding so many things I had not understood, before. It was not due to study, or reading, not anything I could put my finger on-it was just there.
Right before I came back, I had begun going to an Assembly of God Bible Study on Wednesday nights. There was definitely a Presence there, and the people were very devoted, and sincere. Of course, i felt out of place because it was not was I was used to, but there was more to my discomfort.
Looking back, I realize that once i stepped fully into Christianity, God pulled me right back into Catholicism. IF I was going to be Christian, I HAD to be Catholic.
Why? I had dabbled with New Age, etc., during my youth, and a sort of "Generic God" concept afterwards. However, as I was led to Jesus as the Key, I had to ask the obvious questions:
"Why shouldn't I believe in the Eucharist as the Real Presence, when that's what Jesus said it was?"
"Why doubt that Peter was made the head of the Church by Christ Himself, when that's what He said?" The Church, however imperfect some of her servants, has kept this "apostolic succession" perfectly.
The AoG minister once made a passing reference to the Rosary as "vain repetitious prayers". I knew he was wrong, and that Bible passage misquoted.
I also knew to be untrue, the accusations that Catholics had taken our rituals and practicies from the pagans, for no reason other than to appease them.
I could go on and on, but all of a sudden I realized that Catholicism was founded upon 2,000 years of study, theology and truth.
Besides, if early Christians (Catholics) wanted to appease the pagans, why were so many of them martyred? It took 300 years for Christianity to be "legal", and I doubt if, by that time, there was much appeasing left to be done.
When I came back to the Church, a little over four years ago, I was given the grace of understanding so many things I had not understood, before. It was not due to study, or reading, not anything I could put my finger on-it was just there.
Right before I came back, I had begun going to an Assembly of God Bible Study on Wednesday nights. There was definitely a Presence there, and the people were very devoted, and sincere. Of course, i felt out of place because it was not was I was used to, but there was more to my discomfort.
Looking back, I realize that once i stepped fully into Christianity, God pulled me right back into Catholicism. IF I was going to be Christian, I HAD to be Catholic.
Why? I had dabbled with New Age, etc., during my youth, and a sort of "Generic God" concept afterwards. However, as I was led to Jesus as the Key, I had to ask the obvious questions:
"Why shouldn't I believe in the Eucharist as the Real Presence, when that's what Jesus said it was?"
"Why doubt that Peter was made the head of the Church by Christ Himself, when that's what He said?" The Church, however imperfect some of her servants, has kept this "apostolic succession" perfectly.
The AoG minister once made a passing reference to the Rosary as "vain repetitious prayers". I knew he was wrong, and that Bible passage misquoted.
I also knew to be untrue, the accusations that Catholics had taken our rituals and practicies from the pagans, for no reason other than to appease them.
I could go on and on, but all of a sudden I realized that Catholicism was founded upon 2,000 years of study, theology and truth.
Besides, if early Christians (Catholics) wanted to appease the pagans, why were so many of them martyred? It took 300 years for Christianity to be "legal", and I doubt if, by that time, there was much appeasing left to be done.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Jesus at Gethsemane
The more I read the Bible, the more things jump out at me. That probably sounds like a cliche, but it's true. It has taken awhile, but more than time, it's taken persistence.
Most of us have known the usual stories of the Bible since childhood.
But there are the more unusual stories we don't know about, until we start reading it for ourselves.
Since the Easter Season is upon us, I'll share what I saw in the Garden
of Gethsemane.
A few weeks ago, I found in John 17: 6-26, Jesus praying not for Himself, but for the disciples and for we who come afterwards. I'd never read this before, but it's always been there, I'm sure.
This prayer is so tender and compassionate, it brought me to tears. It shows without a doubt how much Jesus loved his disciples in spite of
the fact that he often reproved them. He pleads with the Father on their behalf, and then on our behalf, almost in desperation.
"I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours...I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world-and I am coming to you Holy Father-protect them by the power of your name..." This is a small excerpt from it.
The only things I'd heard about the Garden of Gethsemane were the apostles sleeping, His annoyance with them, and Jesus praying for the
cup to pass.
Jesus' love-the love we have been told about, is demonstrated by the words in John 17:6-26. Read it during Eastertime.
Most of us have known the usual stories of the Bible since childhood.
But there are the more unusual stories we don't know about, until we start reading it for ourselves.
Since the Easter Season is upon us, I'll share what I saw in the Garden
of Gethsemane.
A few weeks ago, I found in John 17: 6-26, Jesus praying not for Himself, but for the disciples and for we who come afterwards. I'd never read this before, but it's always been there, I'm sure.
This prayer is so tender and compassionate, it brought me to tears. It shows without a doubt how much Jesus loved his disciples in spite of
the fact that he often reproved them. He pleads with the Father on their behalf, and then on our behalf, almost in desperation.
"I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours...I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world-and I am coming to you Holy Father-protect them by the power of your name..." This is a small excerpt from it.
The only things I'd heard about the Garden of Gethsemane were the apostles sleeping, His annoyance with them, and Jesus praying for the
cup to pass.
Jesus' love-the love we have been told about, is demonstrated by the words in John 17:6-26. Read it during Eastertime.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Ballykissangel
WHAT did you say? Ballykissangel. It's a TV show. I first saw it several years ago on PBS, and hadn't seen it since, until PBS put it back on about a year ago. Originally produced about 20 years ago.
What's my point? It's a tongue-in-cheek series made in Ireland, about a village where everyone is Catholic, and the Priests are the main characters. I don't think it could have been done in the US; we are too self-conscious when it comes to religion.
Ballykissangel's wit comes from many an inside joke about the Church;
not in disrespect, but from those things that arise in the day-to-day life
of Catholics.
In this show, Priests are actual human beings with opinions, angers, and prejudices, like everyone else. The village contains devout believers, lukewarm believers, and some who have an outright dislike of the Church.
Some of the themes that cracked me up were:
-The electronic Confessional with rotating doors which did not work.
-The kid who started a Confession Website where, for a fee, you
could email your sins and be absolved online.
-The statue who started crying "real tears", bringing up a lagging
Mass attendance.
The best line was the older priest's answer to the younger one's new suggestion: "What do you think this is, a democracy?"
Okay, it all may sound silly to you, but still, catch it a few times.
It's a good laugh, and sometimes brings up some good questions.
Here in Baltimore, it's on at 3:40 on PBS CHannel 22.
What's my point? It's a tongue-in-cheek series made in Ireland, about a village where everyone is Catholic, and the Priests are the main characters. I don't think it could have been done in the US; we are too self-conscious when it comes to religion.
Ballykissangel's wit comes from many an inside joke about the Church;
not in disrespect, but from those things that arise in the day-to-day life
of Catholics.
In this show, Priests are actual human beings with opinions, angers, and prejudices, like everyone else. The village contains devout believers, lukewarm believers, and some who have an outright dislike of the Church.
Some of the themes that cracked me up were:
-The electronic Confessional with rotating doors which did not work.
-The kid who started a Confession Website where, for a fee, you
could email your sins and be absolved online.
-The statue who started crying "real tears", bringing up a lagging
Mass attendance.
The best line was the older priest's answer to the younger one's new suggestion: "What do you think this is, a democracy?"
Okay, it all may sound silly to you, but still, catch it a few times.
It's a good laugh, and sometimes brings up some good questions.
Here in Baltimore, it's on at 3:40 on PBS CHannel 22.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Just Asking...
Asking questions can definitely spell trouble. Sometimes an inquiry can
be perceived as challenging or combative, even if we just want to know.
Sound like I've been there...well, yes. But these questions are Bible questions, and occasionally I'll be posting some for your comments...
1. Did Jesus wait to see who the Holy Ghost would anoint to say "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God!", before He handed over the keys to the kingdom?
(Peter's response to Jesus' question "Who do YOU (the apostles) say
that I am?") To which Jesus said (paraphrased), "You didn't think THAT
up yourself, it was given to you by the Holy Spirit." Didn't Jesus wait on the Father to see who He would give those words to say? Didn't have
to be Peter. (Just thinking.)
2. Likewise, did it HAVE to be Judas? Someone had to be the betrayer, but did it have to be Judas Iscariot? Was he marked from birth in some way, or was he just the person to whom satan found easy entry? It is stated very clearly that, at the last supper, satan entered him, and he went out to betray Jesus. For some reason, he was easy prey. Bad attitude? Sin of greed or power?
The movie "Jesus of Nazareth" showed Judas to be disappointed and angry over Jesus' refusal to be a wordly "king". Did that make him vulnerable to such a heinous act?
(Just asking.)
be perceived as challenging or combative, even if we just want to know.
Sound like I've been there...well, yes. But these questions are Bible questions, and occasionally I'll be posting some for your comments...
1. Did Jesus wait to see who the Holy Ghost would anoint to say "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God!", before He handed over the keys to the kingdom?
(Peter's response to Jesus' question "Who do YOU (the apostles) say
that I am?") To which Jesus said (paraphrased), "You didn't think THAT
up yourself, it was given to you by the Holy Spirit." Didn't Jesus wait on the Father to see who He would give those words to say? Didn't have
to be Peter. (Just thinking.)
2. Likewise, did it HAVE to be Judas? Someone had to be the betrayer, but did it have to be Judas Iscariot? Was he marked from birth in some way, or was he just the person to whom satan found easy entry? It is stated very clearly that, at the last supper, satan entered him, and he went out to betray Jesus. For some reason, he was easy prey. Bad attitude? Sin of greed or power?
The movie "Jesus of Nazareth" showed Judas to be disappointed and angry over Jesus' refusal to be a wordly "king". Did that make him vulnerable to such a heinous act?
(Just asking.)
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