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A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

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This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

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A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

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Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

We are to be consecrated in truth.

Readings: Acts 20:28-38 Psalm 88:29-30, 33-36 John 17:11b-19

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in truth. [John 17:18-19]

Read the Gospel very slowly and if possible, out loud and if necessary, three times! Although John’s literary style is quite complex, the farewell prayer of Jesus is as powerful as is Paul’s farewell message in Acts.

It is not likely that these passages are the actual words of Paul and Jesus. They are compositions that Luke and John or whoever wrote in their name and are based on the oral tradition of the sayings of Jesus and the preaching of Paul. They were written in the style of farewell addresses of prominent leaders of their times in order to win the attention of early believers to whom the message of truth was entrusted.

The ‘truth’ that is being proclaimed is not from a catechism nor is it a defined doctrine or dogma. It is the core truth about the God who spoke through the prophets and then through Jesus about the universality of God’s love.

During this time of immediate preparation for Pentecost, we are invited to think about our own responsibility to pass on the ‘truth’ of God’s goodness entrusted to us in Christ and how we are to live that truth in our daily lives, each in our own unique way. No one of us can do this alone and so we much join hands literally and figuratively within the community of believers everywhere.

To live the ‘truth’ is to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ the fruits of which are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, moderation, self-control, reverence, etc. I’m sure you memorized these ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit.’

These are the true ‘marks’ of our authenticity as believers.

Americans at their very best

Saturday September 3, 2005

A Time for Tribute

The outpouring of Americans going to the aid of their neighbors over the past few days has been nothing less than phenomenal and surely has more than compensated for the initial deficit or default in rescue and recovery operations.

But this is not the time for recriminations from any quarter.

Two years ago, while attending a concert at the Community Theatre in Morristown, the fire alarm sounded. The music stopped. No one moved. There was a pause. The alarm stopped and the music continued. False alarm? Indeed. However, this situation was far from unique. We have become preoccupied with alarm systems for any and every kind of emergency but few of us believe that the system will ever be needed.

Those ‘in the know’ were aware of the possibility that the Gulf coast was vulnerable to disaster and that the levees in New Orleans would not withstand an attack by a category 4 or 5 hurricane but few believed that it would happen. Denial is not always culpable. In fact, we all live with denial on a daily basis. We believe we are invincible or invulnerable.

This is not the time to throw stones. It is the time for tribute to all those who have joined hands and hearts in what has to be the most spectacular grass roots response to human tragedy in the history of this nation.

Watching the nightly news and the special reports of humans reaching out to humans can be very emotional. Their title or profession matters little, all are equal – National Guard, Coast Guard, members of the US military, police officers, game wardens, doctors, nurses, Fema workers, Red Cross volunteers, environmental workers, fire fighters, bus drivers, and those unnamed heroes from every corner of the country who took it upon themselves to leave the comfort of their homes to lend a hand.

Despite looters and the breakdown in communications, and despite political grandstanding and media pundits, the mission is unfolding.

I think media reporters are among the heroes of this terrible chapter in our history, many at no little risk to their own lives. They have been a blessing and have provided an invaluable service not only to world viewers but also to governmental, social and volunteer agencies of every kind. At the outset, they were the only link with the outside world. Let’s lighten up on them.

Among the most spectacular phenomena is the blending of color. What was formerly a de facto society divided by color and social status has become color blind and one culture.

It has taken this tragedy not so much to convert unbelievers to belief but to energize what is already in the hearts of the majority of Americans. Humanity at its best!

When we kneel down to pray and count our own blessings, let us not forget to pay tribute to all of the above and when they come home, let them know how much we appreciate who they are and what they have accomplished – some of them will undoubtedly pay with their lives.

It is humbling for us who ‘stand on waatch and wait.’