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

Liturgy
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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A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

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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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A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

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A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Monday January 3, 2005

+ Monday after Epiphany

Readings: I John 3:22-4:6 Matt 4:12-17, 23-25

Let’s begin again as if for the first time.

“It is not every spirit, my dear people, you can trust; test them to see if they come from God. There are many false prophets in the world.” [I John 4:1]

Soon the Christmas cycle will come to a close. It was briefer than usual this year with the celebration of Epiphany on Jan 2nd instead of one week hence on January 7th.

Several days ago, I made reference to John Kavanaugh article, Christmas Conscience, in the Jesuit weekly, AMERICA [Dec. 20-27] in which he suggested that we read the entire gospel of Matthew in one sitting if possible but no more than two. He asked us to “read as if you believed it.”

I did just that and assigned it as a ‘penance’ for those who participated in the annual Communal Reconciliation Service at St. Joseph on Dec. 20th.

Having spent six years in seminary, I don’t recall ever having read all 28 chapters in one setting. It took about an hour and a half. It was a fascinating read. Although Fr. Kavanaugh ‘directed’ us to submit to a “strict” and “literal” reading, I found myself searching for the deeper truth beneath the literal. Knowing that the inquisitive mind would do so, perhaps that’s what he had in mind.

It occurred to me that I was putting Matthew’s gospel to the test. On second thought, not Matthew’s gospel but Jesus himself. On third thought, I was putting myself to the test!

“Just as Christmas ultimately makes no sense without Jesus Christ, neither do Christians. True, the Church and all believing Christians before us have given us the Gospels and passed on the truth of Christ. But if Jesus is not the way, the truth and the life, if indeed he has not saved us by the mystery of his life, death and resurrection, all popes and bishops, sacraments and canon law, stately hymns and simple rituals re mere foolishness.”

Amen!