April 28, 2010
Questions we deal with on booking a marriage?
Cohabitation???
Did you know that until 1970 cohabitation was illegal in the U.S.?
Today, stats from the Census Bureau tell us that 5 million unmarried men and women are living together. This is a 1000% increase in fifty years!!!
More than 50% of newly married couples have lived together prior to the marriage and 14% had lived with a previous partner.
The Church teaches that cohabitation is morally wrong and that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage, marriage is the total giving of each spouse's physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual being without reservation.
...and what about trial marraiges? There can be no "trial" or temporary marriage or marriagelike arrangements.
Couples who live together before marriage run a higher risk of divorce - as much as 85% - so say some studies.
In cohab arrangements there is a higher incidence of domestic violence and abuse, depression and money conflicts.
Just 4% of cohabitating couples remain together for 10 years.
It is no surprise that when a cohabitating couple approaches the Church for the Sacrament that they are urged to live apart and abstain from sexual intimacy.
Living chastely helps couples understand the sacrifices involved in marriage, improves communication skills and opens them to the different dimensions of life and of being married.
Pax et Bonum
...and we received a months rent from a generous benefactor toward the Thrift Shoppe idea. We also have a group of Realtors hoping to help sponsor us for the first six months. Keep praying because "nothing is impossible with God".
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
I am still intent on opening a Thrift Shop to serve the neighborhood. I need a benefactor or benefactors to help us with the monthly rent. The owner wants $800. a month. A liitle much and to the moment I have been unable to get the person to compromise a bit. The owner is very open to our idea.
We have another nibble for help, but unsure.
Maybe someone would pilot us for six months to see how we do. It would also buy us some time.
Pax et bonum.
I am still intent on opening a Thrift Shop to serve the neighborhood. I need a benefactor or benefactors to help us with the monthly rent. The owner wants $800. a month. A liitle much and to the moment I have been unable to get the person to compromise a bit. The owner is very open to our idea.
We have another nibble for help, but unsure.
Maybe someone would pilot us for six months to see how we do. It would also buy us some time.
Pax et bonum.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Third SUNDAY of Easter - April 18, 2010
I put the word "Sunday" in caps for a reason. It will become evident as you read on.
I struggle somewhat with the Saturday "vigil" Mass. I have moved from being an advocate for this practice (many years ago) to nearly becoming a staunch critic of this time for a Sunday Mass. I become even more agitated as the hour gets advanced. It has moved from 5:00 P.M. in some places to 4:00 and, I am told (and I hope the info is wrong) to even 3:00 P.M. I ask, why not have it at noon? Why not skip the Sunday celebration altogether?
My struggle continues. I was a rather young priest at the time and lunching at the Cathedral where I was stationed with Cardinal John Krol. The Cardinal was questioned about why Philadelphia was almost the last stronghold. Why no Saturday afternoon Mass? His answer has always remained with me. Very politely and very carefully, the aging Churchman said: " My fear is that the Saturday vigil Mass will become "the" weekend Mass in a parish. That it will lead to a lessening of emphasis on Sunday and the importance of Sunday." He went on: " We have already lost so much of Sunday. What makes the day any different from the regular routine of life??
You know, the old man was not far off the mark at all. I am often with priests as we discuss these matters and I am pleasantly surprised to hear other priests say that they have strong feelings about and against the practice that has been in effect since 1983.
The Saturday vigil serves well in areas of our country or other countries where the priest has several mission stations often 100 or more miles apart. Visit the Dakota's, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, to name a few.
I think that some, not all, use the Saturday Vigil to "get it over with". If that is the case, why bother going at all.
If the use of the Vigil is to allow for more servile work on Sunday, then it is a use that is an abuse.
Quite frankly, the practice has just made for more lazy-assed Catholics who often fall into the same category of those who can't even remember to abstain from meat six days a year. And some of you will remember when abstinence was a big part of our tradition.
If I have offended your virgin ears, so be it.
Our Mass here at SMT is on Saturday at 4:00 P.M. But the Holy Spirit is leading me to quickly make a shift. I have made few changes in my sixteen months here. I have not seen the need to make any nor re-invent any wheels. But this is one that bothers my soul.
If the Mass signaling the Sunday is most properly placed, then it should happen at sunset. How would that fit into your schedules at most of the times during the year! The Jews, upon whom we derive much tradition, set the sabbath with the setting of the sun. The bodies of the crucified could not remain on the crosses for the sabbath. So they were hastily removed and dispatched before the beginning of the sabbath.
I may take some criticism for this, so be it. I stand by my beliefs.
As a P.S. - one holy bishop recently referenced the following: all the Christmas Eve Masses and fewer Christmas Day Masses. His observation: The holy day is not Dec. 24. It is the 25th. I've noticed that ads show that some of our non-catholic brethren don't even show a service for Christmas Day. The practice is contagious.
Yes, I am seriously praying over this and talking with my associates about changing the Mass to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday - if we have to have it! And I mean that. If we have to have it!
Pax et Bonum
I put the word "Sunday" in caps for a reason. It will become evident as you read on.
I struggle somewhat with the Saturday "vigil" Mass. I have moved from being an advocate for this practice (many years ago) to nearly becoming a staunch critic of this time for a Sunday Mass. I become even more agitated as the hour gets advanced. It has moved from 5:00 P.M. in some places to 4:00 and, I am told (and I hope the info is wrong) to even 3:00 P.M. I ask, why not have it at noon? Why not skip the Sunday celebration altogether?
My struggle continues. I was a rather young priest at the time and lunching at the Cathedral where I was stationed with Cardinal John Krol. The Cardinal was questioned about why Philadelphia was almost the last stronghold. Why no Saturday afternoon Mass? His answer has always remained with me. Very politely and very carefully, the aging Churchman said: " My fear is that the Saturday vigil Mass will become "the" weekend Mass in a parish. That it will lead to a lessening of emphasis on Sunday and the importance of Sunday." He went on: " We have already lost so much of Sunday. What makes the day any different from the regular routine of life??
You know, the old man was not far off the mark at all. I am often with priests as we discuss these matters and I am pleasantly surprised to hear other priests say that they have strong feelings about and against the practice that has been in effect since 1983.
The Saturday vigil serves well in areas of our country or other countries where the priest has several mission stations often 100 or more miles apart. Visit the Dakota's, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, to name a few.
I think that some, not all, use the Saturday Vigil to "get it over with". If that is the case, why bother going at all.
If the use of the Vigil is to allow for more servile work on Sunday, then it is a use that is an abuse.
Quite frankly, the practice has just made for more lazy-assed Catholics who often fall into the same category of those who can't even remember to abstain from meat six days a year. And some of you will remember when abstinence was a big part of our tradition.
If I have offended your virgin ears, so be it.
Our Mass here at SMT is on Saturday at 4:00 P.M. But the Holy Spirit is leading me to quickly make a shift. I have made few changes in my sixteen months here. I have not seen the need to make any nor re-invent any wheels. But this is one that bothers my soul.
If the Mass signaling the Sunday is most properly placed, then it should happen at sunset. How would that fit into your schedules at most of the times during the year! The Jews, upon whom we derive much tradition, set the sabbath with the setting of the sun. The bodies of the crucified could not remain on the crosses for the sabbath. So they were hastily removed and dispatched before the beginning of the sabbath.
I may take some criticism for this, so be it. I stand by my beliefs.
As a P.S. - one holy bishop recently referenced the following: all the Christmas Eve Masses and fewer Christmas Day Masses. His observation: The holy day is not Dec. 24. It is the 25th. I've noticed that ads show that some of our non-catholic brethren don't even show a service for Christmas Day. The practice is contagious.
Yes, I am seriously praying over this and talking with my associates about changing the Mass to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday - if we have to have it! And I mean that. If we have to have it!
Pax et Bonum
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday - Holy Saturday 2010
"He descended into Hell".
Sometimes referred to as "the harrowing of Hell". "Harrowing" is an Old English word for "robbing". Think of it as Jesus stealing away those souls long awaiting their redemption.
When we repeat these words in the Apostles Creed, what is it that we are professing?
This "hell" is not our Christian concept of eternal damnation. It is the Jewish concept of Hades or Sheol. Jesus went there to liberate the righteous ones who lived for justice and died before Jesus Himself had lived. Jesus rose to free them. The Gospel is preached beyond the limits of space and time.
Greek Orthodox Christianity believes that Christ does not rise alone but as head of all the holy ones, for how could the justice of God be established by exclusive treatment for him rather than by a community with him?
...so, in silence, we wait for the Victory celebration of Easter morn.
Pax et Bonum
"He descended into Hell".
Sometimes referred to as "the harrowing of Hell". "Harrowing" is an Old English word for "robbing". Think of it as Jesus stealing away those souls long awaiting their redemption.
When we repeat these words in the Apostles Creed, what is it that we are professing?
This "hell" is not our Christian concept of eternal damnation. It is the Jewish concept of Hades or Sheol. Jesus went there to liberate the righteous ones who lived for justice and died before Jesus Himself had lived. Jesus rose to free them. The Gospel is preached beyond the limits of space and time.
Greek Orthodox Christianity believes that Christ does not rise alone but as head of all the holy ones, for how could the justice of God be established by exclusive treatment for him rather than by a community with him?
...so, in silence, we wait for the Victory celebration of Easter morn.
Pax et Bonum
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