Lessons in Solidarity - CRS helping us to say yes to this important part of our faith

I'm new at living this Catholic faith. Four-and-a-half years is not nearly enough time to get it all. But, I'm trying.

Probably the newest lesson for me is the concept of solidarity.

What is solidarity?

Solidarity is a principle of Catholic Social Teaching and a Christian virtue articulated by Pope John Paul II which amplifies the concept of the common good and holds that for Christians it is essential to act in favor of the well being of all, particularly those who are most poor and marginalized from political influence. (according to Wikipedia)

Today, I received a message from Catholic Relief Services. There is growing concern for Sudan. CRS is urging faithful Catholics to contact their Senators. Here's a portion of their message:

Take Action Now! Contact your Senators now and urge them to co-sponsor the bipartisan Senate Resolution 404 that supports full implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement and efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.
Send a message to your Senators now!
Why is action important now? The volatile situation in Sudan – not just in the Darfur region, but also the tenuous peace between the North and South brought about by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – is becoming more serious. The country is bracing for national elections in April 2010 and a referendum on whether the South should secede from the North in January 2011. The potential for increased violence, death, and displacement at the hands of a renewed North-South war is real. Therefore, significant steps must be taken to avert such a disaster.

To join with our Catholic community in its ongoing efforts to practice solidarity and bring peace and justice to all people, click here. They have made it easy for you to get the message to your Senators. It's up to you to respond.

Those of you who visit this blog often know that this site does not promote any political party. We are not pro-life because we are conservatives. We are pro-life because we are Catholic. We do not promote social justice and solidarity because we are liberals. We promote social justice and solidarity because we are Catholic. Transcend politics: Be Catholic.

Oprah and the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - read all about it!

Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb 8, 2010 / 02:52 am (CNA).- The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have made waves across the nation for their rapid growth and their devout orthodoxy. Now, they are once again in the national spotlight, being featured on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.

“They phoned us and asked if they could do a program on us with Oprah. That's all we know!” Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, vocations director for the community, told CNA in an email.

The show featuring the sisters will air on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The same day happens to be the congregation’s 13th anniversary. The coincidence is “amazing, as they did not know this when they chose the date -- but God did!” exclaimed the vocations director.

To read story in its entirety, click here.

Not Quittin' Time Just Yet

We heard it today at Mass. The priest or deacon read from the Gospel of Luke:

Jesus got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.
When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus . . .

I was thinking today, as I listened to this reading, and what I realized is this. Simon Peter must have thought the night of fishing was over. Done. Terminado. Tomorrow is another day.

Maybe he watched with fascination as the Teacher climbed into his boat. Maybe he listened patiently - perhaps even with a bit of curiosity - to the message.

But when the Lord said, Simon, head out to the deep waters and drop those nets again, Simon Peter had to be thinking, How about you stick with teaching and I'll stick with fishing.

But he just said, Master, we already did that. The night is over. It's quittin' time.

Two days ago, I was thinking about last year's Lenten petition - and how it looks like it might be over. The time for answered prayer is just about done. And no answer. Not a glimmer of an answer. Nada. Nothing. Cero. Zip.

It feels like I prayed all night long.

It feels like now, all I'm doing, is listening to unlikely words of hope. My soul sort of feels like saying, Lord, that all sounds nice, and thanks for those good words, but maybe I should move on to other petitions this Lent. Put the night behind me. On to something else.

Put out into the deep.

Drop the nets again.

Let's do it one more time.

Pondering Lent? Here's some food for thought from Pope Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Conversion to Christ gives people the strength to break the bonds of selfishness and work for justice in the world, Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for Lent 2010. "The Christian is moved to contribute to creating just societies where all receive what is necessary to live according to the dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love," the pope said in the message released Feb. 4 at the Vatican.

Story found at Catholic Courier by Cindy Wooden

Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for February 2010

General: For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God.

Missionary: That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples.

What About Indulgences - a friend writes . . .

Here's my friend's question:

The only thing so far not covered by RCIA is indulgences. I seem to have got the idea from the past that indulgences are bad - but it was the selling of them that is wrong - not the actual indulgence in itself. I know you have told me before about the double consequence of sin - when you wrote about purgatory. It seems the indulgence removes that either in part or in full.

Part of me just rebels against this whole indulgence thing. I think- I can just leave it all up to God's grace and mercy, but I suppose if an indulgence is going to be offered I may as well get it.

I wonder what your thoughts on indulgences were as you came into the Church.

My reply:

Yes, it is a tough one because we (former Protestants) have baggage. And that is all we were given with regard to Indulgences. You have a good memory - that there are two aspects to sin - forgiveness/reconciliation and the fulfillment of the temporal punishment attached to a specific sin. And yes, temporal punishment remains. Like when you broke something in anger as a child and your mother forgave you when you were sorry (true contrition with the Sacrament of Confession), but there was still something more needed. Something more to make it right. The temporal part had to be addressed.

What we struggle with is the scandal of selling Indulgences - that baggage that sticks with us and lingers in the form of uneasiness. Somehow, cradle Catholics find it easier to see the good and true and right even as they recognize the part that was wrong (selling what should be offered without money and received in acts of love and devotion). Sometimes, the Church has had to reform practices that are not in keeping with what the Church teaches. And this is one of them. Selling Indulgences was a scandal, and it was not in keeping with Church teaching -- in fact, it scandalized the true teachings of the Church (and scandal always brings harm to the Body of Christ and the Unity of the Church). As an aside, that should be a lesson to all of us to never bring scandal to Mother Church. We must strive in all things and in all ways to share the true teachings. It should also give us joy to know that God will never let the gates of hell prevail - even in scandal - and that Mother Church will make it through every storm. Okay, back to the topic.

Indulgences (as something the Church offers to us for the remission of temporal punishment) is a blessed opportunity. It is usually offered to the Faithful as an opportunity to embrace acts of love and devotion - things that build up the Kingdom of God through prayer and pilgrimages and the special and unique "yes" that we give to Mother Church and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As with all things Catholic, there is order and rhyme to this teaching. And the venues for Indulgences are rightly ordered too. Here's the thing. You don't have to say yes to a single Indulgence. You are given the choice. It is not required, though the temporal payment for sin will one day be required, and Our Lord will provide you with a way, even if it is during that preparation when all that remains is purged (purgatory) so that you can stand before a Living and Holy God and not be destroyed upon seeing Him face-to-face.

But the Church is offering the Faithful venues for love and devotion, special ways to seek remission for what remains.

When I was a child, my mother asked me to go downstairs and move the clean laundry from the washing machine and put it into the dryer. I didn't want to do it. I was angry because she had interrupted my free time. I went downstairs and moved the laundry and I slammed the dryer door so hard (in anger) that a piece of the latch broke off. I took that broken part up and had to tell Mom what I had done. She forgave me. But she said that I still had to pay for the repair. I remember that all was righted (though I was already forgiven) when I paid for the part and gave the new part to Mom. Strange how this fits, isn't it? Even the allowance which I used to buy the part came from Mom. She simply gave me the idea, the venue, for making amends.

And that is how it is with Indulgences. She (Mother Church) gives us the opportunity to say yes to an Indulgence, and we can give it back in the form of love and devotion -- so that all will be made right. I know it isn't a perfect metaphor, but I was still forgiven by Mom; I still had a place at the table; I still had a home in my parents' home. But something more was required for all to be set aside.

And we, though forgiven, still have a place at the Table and a home in the Home.

Soon, you will be fully Home. You are about to begin that final journey, through Lent, to Holy Saturday. This is the holiest journey we make this side of eternity. My heart swells with joy for you, dear one. Soon, you will walk the aisle and make your way to the Table of Our Lord. May your journey continue to be a season of many graces. I am still here for you. Always, here.

Wanting to See Jesus

He'd waited - almost forever - to see the face of God.

I wonder how he knew it would happen? When did he first realize that one day - someday - the Lord of Life would come through the Temple doors? Did he have some idea of what God would look like? Did the Holy Spirit give him some clues? Or was it all so other-worldly that Simeon just knew that it would happen and he just knew that he would know when it did?

And then, when he had lived many years, when he had seen many days come and go in God's holy place, it did happen.

Mary entered the Temple.

And Simeon just knew.

He knew that the Lord of Life, the Messiah, the long-awaited King . . . God's son . . . was right there in front of him.

And Simeon received Jesus into his own hands. And he spoke words to Mary . . . I know who this is. I know this is the One. Your son. God's son. I know!

[Simeon] took [Jesus] into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

Today at Mass, I heard this reading from the Gospel of Luke. And I had a glimpse into how Simeon must have felt.

You see, Mary walked into my life, too. She walked in with grace and quiet joy and threw open the doors of my heart. I had loved the Lord for as long as I could remember - as a Protestant, the daughter of a preacher. And I had always wondered what it would be like to see Him, to look upon Him and know that what I saw was Jesus. And on the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, in the year 2005, the Mother of Our Lord shared her Son with me.

In the years that have passed since that First Holy Communion, Our Lord and Our Lady have done for me what Simeon promised. Many things which were once buried in my heart have been laid bare. This walk to holiness is not easy. Change is not always immediate. But, if we long to see Jesus with all of our hearts, Our Lady will bring Him to us. And He will change us.

I am not all that I will be . . . but I am not who I was. I am changing. I am being changed. And God willing, I will be among the ranks of the saints . . . on that day when I can say, like Simeon, Now Master, let your servant go in peace, just as you promised.

Bloggers - Here's a Great Widget!

Promote prayer for our Bishops and the Holy Father -- by clicking on the image at right. You can sign up to pray the Rosary for your Bishop and the Holy Father! You will receive a monthly reminder via email (tailored to your specification/day of the month/frequency).

And, you can post the badge to your blog or promote the Rosary through Facebook or other social media.

What's a badge? A badge is a small box you can paste into your website or blog which will display current statistics for your bishop, diocese, or parish.

Get clicking, and get praying!

God Has His Reasons

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Iowa and gave two 30-minute talks to a group of 10th grade Confirmation students. My talks were scheduled to come at the end of the retreat, so I spent the first couple of hours mingling with the students and walking around the room while they completed a hands-on activity.

When I approached one table of girls, I was taken by surprise when one of the girls casually blurted out, "I don't want to be confirmed."

I didn't think I had heard her correctly. I gave her my most winsome smile and said, "What was that? I don't think I heard you."

"I don't want to be Confirmed." She said again. "I don't want to be here. My dad made me come today."

In my heart, I said a very quick prayer. Is she why I came? Is this one the reason why I drove six hours from Missouri to talk to this group?

I matched her honesty with a bit of my own. "Oh, don't say that. I drove six hours yesterday just to be with you today and tell you why this is one incredible sacrament!" I hoped that my face showed how much I really meant what I said.

She looked up at me and smiled back. "You did?"

"I sure did."

"Okay. I'll listen. And it's not really that I don't want to be Confirmed; I'm just tired. I want to go back to bed."

"Bed will be there when you get home. Just try to stay awake for the talk. I drove all this way, just for you."

And she did listen. They all listened.

This week, when I stopped by the Adoration Chapel to pray, I remembered the young lady. I know this is the eleventh hour in her journey to the Sacrament of Confirmation, but God does wonderful things in the eleventh hour. I prayed that she would be able to say that she chose to be Confirmed. She wanted it. Not dad. Not duty.

When she renews those baptismal promises and the Bishop says, "Be sealed with the Holy Spirit," I pray that she will be given a double portion of grace.

And when I stood up - after praying in the Chapel this week - after I genuflected and dipped my fingers in the Holy Water Font and passed through the doors, I realized that she was the reason I had gone to Iowa.

Lord, hear my prayer.

Dear Mother Teresa, please pray for the souls of the people who don't think you deserve being honored by a postage stamp.

New York City, N.Y., Jan 29, 2010 / 04:28 pm (CNA).- Following the U.S. Postal Service announcement that they are featuring the late Mother Teresa on an upcoming stamp, the atheist group Freedom from Religion has urged its supporters to boycott the stamp on the grounds that it violates postal regulations.

Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts reiterated on Thursday that “Mother Teresa is not being honored because of her religion, she's being honored for her work with the poor and her acts of humanitarian relief.”

“Her contribution to the world as a humanitarian speaks for itself and is unprecedented.”

Read the entire CNA article by clicking here.