Food For Thought

Came across the following in the comments section of an article I was reading this morning. It really makes one think.

I urge everyone to read "Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith" by Edgar Davie, a Roman Catholic layman and retired father of 7 grown children. It is the best book I've read about the Christian faith, outside of the bible.

Go to http://www.illicitcelibacy.com/ for more details.

According to respected church expert, Richard Sipe, the following statistics are telling:

2% of priests have a true gift of celibacy, & would not marry even if allowed.

8% of priests force themselves to remain celibate, throughout their lives.

40% of priests TRY and FAIL, and have periodic sexual "lapses".

50% of priests are sexually active, homosexually or heterosexually, at all times.

It is time to re-address the practice of mandatory celibacy for the diocesan priesthood. It is not dogma or doctrine, it is only a Practice that CAN be changed tomorrow, if the Vatican wants it changed.

1/3 of the priests in Milwaukee asked for celibacy to be re-addressed at the US bishops conference, six years ago. They were ignored, it is time these priests are heard.

St. Peter on the Water

From this morning's Gospel:

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When we hear this well-known vignette it is very tempting to immediately focus on St. Peter's weak faith. I would argue that we miss the point by directing our attention to this point. I would rather admire Peter for having the courage to get out of the boat in the first place! After all, that took considerable courage - and faith. Yes, once out on the water he floundered. Without hesitation, though, he cried out to the Lord. And Jesus readily reached out His hand and saved Peter, with but a gentle rebuke issuing from His lips.

We need to follow Peter's example and allow ourselves to get out of the boat and walk towards the Lord. Will we, like Peter, start to flounder and sink? Undoubtedly! But that is not the point. Once out of the boat we simply need to cry out to the Lord and know that He is at our side, always ready to stretch out a loving hand and save us.

If we never even get out of the boat we will never get anywhere. Then we will really deserve the Lord's rebuke!

Latrobe

I am glad that I took the time yesterday to visit former parishioners in Latrobe. All the visits were great, but the last brief one touched my heart the most. I stopped by to see a woman whom I regularly visited on First Fridays. Normally I wouldn't accede to a request that I come on a particular day, but "Ella" was especial. I still remember my first First Friday visit; she was nonplussed by the fact that I was wearing khaki (not black!) pants. Clearly she was very "old school." However it didn't take us long at all to establish a real connection. Despite the fact that I was most definitely different from my predecessor - and from her expectations - she saw that I was trying to serve the Lord - and her. As our relationship deepened I relished any opportunity to help her with some of difficulties in her life. She became one of those people of whom I can honestly say that I was blessed to have had the opportunity to minister. (Of course every person to whom one ministers is a blessing, but I trust dear reader that you know what I mean!)

Her reaction when I rang her doorbell in the late afternoon yesterday was priceless and reminded me of why I love being a priest. There is no greater feeling than to realize that you have been able to bring joy to another human being. That joy coming not ultimately from oneself, but rather from the One whom one represents - Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May He be praised forever and ever unto ages unending. Amen.

Malta Thoughts ...

Just to make clear to those who may be unsure ...

I only post "hate emails' for the rather unchristian reason of mocking the ludicrousness of such people. I really don't let myself get disturbed by such nonsense. But I get irritated by their delusional notion that they represent 'true' catholicism. And any good 'orthodox' Catholic would realize that many Saints made it quite clear that it was quite sinful to speak against priests; PRAY for them, do not criticize.

Now I have no illusions ... I need LOTS of criticism! But nothing will help me nearly as much as PRAYERS!

To all those who regularly pray for me and for all priests I offer a great big THANK YOU!

Hate Mail From Malta Part II

Another missive from my dear friend in Malta. I think he would be appalled to realize that he basically commits heresy in his helpful comments. But then again ...

And let's not even bring up the whole "massage of God' thing. Not sure what's up with that.

daniel johnston 

kimberly@onvol.net

I challenge you to post this here e-mail on your website.

Do you not think that this is displeasing to Christ this, punk priest lifestyle. So Saint Paul used pagan poets, but he did that to send out his message: you on the other hand do not do it to send the massage of God. You do it to seem famous, as an excuse to listen to rock music.

What about the picture of those newly weds on your website? Don't you think that the bride is wearing clothing that is improper in front of Jesus in the Eucharist?

And the bookshelf? I found no True devotion to the Blessed Virign, no Secret of the Rosary, no Glories of Mary, no Imitation of Christ, no story of a soul and no famous spiritual books. In fact, the Blessed Mother seems to be missing on your website. She is scarcely mentioned and if our Lady is mentioned, it is only to name a feast or a parish or to show a picture of the Holy Family.

And how is your example supposed to make the little one's love Jesus and Mary? Why don't you spread the message of our Lady of Fátima? Or preaching the Rosary and the Brown scapular. You know what Saint Louis de Montfort said'' To Jesus through Mary!". In fact devotion to our Blessed Mother is the thing that pleases Jesus the most, even more than the Eucharist!

Please give me an answer.

A-HA!

On the way to my dad's this afternoon I had one of those revelatory moments that seem to strike out of the blue, one of those "a-ha!" moments when that which one knows to be intellectually true is suddenly felt in the very core of one's being. As I drove the twists and turns of Route 201 I found myself contemplating the gifts with which God has abundantly blessed me, especially those which serve me so well in ministry. Invariably, as soon as such thoughts enter my mind, I almost immediately am overcome with the realization that I am completely undeserving of anything from Him. The older I get, the more I lose the zealousness of my youth, the more overpowering this sense of complete unworthiness becomes. I compare the priest I am now to the priest I was (or more accurately - imagined myself to be!) in years gone by. Inevitably I decide that, rather than ascending towards the summit of priestly perfection with the passing of the years, I have been sliding steadily downhill. This realization serves only to deepen the guilt I feel when pondering God's gifts. It was in the midst of these guilt-filled thoughts that God made me to understand, in my heart, that all His gifts are just that - GIFTS. Nothing I have received has come because of my own efforts, my own worthiness, my own holiness. I have absolutely nothing to do with any of it. It is ALL His doing. How liberating to know that I do not have to earn anything from God! How free this knowledge leaves me to live a life of loving gratitude to the God Whose generosity knows no bounds!

A Sign?

Sometime around 5 this afternoon I visited my 9th communion call of the day. I had done 5 this morning after Mass and before heading off for a few hours of fun hauling stuff to Geibel. Then after visiting the funeral home for a Vigil Service I managed 4 more. Beverly was the last of the day. In the course of our conversation she asked if I would be interested in an angel or two. She had been collecting Roman's Seraphim Angel figurines and had amasses quite a collection (hundreds by my reckoning). She decided it was time to "cull the herd" and wanted to dispose of all but her favourites. I was happy to take her up on her offer and after perusing the proffered selection chose a beautiful trumpet-blowing angel named Annalisa. I was happy to take one of the angels because my mother collected them as well. However, it wasn't until that moment that it struck me that this very day was the eve of the tenth anniversary of her passing from this earthly life. How appropriate to be offered such a gift today of all days! And I could not help but take comfort in the fact that this particular figurine was titled Joyful Spirit.