Last Word

There are frustrations, I am sure, in every line of work.  So, too, in ministry.  I would like to share one of mine with you, if I might. 

Recently, the Holy See promulgated a new instruction regarding cremation, "To Rise with Christ.”  By now, I suppose most American Catholics are aware of the fact that cremation is now allowed in the Catholic Church, after many years of being prohibited.  That change in the law has been with us since the early 1960’s.

It is hard to believe that it has been five years since the introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal.  It was in November 2011 that we began using the new translation. 

Election time will be quickly upon us, and among the many issues is that of immigration.  In that light, it is good that we review the teaching of the Church on this matter. 

For a number of years, I wrote a column concerned only with liturgical matters.  From time to time, I like to return to such topics. 

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is the name of the feast people my age grew up with.  Today, it is known as the "Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ." 

Jesus makes a lot of strong and challenging statements over the course of his ministry, but his prohibition of divorce and remarriage is of a different magnitude altogether.

When I was in high school, we used to have to memorize poems and other classic works.  I remember only bits and pieces today, but among them is the beginning of Portia's speech in The Merchant of Venice...

Every now and again, we read about some city or state in our country where a Christian group is fighting to post the Ten Commandments in the statehouse or at the state supreme court or someplace similar, on public land.  I always find that odd.

Think back with me about 10-15 years.  Maybe you remember Diversity Days.  These were days in schools and in businesses, in many places, which celebrated the diversity of our society and urged people to respect the differences which enrich the nation like the many colors of the rainbow.

On June 30 each year, we celebrate the feast day of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, sometimes called the "protomartyrs." 

The ancient Romans persecuted Christians for many reasons.  Some those reasons were based on misunderstandings of what Christians were all about. 

It's a dilemma. We all know that we are commanded to love all people, loving them and showing mercy and forgiveness when they offend against God's law.

This Gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves is a very important Gospel story.  Why do I say that?  Well, a lot of reasons, but the simplest is this:

Throughout the Advent Season, we prayed, "Come, Lord Jesus."  Advent is over now, which raises an important question:  When is the arrival?

"Love your enemies."  This is it.  This is, without any question in my mind, the most radical command of Jesus to His disciples.

Several things came together for me recently which have prompted this reflection:  the Fourth of July, a rather negative comment by an acquaintance about the state of our country, and all the talk over the last several years about “the culture wars.”

We need a new agenda for interfaith and ecumenical programs.  I have nothing against joint prayer services, such as are held around Thanksgiving and the Church Unity Octave, or occasionally having religious leaders sign a common petition against some piece of legislation.

It has not yet been a year since the election of Pope Francis as our Holy Father.  Already, in this short time, we have heard a lot from him about justice, poverty and the economy.  Here are a few of the things he has said.   

As you read this, another new year has either just begun or is rapidly approaching.   The Church actually pays very little attention to the beginning of the new civil year. 

Some years ago, there was a review in the Wall Street Journal of a new book on Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. I’d like to share a section of that review with you.

Jesus sometimes says comforting things. Other times, He says things that are hard to understand. And finally, there are times when He says things that we can fully understand but don’t like.

Father Ronald Rohlheiser, O.M.I., had already been among my favorite spiritual writers when, about a year ago, I read his book on the Eucharist: Our One Great Act of Fidelity. With that, he immediately moved to the top of the class.

Eight maids a-milking. “On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking.” January 1 is the 8th day of Christmas, the octave day of Christmas, we call it liturgically.

As the election season ends it is worth our while to reflect on how we have conducted ourselves as Christians in the political debates and how we ought to conduct ourselves in the political process that continues year-round.

The passage of bills in several states recently, including our own, has raised a very important question: What is marriage?

Stanley Hauerwas is a Protestant theologian and ethicist. He is usually thought of as a Methodist and holds a chair of theology at Duke University.

We are now beyond Easter. It is still the Easter Season, but we are beyond all that goes into the crush of celebrating Holy Week and Easter in a parish.

We all know that the word “catholic” means “universal.” And, as Catholics, we are proud that Catholics can be found on every continent, sharing a common faith.

I used to write a regular column on liturgy and, even now, a liturgical question is sometimes posed to me. This column is not really intended to be a question and answer piece.

I was putting together an adult faith formation presentation on conscience. They asked me for a snazzy title for the bulletin announcement. I am not good on snazzy titles but the one that came to mind was: “Following your conscience… all the way to hell.” Let me explain.

t has now been just over a year since the introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal. With only occasional slips, we have pretty much mastered “And with your spirit” and “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.”

There is a notion in contemporary society that religion ought to have no role in the public sphere. We often hear that opinion expressed, in one form or another, at election time.

In the introduction to his book, What is the Point of Being Christian, Father Timothy Radcliffe, former worldwide leader of the Dominican Order, writes: “A community which founded its existence on the claim to moral superiority would not only be repulsive but would inevitably invite people to search out their failures and expose them with glee.

As I said in my previous column, I really wanted to write a column about the Eucharist to serve as a link between Easter (April 8) and the Solemnity of the Body of Christ (June10).

“I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” I am sure you recognize these words immediately: they come from the Creed we recite at Mass every week.

When I was a young boy, probably 10 or 11, my father gave me a hand missal such as was common at that time so that I could follow along at the Mass, with the Latin on the left-hand page and an English translation on the right.

One day last year at this time, as I walked out for the newspaper in the morning, I had to walk through a pile of leaves which had collected in the driveway. I always find something sad about the leaves falling each autumn.

When I first arrived at the parish in Cape Elizabeth, Sister Ruth Hayden was on the staff. Sister Ruth had long served as an educator of children.

By now, I suspect, most readers are aware that in a few months we will begin using a new English translation of the Mass. We have had the translation we are currently using for almost 40 years.

Several months ago, when the National Football League postponed a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings because of a snowstorm that Sunday in Philly, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell complained, “We’ve become a nation of wusses.”

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family this year, it is important for us to reflect on the Gospel which recounts the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt to escape King Herod.

Recently, I noticed how often at funerals we sing “Amazing Grace.” It’s the most popular hymn in America. Curiously, I heard on the radio once that the song most often played at funerals held at funeral homes is “I did it my way” with Frank Sinatra.

The Barna Group, a research company which studies the relationship between spirituality and culture, has reported that “71% of United States adults say that they have developed their own slate of religious beliefs, rather than accepting the tenets of a particular faith or religious group.” I don’t get it.

In 2002, I helped move my aunt, then in her 80s, from a two bedroom condominium in Auburn to Portland into residential facility for senior citizens.