Category Archives: Reflections

Technology and the Spiritual Life

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Technology is a wonderful thing, and the human ability to create and use new technologies is a gift from God. However, I have become increasingly concerned about my own use of technology, especially computers and Internet-based technologies. It struck me that it is far too easy to get absorbed in things like social networking and games, which then allows our spiritual life to be neglected.

Turns out I’m not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I’m in good company. As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, said in his Urbi et Orbi message on Christmas 2005: “men and women in our technological age risk becoming victims of their own intellectual and technological achievements, ending up in spiritual barrenness and emptiness of heart.” This quote is in the book The Environment, which is a compilation of quotes and documents from Pope Benedict dealing with environment issues.

If you’re like me, it’s easy to find hours to spend on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc., but struggle to find even a few minutes to set aside for prayer. When we don’t pray, our spiritual life suffers. The challenge for us is to turn off the computer, the TV, video games and smartphones so that we can make time for prayer. Technology is good, prayer is better.

A reflection on “ad orientem” celebration of the Liturgy by Rev. Know-it-all

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I think this post on celebrating the Mass ad orientem (facing the East, where priest and people face the same direction during the Consecration – not “the priest has his back to the people”) by Reverend Know-it-all doesn’t need my embellishment.

I post it only with these comments: 1) At no time did the Second Vatican Council ask, hint, demand, or expect Mass to be celebrated facing the people; 2) Neither has the Holy See (AKA “Rome”, “the Vatican”, etc.) demanded celebration facing the people; and 3) There are a lot of things that have been tacked on to the liturgy in the United States and much of Europe that came out of the opinions of liturgists and were initially done out of dissent to the legitimate authority of the Holy See, such as celebrating Mass versus populum (facing the people).

The Need for the New Evangelization

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The readings for today’s Mass demonstrate clearly why we need a new evangelization in the Church today. At the end of the parable of the steward who squandered his master’s property, Our Lord says, “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” (Lk 16:8) It was true then, and it’s true now. Just look at the programming on television. The secular TV networks all have very attractive programming with high production values and are good at capturing people’s attentions, yet the Christian channels constantly struggle to get viewers outside of their core audience. I love EWTN, and encourage Catholics to watch it as often as possible, but most programs follow one of two formulas: interview style where two people are sitting and the interviewer is asking questions of a guest, or one person standing at a podium or walking around the stage lecturing. While there’s nothing wrong with these formulas for a live program, such as Journey Home or The World Over, it becomes tedious when repeated ad nauseam.

As Catholics, we need to find ways to reach out to the world and make our message heard because our message is the Gospel, which is far more life giving than the message “proclaimed” by secular media. Look at how St. Paul puts the message of the world: ‘Their end is destruction. Their god is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things.’ (Phil 3:19) How about our message? “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Phil 3:20-21) We have the message that brings life and hope, the world has the message which brings suffering and death.

As faithful Catholics, we need to be getting the Gospel message out to all corners of the world. That’s what Pope John Paul II meant by his call for the New Evangelization, a call continued and encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI. Throughout his papacy, Pope Benedict has been challenging and encouraging all Catholics to use find ways to spread the Gospel message through the new media, using technologies like blogs, podcasts and videocasts, and social network sites. This is a call to all Catholics, not only clergy or religious, to use these new media outlets to both broadcast the Gospel message and to reach out to individuals that may not otherwise hear the Gospel of Christ.

Use of the new media is happening, slowly but surely. Fr. Robert Barron, one of the professors at Mundelein Seminary throughout my theology studies, has been doing a great job of using videos and podcasts at his Word on Fire website. Likewise, blogs (like my own) are popping up all over the blogosphere. A couple examples out of the literally thousands to choose from: iPadre, Mark Shea, and National Catholic Register.

Of course, talk of the new evangelization wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Catholic radio. EWTN Radio does a fantastic job in the talk radio format. One of the great programs on EWTN Radio is Catholic Answers Live, a program I’ve regularly listened to pretty much from its beginning. The Catholic Channel on Sirius and XM satellite radio also has some very good programming. A personal favorite is The Catholics Next Door with Greg and Jennifer Willits. Anyone who has ever visited the Rosary Army will be immediately familiar with Greg and Jennifer.

The fact is, Catholics, using the new media to the fullest possible extent is a must. We must not only use this media, but exploit the capabilities available to us for the sake of the Gospel. Each and every one of us can do something, from using status updates on Facebook and Twitter to talk about our relationship with Jesus, to writing blog entries and producing podcasts explaining and defending the Gospel, and everything in between. We all can do this, we’re all called to do this, and we all need to do this for the sake of the billions of souls in the world today.

A Blessed Solemnity of All Saints to you all!

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On this Solemnity of All Saints, Rocco Palmo of the Whispers in the Loggia blog has a wonderful quote from Pope Benedict XVI on becoming saints. It’s not a long quote, only about 6 paragraphs, and well worth reading. As Mother Angelica put it on the introduction to her Mother Angelica Live program: “We’re all called to be great saints. Don’t miss the opportunity!”

Fr. S at Clerical Reform has some Food for Thought

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The semi-anonymous Fr. S at the highly recommended Clerical Reform has given those of us called to the life of a diocesan priest some Food for thought based on an anti-Catholic image put out by the Minnesota DFL Party. While the image is inexcusable, Fr. S’s reflection hits a little too close to home with the admittedly high standards for living that most priests have for themselves. Sadly, I’ve fallen into the same trap with the nice car, computers, electronics, and hobbies. Mea culpa and with God’s grace, may I do better in living a life of poverty.

“We’re a nonconformist parish”

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Before the convention last night, a parishioner at a parish in the diocese described their parish as a “nonconformist” parish. This wasn’t said in any sense if disappointment, but rather pride that the parish would rebel against the bishop’s request that we were discussing.

Sadly, the idea of not conforming to the guidance of the bishop is all too prevalent in this diocese, passed down from the priests through the parishes to the individual parishioners. Instead of acting and believing as members of the Body of Christ unified under the bishop, these parishes and parishioners act as rebellious teenagers doing and saying whatever they want without regard to the wisdom and guidance given out of love by the faithful priests, bishops, and Holy Father in union with the tradition of the Church.

As Catholics, we need to be in union with our bishops. Instead of seeking to be nonconformist, we need to seek Our Lord’s will that we all be unified as one Body under the bishop, who is the local shepherd charged with our protection and guidance. Nonconformism is simply another name for human pride. Unity under the bishop, especially when we might disagree with him, is another name for humbly seeking God’s will.

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

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With the recent announcement of 24 new cardinals at an upcoming consistory, one name in particular is standing out as being particularly “divisive”: Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Archbishop Burke is known for being particularly outspoken in defense of Church teaching, and has caused major waves throughout the United States, especially in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, for his willingness to challenge those who would dissent from the traditional teachings of the Church.
Interesting, then, that the Gospel reading for today’s Mass would include Our Lord saying, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” The Church’s teachings are divisive, because the Truth is divisive. It divides those who would follow Christ from those who would follow the ways of the world. The Church’s teachings are Truth, not just “a truth” or “my truth”, but the Truth revealed by Christ, through whom the world was created. By following the Church’s teachings, we are following Christ Himself. If we dissent from Church teachings, we are dissenting from Christ Himself, even if we claim to be following His teachings. Speaking for myself, I would rather follow Christ, even if I commit the worldly sin of being “divisive”.

“Where were you when the world stopped turning…”

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There are events that have occurred throughout history that are so shocking, so life-changing that you can remember exactly where you were when you heard about them.  Bombing of Pearl Harbor, JFK’s assassination, and fall of the Berlin Wall are examples of these kind of historic events.  Of course, September 11, 2001 is one of those historic days that are seared into our memories.

The title of this post comes from a song performed by Alan Jackson shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and is a question that comes up every September 11: “Where were you when you heard about the Twin Towers?” We want to share how we found out, how it changed our lives for good or bad, and how it’s affected us to this day. It’s good to stop and reflect on that day, to remember where we were and to remember those who died on that tragic day.

September 11, 2001 was a typical day in my second year of college studies at Mount Angel Seminary.  One of the dorms on campus was being remodeled, so the college seminarians were living in a dormitory in the town of Mount Angel that was originally built as part of a girls’ school. The girls’ school had closed many years before, and the building was used as both transient housing and storage. The Benedictine Sisters who owned the building remodeled and rented out the top floor to the college seminary so that we would have a place to live while the dormitory on campus was going through its remodel.

Since we lived off campus, every morning started with a drive through town and up “the Hill”.  Of course, this was only about a 5-10 minute drive, but was less convenient than actually living on campus and walking to Mass or classes. On Sept. 11, I woke up, as usual, and got ready for the day. With all my books and stuff needed for the day in hand, I hopped in my truck and headed to the seminary campus.

My radio was usually tuned to the Catholic radio station in the Portland, OR area, and this morning was no exception. The announcers kept talking about some big event that just occurred in New York City and we needed to pray, but they weren’t being specific. They just kept encouraging prayer for those affected. After a few minutes, my curiosity was getting the better of me, and I needed to find out what happened. I switched over to one of Portland’s talk radio stations as I started driving up the road that snakes up the hill to campus. About half-way up the hill, I heard about the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. To this day, I can still see exactly where on the road I was when the announcement came across. Pulling into the parking lot, I rushed to the student recreation hall and saw the images for the first time. I arrived in the rec hall about 7:15 AM Pacific Time, just between the collapse of the two towers. According to Wikipedia, Tower 2 collapsed at 9:59 AM Eastern (6:59 AM Pacific), with Tower 1 collapsing at 10:28 AM, 30 minutes later.

Over the next week or so, the seminary had several organized prayer events for the victims of the attacks, and many seminarians spent much time in the chapels on campus praying. Like much of the country, we responded by turning to God to pray for the souls of the deceased and their families, and to pray for consolation for ourselves.

Some might wonder why we would dwell on an event like this. Is this a kind of perverse nostalgia, living in the past focusing on a terrible event? I would answer that question in the negative, and even assert that it is important to remember those who have died, even 9 years later. Families are still dealing with the losses of their loved ones, and we need to remember those who gave their lives to save others. Likewise, we need to remember that there are those who would do such attacks on this country again, and again, and again. The second we stop remembering, we open ourselves up to those attacks.

Is this to say we can’t criticize the response to the attacks? No. There may very well be much that should have been done differently, but there also was much that was done right. We need to remember those who acted with bravery and those actions that were good responses, while correcting those actions that may have caused more harm.

We need to remember. “Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day?”