Abbey-Roads2

Today is the feast of the Holy Face of Jesus; His beloved disciple, Don Marco has posted beautifully on it.  “Shrove Tuesday, Feast of the Holy Face”.  (Be sure to read Don Marco for Lent - you will observe Lent well if you do so.  Our Lord has permitted this contemplative monk to share with us his prayer.)

I saw the Lord’s face tonight in “the distressing disguise of the poor” - a man standing next to the freeway exit with his sign, “will work for food” - his name is Alex, please pray for him.

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” - wherever we meet him - going to Him, outside the city gates, sharing His shame…

To suffer and be despised, to be held in contempt, and accounted as nothing - who could ask for anything better than that?  (Alex didn’t ask for this however, it just happened.  The reference is to myself.)

What a grace Lent is - it begins tomorrow…in silence… 

“Judge not and you shall not be judged.” - Luke 6: 37

An incident in the life of Little Therese came to mind this morning.  It happened one Christmas when volunteers were called to leave recreation to open the gates for workmen delivering Christmas trees for the creche.  Therese was ready to go do it, finding recreation rather boring, yet she was slow to arise, out of charity preferring the sister next to her to be able to go.  The nun in charge of dispatching the sisters for the assignment observed how slowly Therese was moving.

Thinking she did not want to do the job, the nun in charges said, “Ah!  I thought as much - you were not going to gain this pearl for your crown, you were going too slowly.”  The entire community thought that Therese had acted in selfishness, yet Therese rejoiced in this humiliation.  It was in just such little things wherein her delicate sensitivity understood the weakness of others, the necessity to be charitable, and to refrain from judging another, since we likewise can so easily mistake virtue for what is actually an imperfection, perhaps even a selfish act.

If we sometimes cannot always be sure of our own motives, how can we judge the motives of others? 

(Thanks to a little Robin for inspiring this post.)  

Guard against venial sin.

I realized the interior image I imagined of my soul this morning simply appeared to be like a pomegranate…it was a more palatable analogy.  Upon reflection, it was more like the wound pictured above, infested with maggots.  It becomes a metaphor for the soul who is not careful about venial sin.

When we become careless regarding venial sin, we become less fervent in our service of God.  It weakens the will, compromises our ability to resist evil, making us more tolerant of the evil that surrounds us, exposing us to the dangers of mortal sin.  “He who is faithful in insignificant things is faithful in important matters, likewise, he who is faithless in insignificant things, is also unfaithful in important matters.” - Luke: 16:10

Venial sins are of course forgiven with a sincere act of contrition, Holy Communion, or good works and penance.  Nevertheless, they are very good to examine and bring to the sacrament of penance, because they often are symptomatic of a deeper disorder, which predisposes us to sin.  It is referred to as a root sin.

Imperfections overlooked, along with venial sin disregarded, may cause a foul and festering wound in our souls.  (I don’t know if that is theologically correct, yet it seems so to me.)  Venial sin displeases God.  The effects of venial sin, even the sin itself, may seem to be insignificant.  Yet when the Divine Light illumines the soul, and they are contrasted with the ineffable purity of God, they appear to be foul, festering, maggot encrusted wounds upon the soul.  We may gain some understanding how God views the slightest of sins when we consider how God punished Moses for only a slight sin of thought.

This is what I meant in an earlier post today when I described my soul as a cesspool of vice.  For years I struggled with very grave sin, after the Lord freed me from these, I unconsciously, little by little, grew lax as regards venial sin and imperfections.  That was a big mistake.

“How good God is to Israel,

to those who are pure of heart.

Yet my feet came close to stumbling…

How useless to keep my heart pure…

Then I said: ‘If I should speak like that,

I should betray the race of your sons.’

I was stupid and did not understand,

no better than a beast in your sight.

Yet I was always in your presence…” - Psalm 72

It is praiseworthy to be careful of venial sin.

“Because you’re sweet and lovely girl I love you
Because you’re sweet and lovely girl it’s true”  - Beatles

Rhapsody moved to St. Blogs!  It is aptly named:

+bleu clair rhapsody et la symphonie de [relocated] crickets+

The Rhap-star is just moving in and I know Lee Anderson - who does such fantastic work for St. Blogs, is probably busy transferring her entire old blog to her new home.  St. Blogs is a very nice place to be!

“Because you’re sweet and lovely girl I love you
Because you’re sweet and lovely girl it’s true”

Carnival in Venice.

I love the idea of Venetian Carnival before Lent, going about the city in long cloaks and masks, permitting every sort of revelry, safeguarding the participant’s anonymity.  It seems to be something of a metaphor for contemporary life.  We all wear our masks, and some of us say, think, or do things we are not proud of in the disguise of some good.

Carnival often became a cesspool of vice, a term that occurred to me this morning as I prepared for confession before Mass.  It is such a grace to see my soul as a cesspool of vice, while being struck with contrition and obtaining the grace to confess, opening myself to the Divine Mercy.

Sometimes our sins are so cleverly hidden, disguised by habit, self-love, or a sort of unconscious rationalism, that we cannot see them.  We may see the symptomatic sins, while never finding the root sin, from whence these spring.  The psalmist tells us this when he prays,  “My sins so overcome me, that I cannot see.”  Crying out,  “From my hidden faults, acquit me O Lord.”

This morning it seemed to me my soul opened up to allow a penetrating insight, as it were, much like a pomegranate we pull apart, revealing its seeds - only this pomegranate was rotten, and the fruit was putrid and foul.  I began my confession, “My soul is a cesspool of vice…”

It was an astonishing revelation for me this morning…an experience of grace - sheer grace.  It has provided me my direction for Lent.

I received Communion this morning as viaticum…begging Our Lord to accompany me on the way of repentance.

Every Archbishop and Bishop, along with the Pope are giving Lenten messages, and that is their duty, to instruct and guide the faithful in the observance of Lent.  Believe me, I am not dismissing these messages, indeed, I have been edified by most.

As the Abbot of Katz - as in kitty cats - I have decided to post a few reflections on the observance of Lent.

St Benedict said that the monk’s life should always have the character of a lent, nevertheless he prescribed certain communal observances.  I’m just going to offer a few observances of my own as to how people have ‘done’ their lent, and let you decide what you should or should not do.

The call to penance carries a warning; do not parade your good deeds before men, do not be gloomy when you fast, don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.

So it’s not a sin to wipe the ashes from your forehead.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it looks dumb.  I prefer mixing ashes with food or having them sprinkled on your head.  Do what you want however.  Walk around in sackcloth for all I care - oh!  that’s what a religious habit is.

Many people diet for lent, because they are obese and gluttonous.  So don’t call it a fast if you’re trying to achieve a better waist size.  I knew a nun who fasted all of Lent (she was on Weight Watchers) and on Easter Sunday was rushed to the ER because they thought she was having a heart attack…turned out she had over-eaten to such a degree, her body couldn’t take it.  Discretion is the mother of all virtue.

Many people give up smoking for lent, because the habit causes cancer and they are trying to quit.  It’s a good ascetical practice.  Remember, lent is a time of conversion of manners, so don’t take it up again after the vigil on Holy Saturday.   However, if you do, you have the consolation of knowing you accomplished something for lent.

In religious life I was often able to discover what other religious were doing for lent.  (I’m very shrewd and observant, and nosey I suppose - without meaning to be of course!)  The practice of charity is one of the best things one can do during lent.  Having said that, sometimes I couldn’t help but notice, a religious going out of their way to be kind to and assist someone they disliked in community - sometimes in grandiose and patronizing ways - charity must have witnesses.  Blowing them off after lent.  (I know that sounds rather cynical, but I’ve witnessed it.)

Then there are those really big sacrifices people make, giving up chocolate, the unnerving sacrifice of giving up coffee - please, don’t do that if I work with you!  (Caffeine deprivation is as bad as alcohol withdrawal in some cases.)

Other, more laudable practices include serving at a homeless shelter - please come back after lent!  The homeless are still hungry and in need.

The very best observance is the deepening of one’s spiritual life through daily Mass and devotion, along with time for adoration and good spiritual reading.  Let it be your new way of living - that way, your lent is more efficacious

I do become rather cynical about lent when it appears many people are doing things just to be nice, to diet, or to improve their health.  Lent is sort of a Jenny Craig thing for a lot of people, and we seem to miss the deeper spiritual meaning of it.

What if the bride and bridegroom really quit their marriage bed?  What if a person really gave up television, without substituting DVDs, and spent time in adoration, spiritual reading, and prayer?  What if people didn’t go out for dinner every night, or had 1 cocktail instead of 3?  Or just cut back on smoking - that becomes so much more difficult.  Give up your chocolates, go on a diet you call a fast.  And most definitely, do give alms - it supplies for every deficit.

More importantly, we might try to get over our 10 year old attitude about lent - grow up - do something more meaningful - act as if it is ourself who is going to die on Good Friday - striving to be converted and reconciled to God.  Lent is a time of conversion after all.  It’s so not just about ‘giving up’ stuff - ascesis is meant to be a freeing of the spirit, weighed down by the flesh, a conversion from a way of life that keeps us from union with God, an ascendancy towards union with His Divine plan, becoming more free to serve God and live in faithful cooperation with His will.

Consider adding these things to your ascesis:

Allow yourself to be used.

Allow yourself to be misunderstood.

 Allow yourself to be ignored.

 Allow yourself to be taught.

And then, reach out to those who have this done to them everyday - even if it is just a smile or a short prayer for them.

And finally, allow yourself to be loved, and quietly remain in His presence continually - not just at times of prayer - but in every activity, or rest, throughout the day.

It will be a profitable lent if you can accomplish that. Don’t think so much of what “you can do”.  Allow the Lord to transform you.

Signed:

Dom Terrance of Jesus and the Holy Wounds, Abbot of Katz.

I’m not really into local stuff.  Ray at Stella Borealis does all of this just fine.  Working, as I do, in a Catholic Bookstore, everyone wants to post things in your doorway or on your blog.  I do this from time to time, and I’m not against promoting local endeavors in the least. 

Julie has posted about a relatively new religious goods store in the metro area, St. George’s Christian Books and Gifts.  She has the history and rundown on the new Catholic Store at her blog, Adoro te Devote. 

I’ve met the owner of the store, when he graciously brought me wonderful prints of John Paul II to sell in our store at the time of the Pope’s death.  He was so kind and obliging, completely non-competitive or pretentious.  I really liked him.  I have not visited his store, but I wish him every success.  Although, I encourage him to avoid buying Chinese manufactured goods - he will be successful without them. 

Morte a Venezia…or, dead in the water.

Pictured, Dirk Bogarde as Gustav von Aschenbach, dying on the lido in Venice…his visage expresses my disappointment at not winning…

Thanks to all who voted for Abbey-Roads2 in the Catholic Blog Awards.  For an under-educated upstart, I didn’t do too shabbily.  In one category, I was even rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eric Scheske from the Daily Eudemon, who happens to be one of the wittiest men I’ve ever read, and Don Marco from Vultus Christi, who seems the most spiritual, yet down to earth man I’ve ever met, and so on.  To view the results go here.  It was indeed an honor to be nominated, to be in the company of such good writers.

If I had won anything, Ray of Stella Borealis knew what my acceptance speech would have been:

“You love me!  You really, really love me!”  (Sally Fields when she won the Oscar.)

Well, I know some of you do.  Thank you very much.  This was fun!

(Now I can go back to being silly and annoying.  Maybe I should attack the bloggers who won.  Kidding - I’m so kidding.)

Congratulations to all of the winners!  The best and most deserving have indeed been recognized for their original and hard work.  I’m delighted with the results. 

My naive reflections.

Today’s first reading from Genesis deals with the Tower of Babel and God’s confusion of language, with the subsequent scattering of man throughout the world.  Ah ha!  That must be why there are pyramids in Egypt and similar structures in the America’s - everyone migrated from Babel.  They not only copied the architecture of Babel, they carried along those common creationist stories into every culture.  (I told you my reflections are naive.)

At Pentecost, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we see the curse of Babel undone by the gift of tongues.  Furthermore, the use of Latin as the universal language of the Church, united people of disparate cultures as regards worship and Church teaching.  The so-called dead language of Latin has been a stabilizing factor throughout history, precisely because it has ensured unity and uniformity in faith and practice.  Because of Latin, the words do not change in meaning, while the interpretation remains always consistent.

Perhaps that is one reason we see such disunity within the Church today as regards faith and morals and liturgy, now that Latin has fallen into disuse.  (Another naive reflection.)

Modern Babel:  Politically correct speech.

I’m not a big sports fan, so I can’t remember the guy’s name, but a retired basketball star recently sounded off on how he hates gay people and doesn’t want to be around them.  (A lot of people feel this way.)  The next day he quickly apologized and regretted his statement.  (He might have faced ‘treatment’ or what I call, re-programming for his words.) 

Someone got to him.  Someone must have convinced him it was woefully politically incorrect to make such statements.  Warning he could perhaps face litigation for hate speech, maybe lose an endorsement or two, or be completely banished from whatever associations there are for pro-athletes - retired or not.  People just cannot go around saying what they think nowadays, especially in public.

It’s been happening in Europe, speech is being restricted, those who do not comply with the new politically correctness are jailed, fined, and demonized - and its coming to a legislature near you. 

Bob Unruh from WorldNet Daily has a piece on this subject, entitled, “Dis a gay - Go to jail!”  His article starts off:

“Two Christians in Australia have been indicted for criticizing Islam, and another for criticizing Zionism. A filmmaker has been threatened with arrest for using the word “homosexual” rather than “gay.” Now a German priest faces jail time for publicly criticizing abortionists, and in Holland, “fornicators” and “adulterers” are protected classes and cannot be criticized.” WorldNet Daily.

Politically correct speech is the new confusion of language, although its proponents would insist it is the new unification of peoples.  We’ve been practicing it a long time.  We say, pro-choice instead of pro-abortion.  Person of color instead of negro or some other racial distinction.  Mentally challenged instead of retarded.  Visually impaired instead of blind.  Not all of the changes are bad, some of the new terminology often helps to understand the subject more clearly, after all, language evolves.  Yet when we politicize language, and mandate terms in twisted Orwellian-speak, then we get into trouble.

We are headed in that direction now.  In fact, we are pretty much there.