Abbey-Roads2

“Judge not and you will not be judged.” - Luke 7:37

Most of us hear these words and yet protest that we must judge between what is evil and what is good.  We must point out the errors of those who teach what is contrary to the gospel.  But I’m not referring to those things, rather, I’m thinking about the tendency we all have to point out to others their sin or disobedience to Church teaching.  Our willingness to exercise the duty of fraternal correction,  a work of mercy some of us eagerly perform, often without charity at times.  

Of course we insist it is a greater charity to correct the sinner and thus save him from eternal damnation, than to leave him alone in his error.  Although we sometimes allow ourselves the liberty to cajole, condemn, mock, and disparage the person and his beliefs.  Despite our failure in charity, we somehow justify ourselves that we at least attempted to lead him to the truth by our “tough love” approach.

“Lord, would you not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?” - Luke 9:54

Quite a few years ago, while watching Mother Angelica on her show, she was very upset about Scorcessi’s film at the time, “The Last Temptation of Christ” and she said such things as “I pray that the worst earthquake will destroy Hollywood in punishment for this blasphemy.”  (This is not an exact quote, but she said something to that effect.)  I was taken aback by her tirade and wrote to her, suggesting she ought to be praying in reparation and for the salvation of those who committed this blasphemy.  I suggested she think of the many others who would die in such a disaster.  I got a very nice letter from Mother, wherein she stated she did not say those things, and she did not mean to imply it.  (It is on tape however.)  She obviously had cooled down about the entire matter.

I cite this example because, from time to time, a few of us may have had similar thoughts.  Why doesn’t the Pope or the Bishops excommunicate this guy or that parish?  Why doesn’t the Lord chastise this or that city, as he did Sodom?  Similar to the disciples, we want to call down fire from heaven.  Yet we forget, that the Lord  “shows us generous patience, since he wants none to perish but all to come to repentance.”  - 2 Peter 3:9  And we also forget that we are all sinners, and some of us were perhaps dissident Catholics at one time or another ourselves.

The Barren Fig Tree.

Today’s gospel beautifully illustrates the patience of God.  The vinedresser pleads with the owner of the orchard to allow the barren fig tree to remain, despite the owner’s impatience that the tree bore no fruit and should be rooted up and destroyed.  The vinedresser says, “Sir, leave it another year, while I hoe around it and manure it: then perhaps it will bear fruit.  If not, it shall be cut down.” - Like 13: 6-9.

Thus we get a glimpse into the mind of God here, and the kindness and mercy of Jesus, “who welcomed sinners and ate with them.” -Luke 15:2.  What does this mean for me?  That I need to love others as Jesus does.  That I must show others the same love and patience Jesus has shown to me on the long and winding road that led to my repentance and return to the Church.  Like the vinedresser taking care of the non-productive fig tree, I must care for my brothers and sisters who are not yet perfect.

“You pass judgement according to appearances but I pass judgement on no man.” - John 8:15

I must allow the Lord, who is the true vinedresser, to prune and cultivate the tree as he sees fit; offering the hoeing and manure of my good works, sacrifices and prayers, for those who are most in need of his mercy.  All the while, accepting that they must remain in the orchard of the Church if they are to be saved.  If they are to be excommunicated, that is up to the Magisterium, not me, and even then I am obliged to love and pray for them.   

“If you cannot contain yourself, flee into solitude. . . . It is not through virtue that I live in solitude, but through weakness; those who live in the midst of men are the strong ones.” - Abba Matoes

Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

I am profoundly moved by this man’s life and martyrdom, and I can’t remain silent about him.  I noticed very few Catholic bloggers have taken note of him, and many more Catholics do not even know who this man is.  In our age of moral decadence, war and rumors of war, and blatant compromise of Christian values and teaching, I shouldn’t be surprised that the beatification of Franz Jagerstatter is more or less ignored.  I want to cry out:  ”Look at him!”  “Listen to the man of God!”

Leaving behind a wife and three small daughters, Blessed Franz was beheaded for refusing to kill for the Nazis in WWII.  He offered to serve as a non-combative medic, but the Nazi Regime refused this offer, and he was beheaded for treason.  Bishops, priests, and lay faithful alike, all pleaded with him to submit to authority, yet this heroic Third Order Franciscan chose the narrow way that leads to eternal life.  What follows are some thoughts from Blessed Franz’ writings and life.

“Just as the man who thinks only of this world does everything possible to make life here easier and better, so must we, too, who believe in the eternal kingdom, risk everything in order to receive a great reward there. Just as those who believe in National Socialism tell themselves that their struggle is for survival, so must we, too, convince ourselves that our struggle is for the eternal kingdom. But with this difference: We need no rifles or pistols for our battle, but instead, spiritual weapons—and the foremost among these is prayer. . . . Through prayer, we constantly implore new grace from God, since without God’s help and grace it would be impossible for us to preserve the Faith and be true to His commandments. . . . Let us love our enemies, bless those who curse us, pray for those who persecute us. For love will conquer and will endure for all eternity. And happy are they who live and die in God’s love.” - Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

“I believe there could scarcely be a sadder hour for the true Christian faith in our country,” he wrote, “than this hour when one watches in silence while this error spreads its ever-widening influence.” Commenting on the Austrian plebiscite, which gave approval to the Anschluss, he lamented: “I believe that what took place in the spring of 1938 was not much different from what happened that Holy Thursday 1,900 years ago when the crowd was given a free choice between the innocent Savior and the criminal Barabbas.” - First Things

“In Germany, before Hitler came to power, it was once a matter of policy to refuse Holy Communion to Nazis. And what is the situation today in this Greater German Reich? Many approach the Communion rail with apparently no spiritual misgivings even though they are members of the Nazi Party and, in addition, permit their children to join the Party or even turn them over to Nazi educators for formation. . . . If one gives a little thought to this, there are times when he will want to cry out.” - Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

“If (my disciples) were to keep silence, I tell you the very stones would cry out!” - Luke 19:40

Sources: Franz Jagerstatter: Martyr and Model;  Catholic News Agency

I almost forgot!  (Charity compels me to post on my fast from the internet day!)

Today, Franz Jägerstätter’s beatification takes place in Linz, Austria.  Blessed Franz was a conscientious objector under the Nazis and put to death for his refusal to kill for the German military.  In a time when many people in the world question the legality of the war in Iraq, and now with talk of possible war with Iran, Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s beatification, his witness to the Gospel, invites us to examine our consciences on the issues of war and peace, violence and murder, hatred and bigotry. 

“The life of Franz Jägerstätter was the ordinary life of an Austrian farmer in the village of St. Radegund. He was a devout Catholic, a daily communicant who prayed the rosary while doing farm chores. Sexton of his parish church, he was married and had three children. But, on August 9, 1943 Franz Jägerstätter’s life became other than ordinary, when he was legally killed by the German Military for refusing to kill for the German Military.

At the hour of his death few people knew him and no one who did know him supported him in his refusal to engage in homicide for the Führer. Legions of Christians of all ranks told him to do his duty and go to war like the other Christian men. His bishop, pastor and spiritual advisors endeavored to persuade him that his conscientious objection was a wrong and futile course, even possibly sinful and contrary to Church teaching. He was looked upon as the embarrassing, if not mentally unstable, polar opposite of the heroic Aryan warrior. However, with a courage that, even on an exclusively human plane, was noble, heart-rending and eminently inspiring, he gently stood firm and said, “No,” to joining the German military. So it can be said with certitude, that when the blade of the guillotine fell at Brandenburg Prison near Berlin at 4 p.m. on August 9, 1943, Franz Jägerstätter was totally alone, almost totally unknown and destined to be totally forgotten.” - Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy 

War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.

~ John F. Kennedy

[Thanks to my Bruderhoff brother for sending me this link earlier in the month.]

Friday, the penitential day of the week.

Again, not that many Catholics realize that we are indeed required to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.  However, in the United States we are allowed to substitute the abstinence from meat with another suitable penance or act of charity.  We do this in remembrance of Our Lord’s passion, since Fridays are dedicated to his sorrowful passion and death.

Canon 1250  All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251  Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canon 1252  All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Abstinence  The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste. - EWTN

Therefore, I will be off line today as well.  Wednesday taught me that prayer and fasting is far better than writing a weblog.  Thus, another hermit day for me.

I don’t know.

I’m not implying that the characters of the classic children’s book series are gay - I’m just using their image for fun.  Now Rowlings said Dumbledore is gay, but there is nothing in Harry Potter to indicate anything as to his sexual orientation.  Nevertheless, people are upset with her for saying the headmaster of Hogwarts is gay - due mostly to that gay agenda thing we all talk about.

Most, if not all of us know homosexuals.  They are in our families, amongst our friends and coworkers, they wait upon us in restaurants, we buy their art, we watch their movies, read their books, listen to them preach in Church - they are everywhere.

Hatred.

Many people insist they “hate the sin” but profess to “love the sinner”.  We constantly preach the teaching of scripture and the Church as a defense for our hatred of the sin.  I’m famous for insisting the “G” in “GLBT” means that every gay person embraces all the depraved stuff homosexual sex includes.  (Obviously they don’t.)  I’ve said that without understanding that many gay people resort to anonymous sex in less than desirable circumstances because of the intense societal rejection and subsequent shame they feel because of their homosexual orientation.  I’m not condoning what they do - simply stating a reality.

Is there a gay agenda?  

I think there is in various sectors of the culture.  But I do not believe every homosexual person is a part of it, and may not even condone it.  Certainly everyone deserves protection from discrimination, everyone deserves housing and fundamental human rights, gay people included.  Many gay people just want the issue to go away, to be able to live their lives, just as all of us do.  Yes, there are those who push the envelope, demanding same-sex unions, adoption of children, so on and so forth.  But not every gay person is so politicized as that.  (I am against SS marriage and gay people adopting children.  Of course others disagree with me on that.)

Gay-Catholics.

I’ve made a big deal about how gay-Catholics must drop the term gay because of its political implications and insisting it keeps people in the lifestyle.  Nevertheless, there are sincere individuals who honestly believe they were born homosexual and it is not a choice.  They identify their sexuality as gay.  Who am I to tell them their experience of themselves is incorrect?  I cannot live or understand their experience.  Their experience is the only truth they know of themselves.  I can’t say, “You just think you are gay.”

Perhaps for a very few, it was a choice, although most gay people insist they were born that way.   Perhaps for others, it was a choice not made in total freedom, but a series of conditions in their formative years which led them to certain concessions or accommodations, which necessitated an unconscious choice or decision that they must be gay.  (”Gee, I must be gay because I feel attracted to the same sex.”)   Perhaps this is what many describe as suddenly realizing they are gay.  Thus, acting upon this inclination, especially for a number of years, they may see themselves as constitutionally, or irreversibly homosexual.  The truth is, most gay people do not believe they can change their orientation.

The Catholic attitude.

Whatever the cause of homosexuality, the Roman Catholic Church does not demand that a person with homosexual inclination change his or her orientation.  (Neither does the Church pretend to know the reason people are gay.)  To experience homosexual orientation, or same sex attraction is not in itself sinful.  The Church simply teaches that to act upon homosexual desire, that is, homosexual acts, is sinful.  Unwilling to bind up heavy burdens men are unable to carry, the Church merely teaches that homosexuals are called to chastity.  All men and women are called to live chastely, even in heterosexual marriage, and the single are called to live chastely and celibately, either until heterosexual marriage or for life.  That is all.

Turn it down a few notches.

A reader sent me a post from Mark Shea  regarding the Dumbledore controversy.  Shea’s commenter had the following to write, which had the effect of convicting me in conscience.  He wrote:

“This is why I think it’s so important for Christians to have clearly in their minds the distinction between same sex attraction (which are not sinful) and homosexual acts (which are). Otherwise, it’s hard to see how people struggling with homosexual attraction will get any other message than “It’s not what you do, it’s what you are that’s the problem.”

Dumbledore, so far as we can tell, committed no sin in that department. Christians can acknowledge that. They can also point out (as I tried to do yesterday) that his SSA is, from a literary standpoint, the perfect image of the love of the Same that tempted him to Pureblood racism. It is notable that “love”, not sexual attraction, is the term Rowling uses to describe it.

So: can everybody turn it down a few notches? These are not the greatest books of all time. Rowling is neither a true or false prophet. Be aware that persons who are grappling with the Church’s teaching on homosexuality are getting a loud and clear message in the comboxes: It doesn’t matter whether you live chastely or not, if you are SSA then you are irredeemable. I doubt that’s the message anybody intends to send, but it’s being sent (and heard) nonetheless.” - Bleak But True

Yeah, I don’t know why anyone is gay - I don’t live their lives.  I apologize if it seems like I was trying to do so.  I apologize for not respecting your humanity.  Gay people know the teaching of the Church, they don’t need me pounding it home to them, Christ simply asks that I love them as he does, and pray for them.

[Thank you Susan for the Mark Shea link.) 

The California wildfires.

Watching the news coverage, most of the evacuees were asked what they salvaged when they only had minutes or hours to flee their homes.  Most took very little, and their greatest concern was to rescue their families, children, and pets.  I thought back to the post Fr. Zuhlsdorf  wrote a week or so ago about this exact same topic.  I wondered if his readers in California remembered it, and if they thought Fr. Z’s post may have been prophetic?

Cruel judgement.

Mixed in with some of the news coverage was a brief piece about a radio talk show host.  The host was making fun of the wealthy residents, especially the Malibu celebrity community, mocking their potential need for aid, assistance, and shelter.  Elsewhere, on a couple of websites I read things like, “this is God’s judgement on the California sinners”, or “these people brought it on themselves because they built in a fire zone”, etc.   With comments like these, no wonder so many in our society hate Christians.  Where is the charity?

These people, no matter how affluent nor what their lifestyle, have lost home, property, possessions, and in most cases, a huge interruption in their abilty to earn a living - if not their entire livelihood.  If winter rains come, even more may be lost to mudslides.  What is wrong with people that they can so easily make light of others suffering such loss?

Loving our neighbor.

In today’s Gospel Our Lord anxiously proclaims, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12)  Our Lord is speaking of the fire of Divine love, the burning fires of charity, which at its core is the burning desire for the salvation of souls.  Indeed, it seems the fire of love has grown cold today, even in the hearts of Christians.

The love of Christians could ignite, and like the California wildfire, set the blaze, engulfing the dry wood of those alienated from the Church, in and through our patience, our understanding and our love.  If only we stopped continually condemning others, dictating how they should be living, and try to love them as God loves them, perhaps this would spark the fires of belief in hearts grown cold and indifferent.

Charity is not an emotion.

I’m at fault - I’ve failed to understand the immense love God has for every person, no matter what their religion, no matter if a person is an athiest, an agnostic, or an enemy of the Church.  God loves the homosexual, the woman who has an abortion - God loves the sinner.  I don’t think we comprehend that in all of its depth.  I don’t think we truly realize that God permits the rain to fall on the good and the bad, producing the harvest for both.  I don’t think we fully comprehend how he permits the weeds to grow amongst the wheat.  We hear “hate the sin” and we end up hating the sinner.

It is difficult to comprehend, but when Jesus cries out in today’s Gospel, “I have a baptism to endure, and what anguish I feel until it is accomplished” he is speaking of his passion.  In his immense love, he gave himself into the hands of the impious, to be mocked, scourged, beaten, and crucified.  Totally abandoned, rejected even by his own, he cried out from the depths of his Sacred Heart, “I thirst” echoing that same thirst for love his persecutors experienced.  Yet more deeply, the very thirst of God - for love and for souls.

“You will all come to the same end unless you repent.”

We can’t know this however, until we lose everything we possess and cherish, and realize we are no better than those we condemn or hate.  Our knowledge of dogma and theology is nothing with out love.  How are men and women ever going to be attracted to Christ and his Church if we do not have love?  The commandments, dogma, theology, and threats of damnation rarely attract the unconverted.  Love, that is charity, does.

Suffering is a great equalizer.  May all of us who profess to be Christian be blessed by the Cross that we may understand the sufferings of others.   

Today is the Swiss feast of Our Lady of Hermits, which is the title of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.  I think I need to retreat today into the hermitage of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.  Prayer and adoration all day.

Novy Dvur

The Cistercian (O.C.S.O.) monastery of Novy Dvur, constructed outside Prague is a magnificintly austere abbey in the early tradition of Cistercian asceticism.  Designed by architect John Pawson, who gained fame for his minimal designs for the Calvin Klein boutiques, the monastery beautifully expresses the nada  of contemplative life.

The abbey Church is pure and unadorned space, majestically simple, wherein liturgical prayer is the entire focus, as is evidenced by the sanctuary with the centrality of the tabernacle and the altar of sacrifice.  Nothing created impedes the lifting up the heart to God.  The other traditional spaces of the complex are likewise as simple and austere with elements of classic monastic architecture. 

On monastic prayer.

“Do not let anyone occupy your heart, but God alone.” - Saint Theophane of Tambov

“It is above all a question of faith, a firm adhesion, without any support, where great things are at stake. In order to remain attentive to the Lord who is present, there is a manner of doing things that one would hardly call a method, unless one retains the etymology of this word: a way or path, a set of reference points from which each person must forge his own experience according to his personal grace, guided by an elder.

Each person, in effect, can turn himself to God, even without knowing it. But the practice of prayer – attentive personal and quiet presence before the Holy Sacrament – orients our life. We learn to remain in an attitude of prayer for a long time, occupied simply by a vocal prayer, invocations or a reading. We have grasped the fact that the desire to turn ourselves towards God, even when this is mixed with other desires, can happen with the help of divine grace.

And let us not distinguish between prayer from God and prayer from the man: there is only one side, everything comes from God, and yet the man really prays… Prayer in fact is a volontary commitment, consented in the action of the Christ Savior. If only we would care to lift the veil which blocks our vision, so overaccustomed to these realities, we would understand how much prayer is serious and simple in its accomplishment but ambitious in its result.

Outside of God, of the Faith, monks have no meaning and serve no useful end. the monk, himself, knows – since he shares the faith of the Church – that his vocation is mysteriously useful, mysteriously efficient for his brothers and sisters of mankind: he knows that it his participation, imperfect and unfaithful, in the life, the Passion and the sorrowful and solitary death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who in this way saved humanity.

It is also for this reason that the monk prays. Burying his prayer in the prayer of Jesus, he prays for all men, living and dead, believers and non-believers, those dear to him and those he knows not. Not so that, from bad they might become good… but so that all may have access to goodness and truth. This is the prayer of substitution or of intercession. - Novy Dvur website

Reading these thoughts on monastic prayer may help one understand the austerity of the architecture at Novy Dvur.