Abbey-Roads2

Was your baby properly baptized?

Depending upon what type of Roman Catholic church the kids were baptized in may make the difference.  No, it has nothing to do with the unique and unheard of baby name you came up with, or whether it was a priest, a deacon, or  in some cases, even a nun who administered the sacrament, it is the formula that may have been used.

Ohhhhh!  The formula needs to be Christian? 

The Vatican has stated persons baptized using the following formula are not only illicitly, but invalidly baptized: “Baptism conferred with the formulas «I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier» and «I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer»”  (Yeah, they’re illicit and invalid.) 

Therefore, if you or your children were baptized in this way - you/they aren’t really baptized and you have to do it over.  Look on the bright side, you can maybe get more gifts.

Who knew?

Rorate Caeli posted the document.   

Gender Neutral Formula Invalid - Pewsitter.com

H/T to Fr. Blake

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When dad does tricks. 

I came across an interesting article about a woman who wrote a book describing her experiences growing up with a homosexual father.  We often hear stories from parents of homosexual children, and now it seems children of homosexuals are coming out to tell their side of the story.  The author of  Out From Under, Dawn Stephanowizc is quoted here:

“Children are impacted long-term in homosexual environments – not just while they’re growing up, but throughout their adulthood,” said the author. “Children [of homosexuals] who have been in touch with me, even into their fifties and sixties, still describe certain difficulties that they are facing long-term.” - Americans For Truth 

One should think legislators and society would take a more cautious approach to same sex marriage and adoption before giving blanket approval - especially after listening to the kids. 

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Why many Orthodox priests do not shave and have long hair.

I never knew this before, but it has long been the tradition in the Orthodox Church that priests and monks neither cut their beards nor their hair, which explains why they look like the icons.  I suppose I knew this unconsciously, but I never gave it any thought.  Yet the reason is very much tied to the Old Law (Leviticus 19:27 and 21:5); that priests not trim their beards or cut their hair.  Of course, it is also in imitation of Christ, a Nazorean, who neither trimmed His beard, nor cut His hair.  Since the priest acts in place of Christ (persona Christi), it is fitting he resemble his Master. 

In the Roman Church, Capuchin Franciscans wore beards for similar reasons, since both Christ and St Francis were bearded, although Roman Catholic clerics were always tonsured.  (It was customary that Romans shaved, since not to do so identified one as a barbarian.)

“Don’t change a hair for me…”

Many Orthodox Jews keep the same rule, especially Hassidic Jews, who keep the Nazarene custom of long hair and beards.  Interestingly, Jews recognize that Orthodox priests are keeping the Old Law, although they say they do not keep other aspects of it, such as circumcision.  As Christians, we know we are not obliged to do so, although Coptic and Ethiopian Christians keep the part of the Old Covenant’s dietary regulations, such as not eating pork, and so on.

One day I was standing, talking with a Roman Catholic priest, while two Hassidic Jews were walking down the street ahead of us.  Father nudged me and pointed to them, laughing at their hair and beards, with their customary fedoras, and the prayer shawl tassels hanging from their coats.  I can’t repeat what he said.  I  couldn’t avoid thinking how strange our religions seem to one another, yet how closely related we really are.  It was at that moment, I understood Christ, the Jew, had long hair, a beard, and would have worn a prayer shawl.  Now I also understand why the Orthodox priest has long hair and a beard as well.

Orthodox priests who work at secular jobs, and those whose wives (Matushkas) do not like beards, may shave and cut their hair, and many do.  I assume the Orthodox must have their own controversies  over which priest shaves and those who don’t.  What would Church be without our petty differences, huh?

Roman Catholics who favor married clergy might want to look more closely at the Orthodox married clergy - a wife, children to raise, a normal job, and your weekends are always booked, Batiushka.

Links:

The Truth About The Beard

Concering the Tradition of Long Hair and Beards

Long Hair and Beards For Orthodox Clergy

Priestly Attire

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When the Pope speaks. 

Cardinal Bertone revealed the Holy Father is finishing a new social encyclical, with special concern for the third and fourth world .  It is rumored it will be signed on the feast of St. Joseph and released during Easter.  CNA  has the story.

Are papal encyclicals infallible?

Maybe not according to dissident Catholics or those outside the Church, and even die-hard traditionalists who reject Vatican II.  Nevertheless, when the Pope speaks through an encyclical, what he says does command consent on the part of the faithful.  As Pius XII affirmed in his 1950 encyclical Humanae generis:

“Nor must it be thought that what is expounded in encyclical letters does not itself command consent, on the pretext that in writing such letters the Popes do not exercise the supreme power of their teaching authority. For these matters are taught with the ordinary teaching authority, of which it is true to say, ‘He who heareth you, heareth me.’ … But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their official documents purposely pass judgment on a matter up to that time under dispute, it is obvious that the matter, according to the mind and will of the same Pontiffs, cannot be any longer considered a question open to discussion among theologians.” - Pius XII

Later, the Council Fathers of Vatican II teach that:

“loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given, in a special way, to the authentic teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra in such wise, indeed, that his supreme teaching authority be acknowledged with respect, and that one sincerely adhere to decisions made by him, conformably with his manifest mind and intention, which is made known principally either by the character of the documents in question, or by the frequency with which a certain doctrine is proposed, or by the manner in which the doctrine is formulated.”- Lumen Gentium

Links:

What is Papal Infallibility?

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RCIA and incompetence. 

The woman who cuts my hair sends her children to school at St. Richard’s, a Catholic church/community and school in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.  Her husband is ‘undergoing‘ RCIA at the ‘community center’.  Typically, the parish priest or pastor has little to nothing to do with the formation of RCIA candidates - at St. Richards any way.  In fact, the pastor is on sabbatical - so he definitely is not involved.  He is traveling the Middle East.  The parissh website explains:

“Our pastor, will be gone on sabbatical January through April in 2008. The focus of his sabbatical is the meeting of East and West in Christian spirituality. He received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment that will allow him to travel to Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.” - St. Richard’s

[Strange to be away on sabbatical over the most important feast in the Christian calendar.]

First Communion - then First Penance.

My friend’s husband is Lutheran, but attended Mass with his wife and children and wanted to receive the Eucharist - so he decided to enroll in RCIA.  My friend is young, still in her 20’s, but was raised in a conventional Catholic parish.  She made her first confession, and then  made her first communion.  Her child’s religious education person told her she had to adapt to change when she asked why her children couldn’t make their first confession before communion.  The teacher explained that first penance is reserved for the 5th graders - “because children younger than that just couldn’t sin.”  (And people wonder why there is a loss of a sense of sin in our society.)

My friend’s husband will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, although he has never been prepared for the sacrament of penance.  In fact, he has been told nothing about the sacrament, and it appears he is not required to make a confession before his profession of faith and confirmation.

Once my friend asked the woman in charge of RCIA about aspects of the faith she felt were important for her husband to learn about, the instructor pretty much blew her off.  My friend told me that every parish she checked out in south Minneapolis and the southern suburbs seemed like entirely different denominations of Catholic, each appeared to have their own rules and way of celebrating Mass.

So - What’s in your parish? 

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Could it be?

From what I understand about Buddhism, men may enter monasteries for a period of time, only to leave, marry and raise a family, almost as if they are performing a tour of duty in military service.  No one in their culture seems to look down upon those who do not stay.  The monks who remain in the monastery, become priests and live as  celibates for life; obviously the ones who leave do not.  (As I said, I don’t know very much about Buddhist monastic life.) 

However, it seems to me, in Roman Catholicism, the unofficial  concept of a ‘temporary vocation’ may be similar to what Buddhists practice.  I for one, entered monastic life, only to return to the lay state, as have many others I know.  Each of us have a great reverence for monastic-contemplative life, and consider the months and years spent in the monastery the furthest thing from a waste of time, rather we view it as a period of tremendous grace, a time of formation for the rest of our lives.

I was reminded of these things today after receiving an email from my friend David with an attachment, an article from Commonweal written by a former Carthusian.  I found it very interesting, and perhaps you will too.  It can be found here. 

I am intrigued and edified how some people remain monks, and others do not.  For many years I felt guilty for leaving monastic life and yet I knew it wasn’t my call.  It also amazes me that someone may stay for two decades and then leave…   I once termed that as ‘abandoning one’s vocation’… however, I think it is an unfair judgment in most cases and I now doubt it can be considered in such a way.  Having said that, what never changes for me is my belief that those who do persevere until death are very blessed indeed.

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Francesco Possenti, known in the Passionists as Gabriel de l’Addolorata.

Several years ago I was at an antique show and drawn to a cabinet containing odds and ends.  I spied a theca (reliquary) containing a large sliver of bone, marked “B. Gabriel e Virg Dolorosa“.  The papers accompanying  it were yellowed with age.  I grabbed the relic, and paid about $35 for it.  The dealer had no idea as to what it was, and told me it was found amongst some jewelry at an estate sale.  I keep it in a bronze gothic reliquary, and it stands next to me now as I write this.  St. Gabriel, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.  Amen. 

[Relics must never be bought or sold, although some people innocently purchased them to remove them from profanation.]

St. Gabriel’s feast day is February 27.

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Family Feud Host:  Name the most popular religion in the U.S.

The Nelson family responds:  Roman Catholic?

Family Feud Host:  Survey says:  Roman Catholic!  The Nelson family wins!

Gotta get religion! 

From network news to the most insignificant religious blogger (me), the talk of the nation is all about religion today.  A new survey from The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life indicates that the United States is on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country; the detailed research also turned up data revealing that a significant number of Americans switch religious affiliations over their lifetimes, and that one third of cradle Catholics no longer identify themselves as Catholic.  The survey recognizes what most everyone already knew, Hispanic immigrants are raising the stats for the Catholic Church in the U.S. and filling the gap left by fallen away Catholics.

Sounds like good news to me.

The survey results seem to confirm other stats suggesting mainline Protestants are losing their congregations.  Gee, I wonder why?  I wonder if watered down doctrine has anything to do with it?  Or ordaining homosexuals and women and blessing SS couples?  Probably not.

The glass half full.

One thing the survey couldn’t document is the long venerable tradition of fallen away Catholics returning to the Church after doing whatever it is they do do that kept them from the sacraments in the first place.  Of course, I haven’t read the survey results, therefore I’m unsure if the stats concerning Americans switching denominations, makes much of  the increasing numbers of Protestants entering the Church. 

After the Holy Father visits in April, Catholic stats should see another boost. 

Links: 

Catholic News Agency 

Nearly half of Americans left their childhood faith. 

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Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but 
stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who 
guards you will honour your patience.  - St. John of the Ladder 

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