Most people fear the process of dying, which involves radical dependency, a sense of powerlessness, and sometimes significant pain as well.
Category: Columns
Contemplating Mary’s spiritual beauty
During October 1863, Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli received a vision of Mary as he rode to Shullsburg with three Dominican Sisters for the sacrament of Confirmation.
He told Fr. John Kinsella, his confessor, “I have always been an admirer of beauty. But never have I seen anything that compared with the beauty of God’s mother.”
Accept all of Church teaching, not just some parts
Editor’s note: Following is a response to George Weigel’s column, “Benedict and the truth about charity,” published in the September 17 issue of the Catholic Herald. Portions of this article have been edited.
For those of us who have read Pope Benedict XVI’s social encyclical Caritas in Veritate, George Weigel’s recent commentaries may seem off the mark. Did he really read the same encyclical as the rest of us?
Caritas in Veritate is a very lengthy discussion of how our works of charity must proceed from the essential truth we find in Christ. If not, then such works reflect a kind of momentary whim or sentimentality.
Now thank we all our God — even in hard times
Robert Orben bought a baby turkey early in January. He fed it organic food to enable it to grow and become the plump, juicy main course of their Thanksgiving dinner.
His three children quickly made the turkey their pet. Like Mary’s little lamb, it followed them wherever they went.
Happy New Year
When you read the title of this column, you probably thought I was several weeks ahead of myself or that a little dementia had set in.
Well, I know what date it is, and I am not losing my mind, yet! The new liturgical year will begin on December 1 and, just like many people make resolutions to improve their lives at the start of the calendar year, the Season of Advent presents us with an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual aspect of our lives.
Amendment preserves long-standing protections
Abortion proponents raised a public outcry after passage of the House health care bill earlier this month.
They criticized action taken by 240 members of the House of Representatives to approve an amendment offered by Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan). The Stupak amendment maintains a “status quo” approach to the federal funding of abortion.
The inclusion of the Stupak amendment in the House bill shocked those who would like taxpayers to pay for abortion coverage. Their reaction has been to misrepresent the amendment’s impact by suggesting that it will reach beyond current law.
They are wrong.
Health reform: A victory and a challenge
On November 7, Congress gave many observers a big surprise. On a vote of 240 to 194, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to maintain longstanding policies against federal abortion funding in proposed health care reform legislation.
Old age: The equalizer?
It’s a privilege to get old; not everyone has the chance to experience life in their 80s. It’s a time when we can no longer hide our age with cosmetics and high style when there are other obvious signs of deterioration.
Whereas we once walked tall, carrying ourselves with grace, we are now shrunken and our backs are bent. The sure-footed stride has evolved into cautious baby steps. And the head held high now is bent to watch for possible ice or bumps on our path.
Our covenant through Baptism
Thankfulness for many blessings over this past year already fills the minds and hearts of my family and, I imagine, yours, as well. In particular, thanking God for my cousins’ now one-year-old quadruplets. Yes, that’s right. We are all still amazed at this spontaneous gift from God to Michael, Angela, and little Delaney. Now they are seven. Like some other great stories it happened once upon a night.
Making goals a reality
As the Council reminds us: “The People of God believes that it is led by the Spirit of the Lord, who fills the whole world. Moved by this faith it tries to discern authentic signs of God’s presence and purpose in the events, the needs, and the longings which it shares with other people of our time. For faith throws a new light on all things and makes known the full ideal to which God has called each individual, and thus guides the mind towards solutions which are fully human” — Christifideles Laici, 3. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II (December 1988)
I’ve talked about the purpose of pastoral planning, that is, to answer the questions, “Who are we as a faith community? What are we called to do? How are we best to do it?” be it for a parish, or a cluster of parishes, or even a diocese.
I’ve also mentioned how these questions are answered by the Holy Spirit through the bishop of the diocese, the pastor of the parish, and his pastoral council. The bishop gives each parish and cluster of parishes a focus through his goals and directives. These in turn are taken by the pastors and pastoral councils and are prayerfully reflected upon to create a plan of action.
This article will discuss how this plan of action is made real and active in a parish and in a cluster of parishes.