Eric #11107 - part 3

Dear Eric #11107 - part 3

I have this exercise derived from an RCIA class I taught.  I think it might make a good basis for discussion.

I am posting each question as a sub thread to avoid having nine threads.

1.     We have all heard the term “my people.” We may have even used it. Consider using this term personally. When you do consider it personally, who is included in your personal “my people?” There may be more than one group this applies to. They may be groups within groups. Name all the groups you can!

2.     It is said that the Church is "one." What does this mean to you? Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is "one?"

3.     Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is not “one?”

The church does not consist of people of only one color, of only one race, of only one culture.

It does not use just one liturgy -- each of the "Rites" of the Catholic Church has its own ancient form of liturgy.

4.     It is said that the Church is “holy.” What does this mean to you? Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is “holy?”

5.     Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is not “holy?”

6.     It is said that the Church is “catholic” with a small “c.” That means universal. What does this mean to you? Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is “catholic?”

7.     Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is not “catholic?”

8.     It is said that the Church is “apostolic.” What does this mean to you? Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is “apostolic?”

9.     Can you name one or more specific ways in which the Church is not “apostolic?”

Eric #11107 - part 2

Dear Eric #11107 - part 2

The second issue that arises from your post is the tendency of some people to seek darkness.

Just about everyone understands the light/darkness dichotomy -- it is found in pop culture such as Star Wars.  It was recently the basis of the Gospel reading of the wise and foolish virgins -- a story rooted in real life even to the 20^th century (see Barclay's Commentary on Matthew).

But a recent event in my life showed me a new insight into this image.  I was on a 2.5 day retreat at a Jesuit retreat House (Ignatius House in Atlanta).  There was light everywhere:  in the Word, in the retreat master, in the glow in the sky from a major city, in the halls 24x7 for security.  Then on Saturday, while it was still light out, a storm went through, knocking out the power.  Dinner and the last conference were done with no electric lights, just as night was falling.  There was a scramble to find candles to allow us to navigate the dark halls, the emergency power system having been exhausted.

Just as we were retiring, the power came back.  But the next morning, just as the morning bell sounded, out again went the power.  Breakfast with no power was more limited than would otherwise be the case.  This time the power returned in time for the final Eucharist.  At that time we shared our experiences of the retreat.

It seems that when the storm came through on Saturday, a number of people were in the nearby woods.  Those woods have a number of old large tall trees, not the place to be in the storm.  Several stories included the sound of limbs crashing to the ground as the winds blew through.  All escaped unharmed but not untouched.  Prayer on the occasion of danger burns deeper into our heart.

I am presently in the Washington DC area.  The residents are still recovering and remembering the events here associated with the snipers.  Last light, at dinner, it was pointed our that, on the way to the restaurant, we passed the site of one of the shootings.

Where I am staying is close to the Pentagon.  When I passed through last August, it was pointed out the side that is renewed and rebuilt after the events of September 11, 2001.

Two cases of darkness visiting and passing away, but the memories and therefore emotions, linger.

I have seen on StR's since I have been a member a tendency of some to focus on the dark side of things, specifically the church.  In view of the ongoing scandals and their painful resolutions, it is somewhat understandable.

But on that retreat I came to a new appreciation of light and darkness.

We are so bathed in light that we have lost our appreciation of light and darkness.  We use light to drive away fear, loneliness, and boredom.  The shiny is now mundane.

But when electricity is shut off, we are left with not just darkness but quiet.  Then it is when we can disconnect from the world, and connect with God.  For as the prophet said, the Lord comes not in the wind and thunder, but in the gentle breeze.  We find it difficult to experience it without being still.

Christ is indeed the light of the world.  But for his light to be seen, we must remove the glitter that blinds us.  For us to sense the Spirit of God, the breathe of God, the gentle breeze that blows through our souls if we let it, we must build a windbreak against the hurricane of Hollywood.

And so we frame a new paradox.  We shut off the light of the world that we may be warmed by the Light of the world.  We accept the absence of electric light so we may open the window of our hearts to the quiet Presence.

So Eric if you must be a crusader, be a Knight who accepts the responsibility to lift up the light of Christ in the world.  You might start where you are going to school.  Your bishop, Donald Wuerl, is one of the most influential and respected bishops in the US and in the world (he used to work in the Vatican and is respected there).  He is a great communicator.  He is also a soft spoken gentleman.  Get to know him.

Richard (formerly of Northside Pgh)

Eric #11107 - part 1

Dear Eric #11107 - part 1

I am sorry I did not get to post in your thread now placed in the forbidden zone under pain of excommunication.  I am on vacation and a bit out of touch.  But it seems to me that the topic you were wishing to address is mission and evangelization.  You gave us your take on your personal mission and suggested evangelization approach -- you wish to preach a crusade, this time against other Catholics.  Would that this were a novel approach.

It is good that you are thinking about mission, about the journey and meaning of your personal life in God.  One of my passions is the communion of the saints, what Pius XII called the Body of Christ.  JPII shares this passion.  He has held up many models for us to ponder, who invite us into relationship with them.

At the moment I would like to consider one of my favorites, St Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  First you may wish to object that I call her a saint.  While her name is not yet in the canon (Latin for list), I have never met a Catholic who did not consider her a saint in their heart of hearts.  Her cultus is approved.  So calling her a saint is to recognize her heroic virtues -- as did the Hindus of her adopted country India, who gave her a state funeral.

Many saints experience a conversion experience -- not a flash of light or a vision, but a turning in one's life to a new mission.  SMToC's was different in that she was already a vowed religious when her conversion experience occurred.

The nature of her conversion experience was also special with respect to its goal -- its sense of mission.  Here in the United States most Catholics have experienced the mission of vowed women religious.  For persons of my certain age, it was typically as an educator or healer or contemplative intercessor.  They taught in schools, worked in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, they prayed and worked in enclosure.

SMToC chose to be in the world.  She chose to minister in the streets.  She was called to minister to those rejected by the world.  And she chose not to teach them or heal them -- merely to be present to them as an alter Christus -- to wipe their brow as they died, to share a meager meal as they struggled for life.  As she herself said, she was not called to be effective but to be faithful -- faithful to the call of Christ.  To paraphrase Francis of Assisi, she preached always, but seldom used words.

Which, Eric, gets us back to your post.  You appear to be concerned with a lack of faithfulness in the Church.  You call us to orthodoxy and orthopraxy (as Casey Stengel said, you could look it up).

What I think you are doing is rejecting the call of the Spirit to be in, not to be of, but to minister to the world today.  You present to us the paradigm of crusade as the way of lifting up Christ.  I would submit that the witness (Greek martyrion) of the saints of the twentieth century shows us the two paths indicated by the comments on vow religious women above -- ministry of service and ministry of presence.

Service was modeled to us by Jesus when he washed the feet of the Apostles, when he listened to all, when he preached conversion by love -- of God and of our neighbors all, when he healed the sick.

Presence he modeled to us when he hung on the cross, dying, for us, yet be present to those who shared his fate.  He was present to them as brother irrespective of who they were and what they had done.

The opportunities are many;  many are called;  less than many heed the call;  fewer still answer the call.

But if you feel you are called to preach a crusade, then you must be trained and formed.  You have many choices -- diaconate, priesthood, vowed religious.  Gird your loins and prepare to do battle.  Seek the Lord where he may be found.

Eric #11107 - part 0

Eric #11107 was on an old dating site called I think St Raphael's.  I found an old stick and there is a file on it from 2002Dec2.  I am posting in in three parts.