Wondering Wednesdays (Vol. V)

So I think we need to get back into the normal swing of things... so here is another installment of:

WONDERING WEDNESDAYS

1. How can we expect our children to love the faith, if they don't fully understand it? I was at Mass on Sunday, and saw a boy of about 8 or 9 that looked as if he was being tortured, simply by being at Mass. I then looked to my left, and saw similar aged children, friends of ours, that may not have been overflowing with excitement, but in the very least were attentive, praying, and participating. They were using "hand missal type books" that their father has made for them, so I am sure that helps. It just made me wonder how parents don't get it. I know it is hard in our churches nowadays to explain that it isn't "entertainment," with the Sanctuaries looking like a stage and all. But still, don't parents realize that they need to explain the Mass to their children? They can't just expect their 8yo to drop the controller to the PS3 and jump and down in excitement to go "Stand, kneel, and sit" in Church? Oh wait... that is what CCD is for.

2. How do you thank someone for doing something, that if you thank them would make it seem as if you are surprised that they did such a thing, and therefore come off as condescending? I don't know how to explain this better, and maybe it is an internal thing. I mean, if sincere, is a Thank You ever inappropriate?

3. I wonder if anyone in Alaska or Michigan would like to hire me?

BONUS!!

I posted earlier in the week about church architecture: It should make us think of Heaven. At the end of that post I posed a question:

Q: "What do we do if our parish church does have a Sanctuary that looks like a stage?"

Well, I received a comment from Fr. Acervo that deserves a little more light of day than the comment section of that post. Here is how Fr. Acervo answered that question:

Good question! The problem is that if your church was built in the last forty years, the sanctuary more than likely looks more like a stage. I guess instead of complaining about the problem (like I do), we should be asking questions like yours: what do we do?


Unfortunately, without an altar rail and a high altar, it will be very difficult. Those two things alone do so much to define the sanctuary as a sacred place. I had the privilege of concelebrating Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama (a.k.a. Mother Angelica’s shrine). To sit in that sanctuary was like sitting in Heaven! Of course, parishes don’t have the same resources, so you need a mind that is both creative and docile to the Church’s tradition.


Things like banners have to go. Things like fern plants that make the sanctuary look like someone’s living room have to go. The chairs in the sanctuary, especially the one for the celebrant, should be dignified. Assuming that your tabernacle is where it should be in the center of the sanctuary, adding candles and statues that draw attention to the tabernacle would be nice. I particularly love statues of the holy angels. Liquid “candles” have to go. They look artificial (which of course they are).


I’m certainly no expert, but I think that these are some simple things that can be done to help. In the end, you just have to do the best with what you have.


Thanks for all of your good work and prayers!

Well... there you have it, another installment of WW's, complete with BONUS ANSWERS!

Please visit the ORIGINAL Wondering Wednesdays at:
From the Heart - Wondering Wednesdays

Wondering Wednesdays (Vol. IV)

I know I am a little late for my Wondering Wednesday post, but better late than never right?
So here are some things that I have been wondering about...

This weeks theme: "Honest questions that I have never asked people... but I should."

Wondering Wednesdays

-= 1 =-

Why in the face of a "priest shortage" crisis do parishes, and the people the fill them, insist on using female altar servers? Yes, I know it is a licit and valid option, but what "good" does it bring?

Answers that I have considered but have ruled out based on analysis and logic: shortage of altar boys, to inspire females in the faith, to be fair, "why not," and the "abuse crisis."

-= 2 =- 

What online messaging system do people use? I used to be a big AIM guy, and now I occaisionally use Gtalk, via a messaging program. Problem is I have a "personal" Gtalk name and my blogging one "angelsdefendus@gmail.com"; I also have a blogging Skype name by the name: defendusinbattle. Problem is I NEVER chat with anyone. Remeber back in the day with AOL? We all chatted, and were on the same system. Sure some of us geeks also used IRC or ICQ, but cmon the cool kids were on AOL (PRE-AIM). Why have we gone backwards? I guess Facebook has something to do with this?

-= 3 =-

What is a Church supposed to look like?
Oh wait... I found the answer to that... This is what a Church is supposed to look like.


To read the ORIGINAL Wondering Wednesdays... please visit: "From the Heart"

Wondering Wednesdays - (Vol. III)

Wondering Wednesdays

---=1=---

This may seem odd, but I was talking with someone at work today, and I wonder what I am going to be when I grow up. We were talking about law school, and how I ended up there, and how she had thought about going, but she never wanted to be an attorney (likewise for me) when she originally thought about going to law school. We then started talking about what we REALLY wanted to be doing... and neither of us were sure...? I guess I should figure that out, since my current position ends in a few, well weeks really, and I still don't have any solid future plans. So please keep that in your prayers, I have been praying a lot lately, but really don't seem to be doing it right :) Just kidding - I have pretty much at this point stopped stressing, and have decided to hand it over to God. I'll do my part, and won't question Him on His part.

---=2=---

I wonder if you can LEARN to be a good parent. I know a lot of it has to do with YOUR own parents, and the models you saw growing up, but I wonder if you can adjust that, or in some unfortunate cases fix that. I am blessed to have had two amazing parents, so I am hopefully starting out with that advantage, yet I am still concerned that you just get passed down the basics, and the real serious parenting situations are thrust upon you and you have to decide on your own. Can you learn those skills? I mean, most of the parents I know are GOOD, and I am not worried about MEASURING myself against others, I am more worried about measuring myself against GOD and myself. Is there a way to hone these skills? I mean aside from reading 50 books, and trying to distill what is important to you, from amidst all the psycho-babble, is there a way to do it more naturally?

---=3=---

And on a completely mundane note, I wonder how some people get so many blog readers and twitter followers. This isn't a vanity or envy thought, it is a pure technical question. It just seems as if some users, who tweet the most inane stuff, and dont blog all that much or well have HOARDS of followers. I honestly am not trying to mimic them, I just don't get it. I understand how some folks do have so many, it just strikes me as odd that certain Twitterers and Bloggers, have more than they SEEM they should have.

---=4=---

Why have modern Catholic Churches become so dull, drab, and boring? We talk about beautiful churches on here from time to time, and I posted about an article describing how to IMPROVE THE SACRED SPACE in your church the other day, and so I got to thinking: "Why did this trend start?" I know it was in the 60's and 70's, but it isn't as if we went from cruciform churches to a whole bunch of random church designs. Sure you have your outlier crazy church designs here and there that just don't fit into any semblance of a "form" but a good majority of the more modern Churches all look similar. I am not asking "Why the churches changed to MODERN STYLE" I am asking why the PARTICULAR style they seem to be built in. You know what I am talking about; the spread out, auditorium style. where the side "wings" of pews curve in a little, or completely. The Sanctuary that JUTS out into the congregation a bit. The Sanctuary is more open, than it is a separate and distinct area. The almost white, with hints of grey walls, with the BEAMS that aren't exposed, but aren't hidden that are painted the same colors as the walls. The clear glass windows to let lots of "natural light" in. THE LONG lines on the interior to make it seem BIGGER, when in reality all it does is expose more CEILING and white-grey painted space. How did we get from one to the other? I know cost is an issue, but it isn't even about cost, it is about design. I wish I knew more about MODERN church architecture and the whys and hows. For instance, when a new church is to be built, who secures the architect? Who approves the design? Who has input? Do you go to a CHURCH builder? Shouldn't they be Catholic? I think you get the point. I need answers though :)

---=5=---

As a follow-up: Why isn't there a Vatican "body" that focuses on art and architecture? Why isn't there some governing arm that approves new church designs, art, etc... I am not talking the fine details, I am talking the BIG picture. The approval of new churches, the approval of certain art/sculpture dealers. We have an imprimatur for books, why not liturgical art and design? The more minute stuff, and day to day could be run at the Metropolitan level. Maybe there is, and I just don't know it? If there isn't there should be... and maybe this is a sin, I don't know, but I almost get embarrassed when I go into my church or a few others around here. Again, I am not expecting Cathedrals, I am just expecting some EFFORT. Churches spend TONS of money on other stuff, but we can't spend enough on paint to make the Church visually speak to our eyes in a way that distinctly expresses our worship of God? Maybe my priorities are off... I don't know. 

Be sure to check out the originator of Wondering Wednesdays: Maggie at From the Heart

Other WW Blogs:

From the Heart

That Married Couple

Wondering Wednesdays (Vol. II)

Here is this week's installment:

___--1--___

Why do "modernist" Catholics resist traditional aspects of the faith so rigidly? Are they worried that these things will be thrust upon them against their will? Or is it some product of ignorance, whereby they don't know the theological underpinnings of the traditional practice, and therefore are confused as to its true nature? What I mean, is some sort of modernist-Utopian ideal. I ask this in all sincerity, and do not ask it rhetorically or sarcastically, I really don't get the ferocity with which some people fight against the rekindling and resurgence of certain traditional beliefs. For example, I was doing some research regarding the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in Alaska, and found these letters to the editor, in the Catholic Anchor. They were written just after Archbishop Schwietz, OMI, published an article discussing the Motu Proprio: Summorum Pontificum, in 2008:

I was disappointed with the Feb. 22 column by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz about re-establishing celebrations of the 1962 Latin Mass. I am old enough to remember when women were only allowed on the altar to replace the altar linens, which they of course had washed and pressed. And I’m not sure why a mother cannot be present at her baby’s baptism since she is the one who goes through the labor.


I love my church and I love the sacramental life of the church, but it saddens me to see my church go backwards instead of forward.


I am proud to be a woman in America because many countries forbid women from holding roles in their churches and societies. It seems like that is where the Catholic Church is heading. I hope not.


Edithanne Gabriel, Soldotna

I was raised with the old Latin Mass, but my six children were brought up with the more relevant English Mass. The thought of returning to those "400 rubrics required" to celebrate the 1962 Rite is both disturbing and questionable. I would ask Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz to seriously consider the question posed on modern Christian T-shirts: What would Jesus do? I wholeheartedly believe he would want us to spend our time, money and resources doing his work and spreading his love in our communities by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, not rebuilding our church sanctuaries, teaching our priests Latin and sending our female servers, our lectors and our Eucharistic ministers back to their pews.


Lind O’Brien, Soldotna

Now I know there are some "errors" in understanding in these letters, but I think they tell the tale of how modernists view the more traditional aspects of our faith. Even though, these aspects as JUST AS VALID and important as the Novus Ordo, the English language, and lay participants in the Mass. It is puzzling, because the emotion in them, is the same that many have when they see puppet Masses, liturgical dance, and liturgical abuse. The only difference is that the former are valid and licit practices of the faith, while the latter are abuses and often heterodoxy. So again, honestly, why do modernists fear and fight these practices? Are they too lazy to try to understand the meaning and purpose behind these traditional aspects of the faith or is there some philosophical or theological impediment that they cannot get around on an intellectual level? Please, let us be charitable and academic about this question in the comment box.

___--2--___

Should Catholic universities make money off of "projects" that may have certain aspects contrary to the Faith? Case in point: The University of Detroit Mercy has entered talks with a movie production company to possibly have them film certain scenes from an upcoming moving on their campus. No doubt this will bring in money and some notoriety to the UDM campus, but just looking at the actresses involved, and the limited amount of info online about the original film, it isn't an unfair assumption to say that there more than likely will be some rather questionable material and content in the film. The Detroit News reports that it will star Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore, two ladies that don't exactly have squeaky clean rap sheets when it comes to the types of "productions" they are a part of. So I wonder, should UDM make money off of this, as a Catholic university? I don't think so. Sure the movie will be made, and sure the money might be used for "good"; but isn't that the "ends justifying the means?" If someone can give me a good argument, based on the limited info that exists about this situation.... I'll change my mind, but for now, I think this is another example of a Jesuit institution, failing to uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church.

___--3--___

Does anyone NOT celebrate birthdays, but instead celebrate feastdays, baptism days, and other religious days, in lieu of birthdays? My wife and I have talked about this, and just aren't sure how to implement it across the board. We also don't want to come off as "holier than thou" parents to our family. It isn't that we think birthdays are WRONG, we just want to place greater importance on God and achievement, not the circumstance of birth. We have come to the general consensus for now, that we will celebrate birthdays in a toned down fashion, but will celebrate feast days (of namesake) and religious anniversaries as well, and in different ways. (Going to a pool, waterpark, etc... for Baptism; Going to a namesake Church for 1st Communion anniversary; etc...) So I wonder if any families have a more CATHOLIC way of celebrating the "Years" - let me know.


Please leave me your thoughts and ideas in the comment box... look forward to hearing your opinions.

Wondering Wednesdays (Vol. I)

Maggie, over at From the Heart does something cool called: "Wondering Wednesdays." Where she essentially "thinks out-blog" about different things that she has questions about. I assume she is looking for a little feedback, but at the same time, just the process of typing out your thoughts is a helpful exercise, especially if that is how you think and process things better.

I decided... hey, this is a good idea. So here are a few questions I am wondering about:

___--1--___

How should one fight for the faith? How should one act to defend the faith? I ask this in the context of parish life and how one should defend and fight within the parish community? We all have our ideas about the faith, and although no single person knows the full TRUTH and FULLNESS of the Faith, there is clearly a spectrum upon which most people reside. So then, what is a person to do when faced with the reality that they are apart of a parish that does a lot of things that are difficult for them to flush with the Catechism and teachings of the Church? Is peace and civility the answer? I know that there aren't enough facts for folks to really chime in... but this is a question that literally haunts my dreams right now.

___--2--___

When does participation equal support? Isn't it better to participate when you are trying to affect change... then to refuse to participate while screaming for change from the sidelines? I know this isn't ALWAYS true... so I assume there must be some spectrum... so some guidance or thoughts would be nice.

___--3--___

Where does one find someone to help spiritually guide them? Obviously a priest is the best and first answer, but where I live, there are so few priests, and our parish doesn't have a pastor, that this easy answer doesn't really apply to me. Some have suggested driving far for a Spiritual Director, but that is difficult, since the CLOSEST I could find one would be 4 hours away. Once you get away from an "area" the locality and understanding of context, for certain things is lost. The same goes to an online relationship with such a person. So then where does one look? Finding other guys to "listen" to me, and even offer "advice" is hard to come by, let alone any type of "direction" from someone or finding someone to "challenge" me has proved in possible. Any ideas or thoughts?