Mass becomes 'perverted' when 'community celebrates itself.'

A big Sword-dub (h/t) goes to: Christine at A Catholic View on this story:

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, made some very important and powerful statements about the way in which Mass should and shouldn't be celebrated. It isn't as long as it seems... PLEASE, PLEASE read this... 

(My emphasis and comments):

The Cardinal expressed sadness over the fact that often, the Mass is “reduced to a mere banquet, a celebration of the community,” instead of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He noted that “Worship becomes perverted when we have a celebration in which the community celebrates itself.” [This isn't a "feast" or celebration of us, it is the actual 'once for all' sacrifice that we, through the grace of God, participate IN.]

The prelate added that the primary focus of the Mass should be God.

...~~~...

Cardinal Canizares also underscored the centrality of the sacrifice of Christ in the Eucharist, saying that oftentimes, the Mass is “reduced to a mere banquet, a celebration of the community, a commemoration, but not the very sacrifice of Christ who gives himself up for us on the Cross.” [It isn't simply a COMMEMORATION. It isn't a community celebration. It is the VERY SACRIFICE OF GOD... continual, but once for all.]


“Without this we can understand nothing about the Eucharist and we celebrate nothing more than ourselves,” he said. [In other words: if we as parishes - the Body of Christ - don't celebrate Mass in this way... we are simply celebrating ourselves. How would you answer the question: "Explain, specifically, how the WAY IN WHICH your parish celebrates the Mass, is focused on God?"]


“We have become secularized and convinced that everything has been the result of our own creativity,” [Read: Modernism in: Music, Dress, Church Design, Lack of Sacred Objects, the Abrogation of Incense, Bells, Chant, Statutes, Stain Glass, etc...] the prelate remarked. However, what truly matters is that “we recognize the mystery, that the mystery be celebrated. We must remember God’s right. God tells us how the mystery, how the celebration should be carried out.” [AMEN! But do we listen...]


After underscoring the spirit of renewal proposed by Vatican II, Cardinal Canizares noted that the council fathers placed a priority on liturgical renewal because “we cannot understand (the Vatican II document) Gaudium et Spes if our understanding is not based on the foundation for everything: the Eucharist.”


“There will not be a Gaudium et Spes Church if it is not a Sacrosantum Concilium Church,” he added. For this reason, the Pope has a great interest in the liturgy. For this reason, when renewal is understood merely in terms of changes to the rite, we do not understand anything that the Holy Father is telling us,” he added. [What he is saying is that renewal is not just about actions... it is about mindset. If we change the actions, and the mindset changes, a la moving away from a focus on God, we have lost the purpose of the renewal.]


“Renewal does not mean a different puppet show every day,” the cardinal underscored. [This is HUGELY IMPORTANT: As a Cardinal, he supports Holy Mother Church, Vatican II, and the teachings of the Faith. That does not mean that he supports what we necessarily HAVE in the Church, i.e. a "different puppet show every day."] “It means making it possible to celebrate the mystery of faith that occurs. This renewal must express the entire reality of the mystery. Worship becomes perverted when we have a celebration in which the community celebrates itself. The principle should be that God occupies the central place.”


The Spanish prelate noted that in Communion, it is not we who assimilate Christ, “but rather He who assimilates us unto himself,” and consequently we are pulled out of our individuality. “Thus the Eucharist takes on a social nature.” [NB: This relates to my former posts about kneeling. While some argue that standing after Communion allows us to be united with our brothers and sisters, it seems the Cardinal is saying that WE do nothing to assimilate Christ. That our individuality does not and should not matter. Instead, the Eucharist itself is takes on a social nature outside of anything that we can do.]


“To celebrate the Eucharist is to bring about the renewal of society,” he said. “For this reason, renewing the sense of the Eucharist is what guarantees a future for the Church. This is the true danger for a humanity that does not acknowledge God.”

Source: CNA

I think this is very important article. This is why I have a problem with TEEN Masses, Children's Masses, and other "Production Style" Masses. It isn't that I don't think that configuring the Mass to be better understood by certain groups within a community is an appropriate goal, I think what happens is that the focus becomes THE GROUP, instead of GOD. The Mass needs not be relevant to anyone but GOD. Some may argue, "But how do we get them to understand and appreciate the Mass?" Not by turning it into a "puppet show," both figuratively and literally. Instead, we must expose them to the Truth, the teachings of the Church.

We must also examine how we as lay faithful, and even the clergy, prepare our hearts and minds for Mass. We must attend Mass and worship at Mass with the right mindset. We must also construct our Masses in a which celebrates the MYSTERY of the EUCHARIST in a God-centric way. We must restore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels of the faith, in an authentic way, that is centered on God and not ourselves. This is why I don't clap during a Mass... because then we are only celebrating ourselves; applause is a gesture of the celebration of Man, God doesn't require applause, he requires worship and devotion.

He must increase; I must decrease.

"John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease."  John 3:27-30

I have been feeling quite perplexed lately. Struggling really. Not with God, not with my faith per se, but with what to DO with my faith. The Parish I attend has a lot of issues, and I am trying to answer in my heart and in my head what *I* am supposed to be doing. But the whole time, I feel like nothing I can do will help. Many of my friends feel helpless, as if we are in a situation that is almost insurmountable.

So I have been listening to some Podcasts of Fr. John Riccardo. Fr. Riccardo was the pastor at the Novus Ordo parish that my family used to attend before we moved up to Alaska. He was amazing. (That parish is also where Fr. Acervo and Fr. White, are priests. Can you believe we left there?)

The church is huge - auditorium/concert hall style, has thousands of people, has a k-8 school, and was modern beyond belief. No statues, a huge amazing organ, but no tabernacle. Rarely did people kneel, but they did have a LIFETEEN mass with guitar, drums, electric bass, and lots of... well... whatever that sort of thing brings. The second Fr. Riccardo got there though, things began to change. People kneeled, the tabernacle came INTO the sanctuary smack-dab behind the altar. Then came the statues, 3, then 4, and who knows how many now. He came in and started ministries and apostolates like RCIA for Catholics, Catholicism for Cradle Catholics, a great mens group (Not just KofC), and he went to Theology on Tap.

Many people made it about him, he is a very charismatic person. He made it about God. He frequently quoted John 3:30: "He must increase, I must decrease." So as I was struggling last night, I was praying, and I thought about listening or reading something that will nourish me. So I remembered Fr. Riccardo had his podcasts online, and I went and downloaded some... and then I heard this and it nailed me:

"We must decrease, and HE must increase, if we are in this for our own glory...we are going to be really let down, because they nailed Jesus to the Cross and he had no sin, they would have a field day with me... or you..."

Wow... he is right. We must act and think in a way that allows God to INCREASE, while we decrease. As he goes on, Fr. Riccardo explains, that when we strive to do things for God, we must do them for GOD, and not for US. Everything.... EVERYTHING we do, should be to increase the GLORY of GOD, and reduce our own glory.

"If we want to be faithful disciples of Christ, what we should strive to do, is to Conform to His mind. We should try to think with the mind of the Church... We should be in-step with the Lord. And if we are in-step with the Lord, we can expect the shrapnel to start flying. This is not going to be easy to be his disciples. The faith is ANYTHING but for the weak, it takes incredible courage. We shouldn't worry about fitting in, because we won't fit in, if we are following him."

So it became clear, and this energized me. Don't worry about me... worry about HIM. He will give me what I need, and guide me on my journey... just follow Him, be in-step with Him, and get ready for the shrapnel to come-a-flyin! Oh, and the guy that said that whole decrease-increase thing... he didn't quite get shrapnel, but well... it didn't "end" so well for St. John the Baptist, but it still was worth it! It is better to die for the Faith and for Christ, and then to die for one's self.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence,  and the violent are taking it by force. Matthew 11:12

Why people DON'T leave the Church

There are a lot of reasons why people leave the Catholic... but I would bet quite a bit of money that the reason is rarely, or if ever, that a person studied the scriptures, studied the Catechism, read the Church fathers, read encyclicals, and then came to the belief and analytical conclusion that the Catholic Faith is somehow wrong within the larger context of Christianity. I got this idea from Fr. John Riccardo, who mentioned this idea in one of his "RCIA for Catholics" talks. Fr. Riccardo was my pastor at my Novus Ordo parish back in Michigan.

This argument is based on the idea that many people that leave the faith, or "fall away" do so because they either don't have a good understanding of the faith, and (or) have been a part of a parish that did not resonate in them. Many also leave, because those around them either lacked in the way they understood the faith or lived the faith. For example, how many times have you heard lapsed Catholics espouse incorrect doctrine or describe "Catholics" in a way that isn't necessarily true of Catholicism, but may be more specific to a certain group of people that profess to be Catholic?

Therefore it is vital that we learn our faith, that we learn it CORRECTLY, and that we live it both in word and in deed. We don't know who is watching us, or how it is affecting them. People rarely leave parishes or the Church because their experience includes a welcoming and warm parish, a tight night community of like minded individuals and families, and people that not only know their faith intellectually but also "live it." Instead, folks abandon their faith because of cold and disconnected parishes, individuals that make no attempt to form a Catholic community, and people that espouse their own personal notion of the faith and live contrary to the precepts of Catholic thinking.

If we want the American Catholic Church to survive we must educate ourselves in the faith, we must live out the teachings of the faith, and we must reclaim the truth - one that includes an authentic liturgical and prayer life that leads the community closer to the Truth that is Jesus, the same Christ our Lord Whom leads us to the Father in unity with the Holy Spirit.

"...One reason to Remain Catholic?"

A dear friend of mine shared with me a difficult situation yesterday. My friend, whom I will call, Deeply Frustrated, shared with us, a group of close friends from our Parish, a difficult question that was posed to them the other day.

Deeply Frustrated (DF) was talking with a friend of theirs who is a "fallen away Catholic" (FAC). FAC has some children the same age as DF does, and so they were talking about school and the summer vacation that is about to start. The topic of summer "Church events" came up, and the discussion eventually lead to the topic of Vacation Bible School. Unfortunately this year, it looks as if the local VBS won't occur, because of a multitude of reasons. The discussion moved from that, to the reasons why it won't occur, until the topic eventually got to the point where both parents were talking about the lack of programs in GENERAL for kids at the local parishes. DF explained to us, her friends, that she wasn't bashing the Parish, in fact she was trying to explain how a lot of people are trying to get things going, but just facing road-blocks. Then, FAC posed the question that shook DF, and shook all of us when she told us about it:

FAC said, "Give me one reason to be Catholic?" She explained that she can take her kids to any one of the other 20+ churches in town and have them get a better understanding of Christ. She knows that any of the other churches have programs, groups, and religious education programs that are in place that will "nourish" the children's faith better than what our Parish can provide. She could very well be horrifyingly correct.  

DF had a million things they wanted to say, but knew that none of them would resonate. DF knew that FAC was theologically misguided, but knew that she was emotionally and logically very correct.

Now, before you start listing your theological and dogmatic answers, realize that the person posing this question has obviously had a multitude of things that have caused them to fall away. DF also couldn't argue with the fact that the local Catholic parishes are less than adequate with their Catechism and children's programming. So what was DF to do? She left it open ended, and said that the Parish is working on improving things, and left the conversation at a point where it can be picked back up again, but where to start?

I don't think that the lack of a strong Catechism program, no children's programming, or any other "lack" within the infrastructure of the Catholic church is a proper reason to leave, but how many times have we heard a story like this? You can trace it more than likely back to the poor formation of the PARENT when they were a child. So where do we start? In big cities and parishes that are well supported by an orthodox, the answer is a little easier, than in small town America where DRE's don't grow on trees.

The Catechesis of our parishes is central to the vibrancy of the Faith. What is so very perplexing is that modernists cry for easy to understand Missal translations, the absence of latin, and "production" style Masses so as to allow the faithful to more fully understand and participate in the faith. Yet, they are unwilling to TEACH the faith to the people for whatever reason. Is it because true knowledge would pull back the curtain on the "Wizard"? Possibly. But I think there is something more to it... and I can't quite place my finger on it. This situation though is critical... I have so much I want to say about the watering down of the faith, I just don't know where to begin.

People say that tradition and Catechesis isn't the way to revitalize the faith, and I say they are incorrect. After seeing what faith and reason have produced in other areas, and now being in a place where tradition lacks and modernism reigns, I think the soil is ripe for some "reform of the reform." I know there isn't a magic formula, but it has to start somewhere. You can't build Rome in day, but it won't ever be built if you don't lay the first brick. And if those wanting to rebuild it argue over where to lay the corner stone... it will never be built.

I don't have a perfect answer for DF to give to FAC, but I think this answer might buy DF some time: "If you ask that question, it means your heart WANTS to remain true to the faith. Sure, you may have lost hope, and faith has vanished, but the LOVE of Christ is still alive in your heart with the Holy Spirit. Hold fast to that, and re-commit yourself to the faith. Come to Mass, pray the Rosary, and roll up your sleeves and let's start rebuilding this thing together."

It might, it might not... but we have to lead by example... otherwise the sheep will continue to stray. If they stray, they will find greener pastures, even if they only appear greener... it's harder to lure them back, then to keep them here.

Catechism in Anchorage's Catholic High Schools - Solid Pedagogical Methods

The Catholic Anchor has a great article about the Catechism occurring in the two main Catholic schools in Anchorage. Although, they are the only Catholic High Schools in Anchorage, they both seem to have solid foundations. The article: "Sparking a Religious Flame" does a good job of explaining how well, and how important proper Catechesis is for the faithful, especially instituting such knowledge in our children.

Here is an excerpt from the article, about Holy Rosary Academy [emphasis & comments]:

Holy Rosary Academy draws teen into the faith using some of the most fascinating and little understood aspects of Catholic history — along with current Catholic culture on campus.


This semester, the senior theology class is studying the so-called “black marks” against the Catholic Church. That means the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Pope Pius XII during the Jewish Holocaust, slavery and Galileo.


It’s a course that students had input in developing, explained Wassell.


As with many of the school’s other classes, the students use primary sources — like transcripts from Inquisition trials and letters written back home by crusaders in Jerusalem. [This is a pedagogical method that will serve them to really learn, as opposed to simply reading regurgitated thoughts from others. A model that will serve them well in college.]


In the fall semester, seniors take Biblical Apologetics — examining “every major doctrine of the church and lots of minor, almost inconsequential things like ashes, statues and incense,” Wassell said. [Learning to DEFEND the Faith.]


Several years ago, another “extremely successful” religion-related class that intrigued students was one on heresies. For their exam, students watched a 30-minute episode of the television show, “Star Trek” and identified as many heresies as they could. One student found nearly 30 heresies displayed in the popular show.


But beyond the class subjects, themselves, Wassell sees the school’s milieu is sparking fascination for the faith.


“I think that their interest comes from being immersed in this environment which is permeated with Catholicism,” he said. “When you’re attempting to build the virtues, then all teachers and all students quickly realize there’s something more here than academics that’s different from the rest of the world.” [HRA gets it: The Church is COUNTER Cultural!!]


Plus teachers at Holy Rosary employ the classical, Socratic instructional method, which helps to “stimulate wonder in the child, wonder about the universe, wonder about every subject,” Wassell noted. [THIS IS HUGE! The Socratic pedagogical [instructional] method is used by classical law schools to teach analytical minds. This makes the student LEARN AND THINK not just memorize.]


Add to the mix the “visible” examples of “strong, practicing Catholics,” he said, and Catholicism is “magnetically attractive.” [See also: "We Must Seek the Sacred"]

~ ~ ~

At Holy Rosary, Wassell said he takes a different approach — one that doesn’t “mix the culture with the sacred.” [HOMERUN!! again they get it... We must seek the Sacred & that the Church is Counter-Cultural!]


In the class setting, Wassell advocates for straight catechesis — starting with the “simple, first” questions of the old Catholic Catechism, “Who made you?” and why. They are questions, he said, everyone has in every age. “Human nature doesn’t change,” he observed

Clearly Holy Rosary Academy is hitting the ball out of the park in terms of their religious education. I am more and more impressed with this school the more I learn. Lumen Christi is on the same track as well, just taking a little different approach. Lumen Christi is under the auspice of the Archdiocese so they are a little more moderate in their overall approach. Holy Rosary Academy is independent, and therefore attract more orthodox Catholics, who are looking for a more intense and in depth Catechetical curriculum.

Here are the respective Religious Education Curriculum:

Holy Rosary Academy -Theology:

After the catechesis in the Elementary School, students are well prepared to study the logic of the Faith. The cohesion and order of the elements of the Faith is an important focus in High School Theology.

Bible History

The History of the Church – Sacraments

Creed – Old Testament

Ethics – New Testament

Sacraments & Prayer

Apologetics & Social Justice

G. K. Chesterton and the fullness of Catholicism

Eastern Christianity (Eastern Catholic & Orthodox) (JPII Orientale Lumen )

~ ~ ~

Lumen Christi - Religious Curriculum

Morning prayer by students by PA

Each class begins with a morning prayer

Mass on Wednesdays and First Friday

Grade 7: The life of Grace

Grade 8: Our Life in church

Grade 9: Introduction to Catholicism

Grade 10: Old and New Testament

Grade 11: Morals and Ethics

Grade 12: Catholic Church History

Overall, these schools seem to get it. Straight-forward Catechism that doesn't "mix the culture with the sacred." I think this is vitally important. Parishes, especially in places like Alaska, too often try and water-down and "culture-ize" there Catechesis in a hopes of "sparking a fascination with the faith." Clearly, HRA and LC are taking the opposite approach. Instead of speaking in idioms or cultural metaphors, they attempt to fascinate the kids with the FAITH ITSELF.

A few final thoughts. First, I hope that other areas aside from Anchorage can get some Catholic schools Parents and Parishes need to BUY into this idea. The school doesn't need to be diocesan, nothing against the Archdiocese, it just makes the process more difficult. The Diocese needs to adhere to a lot of regulations, because of their position, this means red-tape and difficulty. Clearly HRA is doing an excellent job surviving outside the auspice of the AOA. More "traditional/orthodox" parents, need to be the ones willing to join this endeavor. Because Alaska has such good Home-Schooling laws, more orthodox Catholic home-schooling families may not understand or even see the benefits of a private school. There are tons to list, not to mention the communal aspect which is so central to our faith. Private schools create strong Catholic Communities and strong Catholics.

Second, I hope that Parish directors, Catechism leaders, and other folks responsible for the Catechesis in our parishes read this article and pick up on the pedagogical methods employed. Socratic method, straight catechism, the sacred without the culture, just to name a few. Our Catechism for our kids and for ourselves needs to improve, and it needs to improve soon. This is a method that works... we should implement it everywhere. Let's throw out the watered-down Catechetical models we are currently using, the culturally immersed and theologically vacant curriculum dont work. They don't "fascinate" and they don't "inspire." The Catholic Church is under-going a "reform of the reform" around the world... let's not have Alaska lag behind the times. We should be on the "Frontier" of the Faith!

We must seek the Sacred - Part II

Yesterday I began an exploration of the Catechises we as Catholics encounter in our churches, and decided to write a series of posts about it called: We must seek the Sacred. The spark that light this fire inside of me is the disappointment I hear expressed in many parents when they talk about the Catechetical encounters their children receive.

Yesterday I argued that we as Catholics long for more in our Cathechetical education. That we desire to grow in our faith not only through knowledge, but also experience. I further argued that this is nowhere MORE evident than in the children of the Catholic Faith.

Watch closely at how children are taught the faith. I preface this by saying that I was raised in some very good pedagogical methods when it came to my schooling. I was not however formed very strongly in my faith, mostly because I sort of wandered alone. Out in the wilderness of the world of faith, to find my own way home. The direction I took was my own, and the education of it was self sought. This very much aligned with my schooling as a child. Very experience based... encountering the constructs around me to both awaken my spirit but also my mind.

As a child, I spend my early school days in Montessori schools. There is a heavy emphasis placed upon encounters with the larger world. The things you learn are often taken out of their pedagogical box and placed smack-dab in the context of the "real" world. If that it is too "abstract" for the student, based on their age or experience with the knowledge, the concept is in the very least presented in a tangible and multi-sensory way.

For example, when learning math, tangible didn't mean a flash card it meant the "Golden Bead" system. It was about the analytical and the experiential. It was encountering those intangible things that were floating around in my head from the explanation of my teacher. It means one thing to hear her say, "Multiplication is like addition only bigger!" Sure, when you learn to add 2+2 you can easily memorize that it equals 4. You can even take 2 apples and then 2 more apples and then count them, up to 4. The '+' and the '=' become symbols for the process. That is easy, but when we go to a large abstract concept like multiplication... how do we count 10 or 15 apples let alone 50 or 100? Having the experience of such lofty and intangible ideas helps. Hence... the concept of the "Golden Bead." So one  can see how when concepts are difficult or "mysterious," allowing a child to experience those things on their own can be very, very helpful to their learning process. In fact one could argue that it could be invaluable. (NB: This is not a plug or endorsement for the Montessori Method. I know that Montessori schools are controversial, especially within the Catholic community due to their anti-Catholic franchises, and their use and abuse of Catholic facilities. That is another topic for another time. Please do not indict my post based on this issue.)

So why then do we not allow the same for our Children in terms of their religious education? Why do we water everything down? Why do we not let them experience the Sacred? I remember in Kindergarten and 1st grade playing with the "Golden Beads" featured above. Only, no longer was I simply counting them or adding, I was also experiencing them in Cube form. 10 + 10 became 10 x 10. Sure I didn't "get it"; multiplication for a 1st grader? Might be able to memorize it, but not understand it... or did I? Did my "experience" with that "higher concept" help me later on? You bet it did. To this day when I talk about sq/ft or cubic feet I think of little wire-twisted cubes of glass beads. So how is this not true with the Church? Doctors recommend playing music while you are pregnant with your child because it helps them learn and develop mentally. How can this not be true about the Faith? Now this doesn't mean take your kids to a lecture by a Cardinal or read them a Papal Encyclical, but it does mean that they need to EXPERIENCE the faith in a tangible and mysterious way, even if we think it is beyond their comprehension.

So if this is true, why would we subject them to a watered down, non-mysterious form of the Sacred? Why do we attempt to replace the Sacred with the Common place? Do we even know what I mean when I use the word Sacred? Do we know what the Sacred looks like? How about a child? If we told a child the definition of SACRED and then showed them two pictures:

Sure we could argue, and our adult minds might pose this point: "Well they are both Sacred, they just go about it in different ways." But which would the CHILD choose? What helps them understand the mystery and beauty of Christ? Which one lifts their eyes up to Heaven? Which draws them nearer to the ULTIMATE TRUTH - Jesus Christ?

Why do we spend hundreds of dollars and tens of hours organizing liturgical dance or a giant puppet show when we could save so much time, energy, and hassle simply by having an older form of the Mass? Why do we find circuitous ways to explain concepts to children that WE find difficult, but that they would accept and grasp with ease and simplicity? Is it because we truly don't understand how children think? Or is it something else? Is it something deeper and more difficult to discern? Is it maybe the fact that the teachers don't know the subject, even sometimes through no fault of their own? Is it maybe because the Sacred escapes those entrusted with the Catechises role?

To be continued.....



 

We must seek the Sacred - Part I

I have been thinking about the idea of Catechesis a lot recently. The way in which we educate children in the faith, and the concept of Catechesis in general, how we as humans learn our faith. I am not only talking about the precepts, or rules of the faith, but also how we learn to be spiritual beings - the unification of body and soul.

These fleeting thoughts were congealed by The Crescat's post yesterday. I finalized realized why my heart has been so restless lately. It is because of what I have witnessed in the way that our churches, by this  I mean individual parishes and not the greater CHURCH, interact with us, the faithful, and attempt to provide us with Catechetical training, especially our Children.

St. Augustine once said,

"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You."

So then why has my heart been restless? Is it because my heart has not seen proper Catechesis for our children and our parishes? Is it because when I go to church functions which purport to be Catechesis on some topic, they end up leaving so many unfulfilled? I think that my heart has been restless because I am yearning for more... and if I am not being fulfilled then, there must be others that feel the same.

So what is the fatal flaw? Where have we as a faith community, as the Body of Christ gone astray and neglected our duty in raising others in the faith? How have we arrived at a point where what we teach and how we teach it, has become so watered down that when we see something like the Pontifical Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception it appears foreign and confusing? How have we arrived at this point:

(Source: CARA - Georgetown)

This is part one.... I plan to do this in parts so that I may contemplate and pray about each part. Check later for PART II. I plan to explore what is the source of this restless, why it exists, and some possible solutions.

"He descended into hell..." - "Today a great silence reigns on earth" - Holy Saturday

From the Catechism:

631 Jesus "descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens."475 The Apostles' Creed confesses in the same article Christ's descent into hell and his Resurrection from the dead on the third day, because in his Passover it was precisely out of the depths of death that he made life spring forth:

Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

632 The frequent New Testament affirmations that Jesus was "raised from the dead" presuppose that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of the dead prior to his resurrection. This was the first meaning given in the apostolic preaching to Christ's descent into hell: that Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.

633 Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, "hell" - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek - because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer: which does not mean that their lot is identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus who was received into "Abraham's bosom": "It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Savior in Abraham's bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell." Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him.

634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead." The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfilment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

635 Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." Jesus, "the Author of life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage." Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."

Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and the son of Eve. . . "I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead."

Baptism Class

My wife and I are going to our Baptism class at our church tonight. It should be interesting because it is the first bit of formal instruction we will receive in our new parish.

I have done some reading on it recently in preparation, but granted my reading has been focused on the older Tridentine Rite. So that could prove interesting come tonigh.

I don't really know what to expect. I don't know if one of the priests is going to do it, or if it is one of the lay leaders. (Hopefully a priest.) I also don't know to what extent we will be instructed. Since I have never gone through this before, I really don't know what to expect. As I said, I read through the older Rituale Romanum from 1964. So the background and commentary from that is part of my knowledge now, so I will be interested to see what we learn tonight.

I should read through the current rite of Baptism to be at least equally prepared. Especially since the Tridentine Rite is quite sparse here Alaska. I will update in a future post our experience... but in the meantime feel free to describe your experiences in the ComBoxes.

((**UPDATE**)):
The Baptism class was really nice tonight. One of the priests did it and everything he said was right on track. He even covered the fact that the FORM of the rite must be done PRECISELY and you can't just "make up words" to say.

Because we aren't 100% sure if we are having the Baptism here or back in Michigan, I am a little torn. If we have it here, we get to be with our new parish, friends, and we get to introduce our child PROPERLY to their parish. If we go home, we get the Tridentine Rite, our family, and our friends. I know God will make everything work perfectly, I think I am just getting nervous!