A good way to grasp the central idea of "Infinite Dignity," the recent Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, is to set down this rule: if we are engaged in any project of line-drawing among human beings, about whom to esteem and whom to ignore, we are gravely on the wrong track.
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It has been said that at the heart of the physician-assisted suicide debate is the moral-medical distinction between curing and caring for patients. The United States has an unmatched capacity for curing illness. But even here, there comes a moment when caring is the imperative because curing is no longer possible. Our collective responsibility is to address a person's psychological, physical, and spiritual needs as they face the end of life or debilitating illness. To instead instigate death with physician-assisted suicide presents a moral and ethical threat to society, the medical profession, the disability community, and the common good.
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Recently, I was asked, "Is the Easter Bunny pagan?" Apparently, some priest told this individual that the Easter Bunny was pagan, and so should not be in Catholic environs. I had never heard of this, so I did some checking. I am, of course, aware that there are many "pagan" dates: Feb. 22 (Chair of Peter); probably Dec. 25; customs: evergreen trees at Christmas; and endless foods -- most of them not good for your waist but excellent to your taste -- that have been brought into Catholic life.
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In the early morning hours of April 18, 1906, Californians were awoken by what the U.S. Geological Survey calls "one of the most significant earthquakes of all time." Several shocks occurred throughout the day, and the fires that resulted laid waste to much of San Francisco, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents homeless and without food or water. Across the country, everyone from government bodies to private citizens, including the Archdiocese of Boston, worked to aid those affected by what The Pilot referred to as "the greatest civic disaster in the history of America thus far."
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What would you do if you were told you couldn't attend Mass anymore? Or that your children couldn't attend school unless they took instruction in another religion? What if local governmental authorities came and literally tore down the roof and walls of your church? Then, they confiscated your priest's residence, making him homeless. You'd watch him roam, becoming a beggar of sorts, as he continued to live his vocation, encouraging his flock to stay strong.
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Jesus, in today's Gospel, says that He is the good shepherd the prophets had promised to Israel. He is the shepherd-prince, the new David -- who frees people from bondage to sin and gathers them into one flock, the Church, under a new covenant, made in His blood (see Ezekiel 34:10-13, 23-31).
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My son stands in the center of his bedroom, wailing to the heavens while his sleepy brothers tuck into bunk beds. Tonight, there has been no time for stories, since the family party ran late. But I hadn't expected bedtime tears, so I scramble for a consolation prize.
Read more"Destroy this temple, and I will rebuild it in three days." This mysterious statement led, in part at least, to Christ's death, brought forward in the conflicting witness of his trial before the Sanhedrin. This group recognized Jesus as a threat to the religious status quo. The Evangelists make clear that Jesus referred to the Temple of his Body, but the authorities correctly understood it as a prophecy that a new Temple would overturn the old. Jesus brought something new, something that would displace the old way of doing things, not only in Judaism but in all of religious history.
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By now it should be clear that when the Church issues a document addressing several topics, one of which is sex, our major secular media will ignore the rest and concentrate on sex. The latest example is the coverage of the new Vatican document on human dignity as provided by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Associated Press.
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Q: I have a confession question. I have heard that past sins, either venial or mortal, even after confessing them stay with you somewhat and only "really" get dismissed after your soul is scrubbed clean by time in purgatory. So would someone with a very bad past who does a turn-around, goes to confession and receives absolution, and leads a good life going forward still be "responsible" for past sins? (Rhode Island)
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By now, the eclipse glasses have been put away. The photos of the April 8 nature show have all been posted to Facebook and Instagram to prove that it really happened. The stories from the day have, likewise, also been told -- ranging from the "wow" from those in the path of totality to the "meh" from those who saw a partial eclipse through a cloud shrouded sky.
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Acts 4:8-12 Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 1 Jn 3:1-2 Jn 10:11-18 Throughout 2,000 years of Christian history, artistic expressions of faith can always be found. From the rustic art of the early Roman catacombs to the monumental Byzantine Romanesque basilicas to the soaring Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, to the artistic torrent of the Renaissance and Baroque, the truths of Christian faith through the ages have taken the form of the beautiful in countless masterpieces of sacred art, sacred architecture, and sacred music.
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The deep and mysterious truth we celebrate at Easter is overwhelming. So much so, that we won't spend just the next 50 days unpacking it, but the rest of our lives, indeed whatever remains of human history. For 2,000 years, the church has testified to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and pondered what it means: salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven.
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The month of May, traditionally devoted to The Mother of the Lord, is just around the corner. So, it's a good time to mention a two-volume mini library called "Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary." They are a "sacramentary" containing Mass prayers and the Order of Mass and a Lectionary for those 46 Masses.
Read moreOur guest writer is Michele Miers, in ministry with The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Michele writes about her mission trip to Kenya. "After an airless, hot experience of visiting the sick of Makuru, we went to Saint Mary's Parish, located in a beautiful mountain oasis that reminded me of the story of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. I felt God's presence the second I set foot in this parish. A choir of angels sang; all were dancing, praising the Lord.
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Jesus in today's Gospel teaches His apostles how to interpret the Scriptures. He tells them that all the Scriptures of what we now call the Old Testament refer to Him. He says that all the promises found in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in His Passion, death, and Resurrection. And He tells them that these Scriptures foretell the mission of the Church -- to preach forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
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On March 8 of this year, a film titled "Cabrini" was released; that day is also International Women's Day. The film is the story of an extraordinary woman, an immigrant to the United States, an advocate for the poor and a saint.
Read moreDistinct details of meeting St. Teresa of Kolkata the first time remain etched in my memory. Her height, or lack thereof, especially struck me. Being short in stature and hunched over, she appeared a bit frail. But I was totally convinced that this "little" woman was a passionate powerhouse of faith, hope and love. I knew that along with God's grace, she was responsible for incredible transformations in the lives of the "poorest of the poor" all over the world.
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In a striking turn of events, renowned atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins recently declared himself a "cultural Christian" during an interview with Rachel S. Johnson of LBC. Dawkins' declaration was sparked by his reaction to the Mayor of London's decision to celebrate Ramadan with 30,000 lights on Oxford Street rather than Easter.
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Q: In my parish, we have an antique candle holder for the paschal candle. The design on the candle stand looks like it has some sort of insect, and so my six-year-old asked me why there were "bugs on the Paschal candle." Any thoughts? (Newburgh, NY)
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The Gospel for Easter Sunday is from St. John's account of Easter morning (John 20:1-9). We are told that Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb very early in the morning while it is still dark. She has come to anoint the body of the Lord, which had been buried in haste because of the onset of the Passover. She spies the great stone rolled back and assumes that the body has been stolen. So she runs immediately to Simon Peter and the other disciples: "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." She doesn't yet believe in the Resurrection, for she is operating still within a conventional framework.
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Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 1 Jn 2:1-5a Lk 24:35-48 "You are witnesses of these things." It almost sounds like an episode of "CSI: Jerusalem." But the case unfolding in this Sunday's Gospel is part of a larger story that gives the overwhelming events of Holy Week and Easter a surprisingly relatable, realistic dimension.
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It is something of a tradition for magazines and newspapers to run articles about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the weeks leading up to Easter. Scholars, pastors, skeptics and ordinary people weigh in with their opinions.
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There is a new version of an important liturgical book that should be in each sacristy. It has the rather unwieldy title "Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside of Mass," and its acronym HCWEMOM doesn't make for easier reference.
Read moreFor the next two weeks, we'll hear from Michele Miers, in ministry with The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Michele shares her mission experience in Kenya.
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On April 23, 1892, The Working Girls Home was incorporated "for the purpose of providing a temporary Home for homeless working girls while out of employment; and also for working girls whose employment, when at work, is not sufficiently remunerative to procure for them suitable homes."
Read moreJesus has been raised up, lifted up for all to see, so that in seeing, we may believe. John puts these images at the center of his Gospel, as we see in chapter eight, when Jesus says, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he" (Jn 8:28). This seems to point clearly to the Cross, when the people of Jerusalem, the you, will lift him to his death to look upon the one they have pierced. But in chapter 12, Jesus refers to being lifted up again: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (Jn 12:32). At first glance, it would seem to be a repetition of the earlier statement, but it follows Jesus's prayer, "Father, glorify thy name" (Jn 12:27). In raising Jesus from the dead, the Father lifted him up from death and exalted him by seating him at his right hand.
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A surprisingly large number of priests are said to have lately been replying "no thanks" when invited to become bishops. If that's so, it may help explain why Pope Francis, responding to discussions that took place last October at the Synod on Synodality, has commissioned a study that will include "criteria for selecting candidates to episcopacy."
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Q: I have a friend who observed that some crucifixes depict the Savior with his eyes open and some depict him with his eyes closed. He wants to know which is correct -- alive or dead? (Lakeland, FL)
Read moreIn the candle-lit glory of the Easter Vigil Mass, I watched with joy as new sisters and brothers were welcomed to the Church through the waters of Baptism. There just may have been water of a different kind that welled up in my eyes as I watched with a grateful heart.
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Acts 4:32-35 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 Jn 5:1-6 Jn 20:19-31 Fear is a powerful human emotion that shapes our actions and words. A young man named Karol Wojtyla personally experienced the gripping fear that his country of Poland endured during the Nazi terrors of World War II. Karol belonged to a small theater group who was forced to go underground as the Nazis occupied their city.
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A sweeping decision by the Alabama Supreme Court in February sent shockwaves through the world of assisted reproduction. Justice Jay Mitchell, writing on behalf of the court's 7-2 majority, concluded that human embryos in IVF clinics "are 'children,' ... without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics."
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Somewhere in the world, Mass is being celebrated every day. Some would say at every hour, every day in the world. While Catholics assemble every Sunday for Mass, there are folks who would tell you that their day is not complete unless they participate every day.
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''Truly, nothing is more beautiful than to know Christ and to make him known to others." These words in Pope Benedict XVI's "Sacramentum Caritatis" echoed in my mind when watching the recently released "Cabrini." The film captures the indomitable spirit of America's first citizen-saint, and viewers become well-acquainted with the diminutive nun's spunk and determination.
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Deep in the heart of war-torn Cambodia, there is a workshop on the side of humble church where people whose bodies were scarred by war make wooden wheelchairs and give them away -- for free -- to men and women whose bodies were ravaged by landmines. These explosives were set throughout the countryside during the Khmer Rouge era (1975-79) under the brutal dictatorship of Pol Pot who directed devastating violence towards his own people.
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The tomb was empty. In the early morning darkness of that first Easter, there was only confusion for Mary Magdalene and the other disciples. But as the daylight spread, they saw the dawning of a new creation.
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The first thing I noticed about our parish was the music. Everyone sang. From the moment the opening hymn began, the sanctuary was filled with a robust chorus. I looked around and couldn't believe my eyes (or ears) -- adults, children, women and men were all singing at full voice.
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Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Col 3:1-4 Jn 20:1-9 "Did you hear...?" In our modern information-saturated age, those three little words say a lot. They sum up so much of how we live.
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Q: If, indeed, abortion is the church's preeminent issue, then why don't we hear a pro-life petition as part of the Prayer of the Faithful at every Mass? A: Many parishes do include a pro-life intention as part of the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass every week. However, it is true that including a pro-life intention is not a stated requirement.
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When my siblings and I were very young and incorrigibly misbehaving, my mother, as a last-ditch effort to get us to listen, would occasionally pick up the rotary phone and inform us that she was calling "Mr. Meaney" to come to get us in his big car and cart us away.
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This year, I'm glad to see Lent come to an end, and not just because of Easter Alleluias and Cadbury dark chocolate eggs. It was a tough Lent. Part of it, of course, had nothing explicitly to do with Lent. The news has generally been dreadful, a reminder, I suppose of why we need saving. This broken, battered, cruel world needs a savior. I need a savior.
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