Wednesday, September 30, 2009
JP II's first encyclical
THE REDEEMER OF MAN, Jesus Christ, is the centre of the universe and of history. To him go my thoughts and my heart in this solemn moment of the world that the Church and the whole family of present-day humanity are now living. In fact, this time, in which God in his hidden design has entrusted to me, after my beloved Predecessor John Paul I, the universal service connected with the Chair of Saint Peter in Rome, is already very close to the year 2000. At this moment it is difficult to say what mark that year will leave on the face of human history or what it will bring to each people, nation, country and continent, in spite of the efforts already being made to foresee some events. For the Church, the People of God spread, although unevenly, to the most distant limits of the earth, it will be the year of a great Jubilee. We are already approaching that date, which, without prejudice to all the corrections imposed by chronological exactitude, will recall and reawaken in us in a special way our awareness of the key truth of faith which Saint John expressed at the beginning of his Gospel: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"1, and elsewhere: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life"2.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Who can be ordained?
There is abundant scriptural support for the unbroken practice of the Catholic, Orthodox and Oriental churches to ordain only males. Consider: The Old Testament priesthood was only male. Yet, women served in leadership as judges (rulers) and prophets: Deborah in the book of Judges and Anna in the Gospel of Luke. Many queens of Israel had real political power, for good and bad.
We see the same pattern in the New Testament. Jesus only called men to serve as apostles, from a larger group of followers that included both men and women. Meanwhile, women were prominently associated with Jesus. The apostles, following the Lord’s example, are reported only laying hands on males as deacons, presbyters and bishops, a practice the church continues to this day.
Still, women were prominent in church leadership. Acts and Romans describe this; and Paul said there is neither “male nor female” in Christ. This is a conundrum for those who insist male-only clergy means the denigration of women. Could it not be that they are sharing the mistake some clergy make, and seeing holy orders as more about power than about service, more entitlement, instead of gift?
The question remains: Why did Jesus only call men as apostles? We don’t know; we can only speculate. Some say it was because he chose not to defy social expectations or the power-structure. Yet scripture shows him repeatedly doing both till he was executed. Others assume Jesus would have done differently had he lived at another time. He very well might have; but as God, Jesus chose to enter the world at that specific time and place.
Finally, some say the apostles imposed their own bias, “Because they were men.” It could be, but that explanation has several problems. This assumes Jesus actually wanted to have women apostles and clergy – something there is no evidence for. But this claim defies plausibility for another reason.
These men sacrificed position, endured persecution, and ultimately met martyrdom. As observant Jews, they adapted painfully to having non-Jews accepted on an equal basis. They endured the shock of seeing their Messiah not overthrow the Romans but be murdered shamefully by them. Yet, we are told that they could yield and bend to all that; but not on women clergy?
There is one more aspect of Scripture that, while not “proving” the issue, may shed light. Throughout scripture God is described as a “husband” to Israel, his “wife.” And when Jesus comes, he calls himself “the bridegroom.” One way the church understands the ordained minister is that he serves as a living icon of Christ as the bridegroom.
For these and other reasons, in 1994 Pope John Paul II declared infallibly that the church had no authority to do otherwise than to call males to ordained ministry.
Rev. Martin Fox
Priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
We see the same pattern in the New Testament. Jesus only called men to serve as apostles, from a larger group of followers that included both men and women. Meanwhile, women were prominently associated with Jesus. The apostles, following the Lord’s example, are reported only laying hands on males as deacons, presbyters and bishops, a practice the church continues to this day.
Still, women were prominent in church leadership. Acts and Romans describe this; and Paul said there is neither “male nor female” in Christ. This is a conundrum for those who insist male-only clergy means the denigration of women. Could it not be that they are sharing the mistake some clergy make, and seeing holy orders as more about power than about service, more entitlement, instead of gift?
The question remains: Why did Jesus only call men as apostles? We don’t know; we can only speculate. Some say it was because he chose not to defy social expectations or the power-structure. Yet scripture shows him repeatedly doing both till he was executed. Others assume Jesus would have done differently had he lived at another time. He very well might have; but as God, Jesus chose to enter the world at that specific time and place.
Finally, some say the apostles imposed their own bias, “Because they were men.” It could be, but that explanation has several problems. This assumes Jesus actually wanted to have women apostles and clergy – something there is no evidence for. But this claim defies plausibility for another reason.
These men sacrificed position, endured persecution, and ultimately met martyrdom. As observant Jews, they adapted painfully to having non-Jews accepted on an equal basis. They endured the shock of seeing their Messiah not overthrow the Romans but be murdered shamefully by them. Yet, we are told that they could yield and bend to all that; but not on women clergy?
There is one more aspect of Scripture that, while not “proving” the issue, may shed light. Throughout scripture God is described as a “husband” to Israel, his “wife.” And when Jesus comes, he calls himself “the bridegroom.” One way the church understands the ordained minister is that he serves as a living icon of Christ as the bridegroom.
For these and other reasons, in 1994 Pope John Paul II declared infallibly that the church had no authority to do otherwise than to call males to ordained ministry.
Rev. Martin Fox
Priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Sunday, September 27, 2009
How often we hear a boy say, “I wish I was a man!” And if we ask why, we often learn that it is because he wants to be able to do as he likes. He is tired of having to obey his parents, and be guided by them. He thinks he knows better than they do what is best for him.
Such a boy is already going wrong, and only wants the chance to break away from the restraints of home. He is not a manly boy. He is often a forward, foolish boy, who can be easily led astray, and who will sooner or later come to grief.
When a manly boy wishes to be a man, it is not that he may have his own way, but that he may be better able to help his parents and be more useful in the world. It is not that he is tired of being a boy, but he is willing to give up youthful pleasures for the sake of those who have done so much for him.
Such a boy is already going wrong, and only wants the chance to break away from the restraints of home. He is not a manly boy. He is often a forward, foolish boy, who can be easily led astray, and who will sooner or later come to grief.
When a manly boy wishes to be a man, it is not that he may have his own way, but that he may be better able to help his parents and be more useful in the world. It is not that he is tired of being a boy, but he is willing to give up youthful pleasures for the sake of those who have done so much for him.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Joke
Dear Tech Support:
Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0. I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3, Football 5.0, Hunting and Fishing 7.5, and Racing 3.6. I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0, but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0. Please help!
Thanks,
A Troubled User
REPLY: Dear Troubled User:
This is a very common problem that men complain about.
Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0, thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING. It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0. It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed.
You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed to not allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony-Child Support. I recommend that you keep Wife 1.0 and work on improving the situation. I suggest installing the background application "Yes Dear" to alleviate software augmentation.
The best course of action is to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the system will return to normal anyway.
Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance. Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as Clean and Sweep 3.0, Cook It 1.5 and Do Bills 4.2.
However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program Nag Nag 9.5. Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0.
WARNING!!! DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3. This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system.
Best of luck,
Tech Support
Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0. I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3, Football 5.0, Hunting and Fishing 7.5, and Racing 3.6. I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0, but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0. Please help!
Thanks,
A Troubled User
REPLY: Dear Troubled User:
This is a very common problem that men complain about.
Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0, thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING. It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0. It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed.
You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed to not allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony-Child Support. I recommend that you keep Wife 1.0 and work on improving the situation. I suggest installing the background application "Yes Dear" to alleviate software augmentation.
The best course of action is to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the system will return to normal anyway.
Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance. Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as Clean and Sweep 3.0, Cook It 1.5 and Do Bills 4.2.
However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program Nag Nag 9.5. Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0.
WARNING!!! DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3. This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system.
Best of luck,
Tech Support
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Remind your protestant friends of this
Chesterton wrote the following, as far as I can tell, completely unremarkable observation: "Of course it is in any case utterly unhistorical to talk as if the New Testament were a neatly bound book that had fallen from heaven. It is simply the selection made by the authority of the Church from a mass of early Christian literature."
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
lapsing
Yesterday was the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Today is Our Lady of Sorrows. The Passion of our Lord should be on our mind every day. This is the time of penance, the time to receive God's mercy so that we will have no need to fear the time of God's justice. The Blessed Mother was uniquely united to the passion. She experienced it more deeply than any other person.
Last Sunday and this coming Sunday we hear Jesus predicting his passion. He trains his disciples to embrace the cross as the way of salvation.
Last Sunday and this coming Sunday we hear Jesus predicting his passion. He trains his disciples to embrace the cross as the way of salvation.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A Great website
Go here for a great website that has all the catechetical resources you will ever need.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Things to know
Every Catholic should know the following:
1. The Lord's Prayer
2. The Creed
3. The 10 commandments
4. The seven sacraments
5. The works of mercy
6. The seven principal sins
Take out a sheet of paper and give yourself this quiz.
1. The Lord's Prayer
2. The Creed
3. The 10 commandments
4. The seven sacraments
5. The works of mercy
6. The seven principal sins
Take out a sheet of paper and give yourself this quiz.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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