The End of an Era

It has been a long time since I posted anything to this blog and the reason for that is that my heart is not really in it anymore.  The focus of this blog was to write my thoughts about things going on in the world and provide a Catholic point of view.  However, it very quickly became an academic treatment of controversial issues and it took a lot of time and energy to write every post.  I am now taking a now direction and shifting the focus to write on things that are close to my heart.  I believe that this will make the posts more interesting for you to read and much easier for me to write.

Since I want to take a new direction with my blogging I have decided to close down this blog and start a new one.  Blogging, like anything in life, can benefit a lot from a fresh start and that is what I need.  I have some experience with blogging now and I believe that my next blog will be much more interesting and better presented.  Thank you for following this blog I hope you will continue to be interested in what I have to say.  My new blog will be coming online soon so stay tuned. Thanks again and God Bless!

Why Not Simplify the Faith?

There are many instances in our lives when we make things more complicated then we need to. This is especially true when it comes to defending the Catholic faith from all the attacks the modern world has made on the Faith. We are in a war and this fact can make us lose sight of what is most important about the Faith; Jesus died to save us all from our sins.

Many of our discussion about the faith are either on hot button issues like homosexuality, contraception, abortion, women priests, divorce and remarriage, etc or doctrinal issues like the Real Presence, the Communion of Saints, Mary’s position in the Church, etc. While all of these things are important we should keep in mind that the most important thing is that Christ died for all of us. We are all sinners but Jesus looks past our sin and sees our worth so when entering into discussions with others we must not condemn them, even if they have a misunderstanding about the Faith.  We should treat everyone with respect and love while doing our best to live the teachings of the Faith and thus be witnesses to the truth of Catholicism by our actions, not just our words. This will do far more to help people see the beauty of the Faith then hundreds of arguments and condemnations.   

The early Christians were recognized by everyone because they were witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ. They were so overjoyed that Jesus had died for their sins that they could not contain themselves. They travelled all over the Roman Empire on foot telling everyone what Jesus had done for them and for everyone. They even went to their deaths singing praises to God. These early Christians had no fear of persecution or death because they knew that they were saved. Their only desire was to be witnesses of Christ’s love.  Their joy and love drew people to the faith by the hundreds, even in the midst of harsh persecution. We should model our lives after these heroic martyrs and show the modern world the joy of being Catholic. Everywhere we go we can show we are Catholics by our love, compassion and joy. Even something simple like smiling can be a witness to the world.

Everything we do in public or in private should bring ourselves and others closer to Christ. The motto for Catholics is; “Christ must increase and I must decrease so that it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Christ is the light of the world so let Christ shine through you and light up the darkness we are living in. Love is stronger then death and the only commandments Jesus gives us are to love God above everything and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  

We must not make the Faith more complicated then it needs to be. We live in a very busy world where no one has time for anything extra, so by making the simple complex we are pushing people away. We should go back to basics. Read the lives and histories of the early Church and see what it was about those men and women that drew so many people to the Catholic Church that it grew from a small Jewish sect to the official religion of the Roman Empire. We believe the same things the early Christians did. We believe in the same Jesus who is Lord and Savior of all. What we need to do is find ways to be witnesses for Christ in the world we live in. 

As individuals, or even as parish communities, we cannot win the culture war by ourselves. It doesn’t matter how intelligent we are or how many philosophical arguments we have to justify Catholic teachings. Ultimately it is only God who can change hearts and minds. God may use us in various ways to promote the faith, but the most important thing we can do is to pray and fast, asking God to heal our brokenness; both as individuals and in the wider culture. This is a God-sized problem and we are deceiving ourselves if we think we can fix the culture alone. If God is for us nothing can stand against us. God has promised that the gates of Hell shall not prevail over His Church so we can have confidence that we will not lose this culture war, but we may need to change our tactics and join together in pray. Some of the most powerful ways to pray include; celebrating the sacraments especially reconciliation and the Eucharist, attending mass (even daily mass when you can), going to adoration, praying the Rosary daily, and having an active prayer life at home. All of these things help us to build a personal relationship with Jesus and be witnesses to his saving death on the Cross. 

A New Approach to the Abortion Debate

In Canada abortion became legal in 1969 when the law against it was thrown out.  Since that time there has been no law about abortion in Canada.  This means that abortions are legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy.  Also, abortions are funded using tax dollars because it is viewed as a necessary surgery.

  

Ever since the law against abortion was thrown out (and even before), many pro-life groups have been fighting to raise awareness about the evils of abortion and the need to protect life in the womb.  In the 43 years since the abortion law was thrown out the pro-life movement has been working constantly, but progress has been slow as many people do not want to talk about the issue due to its controversial nature.  The pro-life movement has done a lot of good standing up for life and providing women with the facts about abortion.  Some pro-life groups are specifically aimed at providing women in crisis pregnancies with the support they need to care for the baby, and provide the mother with alternatives to abortion, such as adoption.

Despite the best efforts of many pro-life people for more then 40 years, there is still no law against abortion and any politician who talks about the issue is marginalized.  Why is this?  This issue should be at the forefront of political debate because it is concerned with the value and meaning of life.  Without human life there can be no country, no economy, no communities, etc.  Everything is based on people and the fact is we are killing millions of people every year and this will have consequences for the future.

One reason why the abortion debate has not progressed farther is that pro-lifers and pro-choicers are talking in different languages.  Before any debate or discussion happens both sides need to stop attacking each other and come up with things that they both agree on.  Certain statements can be agreed upon by both sides and can be used to further the debate.  Some of these statements are; "violence, intimidation and generally unlawful behaviour is unacceptable," or "rights cannot be denied," or "'pure democracy' is not acceptable," or "our side must be willing to submit itself to the truth." 

Once both sides have found a common starting point that they agree on the next step is to define the terms that you are using.  Words like religion, human person, right, and abortion are powerful words and can be used in so many different ways that the meaning can be unsure.  Both sides need to ask themselves, what is a person? what is a right? who has rights? which rights do they have? when do these rights apply? what is religion? how does religion affect the abortion debate? is an abortion simply a medical procedure or is there more to it then that?  There are so many questions that need answering in order to find out the truth about abortion, but these questions cannot be answered unless both sides share a common language and have a common understanding of terms.

Once all the background work is complete, you have statements and definitions that both sides agree on, then the debate can begin.  Pro-lifers have nothing to fear or lose in this debate because they are upholding the truth, so in any debate looking for the truth of what abortion is and whether it should be permitted they cannot lose.  If however the debate does not progress very far, as long as pro-choicers agree that unlawful behaviour is not acceptable you can argue that abortion is wrong.

The best argument I ever heard against abortion comes from Dr. Peter Kreeft.  Kreeft says that with abortion there is four options; 1) the fetus is human and we know that it is human, 2) the fetus is human and we do not know that it is human, 3) the fetus is not human and we do not know that it is not human, and 4) the fetus is not human and we know that it is not human.  If option 1 is true, the fetus is human and we know that, then to kill the fetus is murder.  If option 2 is true, the fetus is human but we are not sure, then to kill the fetus is manslaughter as it is similar to a hunter who is out in the forest and sees bushes moving so he shoots before checking what moved the bushes, and it turns out he has shot his fellow hunter.  If option 3 is true, the fetus is not human and we are not sure, then to kill it is criminal negligence because you are killing something when you are not sure what it is and it is possible that it is human.  This would be similar to seeing a dark object in the middle of the road while driving, and you're not sure what it is and whether it is human, but you decide to hit it anyway, instead of avoiding it.  If option 4 is true then abortion is okay because the fetus is not human and we are sure that it is not.  So, if someone wants to argue that abortion should be legal they must prove, without a shadow of doubt, that the fetus is human.  This is impossible because a nothing cannot be what it is not, a human cannot be a non-human, and since a fetus is human it is impossible to prove that it is not human.

If the philosophical argument does not work then the best option remaining is to videotape live abortions so that people can see what actually happens.  Many medical procedures can be watched live on television and the internet, but an abortion has never been broadcast.  Abortions are done in secret, so we must strive to bring light into the darkness and reveal the secrets surrounding abortion for all to see.  If there is nothing wrong with abortions then there should not be any problem broadcasting an abortion.  Broadcasting a live abortion may be the only way to convince people of the evils of abortion.

Before I go I should say something about the Catholic approach to abortion.  Pope John Paul II said that abortion is intrinsically evil and can never be permitted.  This is kind of a summary statement of the Church's views on the subject.  However, the Church teaching on abortion also says that since we are not sure when human life begins, we must protect life from conception to natural death because the fetus, at all stages has the potential to be human.  This line of reasoning is simply beautiful because it upholds the dignity of human life and simplifies a lot of questions.  It is amazing that the Church teaches that we must protect even the potential for human life, because it is so valuable.  (Note: I have simplified the Church's stance considerably, so for more in depth discussion on this issue please consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

In closing I should say that I support and encourage everyone who is active in the pro-life movement. I am in no way contradicting or diminishing your work, I am simply trying to find a new approach to the abortion debate.  Standing up for life in this culture of death is challenging and can be frustrating, and I encourage you to keep fighting the good fight and know that you have the truth on your side, so "be not afraid."  May God bless you all!

The Year of Faith

As some of you may know a couple weeks ago on Oct 11, 2012 the Year of Faith began for all Catholics.  From Oct 11, 2012 to Nov 24, 2013, Pope Benedict has asked all Catholics to devote time for prayer and study of the Catholic faith.  He has especially asked Catholics to study the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council so we can learn more about what the Church teaches and how we as Catholics can defend the Church's position in our discussions with those around us.  

October 11th of this year not only marked the beginning of the Year of Faith, but it was also the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It also marked the beginning of a synod of bishops who have gathered  in Rome with Pope Benedict to discuss the New Evangelization.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a  statement encouraging Catholics to take part in the Year of Faith saying "the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church."

The Year of Faith is an opportunity for all of us to immerse ourselves into the richness of the Church's teachings.  We are blessed with 2000 years of history and tradition from which to study.  There are numerous ways to delve into the faith this year.  Some ideas include doing a Bible Study, reading the Live of the Saints, studying Church History, and doing an in-depth reading of the Catechism.

If any of the above options sound interesting to you then make sure you take the time to find authentic Catholic resources to form the basis of your study.  Ascension Press has DVD studies, CDs and books written by experts in Scripture Studies, Church History and the Catechism.  My favourite studies include the Bible Timeline presented by Jeff Cavins and EPIC: A Journey Through Church History by Steve Weidenkopf.  Both of these studies were really well done and I learned a lot about the Catholic faith.  

If you don't want to do a formal study then simply reading Scripture, the Catechism, and the documents of Vatican II on your own are great ways for you to participate in the Year of Faith.  Another way you could participate is through prayer. Pope Benedict has asked Catholics to pray the Rosary especially during the Year of Faith saying "I would like to invite everyone to cherish the Rosary during the forthcoming Year of Faith.  With the Rosary, in fact, we allow ourselves to be guided by Mary, the model of faith, in meditating upon the mysteries of Christ, and day after day we are helped to assimilate the Gospel so that it can shape our lives.  Therefore, in the wake of my predecessors, and in particular Blessed John Paul II who ten years ago gave us his Apostolic Letter 'Rosarium Virginis Mariae', I invite people to pray the Rosary individually, in the family and in the community, placing themselves in the school of Mary who leads us to Christ, the living centre of our faith." - Pope Benedict XVI, Oct 7, 2012

My hope is that all Catholics will take advantage of the Year of Faith to grow in their knowledge and love of Catholicism.  Please join me in prayer and study over the next year and together we can build the Kingdom of God here on earth.  God Bless!

For more information about the Year of Faith and how to participate please see the link to the official Year of Faith website below.

http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

The Latin phrase Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, meaning the law of prayer is the law of belief has been central to a Catholic understanding of worship since the very beginning. How you worship is meant to convey what you believe. For example, as Catholics, we believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God is really and truly present in the Eucharist. We express our belief in this reality through our posture at mass, especially our posture immediately before and after receiving the Eucharist.  Some Catholics kneel to receive the Eucharist on the tongue as a sign of humility and receptivity to Christ who is coming into their souls. Taking some time after receiving the Eucharist to kneel before God and offer thanksgiving for the great gift we have just received is another way to express our belief in the Real Presence. These are just a couple examples of how the way we worship is meant to express our beliefs. What happens when the way we worship does not convey what we believe?

I do not have a complete answer to this question because it is a very large question, but what I would like to do is focus on how liturgical music can change affect our experience of the liturgy.  We all know that music has a powerful way of touching our souls.  Movies and plays use music to make the audience experience a specific emotion or to convey, in a deeper and more moving way, what is happening, to get the audience to feel what the characters are feeling. The same applies to liturgical music. The music at Mass is meant to help people to worship God, to step away from the world and focus our minds and hearts on worshiping God.  Liturgical music should never be a distraction because then it loses its purpose.  It is important to realize that certain types of music and instruments are more prone to be distracting and are not appropriate for Mass because they take away from the worship of God.

I recently attended a mass where the music was a huge distraction and almost an insult to what we as Catholics believe. At this particular mass there was a children’s choir filled with the beautiful voices of young children. However, these voices were drown out by the instrumental section of the choir who felt the need to use electric guitars, drums and amplifiers to lead the children’s choir. The electric guitar player was probably the most distracting and disrespectful because of his need to insert a solo into nearly every song thus making himself the center of attention instead of God. It felt to me like I was at a really bad rock concert put on by people who thought they were rock stars in their youth, but it never amounted to anything and now the only audience they have is at weekly Mass so they try and put on a show for everyone who comes to mass. Its like Sunday mass is nothing more then a gig to them, a way for them to relive their youth.

Musicians at Mass have a very special role as they are responsible for helping the congregation to turn their minds and hearts towards God. This role needs to be taken seriously and if musicians do not use their instruments and voices in a respectful and appropriate manner then they should not be allowed to play and sing at Mass.  Musicians must realize that certain instruments and types of music are not appropriate at Mass. Electric guitars, for example, are not appropriate at mass. Popular genres of music like rock n’ roll, rap and hip hop are not appropriate at mass. Adding a rock n‘ roll tone to worship music is profane and sacrilegious. The Mass is a Holy Sacrifice and a reminder to all of us that the Son of God died for our sins and is really present in the Eucharist and the music at Mass should reflect the sacred nature of what is occurring.   

Music has the power to inspire people, to touch their very souls.  Music can bring people to Mass if it is done right and can turn people away when it is done wrong. I attended a Mass in Northern Ontario where the music was so beautiful that it moved your mind and heart to God. This particular church was packed with people for Sunday mass and I have no doubt in my mind that the music at that mass was drawing people in because it was traditional and included some Latin. However, I also attended a mass that has modern music with drums and guitars and it drew people to mass also because the music was respectful and the focus was on God, not on being a rockstar. The debate between modern and traditional music at Mass is not an issue I want to discuss here, the point I am trying to make is that any music played at mass, whether its traditional or modern, needs to be respectful, and recognize the sacredness and solemnity of the Mass.  

Deacon Keith Fournier from CatholicOnline reminds us that “worship is not an “add on” for a Catholic Christian. It is the foundation of Catholic identity; expressing our highest purpose. Worship reveals what we truly believe and how we view ourselves in relationship to God, one another and the world into which we are sent to carry forward the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ. How the Church worships is a prophetic witness to the truth of what it professes.” If it is true that how we worship says something about what we believe then we should ask ourselves; what do electric guitar solos and all the other musical atrocities at mass say about what we believe?  

Remember, Lex Orandi, Lex Credenti!

To add credibility to my claims what follows are several quotes from Church documents regarding liturgical music. I have included links to the full documents.

From Musicam Sacram - Instruction on Music in the Liturgy:

“In permitting and using musical instruments, the culture and traditions of individual peoples must be taken into account.  However, those instruments which are, by common opinion and use, suitable for secular music only, are to be altogether prohibited from every liturgical celebration and from popular devotions. [44]

Any musical instrument permitted in divine worship should be used in such a way that it meets the needs of the liturgical celebration, and is in the interests both of the beauty of worship and the edification of the faithful.” (Musicam Sacram 63)

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_instr_19670305_musicam-sacram_en.html

From Sacred Music at the Service of Truth:

“The purpose of sacred music is always praise of God.  The active participation of the assembly must be ordered to this end, so that the dignity of the liturgy is not compromised”

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/details/ns_lit_doc_20101201_musica-sacra_en.html

From General Audience of John Paul II Wed Feb 26, 2003

“The Christian community must make an examination of conscience so that the beauty of music and hymnody will return once again to the liturgy.  They should purify worship from ugliness of style, from distasteful forms of expression, from uninspired musical texts which are not worthy of the great act that is being celebrated”

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20030226_en.html

From Chirograph of the Supreme  Pontiff John Paul II For the Centenary of the Motu Proprio “Tra Le Sollecitudini on Sacred Music”:

“In continuity with the teachings of St. Pius X and the Second Vatican Council, it is necessary first of all to emphasize that music destined for sacred rites must have holiness as its reference point...For this very reason, ‘not all without distinction that is outside the temple (profanum) is fit to cross its threshold’, my venerable Predecessor Paul VI wisely said, commenting on a Decree of the Council of Trent.  And he explained that ‘if music - instrumental and vocal - does not possess at the same time the sense of prayer, dignity and beauty, it precludes the entry into the sphere of the sacred and the religious’.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20031203_musica-sacra_en.html

Other Key Documents Include:

• Sacrosactum Concilium - http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
• Tra le Sollecitudini - 
• http://www.adoremus.org/MotuProprio.html