Anamchara

CELTIC PRAYER IN LENT, PART ii--THE WAY OF THE CROSS

 

If you are really into Celtic Spirituality, then the Holy Week experience is a passionate immersion into a deep relationship with the crucified Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Apostles.   One of the clearest elements of Celtic prayer is its IMMEDIACY.  By that, I mean that the Celts were able to experience the Passion of Christ as if they were there with him.   They achieved this through penitential disciplines (fasting, etc), but also through their imagination.  They spoke to Mary, sympathized with her.  They stood amidst nature and cried out with the rocks and stones at the injustice being done to the Son of God.  They knew that what Christ was doing on the Cross was saving each and every one of them.  No past event, the crucifixion was absolutely real to them.  Take a look at this poem by the famous Blathmac, c.700 A.D.

Come to me, loving Mary,

that I may keen with your very dear one.

Alas that your son should go to the cross,

he was a great diadem, a beautiful hero...

 

When every outrage was committed against him,

when capture was completed,

he took his cross upon his back--

he did not cease being beaten.

 

The King of the seven holy heavens,

when  his heart was pierced,

wine was spilled upon the pathways,

the blood of Christ flowing through his gleaming sides...

 

It would have been fitting for God's elements,

the beautiful sea,

the blue heavens, the present earth,

that they should change their aspect when keening their hero...

 

Perhaps it is because these people lived so close to the land that they chose to involve all creation in their meditation on the Passion.  The IMMEDIACY that I spoke about was coupled with their ONENESS WITH CREATION.  They truly felt they joined all nature in weeping over the death of the Lord.  And that leads to my last point which deals with Christology--the understanding of who Christ is.  THE COSMIC CHRIST is curiously also part of Celtic reflection.  They might describe Jesus as the Chief of Chiefs, as one of their own, as an intimate friend, but they also understood that because of his place in the Trinity as the Word of God, Jesus drew all things back to himself and his Father.  The Christ permeates all Creation, and once again we have this experience of a dynamic loving God.  Pretty cool when you think of it; very awesome.

NOTRE DAME & OBAMA?--OUR LADY WEEPS

 NOTRE DAME:  A ONCE CATHOLIC INSTITUTION DYING A SLOW DEATH

How pathetic it is when a once great Catholic school prostitutes itself to gain the approbation of modern elites.  Fr. Jenkins, President of Notre Dame, issued the invite to President Obama to deliver this year's commencement address.

I don't blame the U.S. President; I'd snatch up that opportunity too to appeal to 67 million Catholics.  I do put the fault on Notre Dame which knows better.  Pro-abortion, pro- embryonic stem cell research, anti-life in so many ways, Obama is against the most important life issues of our time.  But that's no problem for the folks at Notre Dame.  What a scandal.

Want to read a great article by one of the most honored professors of the school-teacher and author, Ralph McInerny (writer of the Father Dowling Mysteries)?  He nails it like no other author.  Check it out here--McInerny on Notre Dame and Obama

Want to sign a petition to Fr. Jenkins concerning this issue.  Check it out here--petition  

UPDATE 3/25/09--This is an issue that continues to grow.  Check out the Wall Street Journal editorial by Bill McGurn--here

UPDATE 3/28/09--From Britain, a great article on Cardinal DiNardo's letter (included in article) on the issue.  Read it here

UPDATE 4/2/09--From my own diocese's Bishop Doran--a must read:  Change the University's Name

THE POPE--LOVED IN AFRICA, SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH US?

   

CONDOMS OR KISSES?

Seriously, would you really rather have a pope that passes out condoms, or one that embraces the beauty of life?  Pope Benedict, rapturously received in Cameroon, now travels to Angola for what will be an even more enthusiastic reception.  Rumbles are still being heard in the West about the Pope's condom stand.  Check this article out for an interesting take:  Prominent Uganda AIDS activist supports Pope condom stand .  All the Pope is doing is proclaiming Church teaching.  All the secular media and governmental officials are doing is advocating stop gap measures that do not deal with the human perspective of sexuality, treating humanity, instead, like mere members of the animal kingdom.  Give me the Pope, give me Church teaching, give me the human dignity our faith stands for!

*****UPDATE:  The Pope has finished his trip.  The Angola visit was stupendous and the closing Mass attracted over a million people.  It seems to have really uplifted Catholics there, while the decadent and souless secular press still is grumbling about condoms and expressing incredulity that the Pope won't sanction libertine sexual license.  I did find a great op-ed article about all this.  Check london times says Pope misunderstood .

God bless Benedict--a successful trip with an uplift to Africa's Catholics.

 

NEWS FLASH: POPE CATHOLIC--RESPONSE: SHOCK! HORROR!

MEDIA HYSTERIA IS BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CATHOLIC BIGOTRY

 

I really should have entitled this "The Cameroon Condom Kerfluffle" because that is how ridiculous this issue is.  In a nutshell, everyone is reacting to the Pope saying this: that concerning AIDS, condom use "aggravates the problems."  Now it is possible that the Pope's words were mistranslated--he was talking on the flight to Cameroon--and the Vatican has put out the official translation as this:  that concerning AIDS, condoms "risk making the problem worse."  Either way, it seems a tempest in a teapot because the Pope is doing nothing other than reiterating standard Church teaching.  Any pope could have said either of the above quotes.  Nothing new here.

What is aggravating is the vitriolic response from the news media.  I'd give you a selection, but have some fun and do a quick search of news stories--they are absolutely terrible.  Here's a UK paper that talks a bit of common sense--on second thought.  Unfortunately, we are beginning to see a more coordinated attack on the Holy See by secularists.  As far as the angry Catholics go, I get tired of their animosity.  Find a false god and follow it, a god that will let you do whatever you want to do, but don't complain that the Pope is doing what a pope should do:  teach the faith and be a moral beacon in a world of ambiguity.

*****Update:  Looks like the Vatican press office or someone clumsily tried to redact the Pope's remarks.  It's done all the time, just usually with better flair.  Again, he is poorly served by his staff, but, regardless, he happens to be right whichever quote we use.  Here are some of the few positive editorials on what the Pope had to say.  They are quite good:

national review and christianity today     

 

 

KRAUTHAMMER: TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH

     

SOMETIMES OUR BEST FRIENDS ARE NON-BELIEVERS

We've heard so much about President Obama's restoration of embyonic stem cell research that the vitriol and the arguments mix and end up as an angry stew of clashing beliefs and emotions.  Take a look at this article that Charles Krauthammer wrote on the subject:   krauthammer on stem cells. 

Dr. Krauthammer is a non believer and often has opinions that would not compatible with a pro life outlook.  Yet, he outdoes himself here in pointing out why Obama's reasoning is so dangerous to humanity.  His is one of the few media voices to have depth and believability when it comes to this subject matter.  I especially liked this quote:

"Science has everything to say about what is possible.  Science has nothing to say about what is permissible.  Obama's pretense that he will 'restore science to its rightful place' and make science, not ideology, dispositive in moral debates is yet more rhetorical sleight of hand--this time to abdicate decision-making and color his own ideological preferences as authentically 'scientific'.  Dr. James Thomson, the discoverer of embryonic stem cells, said 'if human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable, you have not thought about it enough.'  Obama clearly has not."

Compare his essay with Nancy Pelosi's comments on the same:  

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after President Obama signed an executive order lifting the Bush Administration's restrictions on federally financed human embryonic stem cell research:

"By lifting the executive ban on federal funding for stem cell research, President Obama has given hope, and potentially health, to millions. Every family in America is just one diagnosis, one phone call, or one accident away from needing the benefits of embryonic stem cell research.

"Today President Obama has also restored science to its rightful place in our national debates. Scientists must be allowed to pursue the research that they believe has the most promise to cure. And when they do, America remains a world leader in innovation, discovery, and growth.

"If we have a scientific opportunity to treat and cure disease, we have a moral opportunity to support it. That is why Congress will move to pass legislation to make this executive order the law of the land."

Now tell me which one has the more authentic Catholic view.  Ms. Pelosi remains not only a political embarrassment, but a terrible witness to the Catholic faith and hardly an icon to intellectual endeavor.

If you, like me, are impressed with Mr. Krauthammer's essay, take time to drop him a letter.  The e-mail address is at the bottom of his article.  We ought to give praise where praise is due and recognize clear thinking as perhaps the most important thing necessary for courageous people to remain firm in their convictions.

ST. PATRICK ON HIS FEAST DAY

 

CROAGH PATRICK--THE HOLY MOUNTAIN RISING ABOVE CLEW BAY, COUNTY MAYO

THOUGHTS OF PATRICK

I thought about St. Patrick today,

After I climbed his mountain in Mayo.

That substantial shadow of light,

Rocky presence of reality

we often choose to ignore.

I thought about St. Patrick today.

 

I wondered if he thought

much of God as he climbed.

Or was he too busy breathing,

gasping for air as step by step

he approached the summit

to wrestle with the devil–

like me.

 

Was he proud or world-weary

as he sought to battle Satan?

Or was he like me–

Confused about his weakness,

Abashed at his nakedness

in the sight of God,

Wondering how to win

after failing so often?

Was he proud or world-weary

as he sought to battle Satan?

 

I thought about all these things,

Because I never really encounter

God directly on Croagh Patrick.

He’s there.

I feel his holiness,

But he is silent.

 

My suspicion is this:

It is not enough to climb this mountain.

God will not be found

Afloat on a vision

Above the waters of Clew Bay.

Through the mountain–

That’s the answer.

After all, it is a shadow, isn’t it–

A veil between the worlds.

I think St. Patrick knew this.

Because if you walk down

The mountain,

You walk into the sea.

Patrick did not do that.

 

My suspicion is this:

He turned back to the Rock,

Smiled and said,

"It was a lovely Lent,

But I have a land to fire,

And a People to win for Christ.

Let me pass.

And the mountain opened–

After all, the hollow hills are real–

And Patrick walked through

The shadow and into the light

A changed man,

With the fire of Christ

Ever before him,

And the land of Ireland

Under his feet.

               Msgr. Eric Barr, Croagh Patrick, August 19, 2000

THE POPE, THE WAYWARD BISHOPS, AND THE HOLOCAUST

     

THE POPE'S MOVING LETTER ON HATRED, BIGOTRY, AND FORGIVENESS

The Pope is releasing a letter to all bishops tomorrow at noon concerning the lifting of the excommunication of the 4 traditionalist bishops who are followers of the dissident Bishop Marcel Lefebvre (he broke with the Church decades ago over the validity of the Vatican II and the Mass of Pope Paul VI.  It is a six page document poignantly personal and powerful.  The salient points:

• The Pope acknowledges the controversy and how it is tied in with one of the bishops denying the Holocaust.

• The Pope regrets the timing.  The lifting of the excommunications occurred at the time Bp. Williamson was denying the Holocaust, making it look like the two were connected.  They were not.  What was supposed to look like reconciliation instead appeared to many to be a step backward in relations between Christians and Jews.

• The Pope was surprised and saddened to be attacked by Catholics who should have given him the benefit of the doubt, but heartened with the support from Jewish circles which he received.  "I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility.  Precisely for this reason I thank all the more our Jewish friends, who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust which...continues to exist."

• The Pope acknowledges the criticism that he could have discovered Bp. Williamson's views by checking the internet and says, "I have ben told that consulting the infomation availabe on the internet would have made it possible to perceive the problem early on.  I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news."

• The Pope admits another mistake was that a clear explanation of the lifting of the excommunications was not offered immediately.  The lifting is merely a step in the process of reconcilation.  Says the Pope, "In order to make this clear once again:  until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the church, and its ministers--even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty--do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church."

• The Pope then raises the question of whether this type of reconciliation was needed with the dissident bishops and their followers.  He says yes in many words of great and profound humility and mercy. 

Clearly the Pontiff is personally hurt by the criticism, which has been ridiculously over the top.  This letter will go a long way towards putting this issue to rest.  Yet, the letter raises the question as to where the hatred of the pope comes from--why so much hate for an action meant to reconcile.  It is almost as if forces in the world were looking for a chance to attack the Successor of the Apostles.  For a copy of the letter, check here--Pope's Letter

For a good commentary on the letter, check out this---Commentary

  

NEWT GINGRICH TO BECOME CATHOLIC

 

UPDATE:  WELCOME MR. SPEAKER! 

Newt Gingrich entered the Roman Catholic Church on March 29, 2009.  Check for more info here:  new york times on newt

FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CROSSES THE TIBER

The New York Times and the blogger American Papist report that the former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich will become Catholic this spring.  Check it out here.  The Puritans among us will gasp--hasn't he been married three times, etc, etc.  The thing is, his present wife is a Catholic and has been doing some good evangelizing.  Looks like he's had a life changing experience.  They attend the National Shrine in D.C.   Gingrich, a Baptist, might strike some as an odd fit to Catholicism--he's a hardball politician and likes the rough and tumble of political life.  But he is also an intellectual.  David Gibson, a more liberal writer and blogger, opines that another conservative has become Catholic and wonders why this is the face of Catholicism in America.  Okay, David, I'll bite--why?  Seems to me that the reasonableness of the Catholic faith, it' logic, its timelessness, appeals to intellectuals; always has and always will.  Maybe that's just foreign territory for liberals.  Whatever.  I echo what everyone else is saying--Welcome home, Mr. Speaker.  We are glad to have you!

CELTIC PRAYER IN LENT

The cross at the top of St. Brigid's Holy Well, County Clare

PRAYING THE CELTIC WAY

One of the readers of this blog wished I had more Celtic stuff in it, and I agree, though I do think I put a Celtic slant on most anything I write.  None the less, he had a point so here's a little Lenten thought on Celtic prayer.  I'm trying to find a Celtic prayer of healing--that's hard to do since the Christian ones are place specific and ailment specific and full of lots of anachronistic words.  I need the prayer for a brochure for the sick we are doing.  So, instead, I'm going to do what I encourage you to do--use the Celtic form and do your own.  See what you think of this:

A Prayer for Healing

Father above,

Christ of love,

Holy Spirit healing dove,

Fill my heart, O Triune God.

 

From sickness heal;

From sorrow seal;

I beg as I kneel;

Fill my heart, O Triune God.

 

My body cleanse;

My soul defend;

My life whole again;

Fill my heart, O Triune God.

 

Mary lift me,

Michael carry me,

Brendan lead me,

Brigid hold me,

Patrick protect me,

Columba guide me,

To the perfect place,

Of healing grace,

Where I may see His Face,

And dwell In the heart of the Triune God. Amen.

 

The Celts had certain things that were always put in their prayer.  First of all--the indwelling Trinity.  Known to the Greeks as perichoresis, this dynamic concept of God meant that the Divinity was constantly in motion and its movement was love.  Like in John's Gospel where Jesus says, "The Father is in me and I am in the Father and we are one."  That indwelling Trinity was immanently present to the Celt.  In fact, he or she wished the Divine to dwell in one's heart so that a person could be surrounded by divine love.  Second--there is always a chant to the prayer, surely a holdover from the pagan Druids, but I am convinced it is what makes these prayers so powerful.  The people believed the words they prayed, and the cadence carried that belief.  Third--the idea that we are never alone.  That's why they always called upon their favorite saints--particularly the Blessed Virgin and St. Michael the Archangel as well as Sts. Brendan, Columba, Brigid and Patrick--the four great saints of Ireland.

   

SMILE A LITTLE DURING LENT

A SONG THAT CANNOT BE SUNG DURING LENT!!  ENJOY!