Anamchara

A CELTIC HOLY WEEK--2010--HOLY THURSDAY

 
CHRIST THE PRIEST ABOVE US

On Holy Thursday Night, the Celtic peasants of the Hebridean Islands off the coast of Scotland had a prayer called "Christ the Priest Above Us".  In this Year of the Priest, when so much criticism has been leveled at many good priests for the sins of a few, I adapted this prayer and updated it.  Here it is, a Celtic Prayer for Priests.

 A CELTIC PRAYER FOR PRIESTS 

　

Christ is the Priest above us,

Ordained of God for all the living.

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

The bread, His Body; the wine, His Blood;

Food for the wayward, drink for the lost.

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

His garden of sorrow, His garden of betrayal,

A Kiss for the King, a Sign for the soldiers.

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

Nailed to the Cross of terrible agony;

Anguish, distress, crucified pain.

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

I hear the hills, I hear the seas,

I hear the angels heralding to earth,

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

His Heart, my heart; His Hands my hands;

My very self belongs to Him.

Christ is the Priest above us.

 

I bear his name; I speak his voice,

Without envy, or anger, or shadow on heart.

Christ is the Priest above us.

I am the face of Christ the Priest;

I am His servant at the door.

Guide me, guard me, heal me, help me

Be the window through which You shine–

Christ the Priest above us. Amen.

 

　

Adapted from the Gaelic by E. R. Barr

HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY--2010--JESUS SAYS, "COME HOME MY FRIENDS"

 

HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY--4/1/10

by Msgr. Eric R. Barr, STL

I. Come Home, My Friends, Come Home To Me

A. It is wonderful to see so many of you here tonight. On this evening when the Sacred Triduum begins, the Sacred Three Days, it is grand to see so many of you ready and willing to celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist. But even if you were to gather all the people around the world tonight who are celebrating Holy Thursday, we would make up only a small minority of the world's people.

B. Right now, throughout this little town, people are going about their business, many of them unaware of why this night is different from all other nights. Some of them are watching TV, some are doing laundry, some are even shopping. But no matter where they are or what they are doing, God is there, gently leaving signposts that direct those people toward his Son.

C. Not everyone will feel his touch, however. In the world of today, as in the world of 33 A.D., there is a rage abroad. People are angry, at everyone, at everything. All you have to do is look at the rage directed at the Pope. Some people would not be happy if we burned him at the stake–they’d say the fire was not hot enough. The rage has no logic to it. I can tell you and them how false the accusations are, but the rage-infected will not listen. They want to kill him. Just like they wanted to kill Jesus. Nothing could dissuade them. On the night of Holy Thursday, so long ago, Satan walked the streets of Jerusalem disguised as rage, a rage so dark that it was powerful enough to kill the Son of God. Tonight, rage still walks the earth, and it ensnares our faith again. Seriously, doesn’t it kind of get to you; I mean, if the powers of darkness can reach out and touch the leader of our faith and perhaps even get us to possibly doubt him–well that would mean Satan was pretty strong in our day. Think of the doubts that were running around the apostles’ minds and the others who supported Jesus on the night of the Last Supper. Some thought he was failing them; some worried he was a charlatan, fake and a fraud. Some, like Judas, were beginning to wonder if he was the worst thing to happen in a long time. Doubts, then; doubts now. Darkness can cause doubts. Even today; even tonight.

D. Yet that is not the only story. There is a hunger out there as well. A hunger for God. That was true two thousand years ago, and is true today. Jesus takes his imperfect, sinful apostles, brings them together, gives them his body and blood, and tells them to continue giving people God no matter what in the many years to come. And so it happened. An imperfect Church, even a sinful Church, still does what Jesus asks today–gives people God. You are here tonight–even in the midst of doubt and worry. Why? Because the Church still has the power to give people God. And we do this in humility, knowing we are sinful, but knowing we have been tasked by Christ to bring God to people, even through our sinfulness and failings.

E. Like the circling light from a lighthouse, casting a glowing beam into the night sky over a swirling, churning ocean, the Church proclaims the voice of Christ, "Come home, my friends, come home to me! Come home, my friends, come home to me." And like ships lost in the raging storm, some, even many are coming home. For 2000 years we have shouted the message, and tonight, many of us are here at our spiritual home and our doors are open wide to all those who are passing by.

A CELTIC HOLY WEEK--2010--SPY WEDNESDAY

 
DESPITE JUDAS, ON MY WAY TO GLORY

I think of Christ on this Spy Wednesday (called such because Judas plotted with Christ's enemies), betrayed by one of his closest friends.  He must have known what Judas had planned; it must have scored his heart dearly.  As the darkness closes around our Lord, as Satan stretches his wrathful hand, as Judas sells his very own soul for 30 pieces of shining silver, what must have our Lord been thinking?  I believe the words of the Celtic poet, Alistair Maclean, could very well sum up the thoughts of Jesus this day when a friend betrayed him to the night, to the dark, to his enemies.

Though the dawn breaks cheerless on this isle today,

My spirit walks upon a path of light.

For I know my greatness.

Thou hast built me a throne within thy heart.

I dwell safely within the circle of thy care.

I cannot for a moment fall out of thine everlasting arms.

I am on my way to thy glory.  Amen. 

THE POPE'S HUMILITY IN TIME OF TRIAL--REPRESENTING CHRIST AS A MAN OF SORROWS

 
  
TIME FOR TRUTH, TIME FOR CLARITY

Sure enough, the truth is coming out and the rabid wolves of the secular media are being proved wrong.  Sexual abuse is a heinous crime, but so is killing a person through slander.  The Pope has been maligned, unfairly and unjustly, so let's do what we can to restore his reputation.  Not so that he feels better, or that the Catholic Church can get its mojo back, but so that the one man who has done the most in the Church to reform its approach to sex abuse and to punish abusers might be able to continue his excellent work. 

Archbishop Timothy Dolan's stirring defense of the Pope at his Palm Sunday Mass reminds us that the Vicar for Christ does bear the burden of imitating Christ in the world today.  The Pope won't defend himself, so we must do it for him.

Still worried about the accusations?  Check these articles out:

 Fr. Raymond de Souza's National Review response

George Weigel's First Things editorial 

John Allen's NCR report

*******UPDATE!   Fr. Brundage, the Church judge who tried Fr. Murphy in Milwaukee has written a letter which will be a definitive historical document refuting the lies of the New York Times.  It truly is excellent and can be found here
 

A CELTIC HOLY WEEK--2010--HOLY TUESDAY

JUDAS LEAVES THE LAST SUPPER 

On the little island of Barra, off the cost of Scotland, Catholics have always practiced their faith.  The Hebridean island was too remote to be touched by the Reformation.  Here's a little Celtic prayer the peasants used to pray, when the darkness came around them, when evil was about, when temptation was nigh.  It's a good prayer for this day, as Judas goes into the night and is swallowed up by the rage of Christ's enemies.

 

 

 

 

Jesu!  Only-begotten mine,

God the Father's Lamb sacrifice,

Thou didst give thy body's blood-wine

From the grave-death to buy me right.

My shield, my encircler, my Christ, my Christ!

For each day, each night, for each dark, each light;

My shield, my encircler, my Christ, my Christ!

For each day, each night, for each dark, each light.

 

Jesu! uphold me and be nigh,

My triumph, treasure, thou are now,

When I lie down, when stand, be by,

Whenever I watch, when I sleep.

My aid, my encircler, MacMary thou!

My strength everlasting, MacDavid, keep;

My aid, my encircler, MacMary thou!

My strength everlasting, MacDavid, keep.

Carmina Gadelica (trans. GRD McLean)

A CELTIC HOLY WEEK--2010--HOLY MONDAY

On Holy Monday when Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus,  anoints the feet of Jesus at Bethany, incurring Judas' wrath at the extravagance of this love, we might remember

ST. COLUMBANUS' PRAYER FOR CHARITY

Inspire us with they charity, O Lord, that our loving quest for thee may occupy our inmost thoughts:  that thy love may take complete possession of our being, and divine charity so fashion our senses that we may not know how to love anything but in thee.  Amen.

   

A CELTIC HOLY WEEK--2010--PALM SUNDAY

PALM SUNDAY AND THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Think of the eyes of Christ.  Think of compassion, challenge, love and care.  The Gospel of Luke is a Gospel of healing and salvation for all.  Remember, Satan is the bad guy here.  The rest of us, even Jesus' enemies, are weighed down by sin and evil and need our heavy load taken away.  I often call the Gospel of Luke, the Star Wars Gospel, since it is about the cosmic battle of good against evil fought out in Jerusalem between Christ and Satan.  This cosmic aspect was very apparent to the Celts who saw the presence of Christ in nature.  Look at Joseph Mary Plunkett's beautiful poem--a great Celtic poet of the early 20th century who was executed by the British in the 1916 Irish uprising.

I see his blood upon the rose

And in the stars the glory of his eyes;

His body gleams amid eternal snows,

His tears fall from the skies.

 

I see his face in every flower;

The thunder and the singing of the birds

Are but his voice--and carven by his power,

Rocks are his written words. 

 

All pathways by his feet are worn,

His strong heart stirs the ever beating sea,

His crown of thorns is twined in every thorn

His cross is every tree.

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY HOMILY--3/28/10--THE EYES OF CHRIST

 
　

PASSION SUNDAY–4/15/19

  By Msgr. Eric R. Barr, S.T.L.

READINGS: ISAIAH 50:4-7; PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11; LUKE 22:14-23:56

I. The Week of Our Redemption

A. A kingly throne is forsaken for a twisted crown of thorns. A kingdom of might and power is exchanged for three sharp nails and a pointed lance. A hero's welcome given by thousands waving palms of peace is transformed within a week to a jeering and rejection by his own people.

B. Instead, a Cross awaits our God, a criminal's death for the Prince of Peace. But that Cross is the price of our Redemption. On that Cross, our friend and brother, Jesus, Son of Mary, stretches out his arms to offer us forgiveness. This forgiveness is the bridge across the centuries that connects the Cross to our lives and makes Christ's death mean something to us here and now.

C. Remember that forgiveness this week. Through the Passion of Christ we walk this week--and all the way Jesus offers us forgiveness and a chance to return to our Father.

II. The Eyes Of Christ

A. The Eyes of Christ fascinate us. Have you noticed how often in Luke's Passion he looks at people and offers them forgiveness?

B. Jesus looks into the darkness of Judas' heart and says, "Judas would you betray me with a kiss?" Notice, he does not say, "You are betraying me with a kiss." Jesus still offers Judas a way to return, but Judas--caught in the darkness of his own sin--says no.

C. Peter denies Christ the third time and the Gospel says, "Jesus turned and looked at Peter." Some think this was a look of sadness tinged with anger as if Jesus was saying, "You betray me, too, my close friend?" But perhaps a better explanation is that the Eyes of Christ were filled with forgiveness and an unspoken plea, "Return to me, Peter my friend; do not let the darkness blind you." And Peter, after a night of weeping in sorrow, accepted the offer and returned to Christ.

D. From the Cross, on a hill called the Place of the Skull, Jesus looked at those assembled to watch him die and said, "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing." Even pain, agony, and death itself cannot mask the depth of love Jesus has for people.

E. To the Good thief who repented on the Cross and showed kindness to Christ, Jesus said, "This day you will be with me in Paradise." The words would sound hollow uttered by a common criminal, but in Jesus' eyes was a hope that could not be darkened by death. And the Thief believed.

F. And, of course, Christ, from the Cross, looks at his Mother with infinite tenderness and care.

G. Looks of challenge, compassion, forgiveness, and intimacy–just with his eyes, the Christ conveys redemption.

III. An Offer Of Forgiveness To Us

A. The eyes of Christ look down through 2000 years. Christ looks upon us even now and he offers us forgiveness. With him is Peter and the Good Thief. Both walk with Christ in Paradise. Both accepted his offer of forgiveness and love.

B. Will we accept? Will we walk with Christ this Holy Week, or will we go into the night like Judas did? Forgiveness is here; the choice is ours to accept or reject it. Look on the face of Christ, the Man of Sorrows who died so that we might live. Look upon our God and let us decide. Christ looks upon us and offers us his love. How can we refuse?　

 

 

TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE POPE

 
CATHOLICS WILL ALWAYS BE PERSECUTED BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO SIMPLY TAKE IT!

Particularly when our leader, namely the Pope, is unfairly and grotesquely pilloried as being part of the priest sex abuse problem.  Recent stories in the New York Times (cf.  Times Article, Times Editorial) viciously take the Pope to task, even though the facts simply do not back up the Grey Lady's harangue.  Lots of other bloggers are rising to the defense of the Pope, but we all have to.  Why?  Because those who hate the Church are using this terrible scandal to paint with such a broad brush as to falsely implicate the Pope and suggest that sex abuse is only a Catholic problem.  I submit no institution and no individual has done as much as the Catholic Church and Pope Benedict to root out corruption and instill protection of children as hallmarks of our faith community.  As Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Rockford, I have had to deal with these problems for ten years.  Our diocese, as with many others, has handled cases fairly, justly, and expeditiously.  Our's, like many other dioceses', is a diocese that has trained tens of thousands of employees and volunteers on child protection--name some other institution in the world that has done that.  Our priests are better vetted and trained than in the past.  We act swiftly on any accusation. That does not excuse the Church's slow realization of the problem--but then, no one has ever reacted swiftly to this problem in the past--but it does show that we learned, cleaned house, and reformed.  Now the Pope is paying an unfair price.  So pray for him, and let's take it to those who seek to use this issue to destroy the faith we love.   

*****UPDATE 3/26/10  Nice try New York Times with today's article trying to tie the Pope more closely to the German abuse scandal.  It doesn't succeed as Bill Donohue from the Catholic League so aptly points out here.  Not a shred of evidence.  Just a bunch of Catholic bashing. Also, please check out the excellent piece by John Allen at the National Catholic Reporter.  He has information not seen in the secular press--fair and balanced--check it out here.

HEALTH CARE DISGRACE: THE BILL PASSES AND ONE MAN'S VOTE BECOMES A KISS OF BETRAYAL, ONE WEEK BEFORE HOLY WEEK

 A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH; IT WAS RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE NO MORE.

 

What a terrible moment for America.  The House has passed the seriously flawed health bill against the wishes of a majority of Americans.  Abortion rears its ugly head as it insinuates itself into medical care under the guise of this new bill.  The President and the lawmakers who passed this share a great responsibility but none so much as those who voted for governmental leaders whom they knew would pursue anti-life legislation.

There is one individual who stands out in shame.   We will never know what was really in Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak's heart.  All we can judge is the outward action.  But here is someone who set himself up to be a modern profile in courage.  And what do we get instead, one week before Holy Week?  A man, a Catholic, who said he'd stay with the Lord no matter what, but with his vote as a kiss, his betrayal creates a modern day Judas.  He can't be blamed completely for the result, of course, but what is happening with our nation?  What have we become?

For a great editorial on the hapless Stupak, check out Kathleen Parker's latest: here