Winter Races
23 November 2017
Our kids spend so much time outside. All summer long, whenever they had too much energy, we sent them outside to run around. They were so inspired by Ti Jean that it was always a question of "Am I as fast as Ti Jean? As strong as Ti Jean?" We were dreading winter and the inevitable long hours spent indoors without having the possibility of sending them outside to expend their energy. We had forgotten about their favourite winter pastime. Now, we get to enjoy this every night. And the sweet little girl that wants to imitate her brothers in everything, including taking off her shirt (this particular day she wasn't allowed to).
13 November 2017
A few nights ago I woke up from a vivid dream. In the dream I was in Barry's Bay at the wonderful St. Hedwig's church. Daily Mass had started and I was thrilled to be back to enjoy a peaceful and prayerful Mass. That is until someone started the entrance hymn. A band kicked in and played a raucous worship opener that even a charismatic-charged Protestants would drool over. Badly shaken by this new craze at the church of my wedding, I pressed on ahead at Mass. There was more commotion later on. Before the readings a group of people jumped to the front by the altar and took some booklets and formed them into mini megaphones. These people were pretending to make trumpet noises with the makeshift-a-maphones. They were goofing off at the front, and many in the congregation were laughing and singing along.
To quote Roch Carrier: "This was too much. It was too unfair. This is persecution!" I shouted as loud as I could: "Stop!!!! What are you doing?! You're a disgrace to this church!" People turned and looked at me. Some were relieved. Others were shocked at my outburst. It didn't matter. I think some people tried to kick me out. I woke up feeling quite satisfied with my defense of the this house of prayer.
I think maybe my soul subconsciously was anticipating the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, which began the upcoming morning. There I was a few minutes later saying morning prayer with the words: "My house will be called a house of prayer." Did my soul subconsiously know that this great feast was approaching? Or was the dream just a coincidence? Actually, the reason I dreamed of this mess at St. Hedwig's probably stemmed from a prayer comment at the previous night Mass I attended (in Tisdale). It was the prayers of the faithful and our priest asked if anyone had any intentions to add (ho hum... cause that's how we feel like we are participating at Mass...). One lady, who runs our youth programs, piped up that she wanted to pray for the youth of our parish, and that the programs running would turn around and be successful (openly hinting that they were failing) and that the youth would find a love of the Lord through them. A desperate plea I thought. But it got me thinking. Why are we doing the same thing while expecting different results? Oh yes, that is the definition of insanity as is often quoted. That's it. We're insane in our diocese.
A couple of years ago our parish, in accord with our diocese, announced exciting 'new' measures to bring the youth back to the Catholic Church! These included lots of activities, youth Masses, praise and worship, and a watered-down Jesuit printed catechism. It was the 1980s all over again. It was, and remains, insane. No, this is not what we need. Praying for the youth to return to the faith through our diocesan programs is like expecting to win the lottery... when you don't even have a lottery ticket. Or praying for a sunny and beautiful 25 degrees Celsius on your wedding day... in January. Or for Justin Trudeau to spend money wisely. This is not sane.
"Ok smart guy," I'm sure you're saying, "just what do you suggest." I suggest what the Church, and yes even Vatican II, teach. The perhaps most quoted line from Vatican II (after the misquoted "active participation") is that the Eucharist is the "source and summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium 11). It's actually quite simple: Fix the Mass!
That's right, fix the Mass already. There can be no return of youth, sustained growth of parishes, or renaissance of Catholic culture until we realize the Mass must be held sacred. The Mass must be prayerful, beautiful, mysterious, and uplifting. It must be what the world is not. Otherwise we can get the same false buzz from our everyday lives. And for heavens sake, the Mass must not be about us. Now there are other elements to growing Catholicism. Catechism. Family life. Sacraments and Sacramentals. But they all must be rooted in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. And the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass must be carried out properly. Otherwise we have little to no chance of changing things.
We are embodied creatures. We must rely on our senses. If you don't believe me, read Aristotle. That we rely on our senses means that what we take in affects our thoughts, words, actions, and even our souls. Can a Catholic grow in their faith with a reverently-impoverished Mass. Yes. Is it happening? Behold the fruits. A resounding NO. Why? As I said, read Aristotle. There is an insistence on emotionalism, looking at ourselves (ad orientem would sure help fix this), and trying to appeal to the modern world. I think of how our bishop has this thing with calling people around the altar at the Our Father and holding their hands. The look on the children's faces is sheer embarrassment. Why come to Mass? And... they don't. Hence the desperate plea of our parish youth leader. I wrote to the bishop once about his love of hand-holding, among other things. I think I used the word effeminate once or twice in the letter. He never acknowledged that he received my letter. Maybe I should have written in French? Or claimed to be a devoted follower of Jesuit James Martin? My gist was this though: be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, and stop thinking you know more than the organic tradition of the Church. And for heavens sake stop forcing your hand on others. Is this so hard? Once again look at the fruits... apparently yes.
I realize things will get worse before they improve. I was forwarded Pope Benedict's famous prediction of a smaller human Church the other day. He made that prediction nearly 50 years ago. Our Lord's words of "where two or three are gathered" might someday become more literal than expected. And "My house will become a house of prayer" might someday be our own house only. Or, might I suggest, we fix the Mass before it gets to this? Before all the youth leave never to return. Before St. Hedwig's turns Protestant. Before no more Filipinos show up to artificially sustain our church numbers. Before my nightmares become reality. Fix the Mass. The holy things for the holy. There is no other way.
We must place ourselves in the hands of Our Lord. Not the literal hands of our bishops.
To quote Roch Carrier: "This was too much. It was too unfair. This is persecution!" I shouted as loud as I could: "Stop!!!! What are you doing?! You're a disgrace to this church!" People turned and looked at me. Some were relieved. Others were shocked at my outburst. It didn't matter. I think some people tried to kick me out. I woke up feeling quite satisfied with my defense of the this house of prayer.
I think maybe my soul subconsciously was anticipating the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, which began the upcoming morning. There I was a few minutes later saying morning prayer with the words: "My house will be called a house of prayer." Did my soul subconsiously know that this great feast was approaching? Or was the dream just a coincidence? Actually, the reason I dreamed of this mess at St. Hedwig's probably stemmed from a prayer comment at the previous night Mass I attended (in Tisdale). It was the prayers of the faithful and our priest asked if anyone had any intentions to add (ho hum... cause that's how we feel like we are participating at Mass...). One lady, who runs our youth programs, piped up that she wanted to pray for the youth of our parish, and that the programs running would turn around and be successful (openly hinting that they were failing) and that the youth would find a love of the Lord through them. A desperate plea I thought. But it got me thinking. Why are we doing the same thing while expecting different results? Oh yes, that is the definition of insanity as is often quoted. That's it. We're insane in our diocese.
A couple of years ago our parish, in accord with our diocese, announced exciting 'new' measures to bring the youth back to the Catholic Church! These included lots of activities, youth Masses, praise and worship, and a watered-down Jesuit printed catechism. It was the 1980s all over again. It was, and remains, insane. No, this is not what we need. Praying for the youth to return to the faith through our diocesan programs is like expecting to win the lottery... when you don't even have a lottery ticket. Or praying for a sunny and beautiful 25 degrees Celsius on your wedding day... in January. Or for Justin Trudeau to spend money wisely. This is not sane.
"Ok smart guy," I'm sure you're saying, "just what do you suggest." I suggest what the Church, and yes even Vatican II, teach. The perhaps most quoted line from Vatican II (after the misquoted "active participation") is that the Eucharist is the "source and summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium 11). It's actually quite simple: Fix the Mass!
That's right, fix the Mass already. There can be no return of youth, sustained growth of parishes, or renaissance of Catholic culture until we realize the Mass must be held sacred. The Mass must be prayerful, beautiful, mysterious, and uplifting. It must be what the world is not. Otherwise we can get the same false buzz from our everyday lives. And for heavens sake, the Mass must not be about us. Now there are other elements to growing Catholicism. Catechism. Family life. Sacraments and Sacramentals. But they all must be rooted in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. And the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass must be carried out properly. Otherwise we have little to no chance of changing things.
We are embodied creatures. We must rely on our senses. If you don't believe me, read Aristotle. That we rely on our senses means that what we take in affects our thoughts, words, actions, and even our souls. Can a Catholic grow in their faith with a reverently-impoverished Mass. Yes. Is it happening? Behold the fruits. A resounding NO. Why? As I said, read Aristotle. There is an insistence on emotionalism, looking at ourselves (ad orientem would sure help fix this), and trying to appeal to the modern world. I think of how our bishop has this thing with calling people around the altar at the Our Father and holding their hands. The look on the children's faces is sheer embarrassment. Why come to Mass? And... they don't. Hence the desperate plea of our parish youth leader. I wrote to the bishop once about his love of hand-holding, among other things. I think I used the word effeminate once or twice in the letter. He never acknowledged that he received my letter. Maybe I should have written in French? Or claimed to be a devoted follower of Jesuit James Martin? My gist was this though: be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, and stop thinking you know more than the organic tradition of the Church. And for heavens sake stop forcing your hand on others. Is this so hard? Once again look at the fruits... apparently yes.
I realize things will get worse before they improve. I was forwarded Pope Benedict's famous prediction of a smaller human Church the other day. He made that prediction nearly 50 years ago. Our Lord's words of "where two or three are gathered" might someday become more literal than expected. And "My house will become a house of prayer" might someday be our own house only. Or, might I suggest, we fix the Mass before it gets to this? Before all the youth leave never to return. Before St. Hedwig's turns Protestant. Before no more Filipinos show up to artificially sustain our church numbers. Before my nightmares become reality. Fix the Mass. The holy things for the holy. There is no other way.
We must place ourselves in the hands of Our Lord. Not the literal hands of our bishops.
6 November 2017
Yes, though the wolves attempt to take over the world, we try to restore Catholic culture one step, or dance step, at a time. Needless to say, John Paul is a hit in this video.
3 November 2017
It's so hard to blog about anything these days. The Church, and the world, is such a mess. Sigh. Remember this?
Well from Poland we have:
I hope it's fake. But the website that put it up, StudioQuatro, apparently is a Polish website that specializes in high-end recordings of people's momentous events. Apparently this is at a Jesuit church in Poland.
I wonder how many years the couple lasts until... nevermind.
I wonder how many years the couple lasts until... nevermind.
2 November 2017
A little while ago, probably around the time of Gord Downie's death, the boys asked me what kind of a birthday cake I wanted. I joked that I wanted an angel food cake with strawberries that made a checkerboard floor. On the floor I wanted a policeman on horseback. And, of course, I wanted Bobcaygeon sung instead of Happy Birthday. Well, be careful what you wish for:
Thanks guys! You lit up my day! Like thousands of stars... forming bright constellations and, revealing themselves one at a time and... um, thanks!
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