"We believe with our knees, or we do not believe at all."

Bishop's visit April 11

Category: The Church
Posted: 2010-04-12 22:14

Our parish was blessed to have our new bishop visit on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, 2010.

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Bishop Bolen and Fr. Andrew

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What a great photograph. Way to go, Evelyn. Very nice composition.

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Benediction



The Mass was beautiful, with Divine Mercy chaplet and Eucharistic Benediction afterward. Bishop Bolen gave a wonderful homily about the Doubting Thomas gospel. It's natural to have doubts (especially at this particular time in the trials that the Church is undergoing) but God is always there in his infinite mercy. This is what really struck me from the bihop's homily (never considered this angle before): Thomas was isolated, AWAY from the community and hence he missed out on Christ's presence. Food for thought--how often do we do that? We voluntarily separate ourselves from the love of God. Bishop Bolen also explained a bit about his episcopal motto: "Mercy within mercy within mercy" (it's from the Book of Job, via Thomas Merton). A very fitting theme for the feast day. It was a really nice day for all of us lucky parishioners at St. James. We were very thankful that the snowy/icy roads from the recent blizzard did not stop the bishop from visiting.

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Easter decoration Chi Rho in the background

Χρ or ☧ (Greek letters chi and rho); they are the first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word Christ (Greek: Χριστός).

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I took Sophia (5) to shake hands with the Bishop.

Thanks Evelyn, who took the pictures, and Fr. Andrew for letting me "borrow" them from the parish website!
St. James, Wilkie
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Our new bishop

Category: The Church
Posted: 2010-03-29 20:41

Welcome to His Excellency Bishop Donald Bolen. May God bless you as you shepherd our diocese.

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Richard Gaillardetz

Category: Saskatoon marriage conference
Posted: 2010-03-24 01:36

Saskatoon marriage conference, March 19-20, 2010

The keynote address (Saturday evening after the banquet) by Richard Gaillardetz, was titled provocatively:

Why We Always Marry ‘The Wrong Person’! New Hope for Marriage in Tough Times

I won’t elaborate on any recent controversies involving this speaker. You may research him online if you wish to know any details.

However, here is just one example of what some have found problematic about his opinions.

Beyond that you have "authoritative doctrine"-binding teachings of the church that Catholics must give a presumption of truth to. But since they've not been taught infallibly, there's at least a remote possibility of error. An example of that would be the church's condemnation of in vitro fertilization or the prohibition of artificial contraception. These are binding teachings. You're not allowed just to blow them off.
[…]
To use the birth control issue, I think there are a lot of Catholics who don't withhold assent, they simply ignore it. I don't think that's legitimate.
Catholics are obliged to do their best to give the presumption of truth to such teachings, to try and assimilate them. But if in doing so, Catholics at the end of the day say: "I simply cannot internally assent to that," I would argue they have genuinely done all the church has asked of them. I will argue to my last breath that it is possible for a Catholic to be in good standing and not be able to give internal assent to every teaching and practice and discipline of the church.


Anyway, on to his presentation. He is certainly a very lively fellow, although this might be interpreted in a variety of ways. A woman I spoke to after his talk said she thought he came across as "full of himself." (But then we writer-types so often do.)

In his opening remarks, Gaillardetz declared that he was committed to a theology of marriage that “speaks to married couples where they live.”

Well, aren't we all.

But I happen to believe that Catholic theology and moral teaching does precisely that.

However, Gaillardetz quickly went on to juxtapose the “lofty theology” of the Church to the “nitty gritty” of marital reality for most people.

Well, any half-witted Catholic (and I certainly count myself among their number) can read between the lines: that the Church’s teaching is all very nice (nudge, wink) --perhaps even wonderful-- (certainly lofty) but people shouldn’t actually have to live it. The Church should ‘meet us where we’re at,’ and we can all live comfortably with our self-formed consciences based on our personal lived experience.

Gaillardetz made references to a conference he had once attended where a young priest was “attempting” to explain church teaching about conjugal love. In relating the story, Gaillardetz’s language and tone were condescending and patronizing, to the accompanying tittering of the Saskatoon banquet crowd. Implicit in his words and attitude was the well-worn cliché: ‘what can a celibate male possibly know about sex?’

Gaillardetz then openly mocked the Church’s language of the nuptial meaning of the body, specifically that conjugal relations represent “an icon of Christ and the Church.” “No one really talks that way,” he insisted, especially when they are “feeling frisky.” His deprecatory remarks were met with uproarious laughter from many in the banquet hall.

Nor (I would offer as an aside) is the word “transubstantiation” daily fare in the conversation of most Catholics, but that doesn’t make the reality of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist any less true. But then what do I know? I am not a theologian with a Ph.D. I am just a Dumb Old Housewife.

Gaillardetz related his own experience of early marriage, when the exhaustion of caring for newborns and other major career and life stresses filled him and his wife with resentment and fear. He wondered if his marriage would “fly”, joking that he and his wife were both too highly educated (theologically speaking) to qualify for an annulment (more hearty laughter).

“Looking into the abyss,” he noted, there was “no delight, no witty conversation, no spontaneity, no sex.”

He said that almost every couple at one point or another in their marriages “looks into the abyss,” and in this he is absolutely correct. Also correct was what came next: “We’ve got to make a connection between lofty ideals [ie. Church Teaching] and the abyss.” But then he said something very strange: “…and the Roman Catholic Church doesn’t always do a good job of this.”

Excuse me?

The Catholic Church has been connecting the dots between lofty ideals and the abyss ever since before there was a Catholic Church. Indeed, when the 'church' was only an itinerant preacher and a rag-tag band of apostles, a guy named Jesus spelled it out (in Luke 9:23, and many other places in Scripture): "And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

It is called the Doctrine of the Cross, and it is at once as sublime and as nitty-gritty as you can possibly get.

Gaillardetz went on to say that he feels we need a “practical theology of marriage,” as if to imply that the Church does not already have one. He said we must consider the “cultural context” in which we live out our marriages. “Our culture has created an obsession with romance,” adding that there is a “disconnect” between unrealistic ideas about romantic love and the real, mundane daily life of the average Catholic couple.

“Even Celine Dion cannot make that look romantic,” he joked.

Ah yes, but Incarnational Spirituality can. Has this man, for all his education and erudition, never read G.K. Chesterton’s writings on the wild romance of the domestic; St. Therese of Lisieux’s “Little Way”, Servant of God Catherine Doherty’s Little Mandate; Christopher West’s “Everyday Mysticism”; John Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio?

Over the years, entire apostolates have been founded to aid Catholic couples to achieve (and celebrate) the ‘connection’ between the lofty ideals and the dirty diapers: Familia, Nazareth Family Apostolate, the Cana Movement, One More Soul, Opus Dei, Families of Nazareth (yes, it’s different), Catholic Family Ministries, The Theology of the Body Institute...the list goes on and on. Each philosophy, apostolate, or teaching brings home the reality and possibility of achieving sanctification –and joy—in and through the ordinariness and suffering of daily life.

Regrettably however, ‘sanctification’ was not part of Gaillardetz’s presentation. In fact, I didn’t hear that word once all weekend. But I digress.

Gaillardetz poked fun at the secular idea of the “ideal soulmate” that is entrenched in our culture, noting that Catholics underwrite it with a “really bad theology,” which he calls the “Theology of Providence.” In other words, the idea that God chooses our spouse for us and/or has our life mapped out “like a movie script,” and we have only to labour and pray for its completion and fulfillment. Instead, he said, “We make choices, and God walks beside us,” no matter what those choices are.

In one of the ironies of the evening, Gaillardetz criticized the “consumer culture” of our age, which tries to “manipulate desire” in us. He noted that the “comparison shopping” ethos of consumer culture makes marital commitment very difficult today. He ridiculed a consumer culture that tells us constantly to modernize and upgrade, not only in our material purchases, but also in relationships.

Enter irony: he wants a theology of marriage that is not “lofty” but one that meets us where we live. If he does not accept that Catholic marital theology is sufficient unto the daily grind, then he must want it changed, modernized, upgraded. I can’t see how that is different from consumerism (a.k.a. Cafeteria Catholicism) but then, I am only a DOH, not an M. Div. or a PhD.

Make no mistake: he said some good things too. In seeking compatibility, potential couples must look for common vision, not necessarily common interests, and this common vision must be based on faith. He maintained that since people’s interests change over time, and spouses mature (spiritually and psychologically) at different times in life, it is not enough to base marriage on interests alone. When profound change happens, or couples face the “abyss”, they may be tempted to think they married the wrong person. Citing the difference between adultery and infidelity, he said all of us are tempted to be unfaithful “in small, socially acceptable ways,” and sometimes in greater ways.

This can cause profound loneliness within marriage. He then (inexplicably) asserted that the Catholic Church “doesn’t prepare married couples for loneliness,” citing St. Augustine’s famous “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You,” quotation . I found this baffling, as the quotation does not support, but rather refutes his claim. Indeed, with and through contemplative spirituality, the Church encourages us (as my banquet table-mate said to me) “to live the mystical tradition. We are all called to live a deep, personal relationship with Christ.” Gaillardetz did not touch on this aspect of individual spirituality, but I would maintain that it is necessary to know Christ personally before you can hope to form a solid Catholic marriage.

He maintained that Catholic couples must think about living marriage in a non-consumerist way. Conversion in marriage is the call to come back to the spouse. Our differences and habits can become an invitation to conversion. We need to progress from the notion of divinely pre-ordained “soulmate” to chosen “companion.” Companionship means asking, “What are the gifts he/she has been giving me that I haven’t been noticing because they weren’t what I was looking for?” Companionship is “a decision, a discipline.”

Mr. Gaillardetz’s secret to a happy marriage? Don’t ask “Did I marry the wrong person?” but ask “Are we sharing a vision where we can love each other and be of service to the world?”

At the end of the talk, he said there must be a shift (in ethos) from “consumption to conversion,” and that conversion must be “ongoing.”

Hear, hear!

A good start might be to stop asking for a theology of marriage that doesn’t call us beyond ourselves, and embrace the fullness, the beauty, and yes, even the loftiness of the Catholic theology of sacramental marriage.

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I'm off to the National Marriage Conference

Category: Saskatoon marriage conference
Posted: 2010-03-19 10:15

...in Saskatoon. Ought to be interesting. I'm covering it for Catholic Insight. Here's some information on the keynote speaker, Richard Gaillardetz:

Gaillardetz had also been criticized by Pacheco for counselling Catholic couples simply to 'follow their consciences' if they find they cannot obey the Church's teaching on contraception. The theologian does not back away from his position on this issue.

-snip-

In an article for U.S. Catholics entitled 'Who's the Boss?', Gaillardetz admits that the Church may have erred in its teaching on contraception. "Catholics are obliged to do their best to give the presumption of truth to such teachings, to try and assimilate them," he wrote. "But if in doing so, Catholics at the end of the day say: 'I simply cannot internally assent to that,' I would argue they have genuinely done all the church has asked of them."


A bit of the controversy outlined here.

However, I have heard (from a couple of sources) that all the speakers at this upcoming conference had been forewarned (by the conference organizers) to be "positive" and avoid all controversial subjects. So it will certainly be interesting to hear what they have to say.
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By popular demand

Category: Life
Posted: 2010-03-15 22:17

Here is an excerpt from my talk given at the Edmonton WCCHSC homeschool conference last weekend:

The Homely Middle-aged Housewife’s Extreme Makeover Top Ten Beauty Tips

1) The only truly ugly thing is sin and all that it has spawned.

2) Do not allow the excesses of popular culture or worldly standards to dictate your attitude toward yourself or others.

3) Do not judge people by their appearance, but see them with the eyes of Christ who loves them and died for them.

4) Unfair though it may be, we are often judged by our appearance: are we doing our best to attract others to life in Christ?

5) Moderation in all things, except striving for sanctity.

6) The quickest, cheapest, most painless facelift…is a joyful smile.

7) Maintain your perspective and your priorities. You are dust and to dust you shall return.

8) A loving, generous heart is your greatest beauty asset.

9) Holiness is beauty; the Light of Christ shines from the inside out.

10) Live a life immersed in Prayer, the Sacraments, the Scriptures; Stay close to Jesus. In the words of His Blessed Mother: “Do whatever He tells you.”


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Some say church in Canada is boring, but that's OK with me.

Category: All Cultures are Equal
Posted: 2010-03-05 02:58, Edited: 2010-03-05 03:58

Indian temple stampede kills 63 women, children


Stampedes at religious events in India are common as large numbers of excited worshippers pack into congested areas. Panic can spread quickly and, with few safety regulations in place, the result is often lethal.


The worst recent incident was in October 2008 when about 220 people died near a temple inside Jodhpur's famous Mehrangarh Fort.


More than 25,000 worshippers had rushed towards the hill-top shrine to join in an auspicious moment for offering prayers at the start of Navaratri, a nine-day Hindu festival.


Strange how there can be a million excited young people at World Youth Day, but no one is ever stampeded to death.

Just sayin'
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From one of my favourite devotionals

Category: Words of Wisdom
Posted: 2010-03-02 21:05, Edited: 2010-03-02 22:05

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"Having defects is not what is bad--all of us have defects--but making a pact with them and ceasing to fight."


Fr. Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God
Vol. II (Lent & Eastertide), p.22

I love this entire series.
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"Why do you people care so much about externals?"

Category: Liturgy
Posted: 2010-03-01 20:43, Edited: 2010-03-01 21:43

...my non-Trad friends sometimes ask me. And they deserve an answer.

Thus writes John Zmirak. It's a dang good article. Do read the whole thing.


That is how it felt to be young and Catholic in the 1970s. Every sacred thing had to be changed, every old thing replaced with a new one, every complicated beauty plastered over by the cheap and the easy. The message was almost subliminal, but by that means all the more powerful: All Your Church Are Belong to Us.

And by changing back the flag, by taking back our Mass, we are saying: Go back to Hell. Our Church belongs to Christ.
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Today's Lenten Scripture Quotation

Category: Liturgy
Posted: 2010-02-22 00:10, Edited: 2010-02-22 01:10

Acts 3:19

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord...


It's nice to think of Lent as a time of "refreshing" rather than one of deprivation and gloom.
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Lent has begun.

Category: Liturgy
Posted: 2010-02-21 20:23, Edited: 2010-02-21 21:23

David Warren explains the meaning of the season.

We live today in an intensely "secular" society, in an environment from which hints and reminders of the great religious truths have been, for the most part, removed. We no longer live in a world in which the steeples of the churches dominated the skyline of every town. It is hard for us to observe the religious seasons, even to remember them.

Therefore we must pinch ourselves, keep reminding ourselves, of life beyond the trough.
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