Yesterday, I posted a piece on married priests. I think it's only fair that I concentrate on the role of being the priest's wife as well. Granted, some of this might be rehash from the married priests post, but it still counts. (N.B. I wrote this from an eastern perspective since the married priesthood is an ancient custom in the East, but this would also apply in the Latin church if it suddenly changed course on it's celibacy discipline.)
As the priest's wife, your role in the family is critical to making it all work. Once your husband is accepted for priesthood formation, he needs to go to seminary. In regards to how seminaries handle families, the policy differs from seminary to seminary. If your husband ends up going to Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA, it depends on how your family is. If it is just you and your husband, they offer a dorm section which is meant specifically for married couples. If you have children and you don't want to go the "husband stays at seminary and you stay home with the kids the whole time he's in seminary" route, you and your husband will have to buy a house close to the seminary and live there for the years he is in seminary. You will also be invited to take part in various events with your husband throughout the year (like weekly Sunday evening Vespers which is open to the public) and might be asked for input on formation at various times.
I should mention that your "Yes" makes the difference whether your husband gets ordained or not. If you say "No", the bishop will not ordain him. Once your husband is ordained and assigned to a parish, you will have to help him run it. As your husband goes about his priestly duties, it will be your job to manage the children (and of course he will take time to be with the kids too). If your husband doesn't make enough as a priest to make ends meet, are you prepared to take a job to help support the family? Even if he does make enough as a priest, can you deal with the stress of your husband frequently taking time away from the family to fulfill his priestly duties?
Once your husband is ordained, he will be at the call of the bishop. If the bishop wants to move the priest from one parish to another, he will have to accept as part of his promise of obedience to the bishop. These days, it seems that moving priests around is a popular tactic for bishops instead of keeping them in a given parish for life. If your bishop says "I want you to go here", can you deal with moving every few years? Given the size of some eparchies or dioceses in the US, you might be asked to move a great distance from where you are currently located.
As a priest, your husband will have to interact with other female parishioners. It is important that you not let jealousy act in any way here. Your husband will not forget that he is married to you when dealing with other female parishioners.
The support of a priest's wife is critical. If the priest is having a hard time, the priest's wife's help and support can be just what he needs to lift his spirits and keep going through the day. You as the priest's wife are to be a good feminine example for other ladies in the parish in living a good Christian life. As part of the vocation of priest's wife, you also help keep your husband accountable as well.
This is all I can think of for the role of priest's wife specifically at the moment. If Priest's Wife is watching, any input to improve this post would be greatly appreciated.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
So Ya Wanna Be a Married Priest?
In case you're wondering where the topic of this post came from, I got a tip-off from the Byzantine Catholic facebook group I am part of about a certain tweet put out by his excellency Bishop Tobin. For reference, I will display the tweet below.
This tweet started a firestorm of replies from those who know about the Eastern tradition of married men being ordained priests. Reintroducing married priests (without special exceptions) into the Latin church is an idea that has been thrown around in recent years, but nothing has happened yet. If you have been wondering how that could work out (or how it does work out in the East), let me give you some idea. For the record, I am single (and looking towards the celibate priesthood), but I have priests friends who are married priests (including my current pastor/spiritual father).
First, before anyone in the media attempts to twist my post, I will state how it works: married men can be ordained priests, but priests cannot marry. Why is this you may ask? Well, upon ordination to the subdiaconate (if you are a member of the Roman church who doesn't know what a subdeacon is, read up on Wikipedia), the man makes a promise of celibacy. What the status of the man is (at time of ordination) will influence how this promise is lived out. If a man is single at time of ordination, he cannot marry at any time for the rest of his life. If a man is married, however, he continues to live with his wife, but if his wife happens to die before he does, he is forbidden from marrying again. Because of this, there have been times where a man will delay ordination if he knows he will be married first. For the traddies and rad-trads out there, the priest's marriage status matters not sacramentally. A priest is a priest is a priest. The fact that he may be married does not change the fact that he can do anything that a celibate priest can do. The only exception is that married priests cannot be elevated to the episcopacy (while his wife is still alive).
The life of a married priest is one of sacrifice. As a married priest, he has the obligation of fulfilling his marriage vows (helping his wife and kids to get to heaven) and the obligation of his work as a priest of Jesus Christ (being the shepherd that the bishop has put in place to help the flock of sheeple he has been entrusted with get to heaven). This is no easy task.
As a married priest, there will be times where priestly duty will necessarily interfere with family life. Imagine, for a moment, the priest's wife has just finished making a delicious dinner for the whole family after a long day and everyone in the family has sat down and is ready to eat. Just as you've said grace and Father has given the blessing, the phone rings. A parishioner is in the hospital almost about to die and needs to be given the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Father lets his wife and kids know what is going on and heads out to take care of his parishioner. As we can see, the duties of being of a priest can interfere with events in family life. Are you prepared to deal with that? A side effect of this is that family events often get planned around what is happening in the parish and in the church calendar that week.
If you think the priest's wife has little part to play in this, think again. The priest's wife supports the priest in helping to run the parish. If the priest doesn't make enough money from his work as a priest to support his family, the wife will have to take a job. Even though this doesn't really happen in Eastern Catholic circles, I have heard of stories from Orthodox circles where the priest's pay wasn't enough to provide for his family, so the priest himself had to work a secular job just to make ends meet for his family. To me, no priest (Catholic or Orthodox) should ever have to worry about things getting that bad, but it happens sometimes (unfortunately).
For the married priest, priesthood formation involves the wife just as it involves the man. In order to even be ordained, the wife has to say "Yes" to her husband presenting himself for ordination. If the wife says "No" to the whole thing, the bishop will not ordain him. There is an important bit of information I got when I went to the Come And See Weekend last year at Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. "As a married man, your first duty is to your family. If you have young children or newly married, it might be best if you wait a few years before you enter seminary". In other words, a married man thinking about ordination must have a stable household first. If you don't have a stable household, what makes you think you can manage both your own family and a parish family?
I suppose I should add this section for any Latins reading this post. Unless the current discipline on celibacy in the Latin church changes, the Eastern bishops are fully aware of the celibacy discipline of the Latin church and are on the lookout for men applying for seminary in their churches just because the Eastern churches allow married men to be ordained priests and the Latin church does not. If you are (currently) ascribed to the Latin church and you want to get ordained in one of the Eastern Catholic churches, there needs to be some other good reason why you want to be ordained in one of Eastern Catholic churches.
Even though the East has a history of ordaining married men as priests, celibacy still exists in the East and is still appreciated. All monastics are required to be celibate. In order to be elevated to the episcopate, a priest cannot be married. As a result, there are many times where the next bishop of an eparchy (eparchy <=> diocese, same thing) will come from among the monastics, but not always. In the East, a married priest must be free from sexual relations for about 24-48 hours before he is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. This is why you don't usually find daily Divine Liturgy in the East (the married priest is busy fulfilling the marital part of his life).
I think I have covered a good bit on the life of a married priest. If I am missing anything you think should be added to this, let me know in the comments and I will try for a part 2 with all the information I missed.
On the priest wife end, I have this as well.
This tweet started a firestorm of replies from those who know about the Eastern tradition of married men being ordained priests. Reintroducing married priests (without special exceptions) into the Latin church is an idea that has been thrown around in recent years, but nothing has happened yet. If you have been wondering how that could work out (or how it does work out in the East), let me give you some idea. For the record, I am single (and looking towards the celibate priesthood), but I have priests friends who are married priests (including my current pastor/spiritual father).
First, before anyone in the media attempts to twist my post, I will state how it works: married men can be ordained priests, but priests cannot marry. Why is this you may ask? Well, upon ordination to the subdiaconate (if you are a member of the Roman church who doesn't know what a subdeacon is, read up on Wikipedia), the man makes a promise of celibacy. What the status of the man is (at time of ordination) will influence how this promise is lived out. If a man is single at time of ordination, he cannot marry at any time for the rest of his life. If a man is married, however, he continues to live with his wife, but if his wife happens to die before he does, he is forbidden from marrying again. Because of this, there have been times where a man will delay ordination if he knows he will be married first. For the traddies and rad-trads out there, the priest's marriage status matters not sacramentally. A priest is a priest is a priest. The fact that he may be married does not change the fact that he can do anything that a celibate priest can do. The only exception is that married priests cannot be elevated to the episcopacy (while his wife is still alive).
The life of a married priest is one of sacrifice. As a married priest, he has the obligation of fulfilling his marriage vows (helping his wife and kids to get to heaven) and the obligation of his work as a priest of Jesus Christ (being the shepherd that the bishop has put in place to help the flock of sheeple he has been entrusted with get to heaven). This is no easy task.
As a married priest, there will be times where priestly duty will necessarily interfere with family life. Imagine, for a moment, the priest's wife has just finished making a delicious dinner for the whole family after a long day and everyone in the family has sat down and is ready to eat. Just as you've said grace and Father has given the blessing, the phone rings. A parishioner is in the hospital almost about to die and needs to be given the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Father lets his wife and kids know what is going on and heads out to take care of his parishioner. As we can see, the duties of being of a priest can interfere with events in family life. Are you prepared to deal with that? A side effect of this is that family events often get planned around what is happening in the parish and in the church calendar that week.
If you think the priest's wife has little part to play in this, think again. The priest's wife supports the priest in helping to run the parish. If the priest doesn't make enough money from his work as a priest to support his family, the wife will have to take a job. Even though this doesn't really happen in Eastern Catholic circles, I have heard of stories from Orthodox circles where the priest's pay wasn't enough to provide for his family, so the priest himself had to work a secular job just to make ends meet for his family. To me, no priest (Catholic or Orthodox) should ever have to worry about things getting that bad, but it happens sometimes (unfortunately).
For the married priest, priesthood formation involves the wife just as it involves the man. In order to even be ordained, the wife has to say "Yes" to her husband presenting himself for ordination. If the wife says "No" to the whole thing, the bishop will not ordain him. There is an important bit of information I got when I went to the Come And See Weekend last year at Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. "As a married man, your first duty is to your family. If you have young children or newly married, it might be best if you wait a few years before you enter seminary". In other words, a married man thinking about ordination must have a stable household first. If you don't have a stable household, what makes you think you can manage both your own family and a parish family?
I suppose I should add this section for any Latins reading this post. Unless the current discipline on celibacy in the Latin church changes, the Eastern bishops are fully aware of the celibacy discipline of the Latin church and are on the lookout for men applying for seminary in their churches just because the Eastern churches allow married men to be ordained priests and the Latin church does not. If you are (currently) ascribed to the Latin church and you want to get ordained in one of the Eastern Catholic churches, there needs to be some other good reason why you want to be ordained in one of Eastern Catholic churches.
Even though the East has a history of ordaining married men as priests, celibacy still exists in the East and is still appreciated. All monastics are required to be celibate. In order to be elevated to the episcopate, a priest cannot be married. As a result, there are many times where the next bishop of an eparchy (eparchy <=> diocese, same thing) will come from among the monastics, but not always. In the East, a married priest must be free from sexual relations for about 24-48 hours before he is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. This is why you don't usually find daily Divine Liturgy in the East (the married priest is busy fulfilling the marital part of his life).
I think I have covered a good bit on the life of a married priest. If I am missing anything you think should be added to this, let me know in the comments and I will try for a part 2 with all the information I missed.
On the priest wife end, I have this as well.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Happy Mamas Day
Today in the US is Mother's Day. I want to first wish all of our mothers out there a most happy and blessed day today.
When people mention Mother's Day, everyone usually thinks of the typical mom in the nuclear family (that has existed since Eve and Adam got together to produce the first children) that gave birth to us. However, Mother's Day covers more than that. We think and pray for all mothers out there, not just our own.
On this day, we remember our own mothers, the one woman that brought you into this world. We thank her for all the sacrifices she has made for us and for putting up with us all these years.
For those of you that are married (I'm not), we thank our wives out there for helping us bring children into the world and raise them to be good God-fearing people.
On this day, we remember Grandmas and all mothers whose children are out living on their own.
On this day, we remember all those women out there who are currently pregnant and will be new mothers soon. We pray that they may have a successful pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child.
On this day, we remember all the mothers out there who have children that have died either after birth somehow or who have had a miscarriage. We realize this is a painful moment in a mother's life and we pray for healing for all those in this situation.
On this day, we remember all those mothers and potential mothers that have had an abortion in their past. We pray that (if they have not yet) they realized the horror from that action and receive forgiveness and healing from Christ through the church so those women can move forward in their lives.
On this day, we remember all those women that have tried (with their husband) to get pregnant and have failed. We pray that they may eventually have success and if not, that they be open to possibly adopting a child that needs a good home and a good father and mother.
On this day, we pray for all those whose mother has passed away and that their mother may (if not there yet) eventually enter into heaven through our prayers and supplications.
Motherhood can encompass more than just biological mothers. On this day, we remember all those women out there who are spiritual mothers, either in religious/monastic life or simply a spiritual mother to another girl or woman.
Last, let us not forget about the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, the greatest mother God put on this Earth. She said "Yes" to God and it is through her that the mystery of the incarnation, God taking on flesh and dwelling with us, happened.
Thank you for all those mothers out there for choosing life and bringing wonderful children into the world. May God bless you all.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
The Blog is Back and Your Easter so Far
First, let me take the chance to say that the blog is officially being revived. I realize that I should have been writing, but I have been neglecting it. Much has happened since I last wrote here. I have moved to the Midwest to the great state of Texas for work (I do miss West Virginia though), but I still remain active in the church as ever. Who would have thought that God would send me to a location where I not only have the largest F.S.S.P. parish in the US available, but also a Ruthenian Greek-Catholic church and a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic church as well?
As of now, I am technically a Roman Catholic. However, through my learning on the interwebz and participating in the parish life of the Ruthenian Greek-Catholic church near where I live, the east has definitely grown on me. After having moved here in 2015 until this year, I had been mainly active at the F.S.S.P. parish and went over to the Ruthenian parish when the men's schola wasn't singing. As of this year at the recommendation of my spiritual father (he said I needed to place all my eggs in the eastern basket if I was to get his recommendation for seminary), I have been going full time to the Ruthenian parish. To get a feel for what I have to deal with, try this on for size: first, know how to serve not only the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, but also the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and be able to read and sing Gregorian chant for the Mass. Are you alright so far? If so, add on the Eastern Divine Liturgy (Ruthenian adaption) and be able to both serve as acolyte for it and cantor it and other services (like the divine office) that the Byzantine tradition offers. If you want a bonus, try keeping in mind the Ukrainian adaption of the Divine Liturgy as well (I have been over to the Ukrainian church a few times as well and am friends with the pastor there, but will admit I don't know everything on the Ukrainian side). Welcome to my world!
As we well know, tomorrow is the feast of the Ascension (for those of us on the Gregorian calendar) when we will celebrate Christ's ascension into heaven. Pascha is not done yet, but we are winding down to the end of it after tomorrow with only a week and 3 days between the Ascension and Pentecost. I will be writing more on the Ascension tomorrow. I know this is late, but has your parish done anything special this Easter season? This has been fun.
On a side note, I would like to start getting my viewing numbers up again. If you could share this blog with friends and family and stay tuned (for more), that would be greatly appreciated. Trust me, there is definitely more to come.
As of now, I am technically a Roman Catholic. However, through my learning on the interwebz and participating in the parish life of the Ruthenian Greek-Catholic church near where I live, the east has definitely grown on me. After having moved here in 2015 until this year, I had been mainly active at the F.S.S.P. parish and went over to the Ruthenian parish when the men's schola wasn't singing. As of this year at the recommendation of my spiritual father (he said I needed to place all my eggs in the eastern basket if I was to get his recommendation for seminary), I have been going full time to the Ruthenian parish. To get a feel for what I have to deal with, try this on for size: first, know how to serve not only the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, but also the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and be able to read and sing Gregorian chant for the Mass. Are you alright so far? If so, add on the Eastern Divine Liturgy (Ruthenian adaption) and be able to both serve as acolyte for it and cantor it and other services (like the divine office) that the Byzantine tradition offers. If you want a bonus, try keeping in mind the Ukrainian adaption of the Divine Liturgy as well (I have been over to the Ukrainian church a few times as well and am friends with the pastor there, but will admit I don't know everything on the Ukrainian side). Welcome to my world!
Christ is risen! Christos Vokrese (Христосъ воскресе)!
As we well know, tomorrow is the feast of the Ascension (for those of us on the Gregorian calendar) when we will celebrate Christ's ascension into heaven. Pascha is not done yet, but we are winding down to the end of it after tomorrow with only a week and 3 days between the Ascension and Pentecost. I will be writing more on the Ascension tomorrow. I know this is late, but has your parish done anything special this Easter season? This has been fun.
On a side note, I would like to start getting my viewing numbers up again. If you could share this blog with friends and family and stay tuned (for more), that would be greatly appreciated. Trust me, there is definitely more to come.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
A Reminder about the Christmas Season and Black Friday
First, I would like to wish everyone (early) Happy Thanksgiving. Next, I have a reminder about Christmas.
Please note that Christmas has not started yet despite some commercials saying the contrary. I am amazed at how many tv commercials I have seen this early with Christmas as a theme. Thanksgiving hasn't even come and gone yet. The pre-Christmas period is long enough, so why must we make it longer?
On Sunday, we, in the Roman Church, will enter into the Advent season (I am aware that Advent has already started for Eastern Catholics). Advent comes from a combination of two Latin words, "ad", which means "to", and "venio", which is the first-person present indicative of "venere", which means "to come". This is a time used to prepare ourselves for Christ to come to Earth once again. Christmas is more than a day, it's a whole season. The Christmas season starts with Christmas Day at 12:00 a.m. (00:00) on December 25, not sooner than that.
Black Friday also has an "early start" this year. No longer do stores want to wait for the Friday after Thanksgiving to actually start. Instead, I find all the Black Friday specials starting as early as 8:00 p.m. (20:00) on Thanksgiving itself. This is time which should be spent with family and friends, not shopping for merchandise. Remember: friends and family will not always be around to spend time with, so make the most of the time you do have with them.
We all know that no sane person would do what happens on Black Friday at any other time in the year, so why do we give Black Friday a pass? Yes, stores have what seem to be "amazing" deals on Black Friday, but odds are that you can find the same merchandise for less at some other time in the year. As for fighting for merchandise, why don't we all do that adult thing and realize that it's only merchandise? It can be reproduced. and you will still live without taking advantage of the "big deal". If supply of the item you want is low and the deal is just too good to pass up, you might consider asking if you can order your item and take advantage of the deal at the same time.
This is just some good advice to take advantage of this Thanksgiving (and Friday after it). On Thanksgiving, we should show our thanks to God for everything he has given us by going to Mass that day and worthily receiving the sacraments (this includes Confession if you are in a state of mortal sin). The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving" and it makes sense to go to Mass the day set aside for thanksgiving.
Please note that Christmas has not started yet despite some commercials saying the contrary. I am amazed at how many tv commercials I have seen this early with Christmas as a theme. Thanksgiving hasn't even come and gone yet. The pre-Christmas period is long enough, so why must we make it longer?
On Sunday, we, in the Roman Church, will enter into the Advent season (I am aware that Advent has already started for Eastern Catholics). Advent comes from a combination of two Latin words, "ad", which means "to", and "venio", which is the first-person present indicative of "venere", which means "to come". This is a time used to prepare ourselves for Christ to come to Earth once again. Christmas is more than a day, it's a whole season. The Christmas season starts with Christmas Day at 12:00 a.m. (00:00) on December 25, not sooner than that.
Black Friday also has an "early start" this year. No longer do stores want to wait for the Friday after Thanksgiving to actually start. Instead, I find all the Black Friday specials starting as early as 8:00 p.m. (20:00) on Thanksgiving itself. This is time which should be spent with family and friends, not shopping for merchandise. Remember: friends and family will not always be around to spend time with, so make the most of the time you do have with them.
We all know that no sane person would do what happens on Black Friday at any other time in the year, so why do we give Black Friday a pass? Yes, stores have what seem to be "amazing" deals on Black Friday, but odds are that you can find the same merchandise for less at some other time in the year. As for fighting for merchandise, why don't we all do that adult thing and realize that it's only merchandise? It can be reproduced. and you will still live without taking advantage of the "big deal". If supply of the item you want is low and the deal is just too good to pass up, you might consider asking if you can order your item and take advantage of the deal at the same time.
This is just some good advice to take advantage of this Thanksgiving (and Friday after it). On Thanksgiving, we should show our thanks to God for everything he has given us by going to Mass that day and worthily receiving the sacraments (this includes Confession if you are in a state of mortal sin). The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving" and it makes sense to go to Mass the day set aside for thanksgiving.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Remarks on the Possiblity of the Revival of the Subdeacon within the Roman Rite
About a week ago, I read a blog post on Father Z's WDTPRS blog about subdeacons from the Eastern Rites being used for a Solemn High Mass (in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite). In it, he advocates for the order of subdeacon to be brought back in the Roman Rite. I agree with him to a point, but I realize that much catechesis is needed first to accurately inform the laity.
In case you have never heard of a subdeacon before, it is one who is (literally) "under a deacon". The job of the subdeacon within the Mass is to assist the deacon and do a few other things as well such as reading the epistle. Within the course of holy orders, the subdeacon is below the order of deacon, but higher than all of the minor orders.
In 1972, Pope Paul VI released the motu proprio Ministeria Quaedam. In it, the definition of a cleric within the church was redefined (to be deacon and higher) and the minor orders (as back before Vatican II) and the subdeacon were eliminated and in their place, the minor orders of lector and acolyte were kept, but they were rebranded as "ministries" and thus open to selected laymen (and seminarians on their way to the diaconate and priesthood) to receive them. The exception to this motu proprio is certain groups out there which celebrate the Extraordinary Form exclusively, such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), which have been allowed to retain the subdiaconate and the minor orders. This worked out until Pope Benedict XVI put out Summorum Pontificum back in 2007, allowing universal permission for any priest within the Roman Rite to celebrate the pre-conciliar form of the Roman Rite without any special permission from his bishop first.
With Summorum Pontificum, there was a renewed interest in the different forms of Mass, including the Solemn High Mass. Unfortunately, things caught a snag in regards to the Solemn High Mass. In order to have one, you need 3 ministers: the priest (obviously), the deacon, and the subdeacon. Due to the big time difference between 1965 and 2007 any proper (ordained) subdeacon, aside from the handful of approved groups devoted to the older form of the Mass which got permission to retain all four minor orders and the subdeacon, had moved on and received his ordination to the diaconate and priesthood. According to the liturgical guidelines, priests and deacons can dress down to the subdeacon and there is also a provision allowing someone who has received the minor order of acolyte to vest and act as a subdeacon during the Mass if a real subdeacon could not be found (with some exceptions such as not wearing the maniple and not being able to purify the sacred vessels).
Some have suggested that the order of subdeacon be revived in the Roman Rite. There are two concerns that I see that would have to be addressed. First, would the subdeacon be considered a major order as it has traditionally been or would it now be recognized as a minor order as it is with the Eastern rites? I think if the order of subdeacon were brought back in the Roman Rite, it would have to be considered a minor order since the definition of cleric was changed to start with the diaconate. However, if the order of subdeacon were changed to that of a minor order, this would affect those groups which exclusively celebrate the older form of the Mass such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), but I don't think things for those groups would really change.
Second, what kind of guidelines would subdeacons have to follow? In years past, once a man was ordained a subdeacon, he had to live out the promise of celibacy (if a man received the minor orders, but stopped before he was ordained a subdeacon, he could still get married with no problems). In the Roman Rite, the subdeacon was not allowed to be married. This is before Pope Paul VI brought back the permanent diaconate. For the good of the church, if the subdiaconate were to be brought back, they would follow similar guidelines to what is already established for deacons (transitory and permanent). These days, there would have to be the option of admitting married men to the subdiaconate just as married men can be admitted to the diaconate. The subdeacon who is married would still have do as a married deacon does and take a vow of celibacy.
Third, if the subdiaconate were brought back, what functions would the subdeacon have at Mass in the ordinary form? In the extraordinary form, the functions of the subdeacon are clearly documented. In the ordinary form, we only have reference to the functions of the subdeacon in as far as he was to serve the priest and deacon, read the first and second readings before the gospel, assist the priest in giving communion if needed, and then helping to purify the vessels after communion. If the subdiaconate were to be brought back, I would guess that he would be the first candidate to assume those duties before any man holding the ministries of acolyte or lector (depending on the given task).
These are just some of the issues that would have to be addressed for the subdiaconate to (officially) come back in the Roman Rite. Right now, the Eastern churches sur iuris in communion with Rome still do ordain men to the subdiaconate. At a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, an Eastern subdeacon is allowed to fulfill the role of subdeacon within the Mass (and do everything that a real subdeacon does). Before that though, the Eastern subdeacon needs to get permission from his own bishop first, and he uses the vestments that he normally uses in his rite. If the Eastern subdeacon (upon getting his bishop's permission first) does not have his own eastern vestments available with him at the Roman Rite church that the Solemn High Mass is being celebrated at, he can wear the vestments that a Roman Rite subdeacon wears.
Lastly, the subdiaconate and the minor orders are considered sacramentals instead of sacraments. This is mostly because the subdiaconate and the minor orders were something instituted by the Church and do not have divine origins (as in the institution of the priesthood) or apostolic origins (as in the institution of the diaconate). Since the subdiaconate (and the minor orders as well) do not leave an indelible mark on the soul, there is no need for the subdeacon to be laicised if a situation warrants a man to leave the subdiaconate.
So what do you think of this issue? Should the order of subdeacon be brought back in the Roman Rite or not? I think that it's possible, but much catechesis is needed first to accurately inform the laity. Tell me what you think in the comment box below. If I am missing some information or if I have some wrong information in this post, please let me know via the comment box below as well.
Now that you know a little more about church history, why not try some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. If you have a Keurig machine, the monks also have k-cups for purchase as well (known as "monk shots") Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with my endeavors as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
Right now, I don't have any updates for you in the way of app updates for my windows phone apps. Yes, I am working on app updates. The reason for me taking a long time between updates is that I want to do some extra testing so I can be sure that I can squash as many bugs as I can before starting a new major version of my media player app and my boy scout app and things have have been somewhat hectic for me around home. I am just about finished with a prayer app designed for (primarily) Catholics (and other Christians can use it too).
In case you have never heard of a subdeacon before, it is one who is (literally) "under a deacon". The job of the subdeacon within the Mass is to assist the deacon and do a few other things as well such as reading the epistle. Within the course of holy orders, the subdeacon is below the order of deacon, but higher than all of the minor orders.
In 1972, Pope Paul VI released the motu proprio Ministeria Quaedam. In it, the definition of a cleric within the church was redefined (to be deacon and higher) and the minor orders (as back before Vatican II) and the subdeacon were eliminated and in their place, the minor orders of lector and acolyte were kept, but they were rebranded as "ministries" and thus open to selected laymen (and seminarians on their way to the diaconate and priesthood) to receive them. The exception to this motu proprio is certain groups out there which celebrate the Extraordinary Form exclusively, such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), which have been allowed to retain the subdiaconate and the minor orders. This worked out until Pope Benedict XVI put out Summorum Pontificum back in 2007, allowing universal permission for any priest within the Roman Rite to celebrate the pre-conciliar form of the Roman Rite without any special permission from his bishop first.
With Summorum Pontificum, there was a renewed interest in the different forms of Mass, including the Solemn High Mass. Unfortunately, things caught a snag in regards to the Solemn High Mass. In order to have one, you need 3 ministers: the priest (obviously), the deacon, and the subdeacon. Due to the big time difference between 1965 and 2007 any proper (ordained) subdeacon, aside from the handful of approved groups devoted to the older form of the Mass which got permission to retain all four minor orders and the subdeacon, had moved on and received his ordination to the diaconate and priesthood. According to the liturgical guidelines, priests and deacons can dress down to the subdeacon and there is also a provision allowing someone who has received the minor order of acolyte to vest and act as a subdeacon during the Mass if a real subdeacon could not be found (with some exceptions such as not wearing the maniple and not being able to purify the sacred vessels).
Some have suggested that the order of subdeacon be revived in the Roman Rite. There are two concerns that I see that would have to be addressed. First, would the subdeacon be considered a major order as it has traditionally been or would it now be recognized as a minor order as it is with the Eastern rites? I think if the order of subdeacon were brought back in the Roman Rite, it would have to be considered a minor order since the definition of cleric was changed to start with the diaconate. However, if the order of subdeacon were changed to that of a minor order, this would affect those groups which exclusively celebrate the older form of the Mass such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), but I don't think things for those groups would really change.
Second, what kind of guidelines would subdeacons have to follow? In years past, once a man was ordained a subdeacon, he had to live out the promise of celibacy (if a man received the minor orders, but stopped before he was ordained a subdeacon, he could still get married with no problems). In the Roman Rite, the subdeacon was not allowed to be married. This is before Pope Paul VI brought back the permanent diaconate. For the good of the church, if the subdiaconate were to be brought back, they would follow similar guidelines to what is already established for deacons (transitory and permanent). These days, there would have to be the option of admitting married men to the subdiaconate just as married men can be admitted to the diaconate. The subdeacon who is married would still have do as a married deacon does and take a vow of celibacy.
Third, if the subdiaconate were brought back, what functions would the subdeacon have at Mass in the ordinary form? In the extraordinary form, the functions of the subdeacon are clearly documented. In the ordinary form, we only have reference to the functions of the subdeacon in as far as he was to serve the priest and deacon, read the first and second readings before the gospel, assist the priest in giving communion if needed, and then helping to purify the vessels after communion. If the subdiaconate were to be brought back, I would guess that he would be the first candidate to assume those duties before any man holding the ministries of acolyte or lector (depending on the given task).
These are just some of the issues that would have to be addressed for the subdiaconate to (officially) come back in the Roman Rite. Right now, the Eastern churches sur iuris in communion with Rome still do ordain men to the subdiaconate. At a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, an Eastern subdeacon is allowed to fulfill the role of subdeacon within the Mass (and do everything that a real subdeacon does). Before that though, the Eastern subdeacon needs to get permission from his own bishop first, and he uses the vestments that he normally uses in his rite. If the Eastern subdeacon (upon getting his bishop's permission first) does not have his own eastern vestments available with him at the Roman Rite church that the Solemn High Mass is being celebrated at, he can wear the vestments that a Roman Rite subdeacon wears.
Lastly, the subdiaconate and the minor orders are considered sacramentals instead of sacraments. This is mostly because the subdiaconate and the minor orders were something instituted by the Church and do not have divine origins (as in the institution of the priesthood) or apostolic origins (as in the institution of the diaconate). Since the subdiaconate (and the minor orders as well) do not leave an indelible mark on the soul, there is no need for the subdeacon to be laicised if a situation warrants a man to leave the subdiaconate.
So what do you think of this issue? Should the order of subdeacon be brought back in the Roman Rite or not? I think that it's possible, but much catechesis is needed first to accurately inform the laity. Tell me what you think in the comment box below. If I am missing some information or if I have some wrong information in this post, please let me know via the comment box below as well.
Now that you know a little more about church history, why not try some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. If you have a Keurig machine, the monks also have k-cups for purchase as well (known as "monk shots") Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with my endeavors as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
Right now, I don't have any updates for you in the way of app updates for my windows phone apps. Yes, I am working on app updates. The reason for me taking a long time between updates is that I want to do some extra testing so I can be sure that I can squash as many bugs as I can before starting a new major version of my media player app and my boy scout app and things have have been somewhat hectic for me around home. I am just about finished with a prayer app designed for (primarily) Catholics (and other Christians can use it too).
While
you're learning about recursion, why
not try some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this
link or
click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you
really
need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most
instances,
much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some
(just keep
it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea
more than
coffee, they also offer tea. If you have a Keurig machine,
the monks also have k-cups for purchase as well (known as "monk
shots") Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee
(or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with my endeavors as well. The
coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as
well.
While we are waiting for updates to my windows phone apps (trust me, I'm working on them), if you want to go ahead and get my apps now, - See more at: http://www.catholictechgeek.com/2013/06/a-simplified-guide-to-recursion.html#sthash.lQ2Wq09N.dpuf
While we are waiting for updates to my windows phone apps (trust me, I'm working on them), if you want to go ahead and get my apps now, - See more at: http://www.catholictechgeek.com/2013/06/a-simplified-guide-to-recursion.html#sthash.lQ2Wq09N.dpuf
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
First Update Since Out of School
In case you are wondering where I have been, no, I am not dead (and this blog is not dead either). Things have changed since I last posted here, so I will give my readers an update on what has been going on and keeping me from writing.
First, the finals exams of my senior year of college are done and I have officially graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. The workload with school and programming was keeping me from regular updates with the blog. I have also secured employment with P.T.C. (Parametric Technology Corporation).
Second is the program updates. I have been working on updates for the paid version of Mobile Media Manager. Once I get this update for the paid version is out, I will be working an update which will be more Windows Phone 8-specific (using Windows Phone 8 features). I will still be putting out updates for the Windows Phone 7 port of Mobile Media Manager.
BSA Eagle Tracker is long due for an update. I promise that an update is coming, please be patient for a little while longer.
My build of Seven-Eighter will also have an update soon as well (yes, I have been reading everyone's tech support enquires, so I am aware of problems users have had).
I am also working on 2 new apps, one being for Windows Phone and another for Windows 8. The one for Windows Phone is a prayer app. Its purpose is to help you with finding time for prayer and help in diversifying your prayer life. It is geared towards Catholics (more specifically, Roman Catholics), but there is room for expansion for both Eastern Catholics and Protestants. More features and prayers will be coming with future updates. If there is enough interest from Eastern Catholics, I can work on incorporating some Eastern Catholic stuff in there as well.
The Windows 8 app is a social media app. It is meant to be a quick "dashboard" to see into all of your social media all in 1 list, organized time-wise by the most recent status first. For example, if I use Facebook and Twitter and the most recent status is from Facebook, the Facebook status will show up first in the list. If the most recent status is from Twitter, the Twitter tweet will show up first in the list. Your standard reaction commands (like and comment for Facebook and reply and retweet for Twitter) will be available. If you need to make any account changes, however, you will need to go to the respective social media site and modify your settings there. Also, you will be able to "link" a person between social media accounts (like linking a person's Facebook username with his or her Twitter username) and see all entries for that person under the linked name (the "linking" is done just within the program, so there is no actual linking of social media services outside of the program). Depending on progress, the linking feature might be put in an update rather than the initial release, but it is definitely coming.
This is all for now, but I figured that I should give my readers some kind of update to show that my blog is not dead. I should be posting more frequently from now on.
While you're waiting for your problems with phone updates to be over, why not try some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
While we are waiting for updates to my windows phone apps, if you want to go ahead and get my apps now, please use the following links:
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
First, the finals exams of my senior year of college are done and I have officially graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. The workload with school and programming was keeping me from regular updates with the blog. I have also secured employment with P.T.C. (Parametric Technology Corporation).
Second is the program updates. I have been working on updates for the paid version of Mobile Media Manager. Once I get this update for the paid version is out, I will be working an update which will be more Windows Phone 8-specific (using Windows Phone 8 features). I will still be putting out updates for the Windows Phone 7 port of Mobile Media Manager.
BSA Eagle Tracker is long due for an update. I promise that an update is coming, please be patient for a little while longer.
My build of Seven-Eighter will also have an update soon as well (yes, I have been reading everyone's tech support enquires, so I am aware of problems users have had).
I am also working on 2 new apps, one being for Windows Phone and another for Windows 8. The one for Windows Phone is a prayer app. Its purpose is to help you with finding time for prayer and help in diversifying your prayer life. It is geared towards Catholics (more specifically, Roman Catholics), but there is room for expansion for both Eastern Catholics and Protestants. More features and prayers will be coming with future updates. If there is enough interest from Eastern Catholics, I can work on incorporating some Eastern Catholic stuff in there as well.
The Windows 8 app is a social media app. It is meant to be a quick "dashboard" to see into all of your social media all in 1 list, organized time-wise by the most recent status first. For example, if I use Facebook and Twitter and the most recent status is from Facebook, the Facebook status will show up first in the list. If the most recent status is from Twitter, the Twitter tweet will show up first in the list. Your standard reaction commands (like and comment for Facebook and reply and retweet for Twitter) will be available. If you need to make any account changes, however, you will need to go to the respective social media site and modify your settings there. Also, you will be able to "link" a person between social media accounts (like linking a person's Facebook username with his or her Twitter username) and see all entries for that person under the linked name (the "linking" is done just within the program, so there is no actual linking of social media services outside of the program). Depending on progress, the linking feature might be put in an update rather than the initial release, but it is definitely coming.
This is all for now, but I figured that I should give my readers some kind of update to show that my blog is not dead. I should be posting more frequently from now on.
While you're waiting for your problems with phone updates to be over, why not try some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
While we are waiting for updates to my windows phone apps, if you want to go ahead and get my apps now, please use the following links:
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Habemus Papam
Yes, you read the title correctly. We do, indeed, have a new successor to the chair of Peter. The new pope is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (from Argentina).
Update (17:50 EDT): corrected the name of the new pope
This conclave's time length to choose a new pope was 3 days. While this is a big difference from the record for longest time taken to choose a new pope (3 years), I am sure we are all glad that the new pope was chosen before Easter.There is no word yet on which name the new pope has chosen.
Update (16:30 EDT): The (new) Pope has chosen the name "Francis"
I wish the new pope well as he takes his place as the new successor of Peter. Let us pray for him, so that he will do his job well. The new pope happens to be a Jesuit, so today is a big day for the Society of Jesus and all of the high schools and universities they run, including the one I attend (Wheeling Jesuit University).
On a side note, it has not been made known whether the new pope enjoys Mystic Monk Coffee or not. To celebrate the choosing of the new Holy Father, do it with some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
Update (17:50 EDT): corrected the name of the new pope
This conclave's time length to choose a new pope was 3 days. While this is a big difference from the record for longest time taken to choose a new pope (3 years), I am sure we are all glad that the new pope was chosen before Easter.
Update (16:30 EDT): The (new) Pope has chosen the name "Francis"
I wish the new pope well as he takes his place as the new successor of Peter. Let us pray for him, so that he will do his job well. The new pope happens to be a Jesuit, so today is a big day for the Society of Jesus and all of the high schools and universities they run, including the one I attend (Wheeling Jesuit University).
On a side note, it has not been made known whether the new pope enjoys Mystic Monk Coffee or not. To celebrate the choosing of the new Holy Father, do it with some delicious Mystic Monk Coffee? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Highlights From the March for Life
If you missed it, yesterday was the Right to Life March in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. I, myself, went with some other students and faculty from Wheeling Jesuit University. The day started off with Mass at St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Washington, D.C., joining students from other Jesuit universities. After that, it was off to the rally before the march. The weather wasn't the best (a high of 30 degrees Farenheit with snow), but that didn't matter much.
It's important to fight for everyone's God-given right to life. If a person cannot support the right to life for the unborn, then what makes you think the same person will respect the right to life of those already born?
Abortion threatens that right to life with is guaranteed for every person, born or unborn. I would define Abortion as the act of inducing premature labor in the woman, murdering the child (who was just forced out of the uterus) using a variety of methods, all which are intended to cause death, and then vacuuming out the remains because "it's just a fetus; it's not really alive and its existence threatens my own (selfish) goals".
It is important to remember that being pro-life includes more than just being pro-birth. Pro-life means support for all stages of a person's life, from the moment of conception to the natural stages of death. Yesterday's march was a testimony to this idea. Many different types of people from all realms of life came together to march for justice for the unborn that have been (unjustly) murdered as a result of the 1973 Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just the Christians which are there at the march in support of life. At the rally before the march, I saw a group there called Secularists for Life. My friends from Wheeling Jesuit University there at the march with me also saw groups of atheists and agnostics as well, although these groups (probably) have their own reasons for life which may or may not include religion.
I, myself, (and I am sure others also) think think that abortion is unpatriotic and very anti-American. In our own Declaration of Independence, it says that everyone is entitled to three basic rights: the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Abortion violates all three of these basic rights. By going through with an abortion, you first deny to the right to life to the unborn. Abortion also denies the liberty of the unborn to, one day, make their own decisions which could change the world, but because of the abortion, this change will never come. The right to the pursuit of happiness is denied to the unborn as a consequence of denying the unborn the right to life. The aborted child will never get his or her chance to have the human experiences that you and I have (every day) and the chance to be happy in life.
If the pro-life movement wants another solution to help end (the availablility of) abortion. I say let abortion clinics be held to the same (federal) inspection standards as other medical facilities. I bet many abortion clinics would be forced to close because od this.
For everyone that went to the march, I hope you had (or will have) a safe trip back to wherever you came from. If you want to share your thought on the March for Life, or pro-life information in general, I invite you to share it via the comment box below.
It was certainly cold outside yesterday, a perfect situation for drinking coffee. If you're going to drink coffee, why not drink it like a mystic monk? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
It's important to fight for everyone's God-given right to life. If a person cannot support the right to life for the unborn, then what makes you think the same person will respect the right to life of those already born?
Abortion threatens that right to life with is guaranteed for every person, born or unborn. I would define Abortion as the act of inducing premature labor in the woman, murdering the child (who was just forced out of the uterus) using a variety of methods, all which are intended to cause death, and then vacuuming out the remains because "it's just a fetus; it's not really alive and its existence threatens my own (selfish) goals".
It is important to remember that being pro-life includes more than just being pro-birth. Pro-life means support for all stages of a person's life, from the moment of conception to the natural stages of death. Yesterday's march was a testimony to this idea. Many different types of people from all realms of life came together to march for justice for the unborn that have been (unjustly) murdered as a result of the 1973 Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just the Christians which are there at the march in support of life. At the rally before the march, I saw a group there called Secularists for Life. My friends from Wheeling Jesuit University there at the march with me also saw groups of atheists and agnostics as well, although these groups (probably) have their own reasons for life which may or may not include religion.
I, myself, (and I am sure others also) think think that abortion is unpatriotic and very anti-American. In our own Declaration of Independence, it says that everyone is entitled to three basic rights: the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Abortion violates all three of these basic rights. By going through with an abortion, you first deny to the right to life to the unborn. Abortion also denies the liberty of the unborn to, one day, make their own decisions which could change the world, but because of the abortion, this change will never come. The right to the pursuit of happiness is denied to the unborn as a consequence of denying the unborn the right to life. The aborted child will never get his or her chance to have the human experiences that you and I have (every day) and the chance to be happy in life.
If the pro-life movement wants another solution to help end (the availablility of) abortion. I say let abortion clinics be held to the same (federal) inspection standards as other medical facilities. I bet many abortion clinics would be forced to close because od this.
For everyone that went to the march, I hope you had (or will have) a safe trip back to wherever you came from. If you want to share your thought on the March for Life, or pro-life information in general, I invite you to share it via the comment box below.
It was certainly cold outside yesterday, a perfect situation for drinking coffee. If you're going to drink coffee, why not drink it like a mystic monk? Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas Everyone
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
For, this day, is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.
And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:8-20)
Well, the festive season of Christmas starts today. The quote above is taken from Luke's gospel. Half of it is part of the gospel for the Mass at Midnight and the other half is part of the gospel for the Mass at Dawn.
It's funny that only Luke's gospel mentions the shepherds. Then again, this makes sense, seeing as Luke's gospel was written for gentiles. You can imagine what the shepherds who got the message felt like, awe-struck and full of fear. Now at the time, being a shepherd was not a well-paying job. The fact that the angels came to poor people like the shepherds fits right in line with how Jesus spent a good bit of his ministry on earth with the poor, since the rich usually rejected Jesus's message. Notice that the message that the angels bring to the shepherds is for the whole world, and not just the Jewish people. A savior has been born..for all of us; the same savior that would eventually die on the Cross for the sins of everyone and redeem the whole world. After the message had been proclaimed, the shepherds left for Bethlehem in haste to see this great and awesome sight. When the shepherds told Mary and Joseph (and anyone else who might have been there), we are told that they all "wondered" at everything the shepherds said. However, Luke makes a special mention of Mary, saying that she was "pondering them in her heart". Mary might have been wondering what this message meant at the time, but it all makes more sense as Jesus does his ministry on earth. If you noticed, this is also the part of scripture where we get the first part of the Gloria that we sing at Mass from.
I would just like to wish everyone a very Merry and Joyous Christmas this year. The Christmas season (at least, in the Roman Catholic Church, things might be different for Eastern Catholics) lasts from today all the way to the Baptism of our Lord (January 13, 2013). During this time, let's not forget that Jesus is the real reason for the season.
Any comments and well wishes are welcome and you can put them in the comment box below.
Friday, December 21, 2012
End of the World (or Lack Thereof)
Well folks, today is the day that the world, according to popular myth, is supposed to end. Now, I, myself, do not believe this. However, to back up my credibility, here are a few sources that support my opinion.
First, our Lord himself did say that we don't know the time of when the world will end. Our Lord also warns us to be ready for when he comes.
This myth, incidentally, supposedly occurs during this time of Advent, the time used to prepare our hearts and minds for the birth and (second) coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus warns us to be ready for when he does come again.
If you do not believe in God and need some reason-based facts, we do not know which calendar system the 2012 year would appear on. Keep in mind that the myth predates the Gregorian calender system we use today and also the Julian calendar, the calender system in place for the western world before the Gregorian calendar, as well. There are other calendar systems in place in various parts of the world, so which one of them would be right.
Lastly, the Mayans themselves don't believe the myth about the world ending and are asking everyone to do the same. If the source itself doesn't believe it, than why should we?
From all of this, we can conclude that the whole Mayan doomsday thing is a false New Age belief. However, this is a convenient moment to remind everyone to "be ready" and as part of that, please go to confession.
So what do you think of all this? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
While you're waiting for Jesus to come back and taking in the 2012 doomsday thing as myth, why not drink some Mystic Monk Coffee. Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well, especially since Christmas is right around the corner.
For my existing Windows Phone apps, I will have updates to all of my existing programs submitted to the Windows Phone marketplace by next week. If you want to get my apps now while waiting for the update, use the following links:
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
First, our Lord himself did say that we don't know the time of when the world will end. Our Lord also warns us to be ready for when he comes.
But of that day and hour no one knoweth, not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone. And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mathew 24:36-37)
This myth, incidentally, supposedly occurs during this time of Advent, the time used to prepare our hearts and minds for the birth and (second) coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus warns us to be ready for when he does come again.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, And they knew not till the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:38-39)
Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13)
If you do not believe in God and need some reason-based facts, we do not know which calendar system the 2012 year would appear on. Keep in mind that the myth predates the Gregorian calender system we use today and also the Julian calendar, the calender system in place for the western world before the Gregorian calendar, as well. There are other calendar systems in place in various parts of the world, so which one of them would be right.
Lastly, the Mayans themselves don't believe the myth about the world ending and are asking everyone to do the same. If the source itself doesn't believe it, than why should we?
From all of this, we can conclude that the whole Mayan doomsday thing is a false New Age belief. However, this is a convenient moment to remind everyone to "be ready" and as part of that, please go to confession.
So what do you think of all this? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
While you're waiting for Jesus to come back and taking in the 2012 doomsday thing as myth, why not drink some Mystic Monk Coffee. Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts for friends and family as well, especially since Christmas is right around the corner.
For my existing Windows Phone apps, I will have updates to all of my existing programs submitted to the Windows Phone marketplace by next week. If you want to get my apps now while waiting for the update, use the following links:
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Ten Questions and Answers about Eastern Catholicism for Roman Catholics
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
--George Santayana
In our history of Catholicism, this quot is certainly true. Contrary to popular belief, the term "Catholic Church" is not synonymous with the term "Roman Catholic Church". If you are a cradle Catholic or a recent convert to Catholicism, you might be surprised to know that there is a whole other side to Catholicism that you might have heard little to nothing about in your catechism classes. Yes, I am talking about the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the past, ignorance of Eastern Catholicism by Roman Catholics has lead to persecution that could have been easily avoided. To close this gap on the modern generation of people, I have made a simple Q&A which answers some popular questions about Eastern Catholicism.
I hope this has sparked your curiosity to learn more about our faith and about the other rites of the Church. Maybe, instead of going to the Catholic Church you usually attend on Sunday, try attending an Eastern Catholic church in your area one time. The USCCB is gracious enough to provide a list of eparchies (the Eastern Catholic equivalent of a diocese) here in the US, and from there you can use it to find the closest Eastern Catholic Church to you. If you have thoughts or more questions about Eastern Catholicism, please post them in the comment box below, and I will address them in a future article.
link to list of eparchies: http://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-eparchies.cfm
Let us also not forget to pray for unity between the Eastern and Western churches, so that we may (truly) be "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church".
I know how hard it is for some people to wake up in the morning without coffee. If you are going to drink coffee, why not drink it like a mystic monk? Some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer (or what's left of it), they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). The update for the paid version of Mobile Media Manager is out, but my last submission update for the free version is (still) currently in Microsoft Apphub certification. BSA Eagle Tracker will also be getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
--George Santayana
In our history of Catholicism, this quot is certainly true. Contrary to popular belief, the term "Catholic Church" is not synonymous with the term "Roman Catholic Church". If you are a cradle Catholic or a recent convert to Catholicism, you might be surprised to know that there is a whole other side to Catholicism that you might have heard little to nothing about in your catechism classes. Yes, I am talking about the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the past, ignorance of Eastern Catholicism by Roman Catholics has lead to persecution that could have been easily avoided. To close this gap on the modern generation of people, I have made a simple Q&A which answers some popular questions about Eastern Catholicism.
- What is Eastern Catholicism?
Eastern Catholicism refers to the churches (in the East) which are autonomous, but are in full communion with Rome. Each Catholic Church has its own patriarch (the pope is considered the patriarch for the western church) which manages that Catholic Church, the pope is considered to be the first among equals. Even though Western Catholicism and Eastern Catholicism do have different aspects, they are still catholic in that both share in the same beliefs, professed in the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed. However, the ways in which those beliefs are expressed differ in the East. - I am a Roman Catholic. Can I still fulfill my Sunday obligation by attending Mass at an Eastern Rite Church?
Yes, any Catholic can fulfill his or here Sunday obligation by attending Mass at any Catholic Church in communion with Rome regardless of rite. This being said, we are still bound to mainly participate in the rite in which we belong (if you are a Roman Catholic, even though you may attend Mass many times at an Eastern Catholic Church, you are still a Roman Catholic). If, for some reason, you feel called by God to change the rite in which you belong to and are serious about it, it is possible. If you want me to explain more about the process of changing rites, please indicate so in the comment box below, and I will address it in my next article.
There are also rites other than the Roman Catholic Church which exist in the Western church as well, but the explanation of those is not the purpose of this article. - Isn't Eastern Orthodox (or Oriental Orthodox) the same as Eastern Catholic?
Not quite. Many people think of the Catholic Church being, on one side, the Roman Catholics, and on the other side, all of the Eastern Christians are grouped into the Eastern/Oriental Orthodox, which are apart from Rome due to schism. This thought is categorization is false. It is true that the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox have the same beliefs, liturgy, and teachings as their Catholic counterparts, but the main difference is that Eastern Catholics are in communion with Rome and Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox are not. Except for one case, each Eastern Catholic Church has an Eastern/Oriental Orthodox counterpart. The exception to this is the Maronite Catholic Church, which has never separated from Rome.
It is because of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox not being in communion with Rome that Catholics (whether western or eastern) cannot attend an Orthodox Divine Liturgy as the Sunday obligation. - If I attend Mass at a Catholic church which is a different rite from which I belong to, do I have to observe the Eucharistic fast for that rite in order to receive communion?
No, each Catholic is bound to observe the Eucharistic fasting time (in order to receive the Eucharist) which his or her respective rite has set fourth. In other words, Roman Catholics still observe the 1 hour fast before communion. For Eastern Catholics, even though you may attend Mass at a Roman Rite Church, you must still observe the fasting time set forth by your respective rite. However, if the rite of the church in which you are going to for Mass has a longer fasting period than your own rite does, there is nothing to stop you from matching that amount of time you must fast before receiving the Eucharist. - Do I receive communion in an Eastern Catholic Mass the same way that I receive communion at a Roman Catholic Mass?
No. All of the Eastern Catholic rites in existence do not have communion in the hand. In contrast to Roman Catholics, where the norm for receiving communion is on the tongue while you are kneeling, the norm for receiving communion in the Eastern rites is by intinction while you are standing. - Why do Eastern Catholics use leavened bread instead of unleavened bread for the Eucharist?
This is a matter of tradition. Traditionally, the western church has used unleavened bread and the eastern church has used leavened bread. Both are considered valid matter for confecting the Eucharist. The exception to this is the Maronite Rite, which still uses intinction for distributing communion, but uses unleavened bread (like the Roman Rite) instead of leavened bread. - Will I do much singing if I go to an Eastern Catholic Mass?
Yes, you will. The Eastern rites do not have a history of using instruments to accompany the people singing. In fact, the Eastern rites have much more singing in the Mass than the Western rites do (almost everything is chanted, including the readings). If you are not good at singing, still put your heart and soul into your singing, as you are probably not the only one in this situation. - As a Roman Catholic, can I go to an Eastern Catholic priest for the sacrament of Confession?
Yes, you can. As long as the priest has faculties to hear confessions, any Catholic priest (in communion with Rome) may hear your confession and grant you absolution. - Do the Eastern Catholics recognize the same saints as Roman Catholics?
The answer to this question is "partially". Both westerners and easterners recognize the same saints up until the time of the great schism in 1054 (if I am wrong about this, please let me know so I can correct this). After the schism, there was a divide in which saints were recognized as saints in the East and in the West. As part of the reconciliation between Rome and those in the Eastern rites which wanted to be in communion with Rome again, the Eastern Catholic Churches recognize the same saints in which the Roman Catholic Church does. However, the reverse is not true. There are some people recognized as saints by the Orthodox churches, but not by the Roman Catholic Church, which got "imported" as saints for the respective church's calendar when that Eastern church reunited with Rome. An example of this would be Saint Gregory Palamas, which the Eastern Orthodox churches recognize as a saint (and the Byzantine Catholic churches also recognize by extension), but the Roman Catholic Church does not recognize as a saint. - Are Eastern Catholic priest bound to celibacy like Roman Catholic priests are?
This may surprise some, but the answer to this question is also "partially". The Eastern Catholic Churches do have a history of a married priesthood. This means that married men (in those rites) are allowed to be ordained priests, but priests cannot marry. A married priest has as much power as a celibate priest does, so he can do things like confect a valid Eucharist and hear confessions just as well as a celibate priest can. If a priest is married and his wife dies, the priest cannot marry again and is then bound to celibacy for the rest of his life. This said, celibacy, even though it may be optional in the Eastern rites, is still strongly emphasized as an ideal for priests. This is manifested in the fact that, even though married men can be ordained priests, the bishops in the Eastern rites MUST be celibate. Deacons in the Eastern churches, like in the Roman Catholic Church, may either be celibate or married.
As far as the Eastern rites and the married priesthood goes, things are a bit different here in the United States. In the US, a married priest still has all rights and responsibilities granted to him as his celibate counterparts. However, due to conflicts in the early part of Eastern Catholic history here in the US between Eastern Catholics and Roman Catholic bishops, the married priesthood is not fully recognized in the US. During the conflict, some Roman Catholic bishops offered no aid to Eastern Catholics and did things like denying faculties to Eastern Catholic priests to offer Mass in their dioceses. As a result of this conflict, the Holy See made a decree that stated that only celibate or widowed Eastern Catholic priests are allowed in the US (and all married priest should be recalled). As time went on, this was softened (as in married priests being allowed to live and work as priests in the US), but the fact still remains that only celibate men may be ordained as priests in the Eastern Rite churches here in the United States. Some Eastern Catholic bishops have gone around this by sending (married) priesthood candidates back to the "old country" (the land they were in before coming to the United States) to be ordained, and then bring them back to the United States, but this behavior is unusual.
As a further note, there are a few Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which has opted to give up its historical right to have married priests.
I hope this has sparked your curiosity to learn more about our faith and about the other rites of the Church. Maybe, instead of going to the Catholic Church you usually attend on Sunday, try attending an Eastern Catholic church in your area one time. The USCCB is gracious enough to provide a list of eparchies (the Eastern Catholic equivalent of a diocese) here in the US, and from there you can use it to find the closest Eastern Catholic Church to you. If you have thoughts or more questions about Eastern Catholicism, please post them in the comment box below, and I will address them in a future article.
link to list of eparchies: http://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-eparchies.cfm
Let us also not forget to pray for unity between the Eastern and Western churches, so that we may (truly) be "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church".
I know how hard it is for some people to wake up in the morning without coffee. If you are going to drink coffee, why not drink it like a mystic monk? Some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase) is what you really need when it comes to coffee. Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer (or what's left of it), they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well. The coffee (or tea) also makes for great gifts as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). The update for the paid version of Mobile Media Manager is out, but my last submission update for the free version is (still) currently in Microsoft Apphub certification. BSA Eagle Tracker will also be getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Monday, July 16, 2012
A Prayer of Thanksgiving after Recieving the Eucharist
For a while now, I've been experimenting with the text of a prayer that I came up with one day during daily Mass. I know that this is simpler than and less than other prayers designated for after receiving the Eucharist. However, if you like it and/or it benefits you in some way, shape, or form, I am happy to be of service to you in this manner:
You can also find me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well. I am now on Tumblr now as well (link to Tumblr is http://www.tumblr.com/blog/catholictechgeek), so please follow me on Tumblr too.
I am also working on a "prayer reminder app" for Windows Phone. This app is designed with Catholics in mind, but any Christian (not just Catholics) can use this app. More details will be coming in further blog posts.
If you are in a state of prayer (excluding fasting) and are feeling thirsty, drink some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming within a week (most likely sooner than this, but definitely within 2 weeks) of passing Microsoft Apphub certification. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
I give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thou hast blessed me with many gifts from thy bounty, but most of all, thou hast given me the gift of the body and blood, soul and divinity, of thine own dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Now that I have received this great gift, O Lord, I humbly pray that you keep me safe from the evil one and I submit to you, so that you may use me to accomplish thy will in the world today, and may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ lead me to eternal life.Again, this is something I came up with myself one day and gradually fine-tuned it until I released it for public use now. If you know of any way to, perhaps, "improve" this prayer, or to share your own prayers you might have come up with, please share them in the comment box below. If you have any other comments on this, I welcome them in the comment box below as well.
Amen.
You can also find me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well. I am now on Tumblr now as well (link to Tumblr is http://www.tumblr.com/blog/catholictechgeek), so please follow me on Tumblr too.
I am also working on a "prayer reminder app" for Windows Phone. This app is designed with Catholics in mind, but any Christian (not just Catholics) can use this app. More details will be coming in further blog posts.
If you are in a state of prayer (excluding fasting) and are feeling thirsty, drink some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming within a week (most likely sooner than this, but definitely within 2 weeks) of passing Microsoft Apphub certification. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Friday, June 22, 2012
Requests for Recipe Ideas for and Thoughts on Meatless Fridays
One of the things that fascinates me is experimental cooking. Today is Friday. With today being Friday, that means that all Roman Catholics are to abstain from meat today. For those of you who argue that Catholics are not required to abstain from meat outside of Lent, I will say you are (mostly) wrong.
From the 1983 Code of Canon Law (the latest revision to Canon Law, of which all Roman Catholics are bound to follow; Eastern Catholics have their own Code of Canon Law):
In the United States, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (the USCCB) has determined that outside of Lent, abstinence from meat is the usual way to fulfill the act of penance for Friday. However, the USCCB has said that US Catholics may eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent AS LONG AS one does an alternative act of penance, which is determined by that person. As each conference of bishops has the power to determine fast and abstinence regulations for their own countries, they could, at any time, rescind the alternative penance option and reimpose mandatory abstinence from meat on Fridays even outside of Lent (as the conference of bishops in England has done). I will also add that unlike Eastern Catholics, Roman Catholics are free to consume dairy products and products made from animal fats (like mayonnaise) on days of abstinence.
With this in mind, it seems that meat is a daily staple in the diets of Americans. If we cannot eat meat on Fridays, what are we to eat?? I see this as a way to be creative with our food, to think outside the box and come up with something tasty that doesn't involve meat. I hear that other cultures from other countries with a Catholic background have, over the years, come up with different food ideas for Fridays (both in and outside of Lent). I think we can all benefit from sharing some of these food ideas.
Since I like to experiment with cooking, I love to find new recipes to try out (with my family). So now, could you please share a recipe of something you like to make on Fridays (the recipe cannot contain meat), or if you don't have a recipe, at least describe the food? Please share via the comment box below. You can also find me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
And yes, on days of abstinence, you can still drink coffee (or tea), so instead of drinking your ordinary coffee (or tea), drink some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming within a week (most likely sooner than this, but definitely within 2 weeks) of passing Microsoft Apphub certification. Free version of Mobile Media Manager is now in Apphub certification, with paid version to follow. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
From the 1983 Code of Canon Law (the latest revision to Canon Law, of which all Roman Catholics are bound to follow; Eastern Catholics have their own Code of Canon Law):
Can. 1250: The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Can. 1252: The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.
In the United States, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (the USCCB) has determined that outside of Lent, abstinence from meat is the usual way to fulfill the act of penance for Friday. However, the USCCB has said that US Catholics may eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent AS LONG AS one does an alternative act of penance, which is determined by that person. As each conference of bishops has the power to determine fast and abstinence regulations for their own countries, they could, at any time, rescind the alternative penance option and reimpose mandatory abstinence from meat on Fridays even outside of Lent (as the conference of bishops in England has done). I will also add that unlike Eastern Catholics, Roman Catholics are free to consume dairy products and products made from animal fats (like mayonnaise) on days of abstinence.
With this in mind, it seems that meat is a daily staple in the diets of Americans. If we cannot eat meat on Fridays, what are we to eat?? I see this as a way to be creative with our food, to think outside the box and come up with something tasty that doesn't involve meat. I hear that other cultures from other countries with a Catholic background have, over the years, come up with different food ideas for Fridays (both in and outside of Lent). I think we can all benefit from sharing some of these food ideas.
Since I like to experiment with cooking, I love to find new recipes to try out (with my family). So now, could you please share a recipe of something you like to make on Fridays (the recipe cannot contain meat), or if you don't have a recipe, at least describe the food? Please share via the comment box below. You can also find me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
And yes, on days of abstinence, you can still drink coffee (or tea), so instead of drinking your ordinary coffee (or tea), drink some tasty Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, much better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some (just keep it away from your computer keyboard or laptop/tablet). For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea. Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming within a week (most likely sooner than this, but definitely within 2 weeks) of passing Microsoft Apphub certification. Free version of Mobile Media Manager is now in Apphub certification, with paid version to follow. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed recently.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Monday, June 18, 2012
Father's Day Experiences and Food
Since yesterday was Father's Day, I would like to know if you did anything special with your father or priest.
I will start. Yesterday, my father, the rest of my family, and I stayed at home. During the afternoon, we all sat down with dad in the family room to watch a couple movies together. Now, Dad, my brother, and I are (big) Nascar fans, so we wanted to catch the race, but couldn't because the rest of the Nascar races are being broadcast on TNT, a television channel we don't get because we only have basic cable (yes, I could have used our Sirius Satellite Radio to listen to the race, but listening to the race is not the same as watching it). Instead of watching the race, we found "Flight of the Phoenix" on the CBS channel in my area and watched it. During a commercial break, we gave Dad the new tomato plants and the new grilling utensils we got him for Father's Day.
For dinner, we had steak and shrimp for our main dish, with potatoes and fruit salad as side dishes. Even though it was Father's Day, my father still took charge of the grilling the steaks (and shrimp) even though I offered to take charge of the grill to give him a rest. We decided not to have cake since we still have leftover cake from my brother's high school graduation party and we were all full from dinner. After dinner, we watched the movie "Red". After that, we all went to bed.
Am I the only one that thinks that it is better to have a meal at home for Father's Day or Mother's Day rather than taking your father (or mother) out to a restaurant for a meal on his (or her) respective day? I think that having the meal at home (and you preparing it) is more meaningful to them because you are putting your heart and soul into making the food for them to enjoy. Sure, I do realize that not everyone is professional chef/cook quality and that some people are better at cooking than others, but it's really the thought that really counts, the thought that you took time out of your day to prepare a special meal with love that your father can enjoy.
So, that was my Father's Day experience. Now, I would like for you to share your experiences with your father or priest on Father's Day with me and everyone else who reads this blog. What did you cook? If you did cook, is there a recipe you would like to share? Did you get your father any cool (technology or other) gifts?
Please share your experiences via the comment box below.You can also share with me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
If you didn't get your father (or priest) much for Father's Day or think he could use one more gift, give him the gift of some Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some. For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea (use the same link above or picture below to purchase). Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming soon. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
I will start. Yesterday, my father, the rest of my family, and I stayed at home. During the afternoon, we all sat down with dad in the family room to watch a couple movies together. Now, Dad, my brother, and I are (big) Nascar fans, so we wanted to catch the race, but couldn't because the rest of the Nascar races are being broadcast on TNT, a television channel we don't get because we only have basic cable (yes, I could have used our Sirius Satellite Radio to listen to the race, but listening to the race is not the same as watching it). Instead of watching the race, we found "Flight of the Phoenix" on the CBS channel in my area and watched it. During a commercial break, we gave Dad the new tomato plants and the new grilling utensils we got him for Father's Day.
For dinner, we had steak and shrimp for our main dish, with potatoes and fruit salad as side dishes. Even though it was Father's Day, my father still took charge of the grilling the steaks (and shrimp) even though I offered to take charge of the grill to give him a rest. We decided not to have cake since we still have leftover cake from my brother's high school graduation party and we were all full from dinner. After dinner, we watched the movie "Red". After that, we all went to bed.
Am I the only one that thinks that it is better to have a meal at home for Father's Day or Mother's Day rather than taking your father (or mother) out to a restaurant for a meal on his (or her) respective day? I think that having the meal at home (and you preparing it) is more meaningful to them because you are putting your heart and soul into making the food for them to enjoy. Sure, I do realize that not everyone is professional chef/cook quality and that some people are better at cooking than others, but it's really the thought that really counts, the thought that you took time out of your day to prepare a special meal with love that your father can enjoy.
So, that was my Father's Day experience. Now, I would like for you to share your experiences with your father or priest on Father's Day with me and everyone else who reads this blog. What did you cook? If you did cook, is there a recipe you would like to share? Did you get your father any cool (technology or other) gifts?
Please share your experiences via the comment box below.You can also share with me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
If you didn't get your father (or priest) much for Father's Day or think he could use one more gift, give him the gift of some Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some. For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea (use the same link above or picture below to purchase). Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system Zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming soon. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
On this Father's Day, let's not forget about our Spiritual Fathers
Today is Father's Day (here in the United States). Today, we celebrate the many long years of personal sacrifices of men everywhere in order to raise children. However, we sometimes forget about our priests and bishops, who are appointed our spiritual fathers.
Like fathers who raise children, a priest is responsible for raising his spiritual children in the faith. Being a priest means that a man must make many personal sacrifices, such as the freedom to be married, in order to do his duties. Even though our father and mother are our first teachers, a priest is responsible for educating his flock on church teaching and beliefs and for helping to foster prayer in his parish communities. Priests are also dispensers of the sacraments. No (validly ordained) priest means no valid Eucharist. Priests act in the person of Christ in the sacrament of Confession, showing a father's love and forgiveness when we are truly sorry for our sins we have committed. There are many more examples I could use to show how our priests are fathers, but I am sure you run come up with more.
In this day and age of secularization and the unfortunate abuse of minors by a small handful of priests, I think our priests are under-appreciated and taken for granted many times. There are some parishes out there without a full-time priest, and the faithful there celebrate Mass together when a priest does come to visit the parish. The vocation to the priesthood is growing, but there are there are places still deficient in (good and holy) priests. We could always use more priests.
So on this Father's Day, besides celebrating your own father I don't forget to celebrate all the good that our priests and bishops have done for us as well. Ask your priest if there is anything you can do for them. Or a side note, I would love it if this piece showed up the front page of New Advent.
I would like to hear about the good that your father or your parish priest has done, so please share it or any memorable moments with your father or priest in the comment box below or e-mail me at catholictechgeek@gmail.com. You can also share with me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
If you want to give your father something he will enjoy this Father's Day, give him some Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some. For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea (use the same link above or picture below to purchase). Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming soon. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Update (6-18-2012): I have a follow-up to this piece right here.
Like fathers who raise children, a priest is responsible for raising his spiritual children in the faith. Being a priest means that a man must make many personal sacrifices, such as the freedom to be married, in order to do his duties. Even though our father and mother are our first teachers, a priest is responsible for educating his flock on church teaching and beliefs and for helping to foster prayer in his parish communities. Priests are also dispensers of the sacraments. No (validly ordained) priest means no valid Eucharist. Priests act in the person of Christ in the sacrament of Confession, showing a father's love and forgiveness when we are truly sorry for our sins we have committed. There are many more examples I could use to show how our priests are fathers, but I am sure you run come up with more.
In this day and age of secularization and the unfortunate abuse of minors by a small handful of priests, I think our priests are under-appreciated and taken for granted many times. There are some parishes out there without a full-time priest, and the faithful there celebrate Mass together when a priest does come to visit the parish. The vocation to the priesthood is growing, but there are there are places still deficient in (good and holy) priests. We could always use more priests.
So on this Father's Day, besides celebrating your own father I don't forget to celebrate all the good that our priests and bishops have done for us as well. Ask your priest if there is anything you can do for them. Or a side note, I would love it if this piece showed up the front page of New Advent.
I would like to hear about the good that your father or your parish priest has done, so please share it or any memorable moments with your father or priest in the comment box below or e-mail me at catholictechgeek@gmail.com. You can also share with me on twitter (twitter username is @rctechgeek). Feel free to subscribe to my rss feed as well.
If you want to give your father something he will enjoy this Father's Day, give him some Mystic Monk Coffee (use this link or click on the picture below to access the store and purchase). Trust me, it's good coffee (in most instances, better than Starbucks coffee) and you won't regret buying some. For the summer, they are also offering Iced Coffee as well. If you like tea more than coffee, they also offer tea (use the same link above or picture below to purchase). Using the link (or picture below) to buy the coffee (or tea) helps the monks out and helps me with college expenses as well.
Feel free to try out my apps for Windows Phone: Mobile Media Manager, a media player app I made which has some features which (I feel) are missing from the system zune player, and BSA Eagle Tracker, an app that boy scouts can use to track their progress to Eagle Scout (when the scout handbook isn't always handy). New versions of the media player with new features/bug fixes is coming soon. BSA Eagle Tracker is also getting a bug fix for an obscure bug I noticed.
BSA Eagle Tracker download: http://bit.ly/Mm1Upo
Mobile Media Manager (paid version) download: http://bit.ly/y3rf6V
Mobile Media Manager (free version) download: http://bit.ly/xGCsWE
Update (6-18-2012): I have a follow-up to this piece right here.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Imagine Cup: an Unlikely But Sure Opportunity to Evangelize
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending Microsoft's Imagine Cup competition as a Microsoft Student Insider. While I was there, Sunday rolled around and with it, the obligation to go to Mass that day. So you're probably wondering: what does this have to do with evangelizing and spreading the gospel?
It turns out that I was not the only Catholic present there at the competition. There, I found out some of the competitors were Catholic as well. Since I had done research before that to find out where the nearest Catholic church was to where we were staying, I remarked that I knew where the nearest Catholic church was and told them the Mass times, and then I invited them to join me at the Mass time I was going to. I also met a facilitator there that was Catholic as well.
When it came around to Sunday, breakfast was scheduled to be at the Microsoft Store in Bellvue, so I decided to use it as a "checkpoint" to see who was coming with me to Mass. The only one that ended up joining me was the facilitator. We had an interesting talk about computers and Catholicism while we were walking to Mass. Mass went well (it was a "first Communion Mass", where there children there making their first Holy Communion), except for some liturgical abuses I observed. Afterwards, my friend, the facilitator, gave me some helpful tips for acing a Microsoft interview, as I had an interview with Microsoft scheduled after I got back from Mass.
It was interesting to find other Catholics at an event like this that loved the Catholicism and the Church as much as I did. At a competition where computers and software are the subject matter, you would think that is isn't exactly an opportunity to share our faith and the Gospel with others, but there will always be a way (even though you might not discover it). Next year, I will be sure put this information out ahead of time so that even more Catholics attending will be able to attend Mass while at the Imagine Cup. This all proves one thing: there are always opportunities to evangelize and to share our faith with others, even when it doesn't look like it on the surface.
Do you have any stories where you found opportunities to evangelize and share the faith and the gospel in an unlikely situation? Feel free to share it in the combo box. You can also follow me on twitter (username is @rctechgeek).
It turns out that I was not the only Catholic present there at the competition. There, I found out some of the competitors were Catholic as well. Since I had done research before that to find out where the nearest Catholic church was to where we were staying, I remarked that I knew where the nearest Catholic church was and told them the Mass times, and then I invited them to join me at the Mass time I was going to. I also met a facilitator there that was Catholic as well.
When it came around to Sunday, breakfast was scheduled to be at the Microsoft Store in Bellvue, so I decided to use it as a "checkpoint" to see who was coming with me to Mass. The only one that ended up joining me was the facilitator. We had an interesting talk about computers and Catholicism while we were walking to Mass. Mass went well (it was a "first Communion Mass", where there children there making their first Holy Communion), except for some liturgical abuses I observed. Afterwards, my friend, the facilitator, gave me some helpful tips for acing a Microsoft interview, as I had an interview with Microsoft scheduled after I got back from Mass.
It was interesting to find other Catholics at an event like this that loved the Catholicism and the Church as much as I did. At a competition where computers and software are the subject matter, you would think that is isn't exactly an opportunity to share our faith and the Gospel with others, but there will always be a way (even though you might not discover it). Next year, I will be sure put this information out ahead of time so that even more Catholics attending will be able to attend Mass while at the Imagine Cup. This all proves one thing: there are always opportunities to evangelize and to share our faith with others, even when it doesn't look like it on the surface.
Do you have any stories where you found opportunities to evangelize and share the faith and the gospel in an unlikely situation? Feel free to share it in the combo box. You can also follow me on twitter (username is @rctechgeek).
Monday, December 26, 2011
Merry Christmas and a happy St. Stephen's Day to All
I hope everyone had a blessed and merry Christmas day yesterday.
In the secular, commercial world, Christmas is over. Now is the time for all those after Christmas sales that the retailers have. It's time to clear out our Christmas stock and get ready for Valentine's Day, even though Valentine's Day is over a month and 7 weeks away.
No, Christmas is not just a day, but a (whole) season. During Advent, we have spent over 4 weeks preparing for Jesus to come into the world. When he came into the world, he humbled himself and took on our human nature, being born of a virgin, Mary, Mater Dei (the mother of God). He did this because he loves us, "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting". [John 3:16] Now that he has come into the world, it is our duty to spread the Christmas message that today, a savior has been born for us.
And now on to the feast day of my patron saint, Saint Stephen. St. Stephen was a deacon who was active in the church during the first century. He was the first martyr, the first of those who suffered at the hands of pagan Rome for his belief in Christianity and in Jesus Christ. Now, granted, it takes guts to stand up for one's faith, even if it means martyrdom. As Christians, we are all called to profess our faith, even if it's unpopular. The early church martyrs understood this and were willing to stand up for the faith rather than give in to the commands of the oppressor, even though it meant death for all of them.
Now, I do realize that some of you out there think that all of this martyrdom stuff is old and done with. Well, at any time in history, there have been those, connected with the State, who persecute Christians for upholding the faith. It happened with the first Christians at the hands of pagan Rome. It happened in England when King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church to establish the Anglican Church. It happened in Soviet Russia to Orthodox Christians (and Eastern Catholics) at the hands of Stalin. It happened in Nazi Germany because the Catholics and other Christians stood up to Hitler. Today, it is happening in China, where those not loyal to the state Catholic Church have been forced underground. Here in America, we have the freedom to worship as we choose to, with no interference from the government. However, the idea of separation of Church and State has 2 ends. One ends says that the government cannot establish a religion and your choice of religion cannot disqualify you from activity in the public square. Then, we have the other end, which says that the government can't interfere with your religion and how you practice it. These days, we have too many people that, while they may not agree with Christian traditions and celebrations in public, are easily "offended" by the practice of the Christian faith in public and have gone to the courts to stop them, which have ordered that these Christians NOT carry out their traditions and religious practices in public. A good example is the ever popular Nativity scene. Various judges here in the US have said that those people cannot put up the Nativity scene because it might "offend" non-Christians. A more mature and charitable approach by those people that are "offended" is to simply ignore it, but don't rain in on someone else's parade just because you don't agree with it.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus says "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans." [Matthew 10:17-18] While Catholics and other Christians are not physically persecuted in America today, other methods of persecution are happening today such as failure of the government to uphold legal measures such as the Defense of Marriage Act and the conscience clause of the health care law. With the health care law, there is a religious exemption which says that a religious institution can be waived. However, this is only the case if the institution only serves a majority of people which hold the same beliefs as the institution. This is a problem for the Catholic Church (and other non-Catholic institutions like them) because the Catholic Church provides care no matter who or what you are. This law means that these institutions only serve Catholics or be penalized. With the conscience clause, a health care worker does not have to do a procedure if it violates his or her morals and religious beliefs. Failure to uphold this means that the health care worker has to take part in the procedure or risk losing their job. This cannot be tolerated.
As we go in our daily lives, let us bring the joy and the message of Christmas into everything we do. In today's gospel reading, Jesus also says that "You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved." [Matthew 10:22] May God grant us the courage to be ready to profess and defend the faith, no matter what the circumstances are. May you all have a Merry and Blessed Christmas season this year.
If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post them in the comment box below, or you can send me an e-mail at catholictechgeek@gmail.com. I welcome any and all thoughts on the subject. You can also follow me on twitter as well (username is @rctechgeek).
In the secular, commercial world, Christmas is over. Now is the time for all those after Christmas sales that the retailers have. It's time to clear out our Christmas stock and get ready for Valentine's Day, even though Valentine's Day is over a month and 7 weeks away.
No, Christmas is not just a day, but a (whole) season. During Advent, we have spent over 4 weeks preparing for Jesus to come into the world. When he came into the world, he humbled himself and took on our human nature, being born of a virgin, Mary, Mater Dei (the mother of God). He did this because he loves us, "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting". [John 3:16] Now that he has come into the world, it is our duty to spread the Christmas message that today, a savior has been born for us.
And now on to the feast day of my patron saint, Saint Stephen. St. Stephen was a deacon who was active in the church during the first century. He was the first martyr, the first of those who suffered at the hands of pagan Rome for his belief in Christianity and in Jesus Christ. Now, granted, it takes guts to stand up for one's faith, even if it means martyrdom. As Christians, we are all called to profess our faith, even if it's unpopular. The early church martyrs understood this and were willing to stand up for the faith rather than give in to the commands of the oppressor, even though it meant death for all of them.
Now, I do realize that some of you out there think that all of this martyrdom stuff is old and done with. Well, at any time in history, there have been those, connected with the State, who persecute Christians for upholding the faith. It happened with the first Christians at the hands of pagan Rome. It happened in England when King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church to establish the Anglican Church. It happened in Soviet Russia to Orthodox Christians (and Eastern Catholics) at the hands of Stalin. It happened in Nazi Germany because the Catholics and other Christians stood up to Hitler. Today, it is happening in China, where those not loyal to the state Catholic Church have been forced underground. Here in America, we have the freedom to worship as we choose to, with no interference from the government. However, the idea of separation of Church and State has 2 ends. One ends says that the government cannot establish a religion and your choice of religion cannot disqualify you from activity in the public square. Then, we have the other end, which says that the government can't interfere with your religion and how you practice it. These days, we have too many people that, while they may not agree with Christian traditions and celebrations in public, are easily "offended" by the practice of the Christian faith in public and have gone to the courts to stop them, which have ordered that these Christians NOT carry out their traditions and religious practices in public. A good example is the ever popular Nativity scene. Various judges here in the US have said that those people cannot put up the Nativity scene because it might "offend" non-Christians. A more mature and charitable approach by those people that are "offended" is to simply ignore it, but don't rain in on someone else's parade just because you don't agree with it.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus says "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans." [Matthew 10:17-18] While Catholics and other Christians are not physically persecuted in America today, other methods of persecution are happening today such as failure of the government to uphold legal measures such as the Defense of Marriage Act and the conscience clause of the health care law. With the health care law, there is a religious exemption which says that a religious institution can be waived. However, this is only the case if the institution only serves a majority of people which hold the same beliefs as the institution. This is a problem for the Catholic Church (and other non-Catholic institutions like them) because the Catholic Church provides care no matter who or what you are. This law means that these institutions only serve Catholics or be penalized. With the conscience clause, a health care worker does not have to do a procedure if it violates his or her morals and religious beliefs. Failure to uphold this means that the health care worker has to take part in the procedure or risk losing their job. This cannot be tolerated.
As we go in our daily lives, let us bring the joy and the message of Christmas into everything we do. In today's gospel reading, Jesus also says that "You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved." [Matthew 10:22] May God grant us the courage to be ready to profess and defend the faith, no matter what the circumstances are. May you all have a Merry and Blessed Christmas season this year.
If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post them in the comment box below, or you can send me an e-mail at catholictechgeek@gmail.com. I welcome any and all thoughts on the subject. You can also follow me on twitter as well (username is @rctechgeek).
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
I would first like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. For Catholics, this really isn't out of the ordinary at all. At Mass, we always have Thanksgiving Day. The word "Eucharist" comes from the Greek, εὐχαριστία, which means "thanksgiving". Granted, today is a day set aside to give thanks to God for all he has given us. This includes the gift of life. After all, we wouldn't exist if our parents hadn't given us life. For us in America, this also includes the freedom to worship as we wish without harassment by the government (although in the future, this freedom of religion could be challenged, but this is another issue altogether that I will leave for another day).
And now for a word on Black Friday and its encroachment onto Thanksgiving. Black Friday has been the Friday after Thanksgiving in which shopping for Christmas begins and many stores have really great deals on merchandise. This year, there are retail stores which have started black Friday specials as early as 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (for those of you which keep 24 hour time, this is 21:00 or 22:00 on Thursday). To me, this is really sad because Thanksgiving Day is a day to spend with family. If you have to leave your leave your family on Thanksgiving Day evening just to go buy stuff, you might want to rethink your priorities and leave the shopping for Friday. There will still be deals at the stores later, so why rush it? Family is much more important than shopping will ever be. You will always have the chance to shop, but you will only have your family for a time, so make the most of that time.
On a side note, the new Mass translations for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite go into effect this weekend. I hope everything goes well with the execution of the new changes to the words. I am writing a Mass setting for the new translations which, unfortunately, is not completed yet. When it gets closer to completion, I will post a preview on this blog.
If you have any questions or comments on this, I would love to hear them. You may either send them via the comment box below or via e-mail at catholictechgeek@gmail.com, and I will answer any e-mail I get at the end of my next article. You can also subscribe to my rss feed or follow me on Twitter (username is @rctechgeek).
And now for a word on Black Friday and its encroachment onto Thanksgiving. Black Friday has been the Friday after Thanksgiving in which shopping for Christmas begins and many stores have really great deals on merchandise. This year, there are retail stores which have started black Friday specials as early as 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (for those of you which keep 24 hour time, this is 21:00 or 22:00 on Thursday). To me, this is really sad because Thanksgiving Day is a day to spend with family. If you have to leave your leave your family on Thanksgiving Day evening just to go buy stuff, you might want to rethink your priorities and leave the shopping for Friday. There will still be deals at the stores later, so why rush it? Family is much more important than shopping will ever be. You will always have the chance to shop, but you will only have your family for a time, so make the most of that time.
On a side note, the new Mass translations for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite go into effect this weekend. I hope everything goes well with the execution of the new changes to the words. I am writing a Mass setting for the new translations which, unfortunately, is not completed yet. When it gets closer to completion, I will post a preview on this blog.
If you have any questions or comments on this, I would love to hear them. You may either send them via the comment box below or via e-mail at catholictechgeek@gmail.com, and I will answer any e-mail I get at the end of my next article. You can also subscribe to my rss feed or follow me on Twitter (username is @rctechgeek).
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