Is My Phylactery Showing?: 2017

Why I Love the Catholic Faith: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

One of my favorite session to teach in RCIA is on the Catholic understanding Divine Revelation. In it we talk about the three elements of Divine Revelation: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Church.

I've often described the three elements of Divine Revelation as a three-legged stool. Leave out any one of the three elements, and your stool will not be stable and will not support faith fully.

Catholics do not believe in Sola Scriptura—scripture alone—as the rule of faith. Instead we understand that scripture is a primary source of doctrine and theology, what has been called the norma normans non normata (the norm that norms other norms). It is the rule that rules the other rules but is not ruled itself.

Dec

Chaire, Kecharitomene—Fourth Sunday of Advent (Cycle B)

2 Samuel 7:1–5, 8b–12, 14a, 16; Romans 16:25–27; Luke 1:26–38

"Chaire! Kecharitomene!" This is Gabriel's greeting. "Hail, full of grace!" In this fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the one named full of grace, the one whom all generations will call blessed.

Our reverence for the Blessed Mother is often not understood by our Protestant brethren, but it has been celebrated by the Universal Church, the Catholic Church, from the earliest days.

Dec

The Value of Hindsight

I've been posting some poetry I've written over the last 30 years—some very old, some within the last 15 years. I haven't written too much lately. What I have that I think is worth sharing is linked in my sidebar. I think the one I wrote for Lula Coe is the latest, and after looking at it, I don't think it's too bad. I tend now to write for particular people and particular events.

I have been thinking of trying my hand at a sonnet again.

Dec

Prepare the Way of the Lord—Second Week of Advent (Cycle B)

Isaiah 40:1–5, 9–11; 2 Peter 3:8–14; Mark 1:1–8

I've had two stints in graduate school. One of the common experiences that graduate students have—universally, as far as I can tell—is that they don't belong where they are, that they are frauds. They are surrounded by peers whom they respect and admire, and it's a surprising and welcome thing when one of them mentions their admiration of their work.

Dec

Exquisite you

I could measure

my love for you

in jolts and spasms

of ecstasy

in lightning and fire

and visceral needs

but the touch of our lips

was not that.

It was coming home.

It was rest for the weary.

It was the place

I've sought for so long

in the hollow of your arm

in the space of your heart

in the warmth of your soul.

Dec

An Update for Romanticism

(I wrote this sometime during undergraduate school, probably early as I would've been reading Wordsworth at that time. This was "inspired" by Lines, which he wrote while overlooking Tintern Abbey. I put the word inspired in quotation marks as my reflection is less pastoral and more elegaic. )

I sit in thought,

back against brick.

A boisterous blur

of midday traffic pumps

its music through my veins,

dissonant, discordant

with my arcadian memories--

far from this carbonous stew.

Dec

Why I Love the Catholic Faith: Liturgy

Laying on of hands during my ordination

I love the liturgy of the Catholic Church. I love the smells and bells, the incense and the chrism. I have a Catholic brand of beard balm that has various scents, one of which is "chrism." Not chrismy enough for me. Since I anoint children during baptisms frequently enough, I'm just not attracted to "chrism-ish." I get Sacred Chrism on my hands regularly, and I love the smell. Anything that lacks that authenticity just doesn't strike me as worth my time.

Nov

Proverbs 31 and the treasure of a good wife

Usually on Saturday mornings, while I'm saying morning prayer, I read both the daily readings as well as the readings for Sunday. This week's first reading comes from Proverbs 31:

When one finds a worthy wife,

her value is far beyond pearls.

Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,

has an unfailing prize.

She brings him good, and not evil,

all the days of her life. I have been musing lately how blessed I am in my wife, and this passage just struck me, and I posted it on Facebook.

Nov

Shattered

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1).

I posted a couple of verses from Proverbs 31 (today's first reading), and I tagged my wife. Here's the pericope:

When one finds a worthy wife,her value is far beyond pearls.Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,has an unfailing prize.She brings him good, and not evil,all the days of her life.

A friend of mine from Israel posted that her husband sings this passage to her every Friday.

Nov

Why I love the Catholic Faith: Historicity

I was chatting with someone recently who is currently between spiritual homes. Of course, I invited her to come check out our parish, and I mentioned that the Catholic faith is quite historic. She sort of chuckled and said something to the effect of, "Well, yeah." Of course, histories can be positive or negative. What stands out in the minds of many are the sins of the Church hierarchy. I won't deny that they are many.

Is My Phylactery Showing?

Faithful Catholic or modern-day pharisee? Sometimes I might be a bit of both.