The Real Thing

I am sporadic when it comes to watching television or movies. I can go a long time without watching anything and then I go on little binges and samplers.

Mrs. Nod happened to be watching a TV series called Legend of the Seeker which is your usual fantasy knock-off story. I watched for a little while, then got an overwhelming urge to see Lord of the Rings again in the middle of the show.  Tolkien's world is a deep, complex, fully realized, and ultimately Catholic thing. When you read the novels or watch the movies you come away with a deeply satisfying feeling like after a sumptuous meal.  You know that there is something there.  This other fantasy tripe - not so much.

Similarly, going to adoration or receiving Jesus in the Eucharist produces the same sensation. You know it's Real. I pass a half dozen generic Christian churches on my way to Mass. I often wonder what it would be like to go their services. This one would have great music, that one would have an inspiring preacher, and yet another might have great fellowship. It might be novel for a bit, but it would ultimately pale because they wouldn't have the Real Presence. I liken it to the feeling of walking into the Church on Good Friday and seeing the tabernacle open and empty - there is an almost physical ache of loss.

I wonder what it would be like if all those other churches I pass on Sundays were Catholic. (I'd be walking to Mass for one thing.) Then I shrug and move on.

Ain't nothing like the Real Thing.

VOTE: Prayer Before An Election

Tuesday America goes to the polls; tonight I spent a couple of hours with members of my men's group and my parish at Eucharistic adoration before the election.

The time actually flew by - it has been too long since I've been in adoration. It's so good to see Him! I wasn't praying for a particular outcome, but for the holy will of God to be done. That's where I'm lacking right now. I don't need to want things, although there is much that I do want in life. What I need is to want the things He wants for me. Then I will be both happy and holy, and my family as well.

I asked, "How can my love grow?" He said, "It comes through suffering." Sigh. I was afraid He'd say that. Be patient with me, Lord.

The USCCB encourages us to say this prayer for this election cycle:

Lord God,
as the election approaches,
we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city, state, and country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.

We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.

We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.

We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

One Lord

Two different Popes. One Great Lord of all.

Vocatus Es: Thou Art A Priest Forever

My submission for the Cleansing Fire Vocatus Es contest ...

Jesus In The Funny Papers

Now it's not at all as bad as it sounds.

This is actually a very reverent treatment of the Eucharist in a publication called The Treasure Chest. Although the political overtones and certain details about the Eucharistic fast have changed, this is still relevant for Catholics everywhere.

People are going to read the funny papers. They may as well learn something.

[source] The Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact was a Catholic comic book published by George A. Pflaum of Dayton, Ohio and provided to Catholic parochial school students between 1946 and 1972. The digital collection contains the first eighteen volumes running from 1946 to 1963, which are in public domain. There are some issues missing from Volume 4 (1948-1949). The issues published from 1964 through 1971 are still under copyright protection, which cannot be included in the digital collection at this time. Issues published in 1972 were not copyrighted and will be added to the collection soon.

Eucharistic Adoration - Catholic Underground Chicago

Thrill Of Recognition

I had the opportunity to visit the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C. at lunchtime. I've never been there before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. They have a pretty decent bookshop, opportunities to hear speakers and go to confession, and a full blown chapel.


I stepped inside the chapel to check it out, and there was a tabernacle! I felt a thrill of recognition sweep through me, and I just spent a minute with our Lord in wordless prayer. Totally made my day!

While I was in the shop, I heard Mass starting; the sign outside the door also proclaimed Eucharistic adoration from 1-4 pm. Awesome!

Corpus Christi: Not For Dogs

Today marks the feast of Corpus Christi: the Body and Blood of Christ.

One of the cool liturgical things we get to do on a major feast is to sing or chant a Sequence prior to the Alleluia and Gospel. In Medieval times sequences were abundant; in modern times it has been pared down to about four times a year.

Some of the best sequences were written about the Eucharist by Thomas Aquinas. (Hey, anything by Aquinas is deep!) This line from the Lauda Sion jumped out at me at Mass.

Hail, angelic Bread of Heaven,
Now the pilgrim’s hoping-leaven,
Yea, the Bread to children given
That to dogs must not be thrown

How right. Let us approach our Eucharistic Lord with humility and a clean heart. Lord we believe, help our unbelief!

Both the wicked and the good

Eat of this celestial Food:

But with ends how opposite!

Here 't is life: and there 't is death:

The same, yet issuing to each

In a difference infinite.

Preacher, Preacher

Today we had a traveling guest preacher at Mass.

He crept out from behind the sacristy, hunched and plodding. Laboriously, he used the altar to steady himself as he genuflected towards the tabernacle. I felt a pang of pity for him as he carefully mounted the step to the lectern, took a deep breath ... and proceeded to dance and shout like a carnival barker.

His hands shot heavenward, he waved and gyrated, his voice swelled and fell like 15 foot ocean waves. This guy was amazing. For a moment I wondered if I was in a Catholic church; with amusement I thought this might be tame in some Protestant churches.

He was very engaging and passionate; he was offering an invitation. Just what was he inviting us to, what was the great pitch? Money? Missions? Service?

Nope. He invited us to spend one hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament here at our own eucharistic chapel. Said it would change our lives, give us joy, and draw us close to God.

Know what? I believe him.

Blynken Makes First Holy Communion

The day was beautiful, the rain held off until Sunday. All the smartly dressed boys in their Sunday best suits filed by, paired with little girls in their dresses of brightest white.

Two by two they came, like the rescued animals from Noah's Ark, to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. In a way, you could say it was a Eucharistic procession.


My girl Blynken made her first Holy Communion on Saturday. Isn't she stunning? Her Aunt K*Lo did a fabulous job with her hair; the veil was interwoven so it wouldn't come out under any circumstances. Blynken was so enamored with her hair that she wanted to sleep in it (along with 4,000 bobby pins) and cried when we had to take it down.

In a venerable tradition (started by Mrs. Nod just now), she wore her mother's Confirmation cross around her neck, a Eucharistic pin on her dress, little white gloves to her wrists, and a beaming smile upon her face.

What a blessing to know our Lord in this intimate way: body, blood, soul, and divinity. Blynken wore her dress again to Sunday Mass and it was awesome to see Father look her in the eyes and give her that tiny little bit of extra attention and reverence in recieving the Eucharist.

Prelude

Tomorrow is Blynken's big day: her First Communion.

Aunt K*Lo is sleeping over so she can do Blynken's hair tomorrow (these girls go all out!). Don't tell the environmental police, but we accidentally left the veil steaming for 45 minutes by running the shower in the bathroom. Oops. Our bad. That water bill is gonna hurt.

Me, I got the burgers and dogs ready to go with a side of taquitos, fruits and vegetables, shrimp ring, and white cake. Camera is charged, prayers have been said, confessions have been made. What's not to like?

Chance of rain tommorrow which may be the only downside. Here's hoping.

Feast of the Annunciation: 25 March

March 25 is the Feast of the Annunciation.


The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jn 1:14

[All kneel.]

The Dresses Are Coming

Blynken's First Communion is fast approaching, which of course means: dresses.

My counters are awash in catalogs of white dresses, dresses with lace, dresses with bows and beads, satin gloves, veils, and tiaras.

Myself, I can't get excited about about spending a lot of money buying a one-time outfit, (seriously, you men, do you have an outfit that you bought to only wear once?) but the girls in the house are all a-flutter.

Then again, I shore do like it when them girls dress up purty. Maybe I'll just wait and be surprised.

Not Ribbing

Nod-girl is forever trying to figure out how the world works, where food comes from, and things like that.

As a five year old, there's a lot to figure out. "Dad, do animals die before you eat them?" to which I reply "I sure hope so." To her, anything with barbecue sauce on it is synonymous with "ribs", including today's lunch which was chicken wings. She asks, "What animal are ribs made out of?" (Um, they're chicken wings.)

Mrs. Nod patiently explained that ribs are a part of the animal's body, not a particular animal, and that even people have ribs. This led to a wandering discussion between Wynken, Blynken, and Nod-girl on how we should not eat people and the possible gruesome effects of laughing disease if you did. (Honest, I'm not making this up.)

Nod-girl looked thoughtful for a second and then declared:

"But God is a person, and Jesus is a person, and we eat their bloods."

Heh, who says the girl's not catechized?

Reverse Momentum

Cool enough to repost. H/T Anna Arco via CMR.

Why did God become Food?

Ever think about that? Think about just any party, any celebration, family event -- what is the one thing that ties them all together. They almost universally involve eating.

An omnipotent God, who could "turn" himself into literally anything chose ... bread.

Why? So we would eat it.

If you don't eat, you die. If you do eat the best food imaginable you ... live forever.

My girl, Blynken, will make her First Holy Communion in the Spring.

That's. Just. Awesome.