We Weren't Spiritually Prepared **warning**this might disturb you

So the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare.
Prior to the decision the US Bishops called for fasting and prayer.
It was way too little and way too late.

The reality is--The Roman Catholic Church is not spiritually prepared to do the battles.

Their spiritual balance is off.

We have forgotten fasting and prayer and confession.
Somehow during the past 30 years we focused on social justice issues and policy--to the point where the spiritual balance was upset.  Instead of peace marches and sit-ins complementing spiritual and religious practices, they replaced confessional lines and Friday fasts and daily Mass.

Just last week I heard a homily where the aging priest listed what he decided were prophets of his time.  And then he likened them to St. John the Baptist--yep the cousin of Jesus Christ the Messiah.  I must have heard a homily like that once or twice a year for the past 40 years.  I even preached homilies like that (my belated apologies to those congregations).
The balance is so off that even our language has become nothing more than politically correct crap which skirts the real issues and has the potential to confuse the congregation.  When the preacher discussed recent church scandals he avoided the use of words like; evil, demonic, and satan.

We don't even use the language that clearly describes right from wrong. How can we even be expected to awaken ancient spiritual practices?

So when the Bishops called for fasting and prayer they were expecting the clergy and people to practice something that isn't even preached--I wonder how many clergy and laity really did fast--yes physically fast.  I wonder how many Roman Catholic Church's offered an evening prayer service or conducted novenas. 


The Bishops expected the people to do something that hasn't been promoted, practiced, or preached for years.


"Only by fasting and prayer can these demons be expelled."
-Jesus Christ.

blacksheepdog? the priest formerly known as corapi

Okay, I admit.  I spent a few minutes watching the latest priest who leaves with a chip on his shoulder scandal.  I even listen to an audio byte.
I will never get those minutes back--crap.

I searched 'blacksheepdog' on google and was directed to a belgian puppy website.
Give it time and a few twitters and a few hits and he'll be running his web diocese.  Remember the bishop who began a virtual diocese back in the 90's?  What was his name? And then the guy from Miami and what about that fellow in Chicago and the other guy out west who started his own church--all this year right?

There is a huge story around this one, the bad dog priest or black dog priest or sheep dog--whatever his new name is (it reminded me of the artist formerly known as prince--come to think of it perhaps his new name ought to be the priest formerly known as corapi)  This one is a carefully orchestrated leaking of scandal, rumor and extortion.  Probably movie rights have already been discussed.

So where does this leave us?
Obviously I don't know the entire story--nobody ever will.  But there is one deflection that is being floated by his camp and it goes like this---Others are at fault here not me!   Should we follow the deflections and look at the faults of the church and the bishop(s) and the magisterium as he insuates? I use to do that, it's really easy and you don't have to look too hard to find the faults.  But it's nothing more than a diversion and probably, in the end demonic.  When I first left the ministry and felt unwelcome and had no home--it was easy to ferment and find fault and blame.  Come on--man up! or priest up at least.
Finding faults is nothing more than preparation for blame (on a variety of levels)


We find faults with people all the time.  Just drive 10 miles in traffic.  Just sit in a different pew in church.  Just go visit family for more than 3 days.  You get the picture.  And it is easy to focus on our faults--I weigh too much or too little.  I'm bald.  I'm gray.  I'm not smart.  I never finished that project.

Really, finding faults is the way to spiritual depth?

I have no suggestion for the whats-up-big-dog-expriest--except this--don't leave the Church.

  

Confecting or Confusing?

Yesterday I left Holy Mass very confused.

That happens after you spend time in the pew, your soul being bombarded with superfluous crap and agendas.

1.(I looked at my watch for this one 'cause I just had a bad feeling).  Someone spoke before Mass (I suppose this helps to keep the Holy Sacrifice intact in some pretend liturgist's world).  The person spoke for two minutes over and above the pre-Mass chatter (which is espoused apparently at this church--so much that people meander among pews and congregate in the aisles up to the last minute).  By the way, the two minute announcement concerned two monetary collections which were occurring simultaneously.

2.  The Eucharistic Prayer (II) didn't take that long.

3.  The announcement by the pastor following the closing prayer lasted three minutes--because the new website for the parish was being 'launched'.

It could have been worse--the Holy Gospel could have been acted out or as they say 'dramatized'

Yeh--consumer driven church.  

Next up product placement ads during the liturgy along with audible trailers during any proclamation?

Now, here is the catch.  When I was an active priest I supported what I liked to call the 'peripheral Sunday morning chaos'--the greetings, the hellos, the announcements, the name tags and the whole 'keeping people connected' approach.  I was even in favor of some dramatization of Scripture and a dance here and there.  (I was also in favor of married clergy and woman clergy...but that is a whole other story).  

I changed my mind when I started sitting in the pew.

Sometimes you don't want to say 'hello' to everyone.

Sometimes you don't want to hear about money.

Sometimes you just want to sit in the quiet and maybe, just maybe--look at the tabernacle.

Sometimes it took everything just to get to church that day and the last thing you want to do is fake a smile.

Sometimes you don't feel like you want it to be DisneyWorld that morning.

Sometimes you don't want a show or drama.

Sometimes all you want and all you need is Jesus.

Since parishes(and dioceses) seem to be moving in the direction of a consumer based approach (and losing their soul--sorry did i write that?)  might I suggest that each diocese designate parishes that are simply known as "PlaIn Mass Parishes"?  

They could place PMP on their website or there could even be an app for people who travel and simply want a PMP. 

PMP's could offer confessions on Saturdays and Sundays before Mass (the priest would have time because he wouldn't have to orchestrate or control a liturgy).  In short PMP's  might quietly revolutionize Sunday mornings.

So, what is really being confected on Sunday mornings--Jesus or an "approach to liturgy" that simply confuses, scatters, and keeps all the attention away from Christ?

Anemic Church Bulletins

Last week I made my way around a few clergy priest blogs and took issue with one priest blogger (My Apologies).
Today I made my way around some online church bulletins (this might get uncomfortable).

Whoa, trees actually die for this?
Where's the meat?  Where's the challenge?  Where's the FAITH?

They all look the same.  Mass Times, Church Fundraisers, Diocesan Campaigns, School Fundraisers, and don't forget Last Week's Offertory.
Then of course there are the remarks of the pastor--which seem to fit into three categories:
1.  look at me
2. we all need to share our gifts (translated--we need money)
3. occasional theological or inspirational treatise (these do not occur as often as 1 & 2)

And don't forget photographs.

I think that's what raised the flag for me--there is a picture for everything---the bulletins aren't about Jesus Christ. 
They're about us. Something seems to have been misplaced or even replaced.
Jesus Christ has been replaced with information, news, financial bullet points, and a few social service activities.

It's just an observation but wouldn't it be great if inspiration was permitted and injected into church bulletins?

Confounding Spiritual Confusion

My son and I were on our way to a late night swim practice.  We didn't have time to say our prayers at home so we were reciting them in the truck.  Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the direction of my wife we began the spiritual practice of praying the 15 prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden and we started them on January 1.  Just as an aside follow the link and learn a little about these prayers--they are a neat approach to meditating on the Passion of Our Lord.

I passed the Methodist church and noticed the sign "Spiritual ADD"

I agree 'Spiritual ADD'  exists.   It exists because there is very little Spiritual discipline.  Spiritual discipline is lacking because, in the end---people do not want to sacrifice. 
Funny isn't it? Jesus' sacrifice is fundamental to my soul--and yet I don't want to sacrifice.  I don't want to remover any external stimuli that are causal or, (at the very least), contributing to my spritual ADD.  I don't want to do the work of sacrifice and exercise patience.  I want a quick, drive thru result to my overnight pursuit of God. 

Know why money is often an issue in congregations?  Because people don't come to church in order to enter deeper into the sacrificial offering.  They want to 'get' something, not give.  Unfortunately many clergy fall into this trap of thinking they are the ones who have to give the people something.  And, before you know it--another Sunday went gliding by--the sermon was empty but at least the raffle tickets were sold!


When I was a young priest I was into all the new approaches to parish life and formation and leadership.  Workshops and mission statements were where it was at.  Looking back it was nothing more than unfocused spiritual ADD.  I am reminded of one diocesan event where hundreds of people were gathered in a hotel banquet room waiting patiently for the speaker to arrive.  He was going to tell us all--clergy and laity and religious--how to re-do or super imagine,(or something really neat) to the church.  He had a book and everything!  It was the latest and greatest way to re-energize everyone.

He never showed up so some priest from the diocese attempted to lead a group discussion.
Honest.

Satan loves that crap.  That's his approach--confuse and confound and make you think there is 'another way'
There is no other way--Jesus is the Way (remember He even told us!).

Looking back--we should have just celebrated Mass or, at the very least--prayed a Rosary.

So this evening, as my son read the prayers I thought of all the times I failed to do the work of staying focused and disciplined in the spiritual quest. 
I need to go to confession.

Playing the Ex-Priest Card

Recently two ex Roman Catholic priests have been part of  their own media blitz campaign.
The first was a fellow from Miami who had a popular following in the media world.  Photographs of him on a beach with his love were circulated world wide.  Soon after he left the active ministry, married, and became an Episcopal priest.
I could empathize.  Though not on the same level by any means, but when I left the active ministry to be with my wife (of thirteen years now) we encountered not the cameras snapping photos but  instead people pointing at us while we stood at the deli counter.  There even was the occasional anonymous letter.  I must share however that the strangest reaction was that someone went through our trash--none of our neighbors--just ours.
Like I said I could empathize.
I could even understand the priest going over to the 'ecclesial cousins' house to stay.  We did the same. At one time I knelt down in front of an Episcopal Bishop as an ex-Roman Catholic priest and publicly professed allegiance to the Anglican/Episcopal Church.  When I stood up I was still an ex-Roman Catholic priest but now I had incurred an excommunication. 
Still, I could empathize.
Until recently.
Now the priest is out of the faith closet and is now bashing Rome.
And the media loves it.  After all he is one of theirs.
You left once--why keep stirring the pot?

I know why.

The second ex-priest in the news is one who is also comfortable having his name in the limelight.  This biblical scholar and leader of the modern day historical Jesus debate continues to question the divine nature of Jesus Christ.  He says he is Christian.
Okay, my degree is not in biblical scholarship and I am not entering into an academic or theological debate.  I don't have that gift.  I do know that if you don't believe in the divinity of Christ and His resurrection then you got a lot of theological work to do--let alone soul work.
Why did CNN run his story second to the unrest in Libya?  Amazing when you think of it.  Just float the headline out there that says--God did not become human.  He did not love His people by becoming one of us. He did not conquer sin and death.
Wow--talk about a quick ping from satan?

And here is the kicker--you don't even need to play the ex-priest card to attack the faith or the church.
Think about it.

The Lost Sacrifice

It never fails.  Whenever someone finds out that I “used to be” a priest they quickly follow up with asking; “Do you miss doing anything?”

                “Yep…Holy Eucharist.”

                The older I get the quicker my response. 

                But, before I elaborate I want you to know a couple of things.  First, I am happily married and the love and constant forgiveness of my wife is what allows me to be forthright with you.  I also offer a disclaimer to any priest or lay person who may read this and feel slighted, challenged, or pushed just a little.

                Last year (outside my diocese--maybe…and not in my current diocese—maybe) I was trying to ‘pray along’ with the celebrant.  Unfortunately he appeared to be suffering from some kind of spiritual angst.  His voice changed during the Eucharistic prayer and he seemed to be in some sort of physical pain.  It just seemed way over the top and just a little too much acting.  Then, following Holy Communion he stood up, told a joke, handled the announcements and his voice was back to normal!

                 It was a dual personality experience.   

                That very well could have been me—acting and playing the crowd.

                When I was a young priest,  I never really ‘offered’ the sacrifice of the Mass.  Sure, I was spiritually formed in the theology and liturgy of the Mass.  But, on my part, something was always missing.  Maybe because as  young priest I was taught that I needed to be more relevant to the people in the pew.  I was told that what was needed were action plans and success plans and professional leaders who had clear goals and objectives and job descriptions.  During my first years of priesthood I watched as Altars of sacrifice were replaced with ‘mission statements’.  And I bought into it.  I was to be more than a priest.  I was to be a leader and a manager and a presider at liturgies.  Here I was a priest and I never did a personal holy hour or just went and sat in the confessional—at an unscheduled time.  No wonder I was empty.

                The result of such an approach, years later, is a consumer based social phenomena gone rampant in the Church.  A priest no longer offers sacrifice but a product.  Priests and lay people buy books and programs and go to seminars to learn to be ministers and offer a product—not an invitation to sacrifice. 

                Sacrifice has been lost.  It has completely flipped.  Satan has to be snickering.

                In a world of identity theft we are faced with the very identity of the priesthood and the church being stolen by secular ideals, approaches, and desires to make the church more ‘relevant.’ 

                Relevant is for an American Idol contestant—not the priesthood, not the church.  When you go down the road of relevancy you end up in relativism…and that is for another time.

The Smoke of Satan

The Smoke of Satan

This is a recent post from a Fr. Dwight Longenecker who recently gave me permission to link to his blog.
Good stuff.
Some of the theology he references was what I was formed in and could have been been still shoveling out to the masses if God hadn't intervened.
There is a national campaign going around in the catholic church called Welcome Home.
It's a neat idea...but here are my two questions.
1.  Whose home are we welcoming them into?
2.  What are we welcoming them home to?

Of course I have my opinions.