Really...what did you come here to see?

Alright here's the deal.  I've spent enough time in crowds in the midst of holy places for the past few days and have a few thoughts.
Today, we were asked to stand and pray in silence while Vicka prayed for each and everyone of us.  People lasted about 10 minutes before they became 'bored'.
They snapped their photos, turned, and then started shopping for souvenirs--yep that's what its about--great PR for the church right?  Let me get this straight--Vicka tells us she is going to pray for you and you get bored, turn and leave? 
What did you come hear to see?  Didn't Jesus ask that question to those who were coming to see Him but really didn't like what they found?

Mass is another issue.  You leave to go to Holy Communion and come back to your pew now taken by some other pilgrims who want a seat for the next Mass.

A crystal clear experience of the juxtaposition of Good and Evil.  I'm not even talking about the thieves that frequent places like this.  I'm talking about the gracious and good people of God (sarcasm)
The devil does not even need to force big guns--he uses impatience, greed, gluttony, self rightousness and some anger and anything else that keeps the soul away from its Creator.

Yesterday at Eucharistic Adoration in the parish chapel I watched as a little toddler kept running up to the tabernacle and blowing kisses to Jesus...it was great.
Until some sour person shook their head in disgust and whispered to their neighbor who agreed that it was a sacrilege.

Come on, let the kids come to Him.
Come on, why not let ourselves come to Him? 
What is neat about this pilgrimage is that I get to pray for and witness people discover and reignite their faith.

My Apologies

My apologies to anyone who gets ticked at the following.

The other evening I was cruising through the internet world of clergy blogs--seeing what was on their minds and in their hearts. 

I came across the following:

Being a celibate and obedient priest is not something that people understand. The priest has no money, no wife, and no self-determination, and a lot of responsibility at a young age. 

Okay maybe...but before you isolate yourself and start posing for holy cards...here are some thoughts;

The other evening I sat with an older man who's wife had suffered through advanced cancer.  Do I need to extrapolate every detail to show that others do live celibate and obedient lives--and that perhaps they may understand (and live) celibacy and obedience more than those who take public promises?

Do I need to suggest that there are young doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals also have "a lot of responsibility at a young age"  (like life and death responsibilities).  We won't even mention parenthood and the responsibility inherent in that gift.

Do I need to suggest that having no money is really not something reserved to the young clergy?  What about not making the rent that month?  What about being given a pink slip at the company Christmas party?  What about being too old to retool and simply being forced into retirement.  Come on--no money...really? 

Do I need to remind the priest blogger of his life?  The rectory is provided.  Furniture is provided.  Bedding and carpeting and lawn mowers and even people to do those things are provided.  Even his food is provided and if he wants a cook he can have that provided.  The only person a priest needs to get to Mass in the morning is himself (often times walking no more than a hundred yards)--try loading up a family in the wagon---so careful priest blogger--before you paint a picture of monastic hardship and no self determination.

And lastly, do I need to share the observation that no other vocation has the almighty--Day Off? (Hey--remember I started this with an apology)

So be careful, priest blogger, becuase maybe the people of God are not only aware of the challenges to being a priest tht you list--but they are also living them.
And even if they don't understand--so what, does it really matter to your priesthood?

Remember I apologized at the beginning, and before the comments start--please note I didn't say 'all' clergy.

Saint-making in America is Bankrupt

A couple of years ago I travelled with my father and son to a parish 3 hours away from our home in order to attend Mass and listen to a priest from Medugorje.  His name was Fr. Jozo.  Now I have a bit of a history with this guy--but that is for another post or story or maybe a book.
Following Mass, he stood in front of the altar and addressed the people.  At one point he looked out at the congregation and said;  "You don't have enough saints from this country."


I have to say that I got a little torqued.
"Come on man--don't get down on us--our culture is different--we aren't oppressed and last I checked there are no crusades so the saint making opportunities are few."
He's right though...we do need more saints.


Saint-making in America is bankrupt.
It certainly seems bankrupt in the Church.
How many diocesan priests have been canonized?  (one--St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney)
Now, I have to be careful here because I have been accused of being dis-respectful towards the clergy on this blog--so the following may upset some people.
My experience has been that the old clergy tend to eat the young.  If a man comes out of seminary with particular devotions he is branded as out of touch with the world of parish ministry. He must adapt and then eventually he becomes what he once despised.
Imagine if a young priest was stationed with the Cure' de Ars--what would he have seen?
A priest hearing confessions, a priest doing the battle against satan, a priest preaching without compromise.
Yeh--saint-making at its' finest.

Saint-making in America is bankrupt in the home
Granted some saints are made in an instant, at the stake and through martyrdom, but other saints are simply raised, nurtured and encouraged.
I've had conversations in the past with parents that went something like this:
 "Johnny never received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and I was wondering when he could get it."
"Okay, how about you teach him?  Let's do it this way,  you take him with you to confession this week and talk with him about why you go."
silence
I continue, "Then call me and let me know how it went.."
They never called back.

Okay, so maybe I'm not the guy who should be on the front line of your parish's faith formation or for that matter even talking to clergy.

None-the-less saint-making in America is bankrupt, not because of the lack of opportunity, but because of the lack of will. 

6, 4, 2 A generation of non-believers

The following scene happened to me a few years ago.
The room was filled with about 50 some high schoolers attending a retreat that I was to give.
But I couldn't even get the evening started...

I read the Gospel passage where Jesus was tempted in the desert.

They gave me that blank stare. 
"Crap," I thought "This whole evening is centered on this passage and they're looking at me like I'm some old fart with ten heads."

I put the Bible down and with that my eyes were opened.

"How many of you believe in God?"
There was silence.
"Come on, be honest, we got nothing to lose.  I'm just curious, raise your hand if you believe in the existence of God."
Six hands...out of about 50

"Okay, so lets move to Jesus.  How many believe?"
Four hands.

"Now, what about satan?"
Two.

We spent the next two hours talking about why and what's missing, and what can the Church do, and who goes to Mass, and what is going on at home ...and all that stuff.

WE HAVE FORMED A GENERATION WHERE THE MAJORITY BELIEVE IN NOTHING.

One of the clergy upon hearing this remarked, "Well you know, it was bad weather that night."

Yeh, I base my faith on the weather.

Headlines

A special thanks to Mike Aquilina for the headline on his blog--Ripple to Tsunami
I love Mike's approach to all things Church.  Take the time and check out his site, buy a book, and go deeper.