Anglican update

Here's a comprehensive update from First Things about a topic I'm not hearing much about elsewhere, though I blogged another First Things post here.

It's a sad, fascinating story. Are we witnessing the end of the religion of Presidents George Washington, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Franklin Pierce, Chester Arthur, FDR, Gerald Ford, and George Bush 41?

Happy St. Joseph's Day

It was a blessing to play Mass with Mia this morning at our 'parish-of-record' (1 wedding, 4 baptisms, and several years of music ministry), Annunciation. Fr. Grogan preached to the school children about the faith of St. Joseph overcoming the fears of holy foster-fatherhood. It was nice to see the church's St. Joseph altar decorated for the occasion, and to watch Fr. Grogan explain this to the Kindergarten and 1st grade students after Mass.

The parish bulletin even promoted a 'first annual Annunciation St. Joseph table gathering' yesterday (Sunday) afternoon/evening for the community. Here's hoping that tradition will continue. What better way to keep a struggling parish school open than active, orthodox faith? If you're interested in helping, there is more information here (scroll down to Continue Annunciation School's Tradition (CAST) Campaign article).

What Would [John Edwards' version of] Jesus Do?

I don't intend to post a lot of political content, but I couldn't pass on this short, on-the-money insight into the spirituality of John Edwards from Stephen Barr at First Things.

Shame on anyone, left or right, who would cite the Gospel to promote an ideological agenda.

Sacramentum Caritatis

I've spent more time reading analyses & reviews of B16's Moto Proprio than I've spent reading the document itself, but the buzz seems mostly positive. Some blog commenters are disappointed that it didn't reform enough of the reforms, but most bloggers I read had kept their own expectations in check, and seem to be taking a longer-term, more patient view. Those who wanted more reform would do well to remember that there are explicit instructions from Redemptionis Sacramentum that aren't being observed or implemented in our own Archdiocese...since when did making a rule or passing a law (in and of itself) accomplish anything?

I like the outline-oriented layout. The Parts are divided into 'chapters', and then arranged by paragraphs. Each paragraph has a heading of its own. It seems like this organization will lend itself very well to future development. The three parts are each titled: "The Eucharist, a Mystery to Be...Believed (Part 1)...Celebrated (Part 2)...Lived (Part 3)" Granted, the Holy Father had almost a year-and-a-half to work on this, but I appreciate that continuity, and the sense of purpose to the structure.

Daniel's Care Page has been set up

For more information about Daniel's treatment and recovery, visit www.carepages.com, page name 'keepdaninyourprayers'.

Thanks to Uncle Mike and Aunt Ruthie for sending the information to me.

What's a Motu Proprio?

Pope Benedict XVI will be issuing an apostolic letter entitled Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity) Tuesday morning (3/13/2007) at 7 a.m. The title continues B16's focus on love; his first papal encyclical was Deus Caritas (God Is Love). This appears to be a very carefully written letter, as it has been in the works since the end of the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops, a Synod on the Eucharist that took place in October, 2005.

This apostolic letter is in the form of a 'Motu Proprio'. Condensing from the Catholic Encyclopedia entry, a motu proprio is a papal letter written 'of [the Holy Father's] own accord', without seal or counter-signature, allowing the Pope to to instruct in his own words, without consulting the advice of cardinals or others.

Evidently, the Vatican has successfully embargoed this text to prevent early publication or leaks. This, perhaps, explains the lack of coverage in the mainstream press. Interested web sites are buzzing with speculation about reforms the Holy Father may encourage, or the possibility that use of the Mass from the (pre-Vatican II) 1962 Missale Romanum (the 'Tridentine Mass') may be liberalized or even encouraged.

Whatever the letter contains, Pope Benedict's preferences for liturgy and music are already well-documented. I hope the same love he's selected as the theme for his encyclical and apostolic letter is applied by the Church and used by the faithful to encourage appreciation for all things holy, beautiful, and true. Veni, Sancte Spiritus.

UPDATE - Here is the Motu Proprio.

Praying to St. Peregrine for Daniel

Daniel B., a young 2nd grader in the St. Jude Parish family, has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and is currently beginning treatment at Children's Hospital. Join Daniel's friends and parish family in praying to St. Peregrine that he and his family continue to be blessed with faith, grace, peace, and hope.

Prayer to St. Peregrine
O God, in St. Peregrine
You gave us an outstanding example of faith and patience.
We humbly ask You that,
by imitating him and by the help of his prayers,
we believe more fully in Your healing help,
bear the suffering of this life without wavering,
and come with joy to the peace of heaven.
(Pause here and silently recall the names
of the sick for whom you are praying.)
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...
St. Peregrine, pray
for me and for all who invoke your aid.
Amen.

Novena prayers adapted from EWTN and the John Brandi Co. #6216 holy card

Beautiful Words You Wouldn't Expect to Hear from a Cable Broadcaster

"It's not necessarily about making money, or making ratings, or shouting from the highest office building. Sometimes having some maturity and perspective is more important than getting picked up in all the ratings highlights."

With respectful skepticism, I do salute the Discovery Channel and its Executive VP of corporate communications, David Leavy for acknowledging their shark-jump.

Not to quibble with the tvweek.com article, but it's not accurate to report that Christian groups "criticized it for conflicting with the New Testament." Like all the critical coverage, Christian groups pointed out concerns about the documentarians' methodology. The methods that were criticized were (as Jay Cost wrote), essentially, "Evidence that favors the theory is included. The rest is excluded."

He Is Not Here (cf. Luke 24:6)

UPDATE 2 - Jimmy Akin does the same with Catholic details.
UPDATE - outstanding, just-the-facts analysis from Jay Cost at RealClearPolitics.

I'm grateful that the coverage (promotion) of James Cameron's 'discovery' of the tomb of Jesus seems to be fizzling. There is as much coverage of this as a non-story as there is hype. I like Fr. Larry Gearhart's (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) theory, though.

Does it seem like the standards of science and evidence that the mass media uses are proportional to the agenda they're selling reporting? Did the 'Da Vinci Code' teach us anything about learning faith and history from novelists and blockbuster-moviemakers?

Junk science and phony religion might make good entertainment, and may not influence the faith of practicing believers, but it could very well affect those with weak, little, or no faith.