Beautiful! Why He Chose Francis

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Joseph Horan

I have a reflection about the option for the poor coming soon! Check back! What an awesome Pope! Endearing and wise!

 

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Some Hilarious Pope Humor For You!

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Joseph Horan

I got these from this Facebook page! Hilarious!

https://www.facebook.com/TheCatholicMemes

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Simple Liturgy Enriches Grand Liturgy & Vice Versa

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Joseph Horan

I actually would like it if a future Pope wore the Tiara. I don’t think we have to limit ourselves. For example, if the Popes in certain instances went back to using the royal we in language and in writing I think that would be awesome. I do not think it has to be either or, simplicity or magnificence, grandeur or humility. Both are beautiful, both are praiseworthy. The Church transcends time. Different times bring us into contact with perspectives on mystery that were more obscure to us in other times. That does not mean that we should begin to neglect the expressions of truth, beauty, and love that presented themselves more readily in times past or make ourselves open to new expressions of the same mysteries in the future.

https://i0.wp.com/wdtprs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/20130314-170220.jpgA comprehensive return to old practices would probably be misguided on account that it would make the Church look “out of touch.” However, our primary concern must be for love of the Church and her riches. It is by love of God through the Church that we present the loving Wounds of Christ to a world in need. To celebrate the liturgical heritage of the Church at times in such a way that would not be particularly attractive to the world is a good thing in my opinion. It brings the Church into visible contact with the traditional symbols that represent to her the dignity and mystery of her institution through the celebration of herself and of the mystery of the Sacraments. In short, I believe there are times when we should not be so concerned about what will seem “out of touch” to the world because often these same things nourish the Church and thus the Body of Christ. If the Body of Christ is nourished it will in turn be more effective in its evangelical mission.

Here is something relevant: God is Love: Eucharist is Love: Church is Love

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Attacks On Francis Begin In Earnest

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Joseph Horan

Mark Shea has done a great job defending against early attacks on Pope Francis here.

It stands to reason that the radical seculars will be even more up in arms about Francis on account of the fact that he is so very close to the poor. The favorite false notion of the radicalized seculars is that they are the only ones that care for the poor and the marginalized. We have a Pope who washes the feet of aids patients and dines with prostitutes even as Christ did the same. Francis is manifesting the true spirit of the Church, and yes, I am realizing that this is going to make many secular liberals go absolutely insane.

It stands to reason that attacks on Francis will be even more intense and rabidly unjust than attacks on Benedict were. But I have every confidence that those with an open heart will realize that his humble witness gives voice to Christ and his Sacred most loving Heart.

Pray for Francis! Long live Pope Francis!

 

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Warped Reaction To Papal Election

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Joseph Horan

I am shocked by the disrespectful reaction of so many traditionalists as they indulge a ridiculous and overwrought concern for Pope Francis’ liturgical abilities, especially before even taking the time to find out what he really thinks about Benedict’s liturgical reforms. It turns out that he has been very supportive of Summorum Pontificum!

I suppose I can understand why some are concerned, but I cannot understand the overwrought and disrespectful reaction of so many. I think it is clear that this disrespectful reaction, this doubtful and warped view of a holy man, proceeds from the heart of those who “teach as doctrine human precepts” (Matt 15:9).

The liturgy is very important, and yes, bad things happened in the Council aftermath, but practices can change. There are even times when liturgical practices should change. The Extraordinary Form was not revealed by God like the Scripture or the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. And of course you know this! So why do you act like a heterodox Pope has just been elected on account that he might have a different liturgical vision than you do? Why do you indulge vain rumblings against this holy man while you are supposed to be giving thanks to God in joy?!

Should you not AT LEAST have stopped to thank God that he has given us such a holy and humble Pope, a man who walks so near to God, a very orthodox priest by all accounts, who has taken the opportunity of his election to dedicate his Pontificate to most humble and holy Francis!

I have been very impressed with the humble treatment of these issues by Father Zuhlsdorf on WDTPRS.COM. Obviously, many are concerned about the liturgy, and they wonder about the future, but the reactions of some have been blatantly disrespectful and misguided.

Dear Lord, you know that we fail you often, and we ask that you forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Bring us together and into full unity under the reign of holy and humble Pope Francis.

 

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Raise A Joyful Strain For Our Brother Francis!

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Joseph Horan

The name of our Holy Father brings great joy to me! The only thing more surprising than the fact they elected him, a Cardinal not spoken of as Papabili even in Catholic media circles, was the choice of his name. It is a name that represents humility, service, and brotherhood among the faithful, from the Pope all the way down to those with the very lowest stature. What a wonderfully rich and precedent shattering name! Praise God!

And I wonder whether he will choose to be installed on the Feast of St. Joseph!? What a blessing that would be for the Church and especially the Italian and Argentinian Churches as St. Joseph is the patron Saint of Italy and most Argentinians are of Italian descent!

What struck me first of all when he came outside onto the balcony was the poise and stillness with which he presented himself to the throngs of faithful. He chose not to gesture joyfully at first as Benedict did (not that this was a bad thing) but remained calm, poised, a joyful rock among a sea of joy. To me he exuded authority, stability, and holiness.

But his humility was amazing as he preferred to request our prayers and blessing before giving his own to the Church! How beautiful and humble! This brought great joy to my heart and the heart of the Church, that he would ask that the Church pray for him first. And only then, after the Faithful had prayed for him and acclaimed him, did the Holy Father put on his magnificent stole in order to pray for us and bless us, symbolizing that the glory of a shepherd is found in his care for his sheep, and in their care for him!

How very beautiful! I cannot wait to see what the Spirit has in store for the Papacy of Holy Father Francis.

Below is a relevant Scripture passage from Sirach 50:17-24. Rejoice!

Then all the people with one accord would quickly fall prostrate to the ground in adoration before the Most High, before the Holy One of Israel. Then hymns would re-echo, and over the throng sweet strains of praise resound. All the people of the land would shout for joy, praying to the Merciful One, As the high priest completed the services at the altar by presenting to God the sacrifice due; then coming down he would raise his hands over all the congregation of Israel. The blessing of the LORD would be upon his lips, the name of the LORD would be his glory. Then again the people would lie prostrate to receive from him the blessing of the Most High. And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters men’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will!

May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel as long as the heavens are above.

 

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Pope Saint Pius X’s Prayer to St. Joseph!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Joseph Horan

Below is a beautiful prayer to St. Joseph the Worker by Pope Saint Pius X. I hope this is the first of a series of prayers to St. Joseph written by Popes! What could be more appropriate in this month of St. Joseph even as the Church prays for the election of a new Pope after the heart of Christ.

We have already prayed and sacrificed much for the election of a new Pope after the heart of Christ. Let us not weary now! Now we should redouble our efforts as the Conclave is set to open tomorrow. Now we should ask St. Joseph to help us to pray for the election of a new Pope with the same humble spirit that he manifested when he cared for Mary and Jesus as the head of the Holy Family, the original Church. Pope St. Pius X, pray for us. Holy Spirit, be our second wind as we run the race for you and for your Church.

Let us do what we can, diligently, all the while praying to God through St. Joseph to give us the inspiration and the strength to move when the Holy Spirit wishes to move us.

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity.

I got this prayer from Catholic Online.

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=97

 

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Lent and Faith

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Joseph Horan

Word Became FleshThen Pope Benedict XVI tweeted the below on February 17th:

“Lent is a favorable time in which to rediscover faith in God as the foundation of our lives and of the Church’s life.”

And there is nothing more fundamental to faith than faith in the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life.

The below is an excerpt from the Eucharistic Synod of 2004:

St. Augustine explains the Eucharist to neophytes on Easter night in the following manner: “You must be enlightened as to what you have received. Listen therefore briefly to what the Apostle says, or better, what Christ says through his Apostle, on the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body: ‘One bread, though many, we are one body.’ Behold, this is everything. Though I have spoken to you briefly, do not count the number of words but their weight instead!”[51] This sentence of the Apostle, according to the saintly Bishop of Hippo, is a summary of the mystery which they received.

From the Church’s very beginning, however, there are signs of resistence to this reality by those who preferred, instead, to close themselves off in a limited group of people (cf. 1 Cor 11:17-22). Because of its unifying power,[52] the Eucharist has always meant bringing persons together, overcoming barriers and leading people to a new unity in the Lord. The Eucharist is the Sacrament with which Christ unites us to himself in one Body and makes the Church holy.

Synod Here

 

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Spiritual Minute: God’s Whisper

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Joseph Horan

photo_for_stationary.17184440The presence of God is a whisper. He seldom speaks to us in a loud voice, and even when he does we are not likely to hear him on account of being spiritually blind and deaf. He speaks to us in the quiet desert of our lives. Only in that desert, in the suffering of the everyday, can God speak to us and reveal himself to us. Why? Because the experience of the world, of the senses, of the flesh (which is an excessive attachment to the life of the body), tends to drown out the voice of God. His voice is a whisper not because he is trying to hide from us, but because searching for him is the only way we will ever find him. He hides from us in order to reveal himself to us. When he hides, life is even more difficult than usual, but in the end if we cooperate, it is far more fruitful than a superficial feeling of God’s “presence” or his “love.”

When we search for him it is not done according to the normal way, turning over couch pillows and looking under beds. Searching for God means to retreat within our inner hearts by divesting ourselves of all of those things that obscure his real presence, those things that block our spiritual vision and deafen our spiritual ears.

In the desert of God’s seeming absence we must calm ourselves, stop fighting his will, listen from the depths of our being, where he has united his wounds to our wounds, and where, therefore, his presence floods forth as blood and water into the soul of man, from his wounds and into ours.

“Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, For I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink,The people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise (Isaiah 43:18-21).

Do we allow God to form us in the desert of his presence? Or are we too afraid of his love, a love that requires of us things that, in our weakness, we consider to be monstrous. We all know this fear whether we give voice to it or not, whether we admit it or not, it torments us in the back of our mind even when we pretend that God is something we know deep down he is not. But God knows of our weaknesses and he will not leave us to ourselves no matter how desperately we may try to leave him with himself by clinging to a false “presence,” a false “love.”

Do not be afraid! We will always be afraid, but we must allow God to take our fear from us and replace it with his love, a love that stretches us, challenges us, terribly, immensely, totally, but that is at the same time gentle, tender, bringing happiness, peace, and contentment, if we accept the grace to see it and to hear it, a tiny Divine whisper in the desert of our human heart (1 Kings 19:12).

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Spiritual Minute: The Absence of God…

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Joseph Horan

We too often cling to an idea at the expense of other truths.

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We are too busy with “love” for love…

We tend to dogmatize certain notions while we neglect corresponding realities. But God is pure being. Everything good is related to everything else. We can’t rest on one notion or we lose the richness of the real world. Reality, truth, love are everything and everything are they. Everything that is that is, that is not evil.

We tend to fixate on this or that a thing and use it as a way to make ourselves feel secure…”all of that other stuff doesn’t matter nearly as much.”

And this is true of love, it is most important, but not “love.” “Love” is not nearly so important as is love.

But clinging to “love” isn’t about love. Its about feeling secure, like we have a handle on things, like we are “ok,” like we do “our best,” “our very best.” And when we do our best “love” won’t leave us, he won’t let us go, he won’t dare to abandon us. After all, we do our best through “love.”

You can’t get a handle on love, you can’t do your best, you can’t be ok. If you are in love, against your very best inclinations toward “love,” you throw yourself, selflessly, recklessly, passionately, into Him, into his love. It has nothing to do with doing your best.

And if you do this you will not feel ok, like you did your best, your very best, you will not feel like you are just staying afloat, or almost sinking if it weren’t for your very best efforts.

You will not feel like this at all, not if you have love. You will not need to cling to anything of self. You will abandon self, recklessly seeking the other, the lover, and in him you will find your true self, immersed and saturated in being.

It has nothing to do with doing our best.

It has everything to do with doing his best in us.

This is a fearful thing, something that torments us in the back of our mind, when we cling to “love,” when we won’t let go of self, when we want to do our best, and let it be just enough.

When we embrace this, this love, we will truly be. And only then will we experience the absence of God through love, not the “presence” of God through “love.”

And in that absence there is someone passing by…in a “tiny whispering sound” (1 Kings 19:12).

 

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