Fr. Jim DeBruycker the new pastor of the infamous St. Joan’s in a homily on Dec 4th said.
Of course, that’s what chaplains do. You anoint, you burn sage, call down the moon and say Kadesh. It’s pretty easy to be God’s anointed one.
Kadesh? Well perhaps he didn’t mean the ancient Canaanite city, but Kaddish instead. Kaddish is commonly known as the mourner’s prayer and it is prayed for 11 months for the deceased and the purification of their soul. This practice is pretty much identical in effect and belief to the Catholic belief in Purgatory so a Catholic chaplain praying with a Jewish person who has lost a family member makes some sense. Though it is by Jewish practice normally to be prayed only by those who have directly lost a close relative or parent. But burning sage and calling down the moon are both purely Pagan practices that no Catholic priest should involve themselves in. Comforting family members is one thing, but surely this crosses the line.
…At the heart of Jesus’ message and John’s was “God is in you and you have the power to bring God to others.” Ever notice how every time someone tries to honor Jesus, he disappears? He is human, and he knows power’s allure, and he was called to give it to others to make them know they have the power to give, to heal, to do justice. And he knows the hardest thing for humans is not to use power, but to run away and give it to others.
St. Leonard’s warned me not to talk about this because they said you’d know I was really a kook. Remember my going away presents were a gold-plated (actually spray-painted) plunger and a new wand-ebony 11 inches, good for spellwork. I am an avid fan of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter books and movies. Both brilliant expositions of taking power and finding power within.
The smallest of the warriors, a hobbit, is the only one with enough character not to be seduced by the ring of power; and it’s not even the smartest of the small people, but his faithful companion, Sam, who is most true. They are successful, while the powerful destroy each other.
What about Harry Potter? A boy kept in the closet for years who finds he is not a geek when he finally gets out, but a person of really great power who, none the less, has to continue to fight for his right to exist. That sounds familiar.
So, if you don’t get it, and if St. Joan’s don’t get it, we are on trouble. You are the messenger, you have the power and only you can bring the message as it is given to you. But it takes effort. Part of why we belong to a greater Church is that sometimes we are wrong and it’s good to be challenged. Something which you are used to; being challenged, that is, not being wrong. I guess. I suppose. At least that is what everyone here maintains
I’m with this blogger who needs an interpreter for the last paragraph. Now I have much sympathy for Fr. DeBruycker having to be the pastor of this troublesome parish that is virtually in schism from the Church and where the laity believe in the infallibility of their own mirror. Though I guess this homily is a step up from the previous week’s "homily" given by a woman who is a oan Chittister, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossen fan.
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Well, some Native American-heavy Catholic parishes out West do burn sage instead of incense, or in addition to it. Inculturation.
http://www.bluecloud.org/shiningthrough.html
“Through Chaput�s influence the expansion of cultural expression has been slow, but steady. Today, for example, Lakota Catholic parishes use sage or cedar during services. A purification rite is used during the penitential rite of the liturgy, and the four-direction song is sung. There may be a cedar or sage blessing and if a native deacon is present, he will use it before the Gospel reading and during the presentation of the gifts at offertory.”
But non-Native American parishes in the middle of Chicago don’t have much call to burn sage, unless the pastor’s just talking about bearing with the weird culture of St. Joan’s.
At San Diego’s parade for Our Lady of Guadalupe, the indians burned sage.
As long as they burn it, but don’t smoke it. Or if they smoke it, at least they don’t inhale. I don’t know where these homilies come from, as we have an associate pastor who is also given to rapsodically speaking in a tongue that only he understands. But I suspect that the source is close to Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
We have the power?
I thought all the power and glory was unto God, forever and ever?
Hmm, so Father’s gloss on Harry Potter is that it is homosexual agitprop? I guess that gives me another reason to avoid it!
Any priest who needs an ebony wand (for casting spells or what-have-you) needs a psychologist and a stern talking to by his ordinary!
“Ever notice how every time someone tries to honor Jesus, he disappears?” Does he mean in this particular parish, he disappears literally? Or does this have something to do with his “ebony wand”?
Ummm at the heart Jesus’ and John’s message was NOT “God is in you, etc…” Rather it was and is, Reprent for the kingdom of God is at hand. I wish that this type of person would just go and found their own church rather than try to subvert mine.
Also, I just took the time to prowl around their website. SJA should be closed, the building burnt down, and salt plowed into the ground.
The only thing I could think of relating the moon to ANYTHING involving Christianity in general is “Sun and moon: bless your Maker!” (not from the Gather song; from the Bible… aw, great, it’s gonna be in my head now…)
And spellwork? HP and Lord of the Rings are FICTION. FICTION! There is a clear line between reality and unreality. Has this guy even TOUCHED a Bible or a Catechism? Or did he go to your “Theology your way” site?
I feel so badly for those under his care. I pray that he doesn’t lead them astray.
“…Part of why we belong to a greater Church is that sometimes we are wrong and it’s good to be challenged. Something which you are used to; being challenged, that if, not being wrong.”
Wha????? I’m guessing he means those “sometimes” for being wrong are rare…
Dude, isn’t the whole point of going to Church trying to be more perfect, to get rid of the error, which is not rare, but too common to be desired?
SJA is “religion by committee” parading themselves as “Catholic” prophets, but really, they’re just the left-wing dems in disguise.
I had prayed that this pastor would bring change for the better, but if this homily is the best he’s got then I say it’s time to start storming the Archbishop with links, video feed of “Mass” and real audio.
I can paint myself red, paint my legs green, sit in a garden all day every day and call myself a tomato, but it doesn’t make me one. And these people can call themselves “Catholic” but they sure don’t match up to the real thing.
I’m not really sure they actually can even be called “pseudo-Christian” because they focus more on pagan concepts in “spirituality” than they do on self-denial, true holiness, humility, etc.,…so let’s pray harder that this pastor has a 2×4 in his other hand.
Whoa. Guys, I realize you’re probably trying to find the charitable explanation, but “Drawing Down the Moon” is a Wiccan ritual invoking the moon goddess, and his notions of power are distinctly Wiccan/neopagan.
We’re not talking about “casual” messing about with Native American rituals or something here, we’re talking about a priest (assuming he’s a real priest) involved in full-on witchcraft.
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