at Catholic Light.
New York, NY (Roto Reuters) Director James Cameron new documentary on the Discovery Channel called "The Lost Tomb of Christ" is causing quite a stir in certain quarters. New York City resident Joe Templer is quite up in arms about this blatant attack on his faith and the faith of millions. "This claim that Mary Magdalene is buried in a tomb in Jerusalem is crazy. Everybody knows that she is really buried in the Louvre Museum in Paris." Joe Templer is not alone in his anger, many fans of the Da Vinci Code are up in arms about this claim of finding Mary Magdalene’s bones. Another city resident Jean Priory is also upset about this new documentary that is getting so much attention on shows like Larry King Live and the morning news shows. "The idea that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child named Joshua is quite laughable. They certainly never had a son, but a daughter named Sarah. This is a direct attack on the Sacred Feminine. Why is he trying to eliminate our faith in the mystical power of the earth and mother goddess? Shame on you James Cameron."
Fans of The Da Vinci Code nationwide are quite disappointed by the media. After all the favorable attention given to Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code in the media they feel betrayed by the media then jumping on the bandwagon with this anti-Da Vinci Code propaganda. Bill Donny Hue of the Da Vinci Code League issued a statement declaring "How dare James Cameron promote this un-historical travesty. Mr. Cameron admits “I’m not a theologist. I’m not an archaeologist. I’m a documentary film maker,” are we to believe him or a symbologist. Obviously making one of the most popular books trumps directing one of the most popular movies. What’s next for Mr. Cameron is he going to do a documentary on Priory of Sion claiming it is a hoax? How dare he play fast and loose with the facts. He should instead imitate the critical research efforts of Dan Brown."
The complaint about the documentary have not been limited to just the United States. Tour operators in Paris and England are quite distraught about the economic impact on the Da Vinci Code tourism industry if this myth of Mary Magdalene being buried in Jerusalem becomes accepted.
Dawn Eden sent me this editorial from Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine on the excommunications issued in 1996 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska.
When Bishop Bruskewitz first issued his statement in 1996, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago and other bishops questioned the move. And no other U.S. bishops have issued similar declarations regarding membership in these 12 organizations.
That is not exactly an indictment of Bishop Bruskewitz. It is like complaining about the hero that steps forward and acts when everyone else looks on.
As can be expected, the news 10 years ago and this past November were met with press releases and statements galore. But what was missing and continues to be missing is dialogue.
And threatening those who do want to engage in dialogue is hardly the way to start the conversation. Bishop Bruskewitz’s actions come off as the equivalent of a parental “Because I said so” to the “why’s?” and “why not’s?” of an adult laity.
Condemning organizations that support abortion, euthanasia, active homosexuality, that deny that God has revealed himself or established a Church is not exactly a parental "because I say so." It is simply what the Church teaches.
We have just begun to emerge from a very painful time in our Church with the clergy sex-abuse crisis. Polls are showing that confidence in our bishops is growing and so are numbers for Mass attendance. This raises the question: Is this really the best time to be showing people the door? Maybe first we should seriously talk about areas of disagreement.
First off the excommunications were issued 11 years ago so the timing argument is rather silly. The other point is that excommunication as an ecclesial penalty is not showing people the door, it is calling them to repentance and entering that door that is Christ. To enter the narrow way that leads to salvation.
What we need is a greater spirit of dialogue in our Church. And that means some real, honest, open-minded and open-hearted dialogue—on all sides. No more threats, no more name-calling, no pushing our agendas. Let’s just talk and listen. In the process we might learn something or see things from a different perspective. It can’t hurt to talk. We are, after all, members of one Church.
The Church has talked and dialoged, but most of all taught through her teaching authority. Killing children in the womb is not a different perspective, killing the elderly or the severely ill in a false sense of compassion is not a different perspective. Outright disobedience and denial of the Church’s authority again is not just a different perspective. Perspectives can be quite mistaken no mater how sincerely believed and when this happens informing those of the truth is the "greater sprit of dialogue." Excommunication is an act of dialogue when dialogue has broken down and by its very communication is a call to conversion and repentance.
If the Bishop had only excommunicated members of the Society of St. Pius the X we wouldn’t hear this endless mumbling from progressives on this issue. I bet they were not upset when the Archbishop of New Orleans excommunicated several people because they fought against segregation. Racism is certainly a great moral evil and shouldn’t the deliberate killing through abortion and euthanasia received the same treatment?
I have added a couple of new products to my Lent Mart parody.
Agnus Day which continues to be laugh-out -loud daily has has couple of funny posts on Catholic guilt.
The Pervasive Plague of Catholic Guilt
Catholic Guilt Rocks No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani
It is funny how many times you see Catholic guilt referenced in news articles you do wonder if Catholic guilt is listed in the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
I also wonder what would happen if people treated everything the way they treat Catholic guilt if they were to be consistent. After all this so-called guilt is the prompting is a warning of at least a partially formed conscience. Here is a list of other things they should complain about.
- Nerve endings reporting pain information. I mean just because you put your hand on the stove why should you have the pesky nerve endings notify you of this. This is just burn guilt.
- In fact all of the senses since they can warn you about dangers.
- The Check Engine or Oil light on your car should be disabled. Just because parts of your engine are grinding together and causing severe damage why should you be warned about that?
- Bridge out signs since this only invokes 90 degree fall into oblivion guilt.
- Poison labels and all real warning labels.
- Tsunami, Tornado, and Hurricane warnings because of weather guilt.
The list can of course go on and on but I don’t want to give you list guilt.
Joshua LeBlanc has a good post on Lenten Calculation & Misconceptions.
The L-Mart parody has been broken out into its own page and can be found here.
A reader commenting on my post on Archbishop Wuerl mentioned that the Reconciliation Guide was passed out at all the Masses there and was very impressed with it. I did some quick searching on the Archdiocese website and found that they have developed a website on this topic "The Light is On for You Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation" and found the text for the guide she mentioned.
Stop by any Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Washington this Lent to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). If you haven’t been in a while, this handy guide will help you prepare.
Before entering the Confessional or Reconciliation Room:
Begin with prayer, placing yourself in the presence of God, our loving Father. Seek healing and forgiveness through repentance and a resolve to sin no more.
Review your life since your last confession, searching your thoughts, words and actions that did not conform to God’s love, to his law or to the laws of the Church. This is called an examination of conscience. Here are some questions to help you. They are based on the 10 Commandments.
- Do I pray to God every day? Have I thanked God for His gifts to me?
- Did I put my faith in danger through readings hostile to Catholic teachings or involvement in non-Catholic sects? Did I engage in superstitious practices: palm-reading or fortune-telling?
- Did I take the name of God in vain? Did I curse or take a false oath?
- Did I miss Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation through my own fault? Am I attentive at Mass? Did I keep fast and abstinence on the prescribed days?
- Did I disobey my parents and lawful superiors in important matters?
- Did I hate or quarrel with anyone, or desire revenge? Did I refuse to forgive? Was I disrespectful?
- Did I get drunk? Did I take illicit drugs?
- Did I consent to, recommend, advise or actively take part in an abortion?
- Did I willfully look at pornography, entertain impure thoughts or engage in impure conversations? Did I use artificial means to prevent conception?
- Was I unfaithful to my spouse? Did I engage in sexual activity outside of marriage?
Did I steal or damage another’s property? Have I been honest and just in my business relations? - Have I been responsive to the needs of the poor and respected the dignity of others?
- Did I tell lies? Did I sin by calumny, or detraction, of others? Did I judge others rashly in serious matters?
- Have I envied other people?
During the Sacrament:
- The priest gives you a blessing or greeting. He may share a brief Scripture passage.
- Make the Sign of the Cross and say: �Bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was�� (give the number of weeks, months, or years).
- Confess all of your sins to the priest. The priest will help you to make a good confession. If you are unsure about how to confess or you feel uneasy, just ask him to help you. Answer his questions without hiding anything out of fear or shame. Nothing that you say to the priest will ever be revealed. Place your trust in God, a merciful Father who wants to forgive you.
- Following your confession of sins, say: �I am sorry for these and all of my sins.�
- The priest assigns you a penance and offers advice to help you be a better Catholic.
- Say an Act of Contrition,* expressing your sorrow for your sins. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you from your sins.
After you’ve left the Confessional or Reconciliation Room:
- Complete the penance you received.
*Act of Contrition (please note this is one option):
God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
I would love to see guides like this in all parishes
I have been tagged with the Lenten Meme by Catholic Fire.
What is your favorite Sorrowful Mystery?
The crucifixion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. This is where the rubber meets the road. Sin collides with redemption. Though from my viewpoint of a sinner I often think of this as one of the joyful mysteries. As the Easter liturgy says "Oh happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" And I certainly know I need a redeemer.
What is your favorite Station of the Cross?
The Twelfth Station and this relates back to the first question.
Do you fast during Lent?
Yes.
What is your Lenten Resolution(s)?
The Imitation of Christ says " If each year should see one fault rooted out from us, we should go quickly on to perfection." I started taking this advice when I first became a Catholic and now of course I am so close to perfection it is harder to find any faults at all. Seriously though working on humility and patience is a full time job and without grace an impossible one.
Do you use Holy Water during Lent?
Yes, all year round.
How many times do you go to Mass during Lent?
Sundays of course and daily Mass when possible.
I listen to a plethora of podcasts and recently The K Street Catholic podcast from the Catholic Information Center which has a large number of speakers and topics. This week among other podcasts they had the Archbishop of Washington D.C. Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D. talk about the catechetical renewal of the Catholic Church. He is an excellent speaker and truly a master catechist and you can go here to listen to it directly or better yet to subscribe to their RSS feed via your favorite podcast tool.