Tuesday, September 11th, 2012
Daily Archive
11 September 2012
A short section, but a valuable consideration: what to do when Gospel values move contrary to non-Christian considerations as we encounter them.
19. Strata of humanity which are transformed: for the Church it is a question not only of preaching the Gospel in ever wider geographic areas or to ever greater numbers of people, but also of affecting and as it were upsetting, through the power of the Gospel, (human) criteria of judgment, determining values, points of interest, lines of thought, sources of inspiration and models of life, which are in contrast with the Word of God and the plan of salvation.
The Church tells us evangelization isn’t only about geography and population, but also in the crucible of human ideas. I confess I don’t think about this aspect as much. I suspect it is more in the mind of Pope Benedict and his predecessor.
The “power of the Gospel” is one of persuasion and example. Some might find this thought more adversarial, but that’s not my interpretation, nor is it as much my style. (I tend to be more adversarial with believers.)
How to apply EN 19? In my current situation in a university town, I have opportunities, to be sure. I know the students have many more. Obviously, a believer must have a clear sense of his or her own criteria of judgment, personal values, thinking, and role models. But it is also possible to bring to one’s particular stratum a well-rounded approach. In thinking of role models, suppose one is a scientist. There are many scientists who were women or men of faith. Gregor Mendel, Teilhard de Chardin, and others who found the scientific and spiritual spheres working together for them. A person might not comprehend, say, Archbishop Dolan. But they might find the Jesuit astronomer Guy Consolmagno a step up the stairway they can handle.
And for us who believe, to always check out own strata: whom we admire, what catches our interest, and the like. Are we interested in science or football or quilting? Fine on any account. But how do we bring the Gospel to these efforts. And how do these efforts inform and strengthen the Gospel, or, in turn, where might they conflict.
A blocking back sacrifices personal yardage, and a physical body so that another may excel. But taking delight in trashing opposing players, or attempting to injure and demean them–that would be where a Christian would need to take a stand.
What might you be reading in this small, but powerful section?
11 September 2012
Posted by catholicsensibility under
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At last month’s peer minister retreat my colleague Father Jim suggested a close look at the letter to the Ephesians as a reflection on call, baptism, and ministry. In look at this weekend’s Lectionary Psalm, I found an interesting chimera with a short passage from Paul’s letter. Psalm 116:1-9 & Ephesians 1:18-20. I’m using this for a group prayer later today. What do you think of it:
All: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
(Pause)
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
(Pause)
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones …
(Pause)
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
(Pause)
… and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might …
(Pause)
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
(Pause)
… which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens …
(Pause)
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
(Pause)
All: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
11 September 2012
More legislation on how to affix an altar in the sanctuary, and what materials should be used for its construction:
§ 57 § The altar is the natural focal point of the sanctuary and is to be “freestanding to allow the [priest] to walk around it easily and Mass to be celebrated facing the people.”(GIRM 299)Ordinarily, it should be fixed (with the base affixed to the floor) and with a table or mensa made of natural stone,(RDCA IV, 9; Cf. GIRM 301, canon law 1235, 1236a) since it represents Christ Jesus, the Living Stone (1 Pt 2:4). The pedestal or support for the table may be fashioned from “any sort of material, as long as it is becoming and solid.”(GIRM 301; cf. canon law 1236) In the United States it is permissible to use materials other than natural stone for a fixed altar, provided these materials are worthy, solid, properly constructed, and subject to the further judgment of the local ordinary.(GIRM 301) Parishes building new churches must follow the directives of the diocesan bishop regarding the kind of altar chosen and suitable materials for new altars.
A few very brief comments:
Note that the mensa should be stone, but that a composite composition is possible, if made of all “worthy” materials.
Within the elements of universal legislation, the diocesan bishop may give additional directives, which should be followed.
And a personal remembrance. I found the altar at Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey to be striking when I first visited there as a college student. The guestmaster described that it was brought in from overhead by crane before the roof was complete.
All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
