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Monthly Archives: August 2016
Athletes in Protest
When an American story spins out of control, sometimes I find it useful to read an alternate perspective, one from outside the US. In the protests and reactions to Colin Kaepernick sitting for the patriotic prelude to his athletic contest, … Continue reading
Amoris Laetitia 148: To Channel One’s Passions
Saint Thomas Aquinas offers an assist here, suggesting caution when we stray into focusing on passion for its own sake: 148. Training in the areas of emotion and instinct is necessary, and at times this requires setting limits. Excess, lack … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 147: God Loves the Joy of His Children
“God loves the joy of his children” is the theme that will occupy our attention for the next three days. Let’s occupy this day with a statement of clarification from Pope Benedict XVI on why the Church isn’t really a … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 146: Emotions That Deepen
Today, more from Thomas Aquinas: 146. This being said, if passion accompanies a free act, it can manifest the depth of that act. Marital love strives to ensure that one’s entire emotional life benefits the family as a whole and stands … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 145: What We Do With Our Emotions
Feelings are neither good nor bad; they just are. It’s what we do with them. Pop psychology? Nope. The angelic doctor: 145. Experiencing an emotion is not, in itself, morally good or evil.(Cf. Thomas aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, q. 24, … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 144: The Emotions of Jesus
One of the most-often citation of Jesus’ emotional life is John 2:13, his anger. Pope Francis offers several alternatives: 144. As true man, Jesus showed his emotions. He was hurt by the rejection of Jerusalem (cf. Mt 23:27) and this … Continue reading
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The Armchair Liturgist: Blessing New Hymnals
How do new hymnals in a parish get introduced? Fund-raising campaign? Negotiation with the finance committee? Your people come to Mass one weekend, and surprise! New books. Some of you may know the Book of Blessings provides for the blessing … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 143: The World of Emotions
Is the reason-driven world, including the reason-driven elements within our own church, ready to trust the human affect? Let’s read: 143. Desires, feelings, emotions, what the ancients called “the passions”, all have an important place in married life. They are … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 142: Passionate Love
Passionate love is the third subheading in chapter four, and will take us through the next three weeks (sections 142-162). A single paragraph to introduce the concept, so let’s begin with a citation from Vatican II: 142. The Second Vatican Council … Continue reading
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Against Comfort
Msgr Charles Pope is getting some attention for his essay against “comfort Catholicism.” There is a growing consternation among some Catholics that the Church, at least in her leadership, is living in the past. It seems there is no awareness … Continue reading
Amoris Laetitia 141: Dialogue With Substance
Today, the sixth and last section under the heading of “dialogue.” I don’t think Pope Francis is calling for a conversation of theological stuff: 141. Finally, let us acknowledge that for a worthwhile dialogue we have to have something to … Continue reading
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Amoris Laetitia 140: Love, Not Fear
While we can be afraid of the people we love, I don’t think Pope Francis is talking about abusive partners: 140. Show affection and concern for the other person. Love surmounts even the worst barriers. When we love someone, or … Continue reading
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On Edward W. Haskell
What happens when there are no more gay music directors or school teachers to get fired? You go after unsympathetic bloggers on “faithful” sites like NCReg, like this one. In a few other reports, I saw a few oldies from … Continue reading
Amoris Laetitia 139: Unity Leading to Better Communication
Today, a collection of bits of advice: 139. Keep an open mind. Don’t get bogged down in your own limited ideas and opinions, but be prepared to change or expand them. Sometimes change is fearful, and brings up the notion … Continue reading
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Science in the Self Interest
A good friend from college has an excellent hard-hitting piece here, citing ways in which leaders in our culture have thwarted the search for knowledge and ultimately, to the detriment of people present and in the future. His conclusion: The … Continue reading
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Catholic Sensibility 