Five Things To Remember on Dec. 19

1.      The fiscal cliff concerns Bishop Stephen Blaire, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Richard Pates, Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace. They wrote to Congress Dec.14 to urge it to develop a bipartisan and balanced agreement that raises adequate revenue and protects programs that serve families living in poverty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says proper role of government to “make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on” (no. 1908). The bishops’ criteria: Protect human life and dignity; the needs of the poor and vulnerable come first; and government and other institutions have a shared responsibility to promote the common good of all.

2.      Today is the fifth day of the O Antiphons. Read the prayers and listen to a podcast for this day.
 
3.      What equipped Msgr. Robert Weiss of St. Rose of Lima Parish in New Town, Connecticut, to console the nation? Seminary formation and grace.

4.      Movie fans may enjoy Les Miserables. Says Catholic News Service’s Media Review office: “This rousing entertainment offers something for everyone: soaring anthems, tear-jerking romance, thrilling drama – and a positive portrayal of the Catholic faith. In fact, this faithful adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel, which was transformed into a worldwide stage sensation by impresario Cameron Mackintosh, is a deeply moral story. Characters rise and fall calling on God for grace and mercy, seeking personal redemption while trying to better the lives of others.” The film contains scenes of bloody violence, a prostitution theme, and nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
 
5.      God loves you.

 

 

Msgr. Weiss: He was there

He was there.

Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, Connecticut, went quickly to the scene of the Dec. 14 school massacre. There were the bodies of 20 little children, six staff and the 20-year-old perpetrator who killed them and then himself.

            And from that moment on and for days to come, Msgr. Weiss became the face of compassion to victims’ families, to parishioners, townspeople, and, through the media, the entire world. He and other clergy said nothing had prepared them to deal with such a situation, but they may be wrong.

            Msgr. Weiss knew that by right of baptism and later ordination, he must bring Christ’s presence to the world, especially in troubled times. He had to eschew anger for caring, point to hope amidst near despair, and give a reason to live to some who felt their reason for living lay dead. Often he had to do so without words.

            As God’s representative, Msgr. Weiss came from the only world that offered consolation. People attended Mass in search of comfort. For memorial and funeral Masses, Scripture guided him.

            When it comes to the human encountering the divine, nothing matches a Catholic funeral. It stands out at the final commendation of the deceased. “May the angels lead you into Paradise,” the Church prays. “May the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem….” The teaching that “life is not ended but changed” lets children, parents, brothers, sisters and friends know they will see their loved one again.

            Msgr. Weiss became psychologist and counselor. Leave the Christmas lights on, he advised families who asked what to do. “I saw 20 new stars in the sky tonight,” he said evoking a human image at an overflow Mass the night of the crime.

            The grace of the moment, that special gift of God, was with Msgr. Weiss. And so was six-to eight years of training before ordination. Early in his priesthood he likely labored beside seasoned priests, learning the trade and crafting his own distinctive pastoral style.

Seminaries are intense, a fish bowl-like experience in a close-knit community, where praying, studying and eating together taught him about the human condition. Spiritual directors and formation directors pushed and pulled him to articulate his inner life, called him to greater accountability and comforted him when he struggled. 

Seminary and the first years of priestly ministry are a steep immersion into the depths of one’s own humanity followed by an immersion into the depths of others.’ And it is always filtered through the lens of faith. Seminarians face queries about how they feel at the death of someone dear? How has the grieving process been? How do they feel when a friend leaves the seminary? How do they deal with the loss? And how do Christ and the seminarian’s faith help him with each of those? This is the undertow of seminary life, where academic training is but a part.

And then it happens, an unconscionable act of violence. Perhaps he remembered from his training in visiting hospitals and nursing homes: the ministry of presence, where sometimes the most soothing ministry is just being there. Sometimes words can get in the way and people just need to know that everything has not evaporated, that there is still someone to lean on, that even if they don’t see the working of faith in this moment, then perhaps another does. 

Sometimes a priest can draw on the words of Christ and sometimes he simply stands as a presence to show God is not absent.

Msgr. Weiss, whatever his previousl experience with grief and struggle, and whether or not he had been tested in the fire of faith, at Newtown stood as a presence and image of that faith for others.

Perhaps it was grace, or training, or both that let Msgr. Weiss touch souls across the nation this week. For right from the start, like Jesus, he was there.

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Note: Contributing to this was Father Daniel Merz, associate director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Divine Worship.

Five Things To Remember On Dec. 18

1.       With the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut Dec. 14, families will have to address young children’s concerns for violence. The National Association of School Psychologists offers help to deal with this.
 
2.       As funerals for children slain in Newtown begin, some will find comfort in the church’s prayers at the funerals for baptized children.

3.       Today is the fourth day of the O Antiphons. Read the prayers and listen to a podcast for this day.

 

4.       There’s nothing like a good pastor as everyone has seen watching Msgr. Robert Weiss of St. Rose of Lima Parish in New Town, Connecticut. Seen on television, through his pastoral presence to families and the town of Newtown, he has been a comfort well beyond the Connecticut borders.
 
5.       God loves you.

Five Things To Remember On Dec. 17

 

1. Child advocacy, health, parents, privacy, and consumer organizations wrote Dec. 13 to urge the Federal Trade Commission’s to update its rules under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The act protects children’s privacy and lets parents decide how their children will interact with companies on the Internet, and creates a clear set of principles and practices that have guided the development of the online children’s marketing industry. The letter says the need for rule changes is urgent since they address techniques that are swiftly becoming commonplace, including: “cookies” and other “persistent identifiers” for following a child online, mobile and geo-location tracking, facial recognition software, and behavioral advertising. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is among the signees.

2.  The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, underscores the prevalence of violence in society. All need to address this culture of violence in contemporary society.
 
3. The O Antiphons begin today. The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least theeighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
 
4. Want to increase your chances for marital success and long-term happiness? Try religion! Research shows the benefits that come from shared religious practices, even though the couple may be of different religions. The rate of satisfaction in marriage is higher for husbands and wives when both regularly maintain religious attendance and feel that God is the center of their marriage. (The State of Our Unions 2011)
 
5.  God loves you.