The Spiritual Wayfarer

From Inflexible, to Certainty, to Comfortable in Uncertainty...

2012-01-12T14:35:00.000-05:00

It has been a little while since I wrote here on the blog, and 2012 is already almost two weeks old. I have had so much to think about over the last while, and reflect on how much has changed and will no doubt continue to change in my life. If there is one thing I have noticed about myself though, it has been the journey from being absolutely inflexible, to an arrogant certainty, to a now much more peaceful uncertainty. I'll try and explain.

For many years of my young adult life, especially since my conversion to Christ in 1992, I was what I would describe as rigid in my "inflexibility." I was in a manner of speaking convinced that I was right! I was right about everything religious anyway. It didn't matter how much evidence could be brought forward from any source that did and should have challenged my narrow mindedness, I refused to be moved by it. In looking back, although I would assert my so-called knowledge of "the Truth" endlessly, I don't think that seeking out truth was as important to me as holding and defending my own position at all costs. It was ultimately a folly of turning inward, a subjective attitude rooted in my desire to be "right," and a fear of being wrong. My faith and religion was in reality a house of cards of my own making and I desperately did not want anyone to shake the table and bring it all down. There was no talking to me at all...

From there I saw myself as having moved into what I thought was a much healthier place of "certainty." Thus began my initial years as a catholic christian. In this case, I think my attitude was more outward looking, at least I believed it was. I was "certain" that the catholic church held all the answers I was so anxious to have. Here was the truth, nothing else needed to be said nor could be said. I had weighed the evidence, Or so I thought, and was convinced. It wasn't arrogance, but humility before the truth. Right? Wasn't it? Slowly though, over time, I began to ask myself the very difficult questions that persons struggling along the spiritual journey have to ask themselves. Turns out that I wasn't so certain, and in fact I didn't find the peace I longed for in my imaginary "certainty."

Nowadays, I am finding myself comfortable with "uncertainty." I know that sounds strange, at least to me it does. It is becoming more and more apparent to me how little control I actually have over my own life and existence. So many things that I simply cannot control. Do I fight against them, or do I receive them as gift? I have embraced the reality that God is Mystery. I believe that it is entirely unreasonable to think that the ultimate reality could be the object of my knowledge, but it is entirely exciting and amazing to conceive that God is and should be the cause of our wonder and awe. I used to think that I could lay out the kingdom of God for other people. Even convert them! How am I supposed to do that when I cannot even lay out the kingdom of God for myself? I am coming to appreciate that my experience of God may not at all be your experience, and my answers may not be your answers. What I hope we could all do though is share our experience of God with one another, and help each other to ask more and deeper questions.

My spiritual struggle now is not to overcome you, and change you, but to overcome only myself. The real demons are in our own hearts, and self-conquest should be our daily struggle in the spiritual life. There is only one end in sight, one goal, to become the very love of God himself. Not to become more loving, or more charitable, but to become love itself, transformed from the inside out. Then, to give oneself to God and others without reserve. I am finding this a much more peaceful and non-violent approach to faith and practice....

Picking and Choosing...

2012-01-04T17:55:00.002-05:00

Divine Love???...

2011-12-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

I Love This Video!!!!

2011-11-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

Random Thoughts...

2011-10-26T13:27:00.000-04:00

Here are a few random thoughts that are fluttering around in my head...

...Christ is the true and living way, but he is not the monopoly of christians... I don't understand a book based christianity, the Word was made flesh, not paper and ink... Sure the Qur'an seems to advocate violence, but it comes no where near the scale or kind of violence in our own Bible... I am so tired of polarized polotics, as though extreme left and extreme right are the only two views of any one subject... I long for a day when dialogue and acceptance would prevail... I miss old friends who have not responded to my friend requests on facebook... I've seen so many couples divorce, I sometimes wonder if we realize how our performance based religion puts enormous and virtually impossible pressure on couples... Catholic fundamentalism is probably the ugliest form I have ever encountered... I would really like to visit a Mosque, but I have no idea about protocol... I wish my church would stop playing around with the liturgy... I wonder if I will be able to convince christians in this city to join in prayer and demonstration with our Coptic brothers and sisters and their plight in Egypt... I wonder how different Christianity would look if Hindu philosophy instead of Greek philosophy was at it's underpinnings... McGuinty only needs one MPP to cross the floor and give him a majority... I wonder how many pastors are railing this week about the evil of Hallowe'en... I would love to able to go back to school, study at St. Paul University... It took a long time, but I now support equality for all people... The GLBT and Christian communities need to enter into dialogue... Sometimes I wish I had sought to be received into the Orthodox church instead of the Catholic church... I long for a quiet life of prayer and obscurity... I know I could beat my son and win back our toy wrestling championship belt if only he would give me a rematch... A morally contingent afterlife of bliss which includes "proper belief" seems like a rather strained and impossible concept to me... It's time to visit the Hindu Temple, but again, protocol... I wish I could think more clearly... I believe in mission, without conversion...

That's all for now...

Drives In Circles, A Class Act!

2011-10-12T19:42:00.000-04:00

I am writing this post in honor of a good friend of mine. A blogger over at "Drives in Circles." Just click on that to visit their blog site. My friend's blog was recently hacked, and was brutally mutilated. I won't go into detail about what exactly this hacker clown did, but it was pretty immature if you ask me.

For those of you who know me, I am a transit employee with the City of Ottawa. "Drives in Circles" is a transit blog if you will, and a damn good one! A colleague of mine is the author over there. Over the last several months I have gotten to know this person more and more, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to hack their site. I find the material there insightful and witty! My friend has decided to remain anonymous on their blog site, and given that OC Transpo has a bit of a big brother complex, it is probably a wise decision. I would hate to think that the hacker was an OC employee. That would be truly sad...

I am so annoyed by this sort of thing. How does a person come to a place where they figure someone else shouldn't have the right to speak their mind? My own religious tradition, (the Catholic Church) certainly took it upon themselves for centuries to do just that. But this is the 21st century for crying out loud! We have gone through the revolutions, the enlightenment, we have embraced a different set of values as a western society. Haven't we? I am annoyed at the cowardice of those who refuse to identify themselves publicly on a blog, but instead send their hate mail through the back door so to speak and into our inboxes. That is bad enough. But to vandalize someone else's blog site? Juvenile, and as pathetic as it is sad.

My friend has decided to continue the blog site, and I am thrilled about that! Good on you my friend! Beef up your security, and continue to amuse, enlighten, and educate those of us who visit your site. (I am a member myself) "Drives in Circles" is a class act! As for the hacker, please grow up, and find better ways to vent your frustrations and anger.

Panikkar's Model

2011-10-09T13:51:00.001-04:00

I have been reading Raimon Panikkar's book, "The Intrareligious Dialogue." In it he outlines a Christian example of a model for the encounter of religions. I will reproduce it here as it appears on pages 70-71 of his book. His thoughts here express my sentiments almost precisely....

"Christ is the Lord, but the Lord is neither only Jesus nor does my understanding exhaust the meaning of the word.
Church, as the sociological dimension of religion, is the organism of salvation (by definition), but the Church is not coextensive with the visible christian church.
Christendom is the socioreligious structure of christianity and as such is a religion like any other. It must be judged on its own merits without any special privileges.
God wills that all men should reach salvation. Here salvation is that which is considered to be the end, goal, destination, or destiny of man, however this may be conceived.
There is no salvation without faith, but this is not the privilege of christians nor of any special group.
The means of salvation are to be found in any authentic religion (old or new) because a man follows a particular religion because in it he believes he finds the ultimate fulfillment of his life.
Christ is the only mediator, but he is not the monopoly of christians and, in fact, he is present and effective in any authentic religion, whatever the form or the name. Christ is the symbol, which christians call by this name, of the ever-transcending but equally ever-humanly immanent Mystery. Now these principles should be confronted with parallel humanist, buddhist, and other principles, and then one should be able to detect points of convergence and of discrepancy with all the required qualifications. Further, the christian principles have no a priori paradigmatic value, so it is not a question of just searching for possible equivalents elsewhere. The fair procedure is to start from all possible staring points and witness to the actual encounters taking place along the way."

RUMI: The Sheikh Who Played With Children

2011-09-21T13:52:00.000-04:00

A certain young man was asking around,
"I need to find a wise person. I have a problem."

A bystander said, "There's no one with intelligence
in our town except that man over there
playing with children,
the one riding the stick horse.

He has a keen, fiery insight and vast dignity
like the night sky, but he conceals it
in the madness of child's play."

The young seeker approached the children, "Dear father,
you who have become as a child, tell me a secret."

"Go away. This is not a day
for secrets."

"But please! Ride your horse this way,
just for a minute."

The sheikh play-galloped over. "Speak quickly. I can't hold this one still for long.
Whoops. Don't let him kick you.
This is a wild one!"

The young man felt he couldn't ask his serious question
in the crazy atmosphere, so he joked,
"I need to get married.
Is there someone suitable on this street?"

"There are three kinds of women in the world.
Two are griefs, and one is a treasure to the soul.
The first, when you marry her, is all yours.
The second is half-yours, and the third
is not yours at all.
Now get out of here,
before this horse kicks you in the head! Easy now!"

The sheikh rode off among the children.
The young man shouted, "Tell me more about the kinds of women!"

The sheikh, on his cane horsie, came closer,
"The virgin of your first love is all yours.
She will make you feel happy and free. A childless widow
is the second. She will be half yours. The third,
who is nothing to you, is a married woman with a child.
By her first husband she had a child, and all her love goes into that child. She will have no connection with you.
Now watch out.
Back away.
I am going to turn this rascal around!"

He gave a loud whoop and rode back,
calling the children around him.

"One more question, Master!"
The sheikh circled,
"What is it? Quickly! That rider over there needs me. I think I'm in love."

"What is this playing that you do?
Why do you hide your intelligence so?"

"The people here
want to put me in charge. They want me to be
judge, magistrate, and interpreter of all texts.
The knowing I have doesn't want that. It wants to enjoy itself.
I am a plantation of sugarcane, and at the same time
I'm eating the sweetness."

Knowledge that is acquired
is not like this. Those who have it worry if audiences like it or not. It is bait for popularity.

Disputational knowing wants customers.
It has no soul.
Robust and energetic
before a responsive crowd, it slumps when no one is there.
The only real customer is God.

Chew quietly
your sweet sugarcane God-Love, and stay
playfully childish.
Your face
will turn rosy with illumination
like the redbud flowers.

September 4th, 1999

2011-09-03T16:01:00.000-04:00

12 years ago tomorrow. 12 years ago tomorrow was one of the greatest days of my life. September 4th, 1999, I married the love of my life Louise Chartier. I say one of the greatest days of my life, I would include Feb. 23rd 2003, and March 3rd, 2005 in there as well. The birth of our daughter Joeline, and the birth of our son William. I have never looked back, or had any kind of second thought...

Louise, from that first moment I saw you at the Salon in the old McArthur Plaza, I knew there was something special about you. Part of me, deep down inside knew that you were my soul mate. Somehow I knew. I was helpless to fall in love with you. It was pointless to resist, and somehow I discovered a hidden part of me in you. I am more in love with you today than the day we were married, and I grow more deeply in love with you every passing day. Your patience, your kindness and understanding, your devotion to our family makes me continue to want to be a better man. You inspire me, and I am so grateful to be your husband.

JoJo, you are my little angel. I love you so deeply my pumpkin. Watching you grow up is as enjoyable as it is fascinating. Your mannerisms, the funny things you do, the way you laugh out loud all the time! You are my joy, and I would die to protect you...

Will, you are my little buddy! You are such a character my son! The practical jokes, the silliness, the time you confused Count Dookoo, and Darth Tyrannus, and called him Darth Cookoo! I never tire of watching your antics! You are my pride little guy. I would die protecting you as well...

I love you so very dearly my little family. The journey so far has been simply wonderful, and more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Happy 12th anniversary my wife. I love you more than my own life. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

About This Word "God"...

2011-08-30T21:04:00.002-04:00

You know, I used to lead/teach, whatever, RCIA at two different parishes here in Ottawa. Those of you who have known me for many years, (I am sure it has been a trial, and I apologize for that) will remember how many books, articles, and papers I read, prepared or wrote on "Theology Proper," the doctrine of "God." In particular, my fascination with the Christian teaching of the Holy Trinity, and how many years I spent refining language, carefully seeking out illustrations that didn't try to explain to much, trashing those illustrations that I felt weren't helpful, and making sure to use very, VERY nuanced terms to describe, explain, and help others to understand "God," and or the Mystery of the Trinity. Well,......I now see the whole enterprise as folly! LOL! Not that I reject everything I have ever believed, but having come to a new place spiritually, I have had to let go of this little obsession of mine. I will try to explain...

I have learned to distinguish over that last little while, between what I would consider the mystical search/approach for/to God, in which we can all participate whether we are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist or whatever, and a different sphere of investigation, knowledge and study altogether, the idea of theology, and in the case of the "Trinity," specifically Christian theology. In short, for me as a Catholic Christian, I have discovered the need to draw a line of distinction between the mystical approach to God that is open all, and Church teaching, doctrine, and or dogma, which those outside of the Catholic Church or of a different faith tradition aren't necessarily interested in. What I found as an RCIA session leader really starting to get under my skin, was how we Catholics seem to think, or are expected to think, that the two, the living mystery of "God," and so-called official church teaching are somehow synonymous. In other words, whatever the Church teaches, is divinely revealed truth. My chief difficulty here is an historical one. For anyone familiar with the critical approach to the Bible, and the challenges we face as christian communities in terms of the history of the texts, their problems, and the early centuries of Christianity when there were many competing voices and differing interpretations of who Jesus was, and what exactly was the meaning of his life, coupled with the developmental character of what came to be the creeds, I think forces one to realize that we cannot or at least should not be quick to equate the revelation of "God" with our encounter and subsequent interpretation of that revelation. The experience that the original group of followers had with Jesus in the early first century, and what they believed about him, and how this faith developed and lead to the theological debates of three and four and more centuries later should serve to give us a little perspective and hopefully keep us from insisting on being to dogmatic. So, in that light, and I don't really know how clear that was, I have come to use this word "God" in a new way.

Today when I say or refer to "God," I am not really referring to a particular God, and certainly not a male "God." Instead, I am referring to the notion of an absolute supreme being who is the source of all things, all peoples, all faith traditions, all processes. One who is the creator of all things, that being a rather nuanced term seeing as how I accept the notion of evolution, the sustainer and transformer of all existence, and without whom nothing is possible. I would further say with Russill Paul, that this great Mystery allows for many, many possibilities, far more than we can possibly conceive of, and far more sometimes than our narrow theologies are willing to accept. God, Brahman, Allah, Ulimate Reality, whichever or whatever term you wish to use,

"cannot be expressed, cannot properly be thought. It is present everywhere, in everything, yet it always escapes our grasp. It is the 'Ground' of all existence, that from which all things come, to which all things return, but which never appears. It is 'within' all things, 'above' all things, 'beyond' all things, but it cannot be identified with anything. Without it nothing could exist, without it nothing can be known, yet it is itself unknown. It is that by which everything is known, yet which itself remains unknown. It is 'unseen but seeing, unheard but hearing, unperceived but perceiving, unknown but knowing.' We speak of 'God' but this also is only a name for this inexpressible Mystery." - Bede Griffiths.

So, when I use this word "God" nowadays, I mean both the immanent and transcendent aspects, both the personal and transpersonal aspects divinity. I mean everything that has been revealed in creation, through symbols and through the mind of humanity, as well as that which is beyond the grasp of our limited faculties. "God" is beyond gender, but is the totality and embraces fully both femininity and masculinity uniquely revealing itself in each as much as it reveals itself uniquely in inanimate things. Everything, and all of us, in their own way embody and reveal the Divine Mystery. However, there is always and will always be more to the divine, and the more must remain a Mystery.

Now does that rule out the Trinity of Christian theology in my thinking? I don't think so. What if the "ground" of all being, what if the Ultimate Mystery, is love?

My indebtedness to Russill Paul...

God's Approval, or Displeasure, or Both, or Neither.....whatever, I guess...

2011-08-27T22:10:00.001-04:00

James McGrath had this photo up over on his blog and I thought it was priceless! As he said in his post, some may interpret Hurricane Irene's slamming into New York this week-end a sure sign of God's disapproval of same sex marriage. On the other hand, should Irene move off and at the last minute fail to hammer New York, some may interpret that as God's approval! Either way, this poster gives us a great indication of what sort of pathetic despot deity we end up with when we attribute the forces of nature to God...

Straight Up

2011-08-24T16:25:00.002-04:00

For a while now, I have been in what seems like a transition of sorts. I think the spiritual life is a continuous starting over again experience. I have traveled a long and winding road, and I don't really know where I am headed. I came from a very Pentecostal/Evangelical (and yes I know that these two things are not synonymous) background, flirted with Eastern Orthodoxy and was ultimately received into the Catholic Church in September 2006. I started out a very right winged Catholic, ready to duke it out with whoever dared or was foolish enough to cross intellectual swords with me the know it all. It was simple, I was right, everyone else was wrong, and the sooner everyone figured that out, the easier we would be able to get along. I was quite ready to denounce anybody and everybody, consign them all to hell, all in the name of truth and the so-called love and justice of God. In retrospect, it seems an inescapable conclusion now that I was simply projecting my own fear, insecurity, vanity and anger onto those I attacked and labelled everything from atheists, secular humanists or nominal Christians. There is an old buddhist saying, that the enemy without serves only to mirror and reveal back to us the true enemy within. I hurt and alienated a lot of people, and today I feel pretty small because of that. So if you are one of those people, I apologize...

About a year and a half ago, I made a decision to allow my faith, my assumptions, and my whole way of life and thought process to be challenged. I let my guard down, completely down, and let in all of the ideas that I was so careful to keep at bay for so long. I simply let go,and allowed myself to be undone. Once and for all I would listen, really listen, to those voices who for so long were screaming in the back of my mind that I wasn't as sure about my own religion and culture as I mistakenly believed. Throughout the process, I allowed everything to be challenged. My theism, my christian exclusivism, my uncritical acceptance of the Bible, my pseudo-scientific ideas about the age of the earth, my prejudices against homosexual people, people of other faith traditions, ALL OF IT. I put it all under the microscope, exposed it all to scrutiny and criticism. For the first time in a long time, at least since I had become a "born again christian" back in 1992, I opened myself and my mind specifically to intellectual honesty and a thorough introspection. In the end, I decided that the only thing I could do to maintain any sort of personal integrity and authenticity was to once and for all acknowledge my own folly, my own ignorance, my own pride and narrow mindedness. If I wanted to keep my sanity, I had to let it all go. Once and for all. So I did. To my shock and surprise, I let it all go, only to rediscover it anew!

The ideas and values of the enlightenment and modernity have made huge inroads into my life and thinking. I have come to believe that any "god" that we can somehow "prove exists," simply isn't worth believing in. God is Mystery, and that Mystery needs to be encountered and experienced. Knowledge about God, and Knowledge of God are two very different things. Today I think it impossible that any one group or faith tradition can have the market cornered on God. To believe that one tradition is the only way is incredibly short-sighted in my estimation, and rejects the full human testimony and patrimony to our encounter with the divine. I have come to appreciate the Bible in a whole new way, now that I have come to appreciate the critical approach, and have a better understanding of the difficulties within the text itself. This idea that the book dropped out of the sky as is and ready to use is a fantasy. In fact, it can be a very dangerous fantasy. Today I also embrace as sacred the holy books of other faiths and traditions. I have embraced the findings of mainstream science and I see no difficulty in accepting the reality of a very old universe, and the mythos of the Genesis account of creation. I have also struggled to do a thorough rethink on my thoughts and feelings towards homosexual people. It was so much easier to be a bigot when homosexuals were "those people" over there. So much easier to judge them, dismiss them, hate them, (even though I would mask that as some sort of holy indignation, God hated them, so it was ok for me to as well. Again though, even that was masked with the old hate the sin love the sinner cliche.) and keep them at arm's length by always making sure they remained a "them." But what happens when you find out that you have family that come out, and reveal that they are gay? What happens when you see their pain, their struggle to have kept it a secret for so long, their struggle to come out and be themselves and be honest and forthright with their families? All of a sudden the game changes, and "they," in the blink of an eye, become "we," become "us." And the walls we put up, the prejudices we nurtured for so long, crumble.....simply crumble under the weight of their own foolishness.

I think I realize now that it is the honesty and integrity of the search itself, the doubts, the reverses and starting overs, mistakes and regrets, and the willingness to keep going that truly expresses faith. Humility before the unknowable mystery of God, the acknowledgement of our own weakness and inability to understand, makes possible our own interior life, our own self mastery. It empowers us to discover ourselves in others, to be accepting of others, and to show kindness and compassion. It troubles me deeply now when I see a any form of attack against the rights and beliefs of others. Whether they be Muslims, Jews, Hindus, homosexuals, scientists, or scholars, (I mention these because these are the ones I attacked as a "Christian" for so many years), and yes of course I am troubled if my own Christian brothers and sisters are attacked as well. But I hope never to find myself on the attacking side ever again... Whether its my daughter who one day comes to me and tells me she is in love and wants to marry a Muslim man, or my son who comes to me and tells me his gay, or any family member or friend who takes me into their confidence to reveal their heart to me, I want them to know that nothing would ever change my love for them, my acceptance of them, and that I will stand with them in support and love.

God is love...

Jack Layton's Letter to Canadians

2011-08-22T15:02:00.001-04:00

Following the NDP's announcement that Leader Jack Layton lost his battle with cancer Monday morning, Layton's wife Olivia Chow, released a letter Layton wrote on August 20th to be shared with Canadians after his death.

It reads:

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we've done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let's continue to move forward. Let's demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election. 2

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada's Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world's environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

The Sermon on the Mount of Intrareligious Dialogue

2011-08-14T20:05:00.001-04:00

When you enter into an intrareligious dialogue, do not think beforehand what you have to believe.

When you witness to your faith, do not defend yourself or your vested interests, sacred as they may appear to you. Do like the birds in the skies: they sing and fly and do not defend their music or their beauty.

When you dialogue with somebody, look at your partner as a revelatory experience, as you would - and should - look at the lilies of the fields.

When you engage in intrareligious dialogue, try first to remove the beam in your own eye before removing the speck in the eye of your neighbor.

Blessed are you when you do not feel self-sufficient while being in dialogue.

Blessed are you when you trust the other because you trust in Me.

Blessed are you when you face misunderstandings from your own community or others for the sake of your fidelity to Truth.

Blessed are you when you do not give up your convictions, and yet you do not set them up as absolute norms.

Woe unto you, you theologians and academicians, when you dismiss what others say because you find it embarrassing or not sufficiently learned.

Woe unto you, you practitioners of religions, when you do not listen to the cries of the little ones.

Woe unto you, you religious authorities, because you prevent change and (re)conversion.

Woe to you, religious people, because you monopolize religion and stifle Spirit, which blows where and how she wills.

Taken from "The Intra-religious Dialogue" by: Raimon Panikkar

Back From Vacation...

2011-08-09T16:02:00.003-04:00

I am back from a whole lot of travelling this summer! Spent many week-ends in Quebec City, Montreal, St. Anicet, and a few other little spots in Quebec. I am a little wiped out, and tired of driving! :-) But it did give me an opportunity to ponder some things, reflect, and gain some clarity in my thinking.

I have figured out that I am going through some sort of transition. I seem to be letting go of some things I once held dear, intellectually, spiritually, socially, and seem also to be embracing things I once found it necessary to rage against. I'm not entirely sure where I am going...???... But, it feels much more peaceful somehow. It seems like a new chapter is beginning. I don't know what to think anymore about so many things. I'm tired of thinking I know something. I don't. I know I have too many attachments.

The Gita is beginning to speak to my heart. The Song of God, and beloved Scripture of India, the Scripture that inspired Gandhi. Maybe it is time to at least try to listen, REALLY listen to the Gita. Maybe as part of evening prayer...

There was one truly memorable moment last week-end in St. Anicet. My son, hungry for breakfast, receives his plate at a little restaurant on Sunday morning. He looks in astonishment! Believe it or not, he ate it all, except for two slices of toast!

The Defeat of Flood Geology by Flood Geology

2011-07-15T15:04:00.000-04:00

Click here for an article in the "National Centre for Science Education"

An interesting article for an ex Young Earth guy like me...:-)

How to Tell the Difference

2011-07-14T16:40:00.003-04:00

The Paradox of Tolerance

2011-07-11T16:50:00.000-04:00

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterances of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal, in the same way as we should consider incitement to murder, or to kidnapping, or to revival of the slave trade as criminal."

-Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies

The Well and the Cathedral

2011-07-08T21:30:00.002-04:00

The following is taken from a book by Tom Harpur entitled "For Christ's Sake." Harpur gives credit to the Rev. Herbert O'Driscoll, who in turn credits Ira Progoff, "The Well and the Cathedral," and admits to modifying the story a little. I will do the same...

There was once a vast, rocky wilderness, void of all vegetation but the hardiest of thorns and briers. Through the middle of this desert stretched a rough highway along which the whole of humanity was making its pilgrimage. They straggled along, footsore and thirsty, tired and frightened by a myriad of nameless and faceless fears.

But at one point along the way, a clear spring of running water bubbled up out of the naked rock. No one knows who first discovered it; that secret has long since been lost. Yet for countless generations the people journeying along the road stopped to refresh themselves there. And as they did so, they found to their surprise and delight that the waters not only quenched their thirst, but satisfied deeper needs as well! Somehow, in drinking at that source, they found their minds and bodies healed, their hopes and courage growing strong again. Life became rich with fresh meaning. They found they could pick up their various burdens and take to the way once more with new hearts. They came to call the spot the place of living waters, and the spring itself, the water of life.

.....As time went on though, things began to change. Slowly at first, but then more rapidly. People began to roll up boulders around the spring as monuments of gratitude. As the generations and centuries wore on, these monuments became more and more elaborate and ornate, until at last the spring was totally enclosed, arched completely over by a great fortress-like cathedral and protected by high stone walls. A special caste of men, with special robes and a language all their own, came into being in order to set rules and barriers for preserving the purity of the well. Access would no longer be free to all. Disagreements as to exactly who could drink there, when, how much, and for how long grew very bitter. In fact, wars came to be fought over these disagreements, and many were tortured, and killled....

The victors always seemed to be putting up more and more monuments and safeguards in gratitude for their victories. Over time, the well itself, and the precious lifegiving water came to be bricked over and lost from view. No one could remember when exactly it had happened, or who had done it. When the pilgrims complained about the loss, and many were found fainting and even near death along the road, the powers that be either mocked their cries or simply ignored them. Beautiful ceremonies were being carried on inside the so-called holy place to celebrate what the well had done for pilgrims many generations before, while at the very gates the people were dying of thirst,....judged to have not adequately or completely misunderstood the meaning of the well...

Eventually other water was piped in, at great expense, from distant places, but it was a mere shadow of the reality that had once been there for all to enjoy. From time to time strange men came in from the wilderness warning those who had assumed control of the well to repent, to tear away all of the obstructions so that the masses might drink and be restored in body and spirit again. These strangers would later be come to be revered as prophets and be greatly honoured within the shrine. Ironically though, at the moment of their protest, they would come to be rejected,...tortured,....and even killed.

And so as time went by, the masses who journeyed along the way simply avoided the sacred place of living waters, and survived in whatever way they could. Many, when they would pass by the shrine, would recall the stories they had learned in their youths about the hidden spring. They would be siezed with nostalgia and longings to deep to utter. Others struggled on miserably. Embittered and bound by cynical doubt that the so-called living waters even existed to begin with.... But sometimes, in the still of the night, when all of the chanting and ceremonies were stilled, a few pilgrims would sneak into the shrine and find a dark corner in which to hide from the shrine authorities, and rest their weary souls. Many of them were sure they could hear something almost miraculous. From somewhere deep within the rock and structures, they swore they could hear the faint echo of running waters. And their eyes,....their eyes would swell with tears that soaked their cheeks...

Extract From the Writings of Swami Abhishiktananda

2011-07-01T12:25:00.000-04:00

God has no form. God is beyond every form. Precisely for that reason God can reveal and manifest himself under any form. Nothing "comprehends" him, but he shines through everything and makes himself known in everything. No form may be considered worthy of his sign, for there is really no form at all which could worthily signify him.

On the day of Resurrection, Jesus presented himself under unexpected forms to his followers, so as to teach them to recognise him under any form, and in any dress. In the form of that man who stands in front of me, no matter whether he is about to bow to me or strike me, it is Christ.

He may be coarse, rude, ugly, wicked. I may have to avoid close contact with him. I may have to threaten, rebuke him, claim what is due form him. Yet I can never forget that God needs my respect and love for that man, in order to bring out of him the love of which he is capable.

Time to Acknowledge My Wife

2011-06-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

Over the last little while, I have come to realize something. If I were not married to the woman I am, I may not have had the opportunity to journey spiritually as I have. At least, not with the freedom I have had. I have never been held back or criticized by my wife Louise. And for this, I am truly grateful.

When Louise and I met years ago, I was in a much more fundamentalist mindset. Hard headed, intolerant to the extreme. I had the truth and everyone else was going to hell. I pretended to lament that fact, but I think if I am honest with myself and you, there was hidden deep within the inner recesses of my heart a certain lust for revenge. I got off on those biblical passages that promised apocalyptic and divine violence and carnage against those who were "unbelievers." Through it all, my wife lovingly walked beside me, came to church with me every week. Once in a while offering me a few thoughts about how offensive others may be perceiving me, but still walking beside me.

Back in 2006, when the opportunity presented itself to engage in the ultimate claim to be able to trump all rival truth claims, (my journey into the Catholic Church) I jumped on it! Now I was certain beyond all doubt! My wife was raised catholic and so this transition was an easier one for her I think. I don't want to put down my faith tradition, I am in love with the long history of the church, it's liturgy and prayer. Through her I discovered the Benedictine way of life and became an Oblate with the Monastery of Saint Benoit du Lac. I have to admit though, originally, Catholicism, especially the American brand typified by EWTN served to fuel my exclusivism and arrogance. Through it all, Louise walked patiently with me...

Today, I have gone of the deep end! I have begun to explore the rich spiritual treasure that is India. Buddhism, Hinduism....I have come to have an entirely new appreciation for Muhammad and the Qur'an. I am not trying to promote syncretism, only a genuine appreciation for faith traditions outside of my own, and a recognition of the contribution they can make to enriching my faith and practice. Even here, I find my wife supporting me, encouraging me. In the midst of my own confusion, and the angry voices of those who would discourage me, (or worse, consign me to hell), my wife continues to walk with me. In some ways, she has left me speechless...

Over the years, this journey has cost me considerable time, effort, anguish and money! To the reading of books, there is no end. So true! I have spent far to much money on this whole enterprise. On top of all that, I can still count on my wife to be there with me. So, I say without any reservation, I could not have done any of this if I didn't have the understanding wife that I do. Her patience, long suffering, and love have enabled me to do this. Thank you my love! I literally wouldn't be the person I am if it were not for you...

The Challenges of Exclusivism

2011-06-22T21:45:00.003-04:00

"...but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." -St. Paul to the Corinthians. (Mid first century C.E.)

As a religious believer myself, a Christian of the Catholic tradition, in one way or another, if I am brutally honest with myself and others, I consider my religion to be true. (At least in some way). Now, whether it is my claim to truth, or the claim of one of my Muslim friends, a claim to truth has built right into it a claim to exclusivity. If a given faith claim is true, then the opposite or "opposing" claim cannot be true at the same time in the same way. Going one step further, if a religious tradition claims to offer a universal context for it's given truth claim, then anything that would be found to be flat out contradictory would have to be declared false. So for myself, if I believe that Catholicism embodies the fullness of truth, a non-catholic truth cannot exist out there anywhere. Whatever truth is out there, would already be contained in one form or another in my own tradition.

Now Catholic tradition has over the centuries developed some necessary distinctions here so as not to appear to blunt. The Church will take the position that there exist degrees of truth, and that any religious truth, if genuinely true, is already a Catholic one, even if those on the outside don't realize this. We also like to distinguish an objective order of truth from a subjective one. Or, the idea that a person may hold onto religious beliefs that are in fact false, but still hold them in "good faith." In such circumstances, this wouldn't be held against a person by God. I suppose I could find in this attitude a certain kind of valor if you will. A person dedicates his or her life to something truly greater than themselves. A dedication to something that claims not to be a partial or imperfect truth, but rather a universal and absolute one. And believe me, you will need an absolute God and value to guarantee such an attitude if your belief is not to be centered in personal preference or simply because we have chosen to raise our own point of view to the level of absolute value. I guess we could even go so far as to see ourselves as defending the interests of God Her/Himself in our assertions concerning our absolute religion. Now it doesn't have to mean that we condemn others or their beliefs simply because we imagine that they have not received the so-called grace we have to have in our possession the absolute truth does it?

Here is where I call myself out and challenge myself not to at least question my own bullshit. Paul's quote and the rest of the above makes me uncomfortable for the following reasons. These are only the first few reasons, but I may be trying your patience with this long post.

First, this view has embedded into it the obvious danger of intolerance, egotistical self-satisfaction, and may lead to outright contempt for others. I am not saying it will, only that the danger is there inherently. "We belong to the true faith, we have THE truth!"

Second, it is saddled with the intrinsic weakness of assuming an almost purely logical conception of so-called truth. A seemingly very simplistic, overly simplistic attitude regarding how we come to gain knowledge in the first place. I think it would be fair to say, and within the Catholic dictionary to say that truth is many-faceted, and even assuming that God in fact speaks my exclusive language, everything would depend on my own understanding of it so that I could never really be certain that my interpretation is the "right" one. To invoke supernatural validation in a conversation/dialogue between two differing belief systems really doesn't settle the question at all. God may very well have spoken to the "other." An example would be of my Church being critical of Sola-Scriptura, or the protestant position of the supreme authority of scripture in matters of all things Church. We as Catholics respond and challenge by saying that the myriad of denominations all claiming to teaching the plain literal meaning of the Bible, and all disagreeing amongst themselves is proof positive that sola-scriptura doesn't work. Enter our teaching on the absolute (there is that word again) necessity of the Teaching Authority of the Church, the Magisterium, to rightly interpret the Bible for us. But this doesn't really solve anything. We still need to understand and rightly apply the so-called authoritative teaching. Either way, we need a human mediation of divine revelation. Now, is there any disagreement on what the Catholic Church officially teaches among Catholics? If we are honest, of course there is! It is tearing the Church apart in fact.

Thirdly, there is the matter of the verse quoted above. Paul says the faith is a stumbling block, (skandalon), and foolishness, but is the greatest thing ever for those who are called. It seems to me on some level that this amounts to a very betrayal of the skandalon itself. It doesn't make much sense to many I suppose to be looking at scripture this way, but hear me out. To defend my own faith, as an absolute truth claim betrays the stumbling block in the sense that I might condemn others (they haven't received the grace I have), and justify myself, (I am in the club of the truth if you will), by using the scandal of God's revelation to defend my own attitude. Divine revelation ceases to be a scandal for me, (I accept it without scandal), and then proceed to fling it at others...

Just a few thoughts. (I acknowledge my indebtedness to Raimon Panikkar for helping me to sort out some of my ideas.)

Writing as a Christian...

2011-06-21T14:29:00.000-04:00

In keeping with the direction I have decided to take this blog in, this post I write as a Christian. I hope that I have not been misunderstood here. Some have voiced their concerns openly on the blog site, and I appreciate that very much. All are welcome to share their ideas and personal opinions. I never censure anyone. Some others have felt the need to come in the back door with emails to let me know how disappointed or even disgusted they are, and to assure me that God shares their low opinion.of me. To you I say, why not voice your objections right out here in the open? I won't censure anything you write. You are free to say whatever you wish. :-). So, let's get down to it.

I have said in a few earlier posts, that I believe the greatest challenge to securing peace and harmony among nations in this world in the 21st century will be posed by religion. Religion can thankfully function in an opposite capacity as well. It could potentially serve as the greatest force for good in this whole endeavor. The key distinction to be made I think is in how we understand the nature, value and purpose of religion to begin with. In my case, why be a Christian? Why a catholic Christian? Why practice any sort of faith at all? I suppose there are as many answers to these questions as there are people in the world to offer one. For me, I like Luke chapter 6.

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you in the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." - Jesus Christ

Now, for me, and for Christians in general, I ask this. In light of the above, and passages like John 3:16-17, why are we Christians? What is it we hope to gain? Do we understand our faith as medicine for a sickly soul, or as an identity label? Instead of being our chosen path toward discovering our own humanity and an encounter with the Divine Mystery, is it or has it become for some of us a marker which divides, separates and contrasts us with others, placing us in a position of opposition? Christian faith is well known for it's exclusive claims, (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Phil. 2). Couple these claims together with a faith understanding which sees the appropriation of religion as an identity label, and we have a dangerous mix indeed. In a classical Buddhist expression, in such circumstances, the medicine, (ie. Christian faith) has become the poison.

I have seen so much of this over the years. In my own life, and in the lives of many of those around me. A christian faith centered not in the person of Christ himself, (notwithstanding the endless assertions and claims to personal relationship with him), or his incarnation, but centered in a metaphysic and theology of some sort or another. A Jesus we find in books, one we read about endlessly but never encounter. One we can only find in our church. We may choose to not even associate in some cases with those who have the "wrong theology" or metaphysic. All in the name of a Jesus I am more and more convinced we have not yet encountered. At least, I haven't, not in a meaningful substantial way.

Some have.....we call them saints. The scandal for many here is that they come in a variety of religious traditions and garb. They are different, and we all know it. They have said yes to God, paid the mandatory price. They make us uncomfortable. Myself, I am still just playing at it...

Invitation to Dialogue...

2011-06-16T16:11:00.000-04:00

I have decided to start posting on what I think may be the biggest challenge that we as humanity are facing in the 21st century. Me being a religious guy, (of sorts I guess), it shouldn't be any surprise that I think our collective challenge has something to do with religion. LOL! :-) Bare with me though. I don't think our challenge is to fret about whether or not the Catholic Church is truly infallible, or how the Western and Eastern churches will come together, or whether or not the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Jesus Christ or simply a symbol? Is the 2nd coming of Jesus pre-trib, or post trib??? No, I think our challenge goes a little deeper than this. In fact, our survival as a race may be hanging in the balance on this one. No, seriously...

Our world today is truly global. Our technology truly amazing! Just try and imagine a world without the internet, e-mail, i-pod's, globalization, digital camera's, Twitter and Facebook and on and on... The world is getting smaller and smaller. No country in the world can remain untouched by all of this. Sadly though, we are all touched as well by negative aspects of our current situation. Aids, the ecological crisis, world hunger, financial uncertainty, and of course, international terrorism. All of us, regardless of age, sex, race, creed, nationality or whatever, have an equal responsibility to face these challenges together. In light of this, I believe, that our greatest challenge this century will be to simply find a way to peacefully coexist.

"This challenge of peaceful coexistence, I believe, will define the task of humanity in the twenty-first century."

- The Dalai Lama

Now, one area, the key area in my mind, where humanity has a very long history of conflict and hence poses the greatest challenge to our peace and harmony, is religion. We don't have to think very hard or very long to recall the kind and scale of violence that has been committed and justified in the name of God and religion. In the past, the survival of the planet and of our race was not really threatened. Can we say that with any confidence today? Extremists of all stripes, have access to technologies that could spell disaster. That said, I believe that the challenge for religious believing people, of whatever faith tradition, will be to genuinely accept the full worth of faith traditions other than our own. I realize how impossible this will sound to many, but I truly believe that this is an imperative.

So, on that note, I will begin to post here on the questions raised by interreligious dialogue, interspirituality, and religious pluralism. I invite any and all to join me for dialogue. All are welcome, I will censure no one...

A Prayer of Thomas Merton

2011-06-10T23:42:00.000-04:00

I am planning to write some posts here on the questions of "exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism." In other words, the "scandal of particularity." There are so many challenges facing us in the 21st century, and I believe questions surrounding religious convictions will figure prominently. So, I am hoping to set the tone right from the start by posting here a prayer uttered by the late Father Thomas Merton. (You can read about him by clicking on his image over on the right side of the page...) This special closing prayer was offered at the First Spiritual Summit Conference in Calcutta, shortly before his untimely death...

"I will ask you to stand and all join hands in a little while. But first, we realize that we are going to have to create a new language of prayer. And this new language of prayer has to come out of something which transcends all our traditions, and comes out of the immediacy of love. We have to part now, aware of the love that unites us, the love that unites us in spite of real differences, real emotional friction... The things that are on the surface are nothing, what is deep is the Real. We are creatures of love. Let us therefore join hands, as we did before, and I will try to say something that comes out of the depths of our hearts. I ask you to concentrate on the love that is in you, that is in us all. I have no idea what I am going to say. I am going to be silent a minute, and then I will say something..."

"Oh God, we are one with You. You have made us one with You. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, You dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. Oh God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept You, and we thank You, and we adore You, and we love You with our whole being, because our being is in Your being, our spirit is rooted in Your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes You present in the world, and which makes You witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious. Amen."

Straight Up.

2011-06-03T15:50:00.005-04:00

In this post, I have decided to simply speak my mind with no pretentious BS. I am struggling through so many things right now, and maybe some of my friends are wondering where my loyalties and commitments lie. So,.....here goes.

I would consider myself a Christian. My hearts desire is not to "follow" Jesus, but somehow to become one with Him according to his promise. How do I become, actually "become" the very love of God as revealed and expressed in Jesus? Well, that is what the spiritual journey and life are all about. I have abandoned completely the idea that we come closer to God by learning about God. You know, the more books you read, the more you think you know, and the closer we imagine ourselves to be to our imaginary God. At least that was how I once thought. But what are all the books in the world compared with the book of the heart? That is the only book I need to learn to read. As for all of our dogmatic creeds, pronouncements, and dogma, well..... So many of the Church's theological statements, (at least my church, the catholic church), have been framed in the language and philosophy of the Greeks. In and of itself, thats not a bad thing of course. It does present unique challenges though. Much of it was framed by people who lived in a totally different world from the one we live in today. The conceptual world of the ancient Hebrews and Greeks looks and sounds nothing like what the Hubble has revealed to us. When we read our scriptures, creeds, and dogmatic statements, we need to make the necessary translations in our minds. I don't know that everyone is able to do that.

A good example of this failure to translate is the YEC movement, or the "Young Earth Creation" movement. Here are well meaning people forced to defend an outmoded and outdated cosmology in the name of biblical innerrancy. YEC is a theology of the Bible even though it masquerade's as a science. Now there was a time when I too was in the YEC camp, so I must tread lightly and with kindness here. Personally, I had to join the real world, no offense intended to my friends and brothers and sisters who still profess to believe in a 6000 year earth.

I have found a deep appreciation for the scriptures of other faith traditions than my own. The Qur'an, the Upanishads, the Gita, and others. Are they authentic scripture? I guess that would depend again on whatever theology of scripture one holds to. I have grown increasingly uncomfortable with referring to the Bible as "the Word of God." In the Christian tradition, Jesus himself is the Word. The scriptures are part of the tradition of those who encountered the living Word, and bore witness to it. Now have other nations encountered the Mystery and borne witness to it as well, and produced scripture? I would say yes. Now as to where they fit into my faith journey, I still haven't figured that out...

Now I also want to point out that this embracing of other traditions does not mean that I am dumping my own tradition and the form that comes with it. (Christianity/Catholicism). I do not advocate abandoning ones faith tradition or form in the name of some abstract notion of "pure truth." But I do think that we must find a way to transcend our forms, not by neglecting them, but by ascending through them, to arrive at the reality to which they all point. We can all go there, but we will have to pay the mandatory price.

I no longer believe that Muslims or Jews or Hindus or Buddhists or anyone else for that matter need to become Christians in order to participate in the Kingdom of God. Nor should they. In fact I think advocating such things is an act of violence against a person at one of the deepest possible levels of their existence. How many people in the long history of our race will be able to tie their enlightenment/salvation directly to the person of Jesus at the level of personal knowledge? Not the majority I don't think. I suppose I would be seen as a heretic to some, and or a fool to others for saying so, but I just don't think that confining oneself to any one tradition would put us in a position to appreciate the full spiritual patrimony of humanity. God seems to have said and revealed so much to so many...

Where to begin? LOL!

The Questions I am Asking Today...

2011-05-31T10:50:00.000-04:00

Like so many other things in life I suppose, the spiritual life doesn't or at least should not become or remain static. I have never been able to stay in one place for any length of time. I think I have come to realize that as time goes on, we don't end up with or acquire more answers to our spiritual dilemma's, it is our questions that seem to get bigger and more unanswerable. Here is what I am thinking about these days...

When I was originally received into the Catholic Church back in September of 2006, I can now, with hind sight being 20/20 see that the more "American" brand of Catholicism typified by EWTN, simply gave me a sense of that security and assurance I was so desperately seeking. I hadn't really given up my fundamentalism as I mistakenly thought. I had simply found something I believed was stronger and more compelling than the myriad of competing protestant and evangelical claims. I thought I had finally laid to rest the confusion. I had not. At this point in my life though, I no longer feel the need to jump ship. I will work all of this out from right here within the Catholic Church. Although, I must say how much I prefer the Eastern rite to the Latin...;-)

As a christian, I am perplexed by the question of other religions. What is their nature and purpose? I have left far behind the notion that they are simply inventions of men or demons or the like. I have abandoned the idea that all people must be converted and come to believe as I do. In fact I think it would be and act of violence to tell a person that he or she must give up their own religious tradition and adopt another or forever perish. Maybe not physical violence, but spiritual and emotional violence to be sure. My own tradition, Christian, is itself rediscovering the idea that God, is truly unknowable. We cannot perceive God as God truly is. We would have to be God in order to do that. As the eastern Church would say, we can know God only through the "knowledge of unknowing." We can know what God is not, but we cannot know God in a positive sense. This knowledge lies beyond our ability to comprehend. It would stand to reason then that no one group of people or tradition can claim a monopoly on God. Why should we as westerners insist that all people must come to faith in Christ as we understand him? St. John describes Christ as the light coming into the world who gives light to everyone. (John 1:3-4). I have had to lay aside all of my exclusive presuppositions and ideas, and am now somewhere in between inclusivism, the idea that those in other faiths will be saved because of Jesus Christ even if they remain ignorant of him, and pluralism, the idea that God has given many answers, and provided more than one path. It seems outrageous to me that God would accept or reject a person based on whether or not they believed the right thing, especially if believing the right thing is outside our ability.

Equally problematic in my mind is the idea of a morally contingent notion of a blessed afterlife, or the notion that we must do the right things in order to be accepted by God. Is God so pathetic and paranoid that he/she needs to follow us around every waking moment of our lives keeping track of every little thing we do or say waiting for us to draw our last breath in order to hand us the bill for our sins? Morality changes over time. What was once considered holy and or a divinely imposed duty, would cause us to recoil today. Example. I am saddened by that fact that Islam, which is an incredible and beautiful devotion has become so synonymous with violence in the 21st century. Do we Christians have amnesia? Have we forgotten all of the violence in our own history? Sure there is violence in the Qur'an, but not on the scale that we find in our own bible. I am thinking of course of the genocide in the book of Joshua. At God's command, the people go in and kill everything that moves in Canaan. Men, women, children, animals.......all of it. The Qur'an never sanctions this level of violence, NEVER. Now today, we would not condone such an atrocity. But what sort of position were the people of Joshua's day in??? Again, I am not sure what God would say if I were able to ask what he/she thinks of other faith traditions, but I am sure it would shock all of us!

On a more personal note, I have become fascinated by Yoga and the spiritual tradition and womb out of which it came, namely Hinduism. I am reading some of the benedictine monks who went to India and founded Hindu/Catholic Ashrams there. I am reading books by authors who have been or are excommunicated from the Catholic Church. ....oh well. There are a number of links and photos on the right side of this blog. Help yourself if you wish, or not. Where is this leading me I wonder???

Back to Blogger

2011-05-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

Wow, I haven't been here in a while, again... I have been very busy re-evaluating my priorities and making changes in my daily life and practice. I haven't posted much for a while because my head has been spinning. Literally! I have changed my mind about so many things over the last year that I have lost track of it all. But, in and through it all, I have decided to get back into the blogging thing. I am taking this blog in a bit of a new direction, using it as more of a journal if you will. I hope to engage in dialogue with as many as possible! :-) No one need fear to speak their minds while commenting. No one will be censured, and all are welcome here...

I am still hearing about Harold Camping and the failed "rapture" prediction of last Saturday. So many Christians it seems dismissing him as a crackpot comes off as a little unfair to me. This issue of the return of Jesus has been an challenge for us from the very beginning. In the early "Jesus movement" there was an expectation of an immanent return of Jesus to the earth with the Jerusalem Temple serving as the focus of this return. This didn`t materialize. As time went on, there develops a certain 'panic' evident in the Pauline corpus when many of the people waiting for this return, (or "appearing," whichever you prefer), begin to pass on. By the time we get to the later NT writings, for example 2nd Peter chapter 3, there is a certain cynicism beginning to rear its head about the delay. Perhaps many in the Church had become disillusioned and had left the new faith??? In the likewise later Pastoral epistles, we are beginning to see the development of hierarchy and formal church government. By the 1st decade of the 2nd century with Ignatius of Antioch we find a full blown Catholicism. I think key to this process is the sacking of the Temple in 70 CE or thereabouts and the continued failure of Jesus to appear! The Church had to switch gears and settle in for the long haul. Unfortunately this also signalled the end of the more charismatic form of church governance and worship. The point is, this is nothing new, it is as old as the faith itself,...let`s cut him a little slack.

As for where I am personally, and where I am trying to go, well that will have to wait for the next post...:-)

First Steps in a New Direction...

2011-03-05T13:32:00.001-05:00

The following quote is taken from Russill Paul's book, "Jesus in the Lotus: The Mystical Doorway between Christianity and Yogic Spirituality", pg 188-189.

"For us to become instruments of peace, that is, to embody the message of Jesus, we need to be free from any ambition of expanding our boundaries and increasing our numbers as Christians. For this to happen, we have to see everyone already in the kingdom of God and help them to discover this truth. This means renouncing religious conversion, for where there is mission to convert there is a sort of violence, a violation of someone else's identity and core belief. This interior perspective of violence prevents us from becoming true instruments of peace.

To be instruments of peace in our world, we need to become spiritual liberators, and this requires that we stop being spiritual colonizers. Jesus was not a spiritual colonizer who wished to convert people to his authority and rule them. He was a spiritual liberator who came to make people free with his truth. Jesus emphatically proclaimed that "The Truth will make you free" (John 8:14-150, and "I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father" (John 15:15).

The way to becoming a spiritual liberator requires that we make the transition from being believers to becoming seekers, for remaining on the level of belief is the main source of conflict and violence. Jesus said, "Seek you first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all things will be given unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Believing is only the starting point. Furthermore, we also need to have an inclusive vision of being Christian: a Christian is not someone who believes in Christ alone but someone who extends that belief to everyone who is searching for Truth or God or the kingdom of God.

- John Martin Sahajananda, Mission Without Conversion: O Lord Make us Instruments of Peace - An Open Letter to Christians (Saccinananda Ashram, India).

Click here to read full article.

BOOK REVIEW "Second Chance" by: Sandra Gerencher

2011-01-21T20:42:00.000-05:00

I have never written a book review before. So please bear in mind that this is my first foray into uncharted waters! :-) I was pleased to have been invited to participate, and have enjoyed the book immensely! So....here goes...

Second Chance is a wonderful little children's book written by Sandra Gerencher. (See bio below). In my family, it was a particularly timely one as well which I will explain later.

"Second Chance" follows the story of a little dog named "Chance" who like his human friend and new owner Ryan has been adopted. Ryan is a little boy with Autism, facing all of the challenges that come with it. He is very excited to have a new puppy to call his own. This little book is heartwarming in many ways, but also challenging. If we will allow, it will lead us to ask ourselves many questions about family, friendship, and most importantly, love. Along these lines, the most mysterious, enchanting and moving part of the story, is the unexpected dialogue between Chance and Ryan....but I'll leave the details for the readers! ;-)

The mom in this story is pretty special indeed. She shows us a love that goes beyond the stereotypical and lazy/self-serving notions so rampant today, and instead invites us to contemplate a love that is self-effacing, giving, and seeking out sacrifice for the sake of others. The real charm of this book is not only that "mom" loves Ryan, which isn't so odd, but that she recognizes in this little boy his ability to love as well. For me, this little book is full of heart!

On a personal note, just before Christmas, my little son and daughter fell ill with the flu. On our trip to the pediatrician, we encountered some young adults who were mentally challenged, and behaving loudly and strangely, at least strangely in the eyes of my little ones. They were there taking part in a program of some sort. My little girl to become frightened. Afterward we had a long talk about how special and unique these people truly are, and how much God loves each and every one of us exactly as we are. "What is wrong with them?" she asked me. "Nothing..." I replied. "Why are they like that?" she asked. "Because God likes them this way..." I replied. "Why doesn't God fix them?" she asked. "Because in God's eyes they are not broken" I replied. Having now read "Second Chance" with her, she has come to appreciate the fact that for all their "strange" behavior, they are simply friends we haven't met yet...

My daughter said to me, "daddy, can we buy this book so that I can read it any time I want, and have it on my book shelf to read?" I guess in the end, the review of a seven year old little girl is better than anything I can write about it!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Sandra J. Gerencher Bio:

Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).

Book Website (Just Click)

I Love This Quote...

2010-11-27T16:43:00.000-05:00

I came across this quote from a Benedictine this past week while reading a book called "The Sacrament of Easter" by Roger Greenacre and Jeremy Haselock, both Anglicans...

"The Christian Church must affirm with the greatest realism in its teaching and liturgy the positive value of all that led up to our redemption by Christ in the fullness of time. This involves giving full weight to the privileged witness of the Old Testament, for "salvation comes from the Jews" (John 4:22), but without ignoring the work of God in the rest of humanity. The words of Dame Maria Boulding, a Benedictine of Stanbrook Abbey, can help us to glimpse the wider perspective and perhaps even to be reconciled to our pagan word 'Easter':

Christ died and rose in the spring, fulfilling the hope of the Jewish Passover feast which directly and primarily commemorated the exodus from Egypt. But behind the Passover stood ancient spring rituals, the sacrifice of spring lambs to ensure the fertility of the flock and the offering of the first sheaf of corn. Outside the chosen people the myths of death and rebirth were very powerful: the memories of the king who had to be sacrificed for the people, and the resurrection of the spring god as vegetation and crops were reborn after the death of winter. They were all vindicated in Christ's passover, those worshippers of Tamuz and Adonis and Osiris, the initiates of the mysteries that promised immortality, the Indo-Aryans who had rejoiced as Agni, their fire god, sprang from the soft wood, and all those who through the ages had projected their hopes "into gods of unbearable beauty that broke the hearts of men." They are with us still, hiding in the shadows as we celebrate Easter night with new fire and water, the bread and the wine, because no fragment of truth, no gleam of beauty, no act of heroism or kindness or prayer can be finally lost."

Still Wandering...

2010-10-17T16:14:00.001-04:00

Well....I continue to wander around a little bit. Always careful not to play to many of my cards. I figure if I did, many people who perhaps think well of me now, won't if I say to much....;-)

I have learned that there is a place for disagreement in the catholic church. There is, although it may get you in trouble! I am not overly concerned any more though. To be perfectly honest, I am enjoying renewing my ties and relationships with those in my former faith communities. My "catholicism" is broadening to include many more than simply "Latin Rite or Roman Catholics." I always tried to embrace a larger vision, but that vision is really starting to expand.

So, although I haven't written much lately here in this page, I am finding myself with more things to say these days. Much to share,...not sure how it will go over though. It's funny really,....there are those outside of the Roman Church who I would consider more my brothers and sisters in the faith than some of the people standing next to me on Sunday mornings at Liturgy.

Anyway, I hope I am able to get some dialogue going here one of these days...

Decesions Decisions.....

2010-09-11T12:40:00.001-04:00

Well....I have been away for about a month now. At least from the blog. I have been trying to collect my thoughts and come up with something worth writing about. My journey of faith continues to take twists and turns and I have given up trying to figure out where this is all going. I am instead going to enjoy the ride!

For many who know me, I have an extensive background in "the faith." From my early days back in the early 90's with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, to my venture into just about every variation of Protestantism I could discover, to my time in Eastern Orthodoxy to finally the Catholic faith and Church in 2006 to the present. It has been an interesting journey so far as I look back and reflect. So where am I now??? Hmmmm....good question.

When I originally came into the Catholic faith I was carrying a lot of baggage from my more "fundamentalist" days. It is by no means my intention to put down the fundamentalists here. What originally attracted me to the Catholic Church in the beginning I think was this aura of certainty that she seems to project, (one that I have decided is more apparent than genuine.) I was exposed to EWTN and the American brand of Catholic fundamentalism. Again, no insult intended here. :-) My confusion and bewilderment with Protestantism was answered by the certainty of the "WE are THE Church!" All others are faith communities, founded by men. What I didn't realize when I originally bought the goods, was that I wasn't really leaving fundamentalism, I had simply redirected or inverted my frame of reference.Things have changed over time though.... Things have really changed...

I have found out just how intolerant Catholics can be, first and foremost being me... Intolerance isn't unique to us of course, but we have more than our fair share. Willful ignorance, incredulity, and sticking our fingers in our ears to avoid hearing things that may just challenge our presuppositions and most cherished sacred cows are also present in abundance. I have wrestled over the last little while, wrestled with some of the historic practices, claims, and countless departures from tradition that the Church I love has inflicted on the world, herself and her faithful over the centuries. In fact, I am very sympathetic to the Eastern Church and her objections levelled against us. Is it possible also to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit in the Enlightenment? Does it really help us as Catholics and as a Church, or help those that we keep apologizing to, for example the world, ie. the victims of priestly abuse, to the Jewish people, to the Eastern Church and to whoever else for all of the atrocities we have committed over the centuries, and in the next breath claim that the Catholic Church is Christ's Church and not to be worried, we are ready now to be infallible all over again? I am not trying to sound sarcastic here, just honest questions....

So, what am I to do? Well, I have no intention of jumping ship, either into Eastern Orthodoxy, (although I think she has preserved the Catholic Tradition far more faithfully than the wayward western Church) or back into some sort of Protestantism or Evangelicalism. That simply doesn't interest me. I will live out the tensions right here in the Catholic Church, but seek to express my faith in a much more Eastern way. There are Eastern Catholic Churches after all. Not all Catholics are Roman Catholics, and I guess I don't consider myself one either. I think in a more Eastern Catholic garb I can be more honest to myself and to my friends and family and live out the theological tensions I find myself having to carry. I have also decided to appreciate my Evangelical and Pentecostal roots a little bit more. I see no need to make the clean break so to speak.

So, I guess I would say that I am Catholic, in communion with Rome, but not Roman, Orthodox, but not Eastern, and Evangelical, but not Protestant. An EvangeliCathoDox I guess??? :-) LOL!!!

And So It Begins...

2010-08-10T20:28:00.001-04:00

For some time now I have been reading and reflecting on the so-called "spiritual life." It has been an interesting time and I have had opportunity to read many different authors from Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen, to some more obscure writers, at least obscure to westerners, from the Orthodox tradition. Most interesting are the Monks of Mount Athos in Greece...

For many months I have been aware of a few things. Firstly, these kinds of writers can be very helpful in pointing out the way, but that is about as much as they can do. Eventually we must strike out on our own journey of faith. It sounds like it will be a lonely one. Secondly, I am in need of much preparation if I am to to predispose myself to receive the gift of prayer. To enter into the inner sanctuary, the one not built with hands, the heart, and from there offer pure spiritual worship and sacrifice......hmmmmmm.....daunting. I am far to carnal for that.

I have to start somewhere though. And without a spiritual director and experienced guide, it will take much time, much effort, and a lot of pain and tears. Where to even begin? This blog will be my outlet throughout this journey. I am not kidding myself, it will take years and years to make any sort of ascension. The temptations will be many. In fact, I think I am already aware of the first I am to encounter. Throughout the process of mortification, it seems that the first temptation that I have encountered is simply to feel sorry for myself in my self-denial, which is very limited to begin with anyway. From there, I feel prone to seeking out the praises of others for my so-called spiritual efforts, and finally to get others to feel pity for me and offer me some consolation. This one was easy to identify....I realize that others won't be. How do I seek my consolation in Christ alone?

So.....it begins. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner......Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.....Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have.................

Checkmate!!!

2010-07-11T19:33:00.001-04:00

Today, my family and I went to visit my grandmother. We celebrated her 100th birthday last January. Sadly, it seems as thought it has been all downhill since then. She lived on her own, in her own house, which she and my grandfather purchased back in 1945, until she was 98. Now.....she lives in a nursing home... We tried to convince her to come and live here with us, with 24hr in house nursing of course, but she was unwilling. As much as I love my grandmother, I find visits with her now are deeply depressing. She is so lonely, yet so unwilling to change her situation...

Today, during our visist, my little son and I decided to play a game of chess. He has really taken an interest in the game! Now, he is only 5, so it isn't as though he has mastered the King's Indian or anything like that. In fact, I end up talking him through most of his moves! (LOL). Today, I talked him through a series of moves that ultimately ended up in his delivering his first ever Checkmate! He was elated! He had beaten his daddy! ;-)

He asked me to take this picture for posterity....

Way to go little buddy!!!

A Guest Post From Cameron Fairlie

2010-07-05T23:03:00.007-04:00

The following is a guest post cut-and-pasted with permission from a facebook note posted by my good friend Cameron. Hope you enjoy...

The reason I am writing this is not to scandalize anyone or to try to justify myself. Everyone has their personal struggles in life's journey and deals with it in their own way. My way has always been to write it out on paper and reflect seriously and honestly on the subject at hand. This is what I am doing.

For years I've been searching for the deeper meaning of existence; the ultimate Mystery of why we're here on this Earth, why things exist to begin with and what the answers entail for such daunting questions which have pondered in every heart since the dawn of man. As an Anglican, I was raised with an example of unconditional love for all of mankind, regardless of social standing, racial ethnicity, religion etc. The sense of Mystery was left to Itself and not hindered by any over-use in Dogmatic explanations of belief. I remember singing in the choir at Christ Church Cathedral and every Sunday processing up the aisle as the head chorister, feeling overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of beauty as I stared at the carved wooden Altar with a statue of Jesus- His compassionate arms open to the world.

My image of God changed when I joined the ultra conservative Fundamentalists, who believed anyone who didn't "accept Jesus as their personal Savior" was going to Hell. This was an angry God, a God of revenge and wrath for anyone who refused to pray through "the sinners prayer" and be saved from the fiery torments of a literal Hell. This was a God of many conditions, rules and regulations in order to remain "unpolluted" by everyone else. This period of time was extremely trying for my family. I disowned them along with everyone else who didn't believe in many things including: the world being created in 6,000 years, Homosexuals being excluded from Heaven, the Catholic Church being the Whore of Babylon and therefore a wicked unChristian institution, every non-Christian, secular or religious, going straight to Hell. With tears, I would say I am still recovering from the amount of pain and heartache I caused those closest to me, including my father, whom I shattered my Anglican Confirmation certificate in front of him. The same father who by his own hand Baptized me.

When I became a Catholic in 2005, I carried that baggage with me. Indeed, I no longer believed everyone who wasn't a Christian was going to Hell and threw out the idea that the love of God for man depended on his beliefs and behavior. That being said, I also believed that if you committed a "Mortal Sin" and received Communion it was Sacrilege , that Protestants were pagans and to be distrusted, that Anglicanism was a "sinking ship" due to some progressive trends like women priests and the questioning of blessing same sex marriages. I still believe in traditional marriage, but question the other stuff. Basically, I was still extremely judgmental and always...I mean ALWAYS had to win debates with those who had any opposition to the Catholic faith. On top of this, my conscience was constantly in agony over whether or not I had sinned: "I looked at her body!! Oh man I swore under my breath 4 times!! Shit, I had an evil thought about punching that asshole in the mouth!" On and on, Confession after Confession it went and I was miserable because I was never at peace. This was no different from my attitude as a Fundamentalist: believing in God out of fear instead of conviction.

Sometimes my parents remind me of some of the good that came from my Fundamentalist days in high-school: I stayed away from booze and drugs (with the exception of weed once in grade 11) and sex. Instead, I ran to prayer meetings during lunch hour and became involved with Bible studies and young adults at the Metropolitan Bible Church. While people were at house parties getting wasted and "getting laid", I would be "slain in the spirit" every Saturday night at the Pentecostal youth group at City Church in Vanier and go into spiritual ecstasy....laughing, crying, shouting out loud with the pastor laying hands on everyone screaming "fire of the Holy Ghost!!!! FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!!" I look back and think "what the f&@* was I thinking? I understand my parents point, but you can't live behind a glass wall of protection forever. The real world will hit you between the eyes eventually.

Now I am in a place where I do not know what I believe anymore. It's hard to believe a few months ago I was discerning the priesthood and now I am questioning if I am even a theist or agnostic. There are those I know who believe I am unsaved or was never saved to begin with.....there are others who believe I need to pray more and attend Mass. Yet none of these things help. Why are Countries like Haiti devastated? Where is God in the midst of it? Why has he allowed a close friend of mine to go through utter misery and emotional Hell? There are Rabbis, priests, pastors and literary geniuses like C.S Lewis who have attempted to answer this question. Yet the human heart knows too much pain to accept a mere intellectual answer, including myself. So I'll ask for your prayers during this time of spiritual examination and possible transition. I am going to re-examine my roots in Anglicanism. Perhaps I'll end up back in the Cathedral, contemplating the same statue which spoke to me: "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy with burdens, and I will give you rest." In the midst of the world's chaos, this is the God that speaks to my innermost being.

Cam

Always Starting Over it Seems

2010-06-23T20:01:00.002-04:00

It seems I am always starting over. Things change, friends come and go. I am once again at a bit of a crossroads. I have some decisions to make...

Sometimes it is so easy. Other times, making the right, or at least a good decision seems to elude me. It is amazing to me how quickly things can change. Events can change our opinions and interests. I don't think I have decided that it is time to end any associations, far from it. But, it may be time to think about new approaches to old problems in my life.

I desire solitude, real inner solitude. How though? If I were to embark on climbing Mount Everest, I would not even think about such a thing without an experienced guide. That would be suicide. In our spiritual journey, the same applies I believe. How do we find good direction from experienced "spiritual climbers.".......I don't know.....

Books are nice, but they can only point the way. We must strike out on our own very lonely, very difficult journey of self confrontation. Without a guide though??? So many pitfalls.

Still reflecting....

Check This Out...

2010-06-11T19:35:00.005-04:00

I just read a great post on my friend Frank Emanuel's blog. Check it out.

OK, I'm Back...

2010-06-10T17:53:00.004-04:00

I have been away from the blog for a while now. I have been writing quite a bit for the "other: blog, RCIA @ St. Monica's, but I haven't been around here for a while. So.......I guess I'm back!

Just a few moments ago I learned that a recent new friend I met through Frank Emanuel and the Freedom Vineyard has been denied attending Bible Camp, because she is gay. I don't know any specifics of this situation having only read about it on facebook. It does however raise a few questions in my mind...

This issue (if I can be permitted to use this crass kind of language, we are talking about human beings here after all!) of sexual orientation is front and centre right now in the media so to speak, and certainly within the boundaries of Christianity. What should we make of it? I know there are extreme positions on either side of this one. I myself personally don't really know what to think...

In my more fundamentalist days it would have been easy I guess. I would have treated my friend, (I really don't know this person very well, but I hope to! :-) in pretty much the same manner as this "Bible Camp" has treated her. For me, those days are gone, thankfully.... Still, I find it difficult to think through this one.

So....I wonder???? Are there any readers here who would like to engage in a discussion centered on this topic? I now that there are friends of mine who are openly engaging in this discussion, and I find that fascinating and exciting! I applaud their work! Is there any interest here in having this discussion??? I hope so!

I'm listening....

More Blessed to Give, Seemingly Impossible to Receive...

2010-04-22T16:26:00.007-04:00

I have been away from this blog for a few weeks. My life has gotten a little hectic. Last week-end, my wife's family came to spend a few nights with us. In total, 4 people, and a little adorable dog. The week-end offered some interesting moments, and as well, provided me with a few things to reflect about. Pride of place has to be given to the observation I have made about myself, as well as those around me, (in this case my family), that it seems very difficult indeed for us to receive love from others. Why is that I wonder???...... I was provided with a wonderful example when it came to meal times...

"The brothers should serve one another. Therefore no one may be excused from kitchen duty except for illness or occupation with an essential task, for thus is merit increased and love built up." -Rule of Saint Benedict 35:1-2.

It is always interesting around our home when meal time comes. I happen to be very much inclined to prepare food, and to serve my family. I do it not because it has to be done and someone has to do it, but rather to serve them in love. It may sound corny, but part of the love and hospitality I want to show to the family is to prepare the meals and to serve them. The Benedictine way is one of humility in service and hospitality. On a practical level it seems to make obvious sense as well. If we all wish to sit down together and share a table of intimate fellowship, then it would seem to be a no brainer that someone, one at least, will have to serve the rest. I personally like to fill that role. I enjoy taking care of my guests in this way.

It becomes extremely difficult though when the family refuses to let that happen. "Mike, come and sit down! You have done enough!!! Please, sit with us, and eat. You must be starving!!!" I can appreciate their motives, at least on the surface. But what happens when I do that? Well.....without fail, someone needs something every 30 seconds or so. Salt, pepper, water, paper towel, glass, clean fork and so forth. In a spirit of generosity, they will refuse to let me get for them what they need, and insist on getting it themselves. After a few minutes, and more than one person realizes that they need something, guess what! They are all in my kitchen searching for what they need. Inevitably, they all begin to ask me, "Mike, where is the salt?" "Mike, where are the glasses?" "Mike, where are the steak knives?" I end up going into the kitchen to find all of these items, and now no one, NO ONE is sitting at the beautiful table lit by candlelight anymore. The intimacy is gone, the fellowship interrupted, all because we refuse to let one show love through service to the others. Why???.....

My grandmother just celebrated her 100th birthday last January. Sadly, her health has declined drastically over the last few months. Amazingly, she too it seems is either unable or unwilling to receive love from her family. We pleaded with her to come and live with us. We would have been happy to have home nursing care for her......She is unwilling. Unwilling to be a "burden" on her family. She seems averse even to our visits with her insisting that it is too much trouble for us and that we shouldn't waste our time with her. I shake my head. Why???...

My immediate family are some of the most generous people with money you will ever meet. And yet, they refuse to allow others to show them kindness in return. Why???...

I often wonder why it is that people (including myself) find it so difficult to receive love from others. Do we vainly imagine ourselves to loving to generous and kind to possibly allow others to be as kind, generous and loving?

As Christians we often think about the love of God, the love of Christ in giving Himself on our behalf. But I seem to remember a few occasions where the Son received love and devotion from us. Remember the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears? Remember the woman who anointed Him with the expensive oil before His passion? Remember the crowds who welcomed Him as He entered Jerusalem? Jesus welcomed their acts of devotion and love, despite the objections of others. In contrast, remember when Our Lord stooped down to wash the feet of Peter,........and he refused???.........

If Our Lord really is the measure of humanity, and He not only reveals perfectly the Father to us, but also reveals us to ourselves, then we ought to ask ourselves the very real question of whether or not we are capable of receiving love and why? Is there to much inner conflict and hostility towards others for that?...

Reflecting.........

Expanding My Listening...

2010-03-23T09:11:00.008-04:00

I have just finished a wonderful little book entitled "Voices of Silence, Lives of the Trappists Today" by Frank Bianco. Long story short, Bianco was granted permission to stay in a couple of Trappist (Benedictine) monasteries and granted permission also to interview the monks behind the walls of the cloister. What I read there shifted my thoughts and preconceived ideas about monastic life. It can be just as "nutty" in there as it is out here! I guess people are people everywhere you go, even within a monastery.

The book has challenged me to think and reflect about some things. Lately I have been aware of something going on inside of me. An inner movement towards a stance of listening. I talk to much, and have to many opinions about pretty much everything. I think in many ways as we encounter God, we may think that as a result of this encounter we end up doing theology. Of course we do, but I am finding that I am doing more anthropology. An encounter with God gives us self-knowledge, and self-knowledge is not always welcomed.

In my own Church, which is the Catholic Church, there is so much in way of division right now. Conservatives rush to condemn those who are to liberal. Liberals, while extolling the virtue of tolerance seem to deny this to conservatives and imply that conservatives must change. Bianco's book reveals these same struggles taking place within the walls of monasteries as they do out out here. Some of the monks are absolutely opposed to anything and everything. We can find brothers and sisters like this in our parishes. Others are open to anything and everything, and again we know brothers and sisters of like mind. In my experience, having found myself on different sides of this fence over the years, these two groups seem more alike than they are different...

Those who know me know the story of my journey into the Catholic faith. I started out in the Pentecostal Church in 1992, and after having left them, travelled a very long and difficult journey through the world's of Protestantism, Evangelicalism, and Eastern Orthodoxy, before being received into the Catholic Church in 2006. The challenge for me brought to bear just last week is that within my own family, Catholics have left the Catholic Church and joined the Pentecostals. My own tradition that I have come to love deeply, didn't seem to do anything for them. In fact, they seem to have encountered Christ "over there" so to speak. Is God among the Pentecostals?....Of course He is. He is also among the Buddhists, and the Hindus and Muslims for that matter. I don't think that He is present in the same way. The revelation of God in Jesus Christ is I believe definitive and unique. But.....He has and does continue to show His face to those outside of my tradition and faith as well. Do my former communities like the Pentecostals and Evangelicals still have anything to teach me? Absolutely. I am realizing that more and more... Do I have anything to learn from other religions? Again, the answer is a resounding yes.......Plenty I'm sure...Am I listening????

Back to my own tradition. With the shortage of priests today, at least in North America, we are crying out to God almost frantically for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. And I guess we should. But what about the voices of those who are crying out to allow Priests to Marry? Are we listening to those voices? Should we listen to them? They are getting louder. What about the Feminist voice in the Church? Again....do we simply ignore them? Should we listen to them? Are we listening to them? What might the Spirit be saying to the Church through them?........I have no idea. But I do think we should be listening....

Lord, please give us ears to hear, and hearts that will listen......

Ouch!!!...

2010-03-05T15:11:00.007-05:00

This week was a very difficult one for me. Ill family has taken a turn for the worst, and I once again had the rather unpleasant experience of finding out that in our personal relationships, all is not necessarily as it seems. For the last few years I formed, or at least I thought I had formed and was continuing to form a good friendship. For the second time in a year though, I found out to my surprise and shock that my friend didn't have a very kind opinion of me at all.

On Wednesday I received an e-mail, an e-mail!!!, informing me that there was no need to continue asking when might be a good time to get together. The "hangin' out" sessions were over. The reason?, I am a "theological bully." You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was stunned. Not that I had been called a name, that is nothing new. In fact I think there was a time when the title would have suited me, to my shame of course. I can be honest and say that there was a time in my life when I was an abusive know-it-all jerk who made others feel more than a little uncomfortable around me. In my delusion, I probably thought I was doing them a favor with my over the top intolerant antics. I'm not so sure the title would stick to me so easily today though. It may,.....I'm don't know......but I would hope that it would at least be much more difficult to make it stick. I would hope further that as time goes on, it won't stick at all anymore...I hope, I pray..... No, I was crushed, literally crushed that someone I considered a good friend and confidant, would blow me off so suddenly and so easily....

What surprised me about this was that there was really no indication that my friend felt this way. I thought we were getting along well, I thought we were friends...Needless to say, this sent me into an emotional tail spin! I was shocked, and had to face an explosive internal struggle. I spent most of Thursday saddled with grief... Sometimes, the false self, the inauthentic self, you know the one, the part of us that reacts in fear with feelings of anger and resentment, instead of our authentic self that may or may not choose to respond in love, were in deep inner conflict within me this week. My false self so wants to make a play here! And I suppose I could offer up a whole slew of cliches about responding in love and make everyone sick, so I won't bother with any of that either.

So, having had some time to think about it, and internalize it, I'll offer a few thoughts here. First of all, my friend told me in the e-mail how much they didn't like doing this, knowing how it feels to be on the other end of it. It would seem that although they may have been on the other end, they have forgotten what it was like... This isn't the first time I have been called a "bully," and I know that I have been one in the past. The question I am struggling with now is, am I still??? I continue also to struggle with these feelings of entitlement. That somehow I deserved better than this. Maybe I did, but is that really the point here? Is my friend obligated to me? In the end, I guess they are free to decide who they wish to associate with and who not to associate with. I think however I would have appreciated some honesty and straightforwardness to an e-mail slandering me, calling me names and giving me no opportunity to respond, or ask any questions. And although my friend assures me that this is done in Christian charity, it feels rather insincere, not to mention immature.

I have decided that I will give no place to making any personal judgements about my friend. I don't know the inner mystery that is another person, and so I really don't know what brought this all about. It seems I will not be given opportunity to ask either. I have learned a very valuable lesson here though. I will be very careful to make every effort to avoid doing this to someone else. It is extremely hurtful, and unabashedly self serving.

At the end of the day I feel more comfortable resigning myself to the idea that the error in judgement here is mine. I guess I misread and totally misinterpreted the nature of our friendship. Was I mislead?.......maybe.........I don't know??? I'm more comfortable though, as I said, believing that it was me who simply misunderstood this whole situation.

I don't think my friend visits this site, but on the off chance that you are reading this, I want you to know that I do think you are a good person. I will miss hangin' out with you. I am saddened that you were either unable or unwilling for whatever reason to be upfront and honest with me, maybe to have said something sooner and treated me like a friend. Nevertheless, I wish you well... I will remember you in my prayers, and would hope that you will do the same for me.

Thanks for the great times....

I Passed Up the Opportunity

2010-02-23T20:21:00.000-05:00

Today, at about 12:05pm I saw Jesus. He was wearing one of His disguises of course, this time dressed as a rough and down and out youth standing on a street corner begging for small change. Sometimes When He wears the total "wino" disguise and is sleeping on a street corner lying in puddles and piles of His own filth He almost fools me. But today it was obvious that it was Him...

He invited me...He invited me to get out of my bus, and give Him the few dollars I had that I was planning to buy a small lunch with. He invited me to give this young youth my lunch money... I knew that He was inviting me to fast... Inviting me to an opportunity for true fasting.....an opportunity to participate in His redeeming love....

I passed it up......I said no.....because I was to damn proud to get out of my bus....in front of people and offer the young man, offer Him some lunch....my pride stopped me.....and I drove away and left Him there alone and hungry.

And now as I write this, I am overcome with emotion...He is inviting me to dialogue with Him about the true meaning of fasting....I am afraid...

I'm Still Just Playing Games...

2010-02-21T13:58:00.003-05:00

I'm so tired of playing games. I think our capacity to deceive ourselves is greater than any of us imagines. I honestly believe that I have heard the call of God if you will. Heard his word, and have struggled to respond. I can be such a contradiction sometimes though...

Within in me there is a genuine desire to reach out to my neighbour, to love, and to receive the other. Simultaneously, there is this inner resentment and even outright anger towards other people...??? Why? How can that be? Why is it that one moment I may find myself ready, willing and eager to help someone in need, and the very next moment be suspicious and defensive towards someone else who reaches out and makes a demand on my love?

I think I have known for a long time now that it was time for me to take a journey. An interior journey of self knowledge. How the hell am I supposed to take responsibility for my own life right now, when I have never been willing to do it before? I think I deceived myself into thinking I had... But who am I really? Over the years, I have read so many books on the "spiritual life." I am a Benedictine Oblate... I love Thomas Merton, Henri le Saux, Henri Nouwen, Jean Vanier and so many others. In the end though isn't it easier for us just to read about it? The realization that all of that can be helpful, but that ultimately each has to discover and set out upon his or her own lonely path is frightening... At least to me.

I guess I just find myself totally unsatisfied with saying this author said this or that author said that... What on earth do I say? Who am I? Is it finally time to set out on my own journey, or am I as full of $hi+ as I have always been, and this post simply a way to patronize myself into thinking I am actually doing something???....

Know thyself isn't as simple as it may at first seem...

Vatican 2: Some Thoughts on Implications

2010-02-02T15:18:00.018-05:00

The second Vatican Council was and continues to be a source of strife among Catholics. We hear so much these days about how the Council should be interpreted, either as a 'hermeneutic of reform,' or as a 'hermeneutic of discontinuity.' I have personally come face to face with the fruit of both of these hermeneutics. What I have come to realize over the last little while though as I ponder all of this is that I am not nearly as intelligent nor well informed as I was once willing to flatter myself with. This blog really has become simple ramblings from a simple guy struggling and stumbling towards God and Mystery...So, I will offer only a few thoughts knowing they will be in all likelihood dispatched with rather quickly...I am not trying vainly to sound humble either. I have just come to realize that there a gaping holes in my areas of study and reading. I have done far to much reading and research in a vacuum. I am at long last becoming more historically minded, I think...(lol).

One area of thought that I think was thoroughly overhauled and witnessed a return to a more historical framework was that of Divine Revelation. In the time before the second Vatican council, the Catholic Church entertained a much more 'propositional view' of divine revelation. In other words, divine revelation was seen as sort of dropping out of the sky as a series of files in a filing cabinet so to speak. This 'deposit' was entrusted to the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him and they alone were seen as the sole guardians and interpreters of this 'deposit.' The Pope and the Bishops alone were seen as the 'teaching Church' while everyone else was seen as the 'learning church.' ( I realize I am oversimplifying here :-)! Handing on the faith, and learning the faith involved opening the cabinet and mastering all of the files. This view fits well in a more fundamentalist framework where the faith is understood as "Articles of Faith." It didn't seem to fit well with the ancient way of understanding the faith as 'creedo.' A good example of this today is the current Catechism of 1994. The catechism is set up in four sections as was the ancient practice, with a view to the fact that as Catholic Christians we 1. Profess the faith, 2. Live it in fraternal sharing, 3. Celebrate it in the liturgy, and 4. Celebrate it in prayer.

The second Vatican Council returned to and opened up a fresh understanding of Divine Revelation as much more 'dynamic.' Dei Verbum offered a biblically informed presentation of divine revelation as nothing less than God giving himself to humanity in love. It sought to replace the idea that revelation is a body of information about God, to instead revelation being a living encounter with God. The eternal word that God shares with us, all of humanity, is received into our hearts and being by the Holy Spirit. On that note, I think Vatican II also saw a shift in the Catholic Church's Pneumatology. The council did not limit the work of the Holy Spirit to ensuring the efficacy of the sacraments and empowering church office. The vision of Vatican II saw a Church wholly empowered and animated by the Spirit of God, who bestowed both hierarchic and, AND charismatic gifts. So what is my point? To ask the question of whether or not there is a place for disagreement within the Church in light of the new and much larger parameters set at Vatican II?

If, as I believe the council points to, we respond to the divine revelation first as an encounter with God, then the question of true catholic identity cannot be reduced simply to adherence to one or another of the Church's teachings. True Catholic identity should be shaped by our willingness or unwillingness as the case may be, to be addressed by God in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now this address I admit comes to us through the teaching office of the Church herself. BUT, it should also be shaped by sacred scripture, by the lives of the saints who have borne witness to the faith, by faithful celebration of the sacraments and entering into the Mystery of Christ. It should also be shaped by fasting, prayer, visiting the sick, the imprisoned, the destitute...

I don't think post Vatican II Catholic faith is a break with the past at all, nor the over-enthusiastic seeking of novelties. I do think that Vatican II was a determination on the part of the bishop's of the time to bring the Catholic Church into the modern world in terms of it's faith and practice, and at the same time to return to the historical sources of the faith and recover some of that which had been lost, while holding and continuing to hold the two in tension...Of course, I am no expert though...

Encounters on the Street Corner

2010-01-22T18:06:00.004-05:00

This past week I had the pleasure, (or maybe displeasure) of stumbling across a couple of street preachers at the Rideau Centre. There were two ladies there, one was preaching quite vocally, and the other was standing there handing out booklets to anyone who would take them. Being a retired street preacher, (lol), I decided to approach them and find out what they were all about.

As I approached, the one lady offered me a copy of the booklet they were handing out. After glancing at it quickly I recognized these teachings as those of the 7th Day Adventists. There was a catch though, these were the REFORMED 7th Day Adventists! WOW! How many more reformations do we really need? So......I decided to strike up a conversation with the first lady about this booklet.

The preaching seemed to be aimed at Christians outside of their particular camp. Condemnation of Sunday worship, condemnation of, well,....everything Catholic for sure, and Orthodox for that matter. And condemnation for Protestants as well. I decided to share a little bit of my faith journey with the first lady, and told her about my journey into the Catholic Church. Well.....the gloves came off. The second lady, the preacher came over to let me know in no uncertain terms that I am an idolater, that all Catholics are idolaters, and that the Catholic Church willfully and wrongfully distorts the "truth" about everything under the sun. (I realize some of the readers here may share these sentiments...).

So, I asked her if I might be able to show her something she may find interesting in the Bible she was holding up as she preached. "NO!" was the response as she backed away from me. I was a little surprised, and reiterated, "I would just like to open the scriptures and show you something if I could." At this point she came right up into my face and declared rather forcefully I might add, "YOU CAN BELIEVE WHATEVER LIES YOU WANT TO, WE ARE PREACHING THE TRUTH!!!!!" And with that she told me "WE ARE DOING THE WORK OF GOD, NOW GET OUT OF HERE!" It later dawned on me that she probably saw me as some sort of demonic intruder there to thwart the "work of God." I say that because there was a time in my street preaching days when I would have said and done the same thing. All in the name of God......astonishing.

Now it occurred to me in the course of this encounter, that I have Catholic friends who also like to label others as heretics and so forth. I wondered to myself, what would happen if I put some of these people in the same room? In all likelihood they would call each other names, dismiss each other, and maybe even allow tempers to flare and let the situation get completely out of hand. People who claim to believe in the Lord Jesus, who call upon his name, writing each other off in absolute disgust....I can just see it........

God help us....

Bulwarks of Belief Cont'd, 5-6: Michael Samson

2010-01-20T19:03:00.018-05:00

Picking up where Kenneth left off, chapter 1 on Charles Taylor's book "A Secular Age" continues in sections 5-6 to develop his thoughts on the shift in the "conditions of belief" which have taken place in pre-modern to modern societies using as marker dates the years 1500 to 2000.

After looking at disenchantment and the eclipse of anti-structure, Taylor examines the shift in time-consciousness between moderns and pre-moderns, and in particular the time placing of events which to pre-moderns could be and were placed in more than one kind of time. For moderns, at least Taylor cites Walter Benjamin in saying that time is "homogeneous, empty time." (pg. 54). Or in other words, our present outlook for the most part enshrines homogeneity, coupled with a view of indifference to content. For earlier pre-moderns, there were three "kinds" of time. The 'secular' or 'ordinary,' 'higher times,' which introduce the kairotic knots and 'warps' according to Taylor, and thirdly the idea of 'The Great Time.' The 'Great Time' is the time of creation, or the beginning, which is behind us, but also above us. The Middle Ages inherits two kinds of 'Higher Time' or 'Eternity,' one from Plato and the Greeks, that of objective time of process and movement, and that of St. Augustine who wrestles with 'time' in his 11th book of his Confessions. St. Augustine sees eternity as the gathering together of past into present to project a future. Unlike the pre-moderns, we moderns tend to live their lives and conceive of them entirely within the horizontal flow of 'secular time.' Now I must confess, I have never really thought about this. Franks Comment captures this beautifully for me. This is indeed a complex thread to trace out. These shifts are not easily explained, and I too am enjoying this monster book.

Bound up closely with the change in time-consciousness is another shift in the way we understand the universe in which we live. We have moved from the idea of a 'cosmos,' an ordered whole with meaning for humanity, to a universe having its own kind of order, that of exceptionless natural laws. This insight I found tantalizing indeed! I once held to the young earth creationist viewpoint. It is no secret either as Taylor points out that many of the battles between belief and unbelief of the modern era, have been fought over this issue of 'cosmos' vs 'universe.' and the challenge of 'universe' to Biblical religion. Creation vs Evolution is fast becoming or else already is a political hot potato in the USA. For me the irony of the Ussher chronology using modern calculation methods to entrench the Bible in the 'cosmos' was startling! I never heard it put that way before. I will be following Taylor closely here, and hope he develops this further.

Lastly, Taylor looks at the issue of "Reform" and "reform." He spells out with refreshing candor for a Catholic the spiritual abuses that arise in the Middle Ages and how the stage gets set for the Reformation. Being a catholic myself, I appreciate his openness. He also seems to hint at how it may have been avoided. Latin Christendom in the late medieval period attempts to bridge the gap between the laity and the 'elites' if you will. Between those who are 'clergy' and or 'religious.' Interestingly Taylor sees this drive to reform and remake society as playing a key role in the undoing of the old enchanted cosmos idea, and further, the creation of a visible alternative in exclusive humanism, as he puts it. Again, I'm going to follow this closely.

Now, I don't really feel that I am in a position to be critical of Taylor at this point. This is the first work I have read from him, and I am in uncharted waters right now. I may need to supplement my reading of this book in order to get a better handle on him. I'm still taking it all in. This is far more complex than any of the 'subtraction stories' I have read quickly over the years. I wish I could say more at this point and make a better contribution, but this will have to do for now... still reading.....

Bulwarks of Belief 1-4:by Kenneth Sheppard

2010-01-15T17:49:00.004-05:00

This post is available directly from Kenneth Sheppard's blog at: http://k-n-sheppard.blogspot.com... Enjoy!!!

Charles Taylor's A Secular Age is a sustained criticism of negative secularization theories. As we saw in the introduction that Frank's post provided, Taylor is primarily concerned to narrate the transformation of the "conditions of belief" from premodern to modern societies. He does so in order to reveal how the background to lived experiences (and the aspiration to flourishing, fullness) proves crucial to understanding the shift from naive belief to an awareness of many belief options.

Chapter 1, "The Bulwarks of Belief", begins with differences between what Taylor calls an "enchanted" and "disenchanted" world, borrowing from Max Weber and Marcel Gauchet. But this shift is only one part of the story, which Taylor discusses under the headings "obstacle", "equilibrium" and "a common understanding done away with".

(I) The enchanted world is a world filled with what Taylor calls "porous" selves. A porous, premodern self places the locus of meaning and action in the world "outside" him or herself, "exogenously". The enchanted word was spiritual, where things themselves had meaning, where meaning could be extra-human and intra-cosmic. This contrasts with the modern, disenchanted world where meaning is fundamentally construed as "within" ("endogenously"), and specifically within the human mind. This buffered self sets up a series of boundaries not present in premodern selves: between agents and forces, mind and world, physical and moral. Where the natural world, the existence of society and the enchanted cosmos affirmed the existence of God, it was very hard to embrace unbelief. If someone denied God they did not thereby leave the "field of forces" that remained, many of which were malevolent, making unbelief difficult to entertain.

(II) Porous selves were thus vulnerable selves. They were also part of communities that felt themselves to be part of a spiritual and force-filled world. That is why, Taylor argues, there was such enormous pressure to conform, such intolerance for heretics, and so little unbelief.

(III) Porous selves were also part of a society that held two goals in tension: that of self-transcendence associated with the ideals of Christianity, and that of normal human flourishing. Taylor uses Turner's concept of play between structure and anti-structure, as embodied in medieval Carnival, for example, to demonstrate how this equilibrium was held in balance. It was both functional, in "letting off steam", and affirmational, in confirming the normal order of society.

Subtraction stories do not pay enough attention to these changing conditions of belief and are therefore unable to explain the transition from naive belief to an awareness of belief options. Taylor supplements this criticism with a narration of such changes, from the enchanted to the disenchanted world, from the porous to the buffered self, and from the world of play between structure and anti-structure to its restriction in contemporary life.

One may perhaps suggest a few avenues of criticism: first, on a methodological level, with Taylor's argument that the conditions of belief and background need to be front and centre in any account of secularization; second, even if one accepted Taylor's methodology, one might then criticize his use of existing scholarly material to posit the transitions he does. While it would be foolish to think consensus was ever likely to emerge on either point, evaluating Taylor's contribution must begin here.

"A Secular Age" Reading Schedule

2010-01-10T18:11:00.003-05:00

This post was ported over from Frank Emanuel's blog, where the first post on the introduction is available. The sections I have been asked to post on are highlighted in red only on this blog of course...

For those of you wanting to follow along with our reading and blogging adventure here is the reading schedule we are attempting to follow. Link this post as I'll be updating it with links to the posts as they are created. Also we will try to keep our main comments on the latest post, but feel free to comment on specific ones as well. If you post a comment on an older reading you might not get a response right away. Also note that the names represent the five official commentators of this project.

Introduction - Frank
Bulwarks of Belief 1-4 - Stephen (Jan. 14th)
Bulwarks of Belief 5-6 - Mike (Jan. 21st)
Bulwarks of Belief 7-9 - Ben (Jan. 28th)
Rise of Disciplinary Society 1-2 - Frank (Feb. 4th)
Rise of Disciplinary Society 3-4 - Kenny (Feb. 11th)
Rise of Disciplinary Society 5-6 - Stephen (Feb. 18th)
The Great Disembedding 1 - Mike (Feb. 25th)
The Great Disembedding 2-3 - Ben (Mar. 4th)
The Great Disembedding 4-6 - Frank (Mar. 11th)
The Spectre of Idealism - Stephen (Mar. 18th)
Providential Deism 1-2 - Kenny (Mar. 25th)
Providential Deism 3-4 - Kenny (Apr. 1st)
The Impersonal Order - Mike (Apr. 8th)
The Malaises of Modernity - Frank (Apr. 15th)
The Dark Abyss of Time - Ben (Apr. 22nd)
Expanding Universe of Unbelief - Stephen (Apr. 29th)
19thC Trajectories 1 - Kenny (May 6th)
19thC Trajectories 2-5 - Mike (May 13th)
Age of Mobilization 1-2 - Frank (May 20th)
Age of Mobilization 3-4 - Ben (May 27th)
Age of Authenticity 5 - Stephen (June 3rd)
Age of Authenticity 6- Religion Today 7 - Kenny (June 10th)
Religion Today 8-10 - Mike (June 17th)
The Immanent Frame 1-4 - Frank (June 24th)
The Immanent Frame 5-6 - Ben (July 1st)
The Immanent Frame 7-10 - Stephen (July 8th)
Cross Pressures - Kenny (July 15th)
Dilemmas I 1-3 - Mike (July 22nd)
Dilemmas I 4-6 - Frank (July 29th)
Dilemmas I 7-8 - Ben (Aug 5th)
Dilemmas II 9-11 - Stephen (Aug 12th)
Dilemmas II 12 - Unquiet Frontiers 16 - Kenny (Aug 19th)
Conversions 1-2 Mike (Aug. 26)
Conversions 3 - Epilogue (Sep. 2nd)

Christmas 2009

2010-01-02T23:18:00.005-05:00

You know how sometimes the universe just seems to align to allow something really special to happen? Well.....Christmas 2009 will go down as one of those times.

I guess most of us, (if not all) have memories of special times at Christmas that stick out in our minds. For me there were three. The first was when I was only three and my family went to Montreal to visit my uncle George and Aunt Cecile. we stayed up late on Christmas eve and watched Battlestar Galactica. It was my favorite show as a kid. Those awesome shiny Cylons were so COOL! Opening presents in Uncle George and Aunt Cecile's basement on Christmas morning, which include of course some Battlestar toys!.........awesome......

When I was fourteen, we went to Uncle Georges and Aunt Cecile's again. This time my cousin Jean-Francois introduced me to Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, and the Three Stooges! We stayed up late every night and watched rented movies on VHS! Again, we were in the basement. There is just something about Uncle George and Aunt Cecile's basement....I have some fond memories there.....good times....

A few years ago I was lucky enough to get a couple of weeks of holidays right at Christmas and another uncle, this time Sam came to stay with us. Sam and I have the same love of old films, Jazz music and theology. That was a special one too!

This year started out with a big question mark. Would the weather co-operate and allow the travel? Would everyone be able to get along? I was able to get about 10 days of holidays before Christmas, and a few after New Years. There would be three days I would have to work, Dec. 29, 30, and 31st. I had tried for a couple of months to get them off, but no such luck. My brother Jack, my beautiful future sister-in-law Rachel, and their 7 month old little son Samuel were coming to Ottawa. My work schedule would interfere with the time of their visit, but I told myself I would make the best of it. I had until now only seen my brother a total of 3 or 4 times in my 35 years. I wasn't sure how it would go.....?????.....but then again,.......remember what I said about how the universe sometimes, somehow, just aligns itself up just so.......and something special happening?........

I got the call on Christmas eve at about 10:00 am. A colleague of mine was calling up to let me know that he was going to work the three days in question for me. It was a Festivus Day Miracle!!! I called my brother to let him know that I had been freed up, and that I would be waiting for him. (We didn't grow up together...). Well, Jack and Rachel and little Samuel came....and my heart literally exploded in my chest. I had waited so long for this moment, I had to fight back the tears when they arrived. We were blessed to have them stay with us for 4 nights, and it seemed too short. To hear my little nephew crying because he was hungry, or tired, or frustrated, (he is only 7 months old after all LOL), was like listening to some sort of Opera. He was like music in my soul. Rachel and my wife Louise hit it off and got along great! The first thing Louise said to me after they left on Friday morning, was that she couldn't wait for them to come back and see us again. Nor can we wait to go and see them in Quebec city in March. I don't think my older brother realized how much I longed to have him in my life, and how thrilled out of my ever-loving mind I was to finally, FINALLY have him here with me. I was completely overwhelmed...Oh yeah, we also discovered Guitar Hero and Rock Band this last week, and Rachel is totally freaking AWESOME on the drums! I was stunned!!!!! :-)

To top it all off, my Uncle George and Aunt Cecile came to see us for a couple of days as well! How fitting that this now third memorable Christmas should include them! Jack got to see his uncle George and aunt Cecile. He stayed an extra day, at our insistence, and got to meet some more of his family...

I am deeply moved as I write this blog. Moved and grateful for the gift of Christmas. Grateful for the family I united with these last 7 days, grateful for the memories, and anxious to make new memories as well!

Alas, now it is back to work on Monday........all good things........

Merry Christmas to All...

2009-12-25T11:22:00.003-05:00

Behold!!!, the time of our salvation is at hand, for the Virgin approaches to give birth to Her Son!

2009-12-24T15:36:00.003-05:00

Be glad and rejoice, O Bethlehem, for from you the Lord shall shine forth as the dawn!

The Advent Conspiracy Promo Video 2009...(adventconspiracy.org)

2009-12-20T14:10:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to All!!!

2009-12-16T17:18:00.001-05:00

Sunday Morning at St. Elias

2009-11-23T19:50:00.003-05:00

This past Sunday, I visited St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral here in Ottawa. It was a total privilege! I had never been to Divine Liturgy celebrated in an Orthodox Church before. I had been to one in an Eastern Catholic Church, but never in a Church outside of the Catholic (Roman) tradition. It was different, mystical, and is still vibrating in my soul...

What I love about the East is the fact that they seem not to have lost touch with the idea of Mystery. Unlike we in the west, and in the Roman Catholic tradition, (following Aquinas), we like to try and define everything about God. The East seem to approach from the perspective that we can know God in what He is not, but we must be very careful in making positive assertions about Him. It was wonderful to hear the entire Liturgy chanted and sung, and to smell the incense as the cloud filled the Church. My brothers and sisters celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, and it was truly incredible.

I was struck as the moment of Holy Communion came though... I realized all of a sudden sitting there that I am not of the Orthodox tradition, I am Catholic. And, although we certainly recognize the Sacred Mysteries and Sacraments celebrated in the Eastern Tradition to be valid, I was unsure of whether or not I should present myself to receive Holy Communion???

It didn't take me long to decide that I had better not, and so I prayed an act of spiritual communion with the Lord. It pained me though, to realize for the first time through actual experience, that in a very difficult mystery, somehow the Church is divided. Oh sure there have been small separations over the centuries, and of course the communities that came out of the Reformed tradition. The division between the Holy Catholic and Holy Orthodox Church though is like an earthquake that divided the entire city right down the middle. I think I will spend some time reflecting on this...

On a positive note, I met with my new friend George, a sub-Deacon at St. Elias if I am not mistaken. Although we only got to chat for a few brief moments, we did table the idea of celebrating an "Ecumenical Vespers." What better way to bring together East and West than through the praying of the Psalms?! Hopefully as we speak to our Spiritual Fathers, we will be able to come together and sing God's praises. Eastern Chant, Gregorian Chant, ....it could prove heavenly!!!...

The Pharisee, Jesus, and the Woman of Ill-Repute..

2009-11-20T20:12:00.009-05:00

My indebtedness to Louis-Marie Parent...

(see Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke 7:36-50)

Here we see two mentalities, that of the Pharisee, and that of Jesus. Both are good in terms of the natural order, but only that of Our Lord opens into the supernatural. The question is a simple enough one at first glance,

"What should we do when a person living out what we may wish to label an "immoral" or perhaps even going so far in our pride an "evil" life seeks out our friendship? We may think this person could have a bad influence on us, causing us to stumble or even err, or by association with them cause us to lose our reputation that we may value highly? What should our attitude be???..."

Bear with me, I'm going to take a little creative license here...

Let's imagine the Pharisee in this Gospel story lives in Bethany, a couple of kilometres outside of Jerusalem. He works at the Temple during the day, and returns home in the evenings. (The Pharisees were an aristocratic class who had dedicated themselves to the defense of the Jewish Law. They exercised a certain hegemony among the Jewish people and considered themselves among the elite of the elite. They were remarkably pious and their zeal was their principal glory.) The Pharisee in our story had no doubt heard people discussing and talking about Jesus, and he was obviously interested in him. Nicodemus tells us remember, that he was not alone in his curiosity about Jesus. (see Holy Gospel According to Saint John 3:1-2). Opinions seem divided though. Some say he is a prophet, his teaching is novel, and he even performs miracles! Others are aggressive and condemn Jesus, his words, his gestures, his very being. They desire his disappearance, even his death...

Our Pharisee is curious, curious to form his own opinion of Jesus, and so he invites the Teacher to his house to dine with him, and the stage is set.

An educated Pharisee would be sure to follow a careful protocol of courtesy and welcome that would enable others to easily recognize the appreciation that they have for a visitor. Large vases of clean water and towels are kept near the entrance for the purpose of washing the feet of said visitor! The Master of the house would attend to this duty himself if the visitor were an important one! Jesus is alert, and awaits the moment of truth. Our pharisee is embarrassed though... What kind of welcome should he extend to Jesus? He wants to do things well, but at the same time doesn't want to alienate his friends and family. If he washes the feet of Jesus himself, he could be seen as being sympathetic to Jesus, and admitting publicly that the teachings of Jesus hold some merit. The decision is made! He avoids compromising himself with his family and friends, the others in his class, and the authorities of the Temple, and allows Jesus, as if he were a simple servant, simply to take care of himself.

As dinner is being served, an uninvited guest enters the house. She is beautiful, attractive, and all eyes are on her. The Pharisee is embarrassed. He is afraid of having his reputation sullied in front of Jesus. He knows this woman, she is a prostitute. She moves towards Jesus and in a show of shocking familiarity kneels down before Jesus. The Pharisee's mind runs rampant!

"If Jesus is as good as he would have us all believe, he would not tolerate the conduct of this woman! If he were truly a prophet, he would recognize her for what she is, and not subject himself or his reputation to her advances! Can all that I have heard about him, that he can read hearts, that he knows the very consciences of others, that he performs miracles, could it all be false?"

Doubts form is his heart, and his opinion of Jesus is a decidedly negative one. However, Jesus has been following the evolution of this Pharisees mind as is ready to unveil his game. Here we see two distinct mentalities about to clash! Both can be defended, and both are found in society. The Pharisee thinks to himself,

"If Jesus is who some say he is, he would tell this woman in no uncertain terms,

"Madam, I am sorry, but you do not belong here. Would you please be good enough to leave. I am not interested in your advances, and you are wasting your time..."

Our pharisee probably would applaud such a rebuke. In all likelihood he wanted her to leave.

"No good can come from such promiscuity! A bad apple (such as her), can never regain it's quality, and placing it in a barrel of good apples will only contaminate them all. Everyone agrees on this principal...we must protect ourselves... There is only one remedy, to establish distance between this prostitute, and myself and my family."

Here then is the philosophy of our pharisee,...Look, Judge, Act, all with a view to our personal protection. This philosophy is spread by honest and well meaning people. It is based on a kind of natural prudence.

But now, it is Jesus who will speak, and the moment of truth has come. Gently, he says to the pharisee,

"When I entered your house today, you did not treat me like a visitor or a friend. You left me, and my friends with me to take care of ourselves as though we were servants. You are afraid to compromise yourself. When you saw this woman enter, you were even more afraid that I would judge you badly. This fear of passing for someone other than the person you really are would even cause you to send her away. Your whole psychology is a defense mechanism, solely to enable you to save face and protect your reputation. Your whole mentality is centered in yourself, and you allow others to pass second."

While Our Lord is speaking, the woman takes the feet of Jesus in her hands and suddenly bursts into tears... One wonders, in touching him, what were her intentions? Were they advances, or was she seeking conversion? It doesn't really matter. A virtue comes forth from Jesus and immediately provokes a radical, and transforming conversion.

The psychology of Jesus is different. It is again Look, Judge, and Act, but not with a view to ourselves, but rather to help others. In Christian psychology, instead of letting oneself be guided by fear, one is guided by the good of the other.

In his heart, the Pharisee thinks,

"Get out of here you prostitute! You are a home wrecker and a public menace!"

But Jesus says openly,

"Come and follow me, you are a daughter of my Father and I welcome you today! Tomorrow, we will eat with Zachaeus! The day after that I will call Mathew the tax collector! We mustn't forget to go to Samaria, I must meet the woman at the well! And then to Jerusalem, and my date with the thief on the cross! For those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, and I have come to seek and to save that which is lost!!!"

I'm Excited,...and blushing...

2009-11-12T15:29:00.003-05:00

THEOLOGY PUB NIGHT

Is an Open Table a Eucatastrophe?
November 26 at 8 P.M.
434 ½ Preston Street
The Abbey Pub (inside Pub Italia)

The Eucharist is a central aspect of Christian worship,
yet there are many different understandings of what the
Eucharist is and who can/should participate in it. We
will gather for a night of conversation, sharing our
experiences and understandings of the Eucharist
(Communion).

Joining us for the conversation is Mike
Samson, a Roman Catholic Oblate and really great guy!
(http://catholicmichael.blogspot.com/Feel free to
invite your friends!

Hope to see you all there!
Sponsored by
Freedom Vineyard - 878-8463

Just a Quick Thought...

2009-10-17T19:35:00.007-04:00

Life is funny sometimes. Over the past few weeks, I have watched my parish become divided over Jim, (see previous post), and of course the recent news about the Bishop... I won't elaborate either point here and now.

I find myself in a bit of a mental fog right now. Not much to say here at the moment. So many friends taking such polarized positions on these issues. A friend at work said to me that if the Church would just let Latin Rite priests marry, then perhaps all of this pedophilia would go away. I have grown tired and weary of this argument to be perfectly honest...

Here is an idea, how about we let married men have legal access to child pornography? Then perhaps we might reduce the rates of infidelity among men. My buddy responded to this idea by saying he didn't see the connection, which is exactly my point. If a man is sexually attracted to children, what would make us think that being married to an adult woman would somehow be a solution?

Pedophilia is a recognized pathology. Persons diagnosed with it need help and support the same as anyone would. Speaking as a heterosexual man, I personally cannot imagine what being sexually attracted to children or other men is like... But I certainly don't think those who do experience it are somehow monsters for it either. It seems rather passive, in that we don't will our sexual desires into being.

It seems fashionable for many to speak with conviction these last few weeks about what they would say or do to Jim or the Bishop if we had the chance. I don't think I would be able to say anything. I would like to think that I could listen to what they have to say...

Unfortunately, I think I am probably to judgemental and pathetic for that...

Tonight, My Heart is Heavy...

2009-09-17T19:43:00.005-04:00

My heart is heavy tonight. In fact, I am weary with it.... For those of you who live in Ottawa and may have seen the front page of the Ottawa Sun today, well... For those who didn't see it, well...click here.

Jim is my friend. I have known him for only a few years now, but I consider him a friend. I suppose I was as surprised as anyone to see him on the front page of the paper this morning. I was shocked, and saddened...

As the day has gone on, I have wondered about the fall out of all of this for Jim and his family, and of course for the family of the little girl mentioned in the article. I don't pretend that there is no outrage in the community, or a sense of betrayal. I, and others I'm sure do not condone in any way these kinds of actions. And yet, I find myself unwilling to condemn him....

I remember an old story I heard a few years ago now about the desert Fathers. It seems one of the Abbotts in a Monastery was caught "in the act" so to speak with a prostitute. So...the desert Fathers convened a council to promptly ex-communicate this wayward brother. The sooner the better. One of the best known Abbots of the time was Abbott Moses. He was noticeably absent on the first day of the proceedings. He arrived on the second day to the tune of crashing an banging. Upon entering the "court," he was found to have tied ropes and chains to his body and was dragging boulders and stones behind him, which he had dragged across the desert. When asked why, in his exhaustion, he said simply, that "you have called me here to judge my brother, and I thought it may help me to keep some perspective if I dragged my own sins here with me."

Today, an organization to which Jim and I both belong, has decided that they do not want their good name associated with Jim's. In fact, if anyone were to reveal the name of this organization, said member would not be looked upon with any favor I'm sure. So,...I will not reveal the name of the organization. It is a safe bet that Jim will not be a member much longer though. How different the attitude of Jesus Christ, who was accused by the self-righteous of eating and carrying on with all manner of sinners and filth. How different the Savior of the world who looks down from the Cross and pleads with His Father to forgive those who have inflicted unimaginable torture on Him....

Because Our Lord has said that it is better for someone who leads one of the little ones astray to not have been born in the first place, I will remember you Jim in my prayers. I will remember you!

Because I am unable to pick up the stone of John chapter 8, and throw it at you, I will not condemn you either Jim. Who am I to condemn you? I will remember you in my prayers my friend...

And because Our Lord so loved little children, I will pray for the little girl and her family,... I will remember you in my prayers as well...

And for all of us who think we are not capable of such sins,............we are terribly deluded, and do not know our own hearts...

Christ......have mercy.

Reflections on Love....

2009-09-07T11:26:00.007-04:00

I have spent the last few weeks exploring the Mystery of Divine Love and the God who is love. At Saint Monica's we spent the better part of the summer discussing and reflecting on the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. The Infinite Lover, the Infinitely Beloved, and the Infinite Communion of Love. It has served to silence me, and to spend some time reflecting on my own pride, arrogance and self-centredness...

Surfing around the blog world, I have been spending some time reading the Blog of Ray Comfort. I don't know why really, I just have. (There are four posts in the archive here relating to this subject and my personal history with him and his ministry.) What never ceases to amaze my is the harsh tone and aggressive attitude of those who think they do God and people a favor by confronting them with angry threats of Divine wrath and judgement.... I wonder, is the justice of God to be associated with His wrath, or with His love? As Christians can we and should we not hope that hell will be empty? The tragedy of hell is to be found in the fact that those who may go there, (we pray there are none) are being consumed by the fire of God's love, while being incapable of receiving it. For them, (us???), being consumed by God's love, would be torture. Those who have themselves been perfected in love, (which if genuine, will always seek out sacrifice), are not burned.....they themselves having become fire for God.....

In my own personal life, I am confronted by what it will mean, and what it will cost me to REALLY and TRULY begin to love others.....for their own sake....... I suppose we all have people in our lives who seem to bring out the worst in us. We suspect their motives, judge their hearts, compare ourselves to them and contrast how pleasing we must be to God with how angry He must in turn be with them. Confronting these inner "monsters" can be a terrifying experience if we dare to plum the depths of our own being. Saint Augustine once remarked the there were parts of his soul which had not yet heard the Gospel. What does that say to me???

This morning I was inconvenienced by a request for help. I reacted in pretty much the way I indicated above. What I realized this morning though, is that I am not tired of facing this person. I am tired of facing the "me" who shows up every time this person is around me. It is me I am tired of facing. I want them to stay away, because I despise the mirror they hold up for me to see....

.......who am I really???.....

Where to From Here???

2009-08-08T13:02:00.003-04:00

With summer beginning to feel as though it is winding down, I find myself having to begin thinking about what the fall will bring. I have been spending time over the summer with some new friends at St. Monica's here in Ottawa and the RCIA process going on there. I made a commitment to go for the summer and it has been more than worth my while.

Soon, RCIA will be kicking off a new scholastic year at my own Parish of Divine Infant. I have been wrestling for the last three months or so about whether or not I will return for another year. I have decided that I will not be returning to the Children's Liturgy program. I guess in the final analysis I just didn't fit in there. But what to do about RCIA???

In fact, our little children attend french Catholic school, and so will not be receiving any sacraments at Divine Infant at all. Instead, we will be going up the road to St. Joseph's. Maybe setting up camp at the french Parish is in order?

Either way, I have felt for a long time now that even though I feel that I do have something to offer to the life of my Parish, my offering feels like a square peg in a Catholic world full of round slots! (lol) :-)

Maybe a year away from it all is just what the doctor ordered?..........

Still thinking............Still listening...............

The Book of Job and Theodicy

2009-07-23T20:19:00.008-04:00

Well....here goes. Over the past few weeks, I have been participating in RCIA process at a different Parish, namely Saint Monica's here in Ottawa. My home Parish shuts down their program for the summer, but the process continues year round at Saint Monica's. I have met some very interesting people and have hopefully begun some new friendships. (You guys know who you are! :-))

Last night, (Wednesday evening) we had a lively discussion about Theodicy. Or in other words, the problem of evil. Specifically, the problem of the existence of evil in a world supposedly created by an all powerful, all wise, all loving God. The problem has been stated in many ways, and so I will present it a simple version of it.

1. In creating the world, God did not foresee all of the misery and suffering that would come. In which case, He is not an all-knowing God....

2. Or, in creating the world, He saw what would come, and had not the power to stop it. In which case, He is not all-powerful...

3. Or, in creating the world, He saw the misery and suffering that would come, had the power to stop it, and chose not to, in which case He is not all-good...

Those who would challenge our faith invite us to grasp whichever horn of the trilema we choose, for it matters not which. It would seem the God of the Theists cannot exist. (I realize I am generalizing quite a bit and being very simplistic). Our group began discussing the book of Job specifically, and we thought it might be a good idea to begin a dialogue and explore this book together.

Enter the mysterious book of Job. A book I have found myself obsessing over more than a few times. Job takes the form of a symposium of sorts. A lengthy discussion and theological debate between Job, who is righteous and yet has been subjected to extreme suffering, and Job's three friends who are continuously making one speech after another. The point or lesson seems to come at the end of the book when the LORD himself shows up, and after silencing Job's three friends, enters into dialogue with Job.

It would seem that Job is about the problem of evil, in a general sort of way. Why is there evil at all? More specifically, it is not just the existence of evil, but the experience of it in our own lives. The very specific problem of injustice, this seems to be the most pressing issue. Bad things are happening to a supposedly good person. Why?????

So, I invite my friends from RCIA at Saint Monica's to enter into dialogue beginning here with this first post. And of course, any at all who would like to join are welcome to do so.

Ready when you are...

How Do We Bear Witness???...

2009-07-04T21:26:00.015-04:00

For those who have been reading here for a while, (there may be a few), you know that over the last few years I have gone through an number of changes in my thinking. Some more radical than others, but none it would seem to be without significance. Over the past week or so I have been wrestling with the question of how exactly do we as Catholic Christians bear witness to our faith? How do we bear witness to Christ, faithfully and effectively? In this case, it is my views on Sacred Scripture that have changed over the years, and have led me to this new enquiry. Now, I realize there are countless books out there covering "evangelization," but I'm quietly waiting for and seeking deeper answers. I'll try to explain...

50 years ago or so, a person seeking to be received into the Catholic Church would in all likelihood have received, in the format of lectures and or presentations, information about the Church. Divine Revelation was often presented as a collection of discrete truths and or doctrines to be believed. Assent to these truths was seen as assent to the Catholic faith. Divine revelation was equated with doctrine. (I realize I am generalizing). If the person received the information and also demonstrated good will and genuine desire, they could be baptized and received into the Church. There were two problems with this that were addressed by the Second Vatican Council. First, it reduced the faith simply to information. Secondly, and a more dangerous problem, the view that Divine Revelation was a collection of "proposed" truths to be believed, known as the "Propositional View of Divine Revelation" if pushed to extremes could and did, and still does result in all manor of fundamentalism, both biblical and ecclesiastical.

Catholics do and should get a little uncomfortable when either we or any of our separated brethren call the Bible the "Word of God." I realize that there are many different nuances of meaning attached to this term by various competing faith communities. My point here is that Catholics and indeed all Christians form whatever stripe should recognize that the supreme revelation of God to man is not a book, but a person. It is Christ himself who is the Word of God. It is interesting that Our Lord did not Himself write anything, which is no small point to ponder. As Saint Thomas Aquinas writes in his Summa Theologiae 3.42, and I am not quoting, Our Lord's teaching was of a much higher order.

The Word of God that was active in the Law and the Prophets has entered definitively and in totality into the world as one of us. The term "Word of God" refers properly as I said, not to a book, (although as Catholics we certainly venerate the Sacred Scriptures,) but to the creating and saving Word incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. It is in Him that God has spoken His unsurpassable word of love. We should not reduce Divine Revelation to a body of information about God, but instead view it as a living, vibrant encounter with God. Divine revelation comes to us as an invitation into relationship. Vatican II took up a trinitarian view of revelation, that of God speaking an eternal Word of love into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. How can we possibly reduce that to paper and ink? Seen in this way, for me at least, the problems and limitations of the propositional view come into sharp focus.

Do you see my difficulty? For many years I approached this idea of 'evangelism,' or more properly now as a Catholic, 'evangelization,' (they are not to be understood as interchangeable), as the passing on of information about God using my Bible. Today I believe the Scriptures are the divinely inspired record that bear witness to the Revelation of God in the Person of Christ, but that is a very different thing from the more fundamentalist "inspired, inerrant, infallible perfect word for word scripture.

So,.....how do we bear witness faithfully? If we are to be having a living encounter with the living God, how do we bring others into meaningful dialogue with our lives? I am not looking for easy answers, in fact the more difficult the better....

Saint Benedict, pray for us

Serving, and Being Served....

2009-06-27T10:15:00.011-04:00

"...the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."

(Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke, 22:26-27) NRSV.

"...and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

(Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew, 20:27-28) NRSV.

"You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, you Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."

(Holy Gospel According to Saint John, 13:13-15) NRSV.

"Everyone in the community should take turns serving in the kitchen and at table. None should be exonerated from the kitchen duty except in the case of sickness or the call of some important business for the monastery, because serving each other in this way has the great merit of fostering charity."

(Rule of Saint Benedict 35:1-3).

I remember the first time I read Eric Dean's "Saint Benedict for the Laity." It was a fascinating read for me as a Catholic, in that Dean is a Presbyterian and ecumenical Benedictine oblate. His take on a variety of subjects was unlike any I had yet come across. I distinctly remember reading the chapter on service and his personal sharing of the difficulty he encountered in his initial visits to a monastery when older, more frail monks rose to serve dinner to the guests. I couldn't help but have this come into my mind the first time I had dinner with my brothers at the Abbey of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac. I've had some time to reflect a little on this and have arrived at the conclusion that it is time for my little ones, my daughter who is 6 and my son who is 4, to begin helping out around the house. My motives are varied, so here goes.

How, and perhaps more importantly why should I try to get my little ones involved in the maintenance of the household? I suppose there are many reasons people would offer. Some may find doing the menial tasks around the house somewhat degrading, and so it follows that everyone should do his or her share. For others a more pragmatic reason might be proposed, teaching our children responsibility and how to take care of themselves now so that they will be able to manage once they no longer live in their parents home. Neither of these seems appropriate to me. Of course I want to teach my little ones about responsibility, but that is not my motive here.

I want to teach my little ones what I think is a higher ideal. Why should they help out around the house? I'm hoping to teach them that this is part of learning what it means to belong to a community. We all ought to be learning what it means to serve one another, to joyfully serve, and to take satisfaction from that service. For example, washing the dishes. Washing the dishes isn't done simply because it has to be done, (although they do and I understand that), it is done for the sake of the members of the household who need to use them.

It strikes me in the references cited above to the Holy Gospel and the Rule that in service to others, especially in something as simple as serving dinner at the table to our loved ones, the Mystery of the Incarnation is played out. If we have eyes to see, and ears to hear, we can see in Christ Himself our Divine example, that service to others is a privilege. One that all members of our household should hold dear. I am going to try and teach this to my little family.

God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me...

Simplicity.....Not so Simple....

2009-06-15T14:56:00.003-04:00

Sigh........I started to go over the simple living manifesto, (see link below) and have begun to at least try and figure out what my life priorities are. Sounds simple enough. I was fooled. I'm beginning to see just how the unexamined life truly isn't worth living.

There are always the quick and easy answers like "Faith, Family Friends." I little reflection though challenged my naive notions. What do I mean exactly when I say that Faith is my number one priority? What does my faith really mean to me? How am I to go about living out this faith that I so confidently assert to be #1 in my books!!!??? The answers seem easy enough, or so I initially thought. However, after a couple of weeks thinking all of this over, I have come to some preliminary conclusions. As far as the primacy of faith, (having written down and reflected on what exactly I would like to accomplish in my personal and family life as a result), I can see that either I don't really value this faith that much at all, or I simply give mental assent to an ideal that I am simply to lazy and selfish with my time and energy to pursue. Either way, (I'm not sure which it is yet) something needs to change if I value this as much as I say I do. Perhaps I've deceived myself?

I have noticed how fond we as Catholics are when it comes to holding up the saints as examples of faith. We read about their lives, we tell the stories, and draw all manner of inspiration from them. The thought occurs to me though that If I were to actually meet a Saint like Saint Benedict or Saint Francis, or Saint Theresa, I would probably label them a fanatic! I know that when anyone I know shows this kind of zeal for the things of God, they get labelled fanatic or worse. What would my reaction be to actually being introduced to Saint Dominic? Would I tell these Saints to loosen up and have a little fun! I don't know......

Why do we settle for less and assume that it is the normal state of affairs? I know where I want to go, am I willing to go there? What will it cost me? I just don't know yet...

I know one thing for sure, this process and journey has only just begun. I'm going to push myself to complete the full work....

Saints of God, pray for us....

The Search for Simplicity

2009-06-07T19:34:00.004-04:00

As I continue to journey down a seemingly new and strange path, something has come to the forefront, the need for simplicity. As an Oblate, I am not bound by the Evangelical Councils of Poverty Chastity and Obedience, but at least in respect to poverty, I can take a "vow" if you will of simplicity.

I have been reflecting and meditating on a few chapters in the Rule of Benedict which focus on possessions and ownership. It would be an understatement to say that I have been challenged in a very real way to re-evaluate my priorities. I never realized how vain I am! (LOL).

So, it's time to begin what will no doubt be a rather lengthy process of purgation. How much of my "stuff" do I really need? How much of it do I actually use? If I have no use for something, at least no ongoing use for it, then why do I want to keep it?

Much to think about here, and much to write about in the coming days.

This is going to be an interesting summer indeed.......

Detatchment...

2009-06-01T15:08:00.002-04:00

Over the week-end I had the pleasure of driving to Montreal to visit family on my wife's side. It was nice and relaxing for the most part. Something happened there though that is sticking with me and is causing me a little grief.

I suppose most of us have that "one family member" who is for all intents and purposes,.........'troubled.' If your family is anything like mine, and I assume that it is, whenever there is a get-together in which the black sheep isn't present, the gloves come off and the bashing begins. I knew it was coming....I know how problematic a 'troubled' family member can be. I've seen a few episodes of "Intervention" if you catch my drift as to the problems involved. This session was different however, very different....

It is so easy for us to point to those whom we assume are displeasing to God and compare ourselves to them assuming again how pleasing in turn we must be. We strut around like peacocks, full of ourselves, brimming with self-righteousness and condemnation. I say we because I would include myself in the indictment. It was not all that long ago that my religion consisted in love for God, balanced very nicely with disdain for other people. A religion epitomized by belief in the "rapture," which in the final analysis seems like some sort of fantasy of revenge. Christians, high and aloof from the rest of the world pointing their fingers at the 'lost' giving them the biggest "in your face, I told you so!!!!" the universe has ever seen. Back to the week-end....

So....as the bash got under way with all of the "what an @$$h0le!" "What he needs to do is this, what he needs to do is that...." "Everyone should write him off!!!!" "I would never do such things, I'm to good of a person!!!!", I just sat there silent. Oh, not that I haven't participated in the past. I lead the "Disown the little pr1ck" cheers for many years. But this time, I just......sat there,.....thinking....... If God truly has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, and in the Incarnation has joined Himself to all men, (and women of course), then we are all in this together. I am so painfully aware of how much I need to be forgiven. Who am I to judge him???? I just......sat there.........stupefied. So easy to point fingers, so easy to condemn. So easy to be proud.........So aware of my own guilt and shame....

I really didn't know what to say.......I am no expert........except maybe in crapping up my own life.....He needs help, but I am not qualified. I offered no advice, which didn't matter, I didn't have any to offer anyways. I don't know what has brought my dear friend to the place he is in, I don't know what is going on in his heart or mind. I don't know what is in the hearts and minds of those closest to him, living with him. Any advice on my part would have seemed to me like pure arrogance. As though I have the solution to someone else's life problems. I never felt so ignorant and inept. I suppose I could have offered some 'pop-psychology, pop-Gospel' BS and at least tried to look and seem intelligent, but that would have been for my ego's sake and not to help them.

I realized I was totally inadequate and not up to tackling this problem. I know one thing though, to reject someone, anyone, for any reason, is to reject Christ, and to in praxis at least, deny the Incarnation. In my case, I don't think the world needs anymore people who take a superficial interest in a variety of subjects and come up with a cocktail of half-baked ideas about all of them with no real insight or thoughts of their own, offering everyone advice on how to live their lives. I don't want to be that person anyway..... I did it for too long.....

Trying to embrace a much larger vision.....

Mother of God Pray for us.....

Finding New Direction

2009-05-29T14:49:00.003-04:00

Well.......It would seem that I could very well be going back to school this fall. It would have to be on a part time basis, as in one course per semester I think at Saint Paul University. Juggling a family with two young children, and a job while trying to continue my faith development and education won't be easy.

Some things will have fall by the wayside. The only thing I can let go would be my involvement with the various parish ministries. Still...there is a strange peace about pulling back for a while. The parish got along just fine before I came along, and I know it will get along just fine without me. The one place I am absolutely irreplaceable though is in my home as priest to my wife and children. No one can take my place here, and so I must focus my attention where it belongs. I have seen to many involved with "ministry" over the years have their families suffer that I simply refuse to go there. Imagine my shock when I found out the Catholic Church shares this vision!...

I am also in the midst of trying to hammer down once and for all which office of the Hours I will finally adopt in my personal and family life. I am partial to the one volume "Christian Prayer" in terms of a more cathedral form of the Hours. However, as an Oblate I find myself also drawn to "Benedictine Prayer" which is a shorter breviary published by St. John's Abbey in Minnesota through Liturgical Press. A more monastic form of the Office seems equally appropriate....

I have become very careful nowadays in making key decisions in that I don't make them to quickly. I still need time to think and discern, but University life seems so appealing right now. I need to make up my mind soon though. Still listening.........

Change is Coming...

2009-05-24T21:06:00.002-04:00

Lately I get the feeling that some major changes are coming, if not already upon me. It is hard to describe. It is just a sense that life is going to take a new direction...

I have been off of work for a few days now with this very badly sprained ankle, and it has given me a lot of time to think, think back, reflect....yadda yadda yadda....

My life has changed so much in a relatively short time. Surfing the web and visiting blogs and websites of churches I attended years ago shows me just how much things have changed. It seems like a whole different universe now! ........I wouldn't go back for anything.....not ever.......

It causes me confusion at the same time though. So many friends still living in a world so foreign to me now. Friends that I guess I really don't have anything in common with anymore. It would be nice to spend time with some of them, but differences abound. The differences don't really bother me, but the awkwardness surfaces very quickly it seems.

I'm struggling these days with whether or not to remain involved with the ministries at the Parish, or perhaps it's time to settle down for a while at Saint Paul University and finish my degree. With a job and family, it would take a while, being a part time student. Still, I am struggling with it....

I'm reading some Thomas Merton right now, "Invitation to the Contemplative Life." Interesting as always with Merton....

Waiting.....waiting......waiting......Listening....

Summer Time...

2009-05-20T15:45:00.002-04:00

Well....things seem to be winding down at my Parish for the summer. I have always found that kind of strange to be honest. However, I am looking forward to the rest and the fewer responsibilities for the next 12 - 14 weeks or so.

I have decided to do some soul searching over the next little while. I think that it would prove fruitful to enter into a dialogue with the Rule of Saint Benedict. Now that I have completed my Oblation, the journey is set to begin.

It is interesting studying the Rule. It seems in a sense "incomplete" and in need of supplementation. I was relieved to find in the reading of some scholarly commentary that those sentiments are shared by Benedictines all over the world. There is no hard and fast definitive interpretation if you will, but a living interpretation grounded in the Sacred Scriptures, various Eastern and Western Fathers, and of course the tradition of various monasteries around the world.

I don't think we can rightly begin to understand Saint Benedict himself without looking at one of the other Rules of the time, the Rule of the Master. Seeing and comparing these documents gives a keen insight into the mind of Saint Benedict. What does he take?, what does he leave?, and what does he correct or modify?

Looking forward to a summer of quiet contemplation...

Saint Benedict, pray for us.....

Wednesday April 8th, 2009

2009-05-07T18:11:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday April the 8th, I made my final oblation and was received into the community of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Benoit du Lac as an Oblate. For my part, my final oblation read as follows...

+ In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

"I, Michael Samson offer myself to Almighty God as an oblate of the monastery of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac, and I promise before the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Holy Father St. Benedict, and all the Saints, to dedicate myself to the service of God according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict and the statutes of the oblates."

I wrote this petition and I signed Wednesday March the 8th, 2009.

For their part, Father Raymond Carette, the director of the oblates and presider for the ceremony responded as follows,

"As God's representative, I now accept your Oblation and admit you into union and affiliation with the Benedictine community of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac as an Oblate and adopted son of our Father Benedict, and give you the privilege of sharing in the prayers and good works of the community. May God strengthen you in your faith. May you persevere in your holy resolution to serve God and mankind in accord with the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict, as your state in life permits. And may God reward you, according to His promises, with the vision of His glory for all eternity. Amen."

As I continue to chart a new course, these promises are resonating in my soul.....Not only a new direction is called for, but a work of deep interiority, and a new method of discernment it would seem. The Benedictine vow of stability keeps coming to mind.....

Darkness Falls...

2009-04-22T19:36:00.004-04:00

The darkness is falling all around me. I know I am heading into a dry time with God.....the sweet presence I enjoyed for a season has given way to solitude and darkness....

I have learned a few things over the years. In times like these I ought to remain faithful to the daily office of prayer, embrace the wilderness, and welcome the absence of His presence. Perhaps there is a work of interiority I should attend to???

For now I will have to be content with quiet, solitude, and the desert....

I sense a time of deep discernment is right around the corner....I don't know if I am up for the challenge or not.

Time to Listen....

2009-04-17T21:09:00.003-04:00

I have been in a bit of a "funk" over the last little while. I guess it started when I came back from the Abbey,........after I made my final oblation in becoming a full Benedictine Oblate. You know....the spiritual life seems to teach us how little we know, and how we understand even less than that. I find myself in this place now....

I have figured out a few things along the way. One is to know and or perceive when I have wandered off the "path"....Everything seems like drudgery, and I feel as though I am spinning my wheels getting nowhere. Something just isn't right. So...........what to do???????

Well, I am out in the wilderness spiritually speaking, overwhelmed by the feeling that it is time to be quiet. Quiet.......to listen.......but how? The world,....my life is so noisy. In hearing the voices of the many, can I still listen to and discern the voice of the One????

I'm sure of two things right now.....I am in the wrong place.....and I need to listen. Listen in the Benedictine sense.....with my whole being. Listen for and to the Word, no matter how or through whom it comes.....

Praying for guidance.....

Is God a Liberal or a Conservative? Part 1.

2009-04-16T08:25:00.009-04:00

Before I begin this post and the ones that will follow, let me acknowledge my indebtedness to Peter Kreeft and his book "The God Who Loves You."

Blessed Mother Theresa, speaking at a Harvard Commencement address once said that Americans were wrong to call India a poor country. India in her estimation was a rich country, and instead, it was America that was rather poor. It all depended on whether we used a physical or spiritual thermometer to take the country's temperature.

The worst possible thing that could happen to the Church of Christ is happening right here in the West. Namely, she is being conformed in large measure to the world. Winning the world by converting it to the love of Christ has become instead an attempt to convert the world by pandering to it. I think this is most evident in the thought processes and language many Christians have adopted here in the West. The modern world we live in it would seem, likes to politicize anything and everything and then stuffs ideas and people into the pigeon holes of "right and left, liberal or conservative." These are the two categories into which everything and everybody must ultimately be assigned. It is a naive and overly simplistic approach to be sure, but, BUT!!!!, it allows us to escape the very real and often difficult, time & energy consuming experience of having to actually think through the issues that good and well meaning people will often disagree about.

The essential insight of the Right, or "Conservatism," is that of the absoluteness of truth, if I can be permitted to use this kind of crass language. Most often, the Conservative mind is clear and hard, dogmatically resolute! In fact, "Dogmatic" is the four letter word that the Left, or Liberals will use to label the Right. The essential insight of the Left, or "Liberalism," is that of the absoluteness of love, again, to use crass and simplistic language. If an ideology or social program seems to be compassionate, loving, and will genuinely help people, then the left will more often than not be for it. Conservatives have a four letter word to label the insights of the other side as well, that being, "bleeding heart liberalism." What I think is interesting for me as a Catholic, is the fact that both insights are profoundly right! If we could assign a fault to the Right, it would be the failure of Conservatism to perceive that love, together with truth is also an absolute. The reverse could be said of Liberalism, that love without truth is not truly love...

I find much thinking today about the moral issues that are most crucial, the pressing ones of our time, are victimized and crippled by this false opposition. At the same time, herein lies the paradox....Truth would seem to demand that we draw a line in the sand, while Love would seem to demand that we do not. I believe there is a way out of the dilemma though. The love of God doesn't simply seek the middle road, it rises above these human conjectures, and escapes the categories of Right and Left...

I'll try to tackle some of the issues in the next post...:-)

Back From the Abbey...

2009-04-10T21:32:00.011-04:00

I have just returned from a 4 day retreat in the mountains of Quebec at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Benoit-du Lac. It was my first retreat of this year, and one I will not soon forget.

On this trip we went up as a group of 6. I have never gone with that many people before, most of whom had never been to an Abbey. It just so happened that I had made arrangements with my Oblate director to make my final Oblation this week and am now a full Oblate. As a gift to me on this special occasion, myself and my friends and family, (the six of us altogether) were given a tour of the Monastery. In other words, a tour of those parts of the Monastery that the public is not usually granted access to. It was both exciting and sobering.

While we were in halls of the Monastery, we noticed a young monk who had to have been in his 20's perhaps who passed by us and said "bonjour" with a polite nod. We of course acknowledged him and responded in brief, so as not to disturb his silence...

This trip gave me a lot to think about. I am becoming more deeply aware of my vocation as a husband and father. I read once that the most fatal and common error a person can make on venturing out into the spiritual life is to try and live out a vocation that they are not called to. This has remained with me ever since, and I am conscious of the difficulty in discovering our own personal vocation.

In the end, it was a good retreat that I hope will bear fruit as the days go on....

Litany of Humility

2009-04-02T19:39:00.004-04:00

My prayer throughout this Lent, has been that this prayer below, would become my heart cry...

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being loved...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being extolled...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being honored...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being praised...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being preferred to others...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being consulted...Lord deliver me.

From the desire of being approved...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being humiliated...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being despised...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of suffering rebukes...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being calumniated...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being forgotten...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being ridiculed...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being wronged...Lord deliver me.

From the fear of being suspected...Lord deliver me.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

If I Have Not Love....

2008-12-08T19:30:00.003-05:00

Over the past few weeks I have been doing a great deal of reading, and a great deal of reflecting. For many years as readers here know I was not very open minded in terms of religion or philosophy or even politics for that matter. That has all changed of course, and after living in two very different worlds, (Protestantism & Catholicism) I have managed to form some new opinions.

The more I study philosophy, the less opinionated I seem to be becoming. Exploring ideas has a way of making one less dogmatic, not more so. The more I study Church history and theology, the more I realize just how complicated some issues really are. It is a long way from the absolute certainty that the world of fundamentalism tries to live in. I still find fundamentalism lurking in the Catholic Church, and it is just as unsavory here as it was in my former communities.

I think I am finally beginning to realize that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear. I see so much fear in those who insist in trying to change the world and get everyone to believe exactly as they do. At least in my case, it was fear. St. John tells us that perfect love casts out fear, and that the one who fears has yet to be perfected in love. Seems simple enough......I sense much fear in me. I believe now that the whole purpose of our lives is to learn to love. To learn to love as God loves. To learn to love God, to love truth, and to love others instead of ourselves, and for it's own sake.

I love my Church. I am completely in love with her,...warts and all. I am finding it increasingly difficult though to dismiss Christians from other traditions. There is much we as Catholics can learn from our brothers and sisters who are not one with us. I pray for a day when we can learn to listen to one another, really listen. When we need not be fearful of having our faith challenged, because we have been perfected in love...

Venturing Out...

2008-11-14T16:14:00.028-05:00

I am beginning to see that once we engage our minds in philosophical study, we find ourselves becoming less opinionated, not more so! As a Catholic, (Latin Rite), I find myself coming to the philosophical table most familiar and comfortable in the great realist tradition of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas. I have also been carefully pouring over the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII "Aeterni Patris", "On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy According to the Mind of Saint Thomas Aquinas, The Angelic Doctor." As a side note, I also absolutely love Socrates! Peter Kreeft has written a number of very interesting books about Socrates. I am enjoying them to be sure.

I am about to begin a new book though pictured above, "Eastern Philosophy" by Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad. I have always been interested in and fascinated by the east. I guess that is why I wish sometimes in the quietness of my own heart that I had come into the Catholic Church through one of the Eastern Rites. But, having grown up in the west, and accustomed to the way we think here in the west, it may have proved a lot less romantic and a lot more difficult than I realize, but that is another story. Here are a few quotes from the dust jacket of the above mentioned work...

"Encompasses over 3000 years of Asian philosophy, including Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Jainism and the Hindu philosophical schools."

"Takes a global, non-Western perspective, engaging with the philosophies of the East on their own terms."

"The author dispels the myth of a unified tradition of mystical Eastern wisdom and yet exposes the beauty and depth of thought systems that have developed over thousands of years and appealed to millions throughout the world."

I think back to a little document I received at the beginning of my Benedictine Oblate Formation, where I find the following quote as a guideline for Oblates,

"They (oblates) foster the ecumenical spirit as called for by Vatican II. They will meet with those not of the Catholic Faith, strive to understand the religious beliefs and customs of others, look for teachings on which others agree with them, enter into friendly discussion of teachings on which there is disagreement, put aside all prejudice, and foster the spirit of universal brotherhood of God our Father."

Prejudice is darkness and ignorance. Worst of all, it is ignorance of our own ignorance. I work with people who come from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. It would be nice to understand a little bit better those beliefs held so dear by these friends of mine. Hopefully some reading, and a lot of reflection will help me to appreciate the wealth of religious and philosophical traditions found among various peoples, and the rich contribution which they make to the betterment of humanity.

I realize all to well that there may be some "conservative" Christians out there reading this who may feel the need to take me to task for this error in judgement, and I guess,..... that's fine. I would much rather engage with those who have gone ahead of me in these pursuits and could gain from their experience...

I'm up for discussion....

Rethinking, Re-evaluating, Rebuilding...

2008-11-11T09:44:00.005-05:00

Over the past little while I have been given much to think about. Through various encounters with friends, and by listening in on a few on-line conversations, I am becoming increasingly aware of something that is lacking in my formation. Maybe lacking isn't the right word....I wouldn't say I'm ignorant of the material, but perhaps now is the time to go back and read again with a fresh set of eyes.

With so many various groups, sects, "denominations" and so forth all vying for our attention and assent in the very much confusing so-called Christian world and sub-culture, it seems to me that most of the existing conflicts among them will remain unresolvable except perhaps in the most superficial sense where unity is conceived of as "niceness" toward one another. I cannot help but think much of this lies not at the theological level at all, but rather at the deeper philosophical/foundational level. Catholic and Orthodox faith is generally friendly to philosophy, with Protestantism for the most part at minimum apprehensive, and at most openly hostile. For myself, I have always had an interest in philosophy, however throughout my years in the pentecostal community, and with the education I received there, I was either unable due to time restrictions, or discouraged entirely from philosophical pursuit.

So, having come into the Catholic Church in September 2006, and having found there not only the freedom but also the encouragement there to pursue this, and having now completed my formation to become a Benedictine Oblate, I figure it is finally time to dig and to dig deep into this well! It would be nice to go back and look at Plato and Socrates and Aristotle again. By why stop there? I think I'll look at some Eastern philosophy as well before diving head first into the enlightenment and the thinking there. So much of how many of us think today, can be traced back to the thinking of the great philosopher's of the past, even though for the most part people seem oblivious to this fact. So, it cannot but be more than a little helpful to investigate where these ideas came from, as well as how we should evaluate them.

Again, I'm not a newbie to philosophy, but with Catholic eyes it should be a new and fresh experience. Now...where to begin???

Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!!!

2008-10-31T11:49:00.005-04:00

Happy Hallowe'en everyone! I'm a little under the weather today, but hopefully I'll feel good to go out tonight with my little ones and the Lussier clan! Even if I don't feel the best, I'm still going!!! We had such a blast last year I wouldn't miss it this year for anything...

My little guy William is going as "Link" from the "Legend of Zelda" series, well known to Nintendo fans I'm sure. And my little daughter is going as a Princess of course! Bet no one saw that one coming...(LOL). As soon as I get some pictures loaded into the computer, I'll post them here. Hope everyone who will be enjoying the occasion has a great night! And for those who are abstaining.....oh well???.....so sad really......

Hallowe'en is Coming...

2008-10-24T19:48:00.004-04:00

Well, Hallowe'en is coming. My little girl goes to Ecole des Voyagers Catholic school, where participation in Hallowe'en is encouraged and enjoyed! I must say, last year, when we and the Lussiers went trick or treating with our 4 little ones, WE HAD A BLAST! The two families are going again this year!

Now, in my former fellowships and Christian faith communities, participation in this "celebration of satan" was an invitation to demonic possession and a great many horrible consequences that would befall "Christians" who dared to even think about allowing their children to dress up in costumes on Hallowe'en! Catholics don't seem nearly as paranoid!

So, my question is this. Should Christians participate in Hallowe'en? Are you going to let your children take part? Or, are you planning to shun October 31st altogether? Either way, tell me why, and let's dialogue about this...

Open To New Ideas...

2008-10-18T14:39:00.005-04:00

For the past few weeks I have been reading up on "Historical Criticism" as regards the New Testament. For many years I dismissed this whole field of research out right as the delusions of self-righteous "scholars," and the lies of the evil one. Imagine my confusion back in 2005 while investigating the Catholic Church to find her embracing something that my particular protestant/fundamentalist background would have labelled "the heresy of liberalism." Those days of screaming BLLLLASPHEMY!!!! at the top of my lungs seem like such a distant memory now. How things have changed...

I am enjoying this 'delving into a new world.' I shouldn't really say new world, the ideas and methodologies of historical criticism are not unknown to me. I simply dismissed them for years for the reasons cited above. I have however always enjoyed reading early Christian literature, for example the "Epistle of Saint Barnabas," "the epistles of Saint Clement of Rome", the "epistles of Saint Ignatius of Antioch" and others... They give us a fascinating look into early Christian development during the second and third generations of the Church. I am coming to love the critical thought regarding the Gospels, and the piecing together of the various strains of traditions both written and oral that are to be found there. For the moment I am looking at the early history of the Church at Antioch. There is one picture of this great historical Church to be found in the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (chapter 2) around the 40's and 50's of the first century. A different picture emerges at Antioch in the 80's with Saint Matthew redacting and publishing his Gospel there, and yet a third picture is discernible in the first two decades of the second century with the Bishop of Antioch, Saint Ignatius and his epistles written to various churches while on his way to be martyred in Rome. How did we go from the first picture, to the third? That is what is so fascinating!!!...

I'll keep reading, and posting, and of course probably get taken to task for it. It's all good though. I'm up for it!

I'm Back...:-)

2008-10-13T01:14:00.003-04:00

Wow! I've been away from the blog for a few weeks now. Things have gotten busy in my life over the last little while. I just haven't had time to sit down and write anything. There is so much going on right now as well, with the election and all. So, where am I at these days???

Well.....I find myself involved in a bit of a "disagreement" at my parish as to the nature and intent of Children's Liturgy, not, NOT to be confused with "Sunday school." It all seems so simple to me really, with the Church having laid down the guidelines for practice and all. I guess it isn't that simple after all, even in the Catholic Church. Maybe I am just naive! (LOL). I'm taking this one very ssllllloooowwwwllllyyyyy.... I'm hoping my example may just speak louder than my words ever could.

As for the election, I'm voting for the Green Party. I guess that must be obvious by now. It's interesting how an election can bring out the more critical and sometimes sinister side of people. Some feel the need to police the voting practices of others, while others couldn't care less about any of it. I find this state of affairs fascinating to be honest. No one political party in my opinion has all of the answers, and it takes a willingness to do some homework if we are to make an honest and informed decision about who to vote for. Of course, the Catholic Church has her share of "Catholic Jack Chick's" out there who browbeat and fear monger, or at least try to in order to get folks to vote a particular way. Tiresome........

I have also begun reading up on some historical criticism of the New Testament as well as redaction criticism. It is becoming more apparent to me the difficulties and problems that exist within the New Testament itself, ones which are not so easily resolved. More on that later...

So, I'm back. Feels good to sit down and write again. The break was good, but it feels good to be here writing again!

The Green Party Constitution

2008-09-17T18:07:00.006-04:00

Article 1 The Body Constituted

The body constituted is the Green Party of Canada, also known as the Canadian Greens. Hereafter in this document it is referred to as The Party.

Article 2 Scope of the Constitution and Bylaws

2.1 This constitution and bylaws shall govern the activities of The Party, all persons operating on behalf of The Party, and the rights, responsibilities and duties of its recognized units, committees and membership.2.2 The constitution shall have precedence over the bylaws, and any bylaw that is inconsistent with the constitution shall be null and void to the extent of the inconsistency.

Article 3 Basis of Unity

1.1 To enhance the effectiveness of the Global Green Movement in creating a Green Society by providing an evolving social and political structure that embraces and supports Green Values and offers itself as a voice for the broader Green Movement1.2 To elevate and nurture caring and compassionate values among all peoples and all cultures which will provide the basis for sustaining, just, democratic, peaceful and diverse communities.3.3 To commit ourselves, and encourage everyone, to promote enhanced and socially engaged caring and compassionate values through research, dialogue, and example, as well as through increasing awareness of our own capacities to be caring and compassionate for others, ourselves, and life’s rich diversity.

Article 4 Purpose

It is the purpose of The Party to advance The Party’s platform, policy, values and basis of unity, and to contribute to the welfare of Canada, Canadians and the community of life in Canada by:4.1 fielding and electing candidates in federal elections4.2 debating and forming legislation in the Canadian Parliament and by participating in the Government of Canada4.3 developing policy and platforms consistent with its values and basis of unity4.4 advancing The Party’s platform, policy, values and basis of unity outside of electoral periods4.5 forming and maintaining Party organizations at the federal, provincial and electoral district levels4.6 working in solidarity with green parties globally.

Article 5 Principles

The policies of The Party, in agreement with the Charter of the Global Greens, are founded upon the principles of:5.1 Ecological Wisdom5.2 Social Justice5.3 Participatory Democracy5.4 Non-Violence5.5 Sustainability5.6 Respect for DiversityActivities, policies, and statements made on behalf of The Party must be consistent with the principles of The Party.Appendix A shows the Charter of the Global Greens.

Article 6 Accountability

All units and individuals within The Party are accountable to:6.1 the membership in general meetings of members6.2 the Federal Council when the membership is not in general meetings.

Article 7 Units Definition

The following units of The Party have official standing under the constitution:7.1 Member: An individual meeting The Party’s membership criteria7.2 Electoral District Association: An association in which all Party members residing within an electoral district as constituted under the Canada Elections Act have voting rights7.3 Provincial/Territorial Association: An association in which all Party members residing within a province or territory as constituted under the Constitution Act have membership and voting rights7.4 Regional Association: An association in which all of The Party members residing within a group of contiguous electoral districts have membership and voting rights7.5 Federal Council: A council as desribed in Article 9 and are elected or appointed in accordance with the Bylaws.7.6 Shadow Cabinet: An alternative cabinet to the government who shadow and provide critical opposition on policy matters to the government’s position. This cabinet is elected and appointed in accordance with the bylaws.

Article 8 General Meetings of Members

8.1 General meetings shall consist of:8.1.1 individual members who have one vote, and8.1.2 delegates or members carrying proxies who shall have voting rights as set out in the bylaws after the members have adopted abylaw or bylaws providing the mechanism whereby delegate or proxy voting is established. (Proviso: This clause shall not come into effect until the members adopt such a bylaw or bylaws.)8.2 A quorum shall be fifty (50) members present at a general meeting, representing at least two regions.8.3 General meetings shall be held at least once every two years8.4 Sixty (60) days notice to members is required to call a general meeting8.5 General meetings of members shall be called in accordance with the bylaws8.6 Special general meetings of members shall be called in accordance with the bylaws.

Article 9 Federal Council

9.1 Composition of Federal CouncilThe Federal Council shall be composed of:9.1.1 A Chairperson (1)9.1.2 The Leader (1)9.1.3 One representative from each Province of Canada (10)9.1.4 One representative representing the three Territories of Canada (1)9.1.5 Nine Councilors at large (9)9.1.6 The Executive Director (1)9.2 Meetings of Federal Council9.2.1 Federal Council shall meet at least four (4) times per year.9.2.2 Quorum at Federal Council meetings shall be a majority of voting members then in office, but quorum shall be no less than six (6) voting members.9.2.3 Federal Council may meet by electronic means and in accordance with procedures set in the bylaws9.2.4 All decisions of Council shall be by a majority of vote of those present and voting, except as may be specifically stated elsewhere in the Constitution or Bylaws.9.2.5 All members of Federal Council may vote, except the Chairperson who may vote to break a tie, and the Executive Director who shall not vote, but who shall have a voice.9.2.6 Federal Council may adopt procedural rules for conducting Federal Council meetings, not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws9.3 Federal Council Committees9.3.1 The Federal Council may establish a Management Committee with the authority to take action between meetings of the Federal Council. Such actions taken shall require ratification by the Federal Council.9.3.2 The Federal Council may establish other ad hoc committees as required. The mandate of such committees shall be established byFederal Council and any such committee shall advise and recommend to Federal Council.

Article 10 Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws

10.1 Constitution10.1.1 Notice of amendments to the constitution shall be included in the notice of meeting at which the amendments shall be considered.10.1.2 Amendments shall be submitted by at least three electoral district associations or provincial associations/territories or by at least 15 individual members10.1.3 Amendments shall be adopted by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting, and shall be ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a mail-in vote sent to all members in good standing of The Party.10.2 Bylaws10.2.1 Notice of amendments to the bylaws shall be included in the notice of meeting at which the amendments shall be considered.10.2.2 Amendments shall be submitted by at least 5 individual members or by a unit of The Party representing at least five members10.2.3 Amendments shall be adopted by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting.

Article 11 Dissolution or Merger

Any resolution to dissolve The Party or to merge it with another party passed at a general meeting shall only become effective upon members passing an identically worded resolution by a vote of greater than ninety (90) percent of the votes cast in members vote conducted by mail-in ballot, with a ballot return date of no later than 120 days following the general meeting at which the resolution to dissolve or merge The Party was passed. For greater certainty, no transfer of The Party’s assets may be commenced or completed until such a mail-in ballot is passed with the required 90 percent majority and the resolution to dissolve or merge The Party takes effect.

Bylaws

Bylaw 1 Membership

1.1 Criteria for membership1.1.1 Any citizen or resident of Canada, who is at least sixteen (16) or older, is eligible for membership in The Party, with full voting rights, provided the person is not a member of any other political party.1.1.2 Every member shall uphold this constitution and bylaws.1.1.3 A member shall cease to be in good standing upon failure to pay the current annual membership fee or upon other conditions as set out by the federal council or in the bylaws.1.1.4 A person cannot be a member of The Party if the person belongs to an organization whose actions are detrimental to The Party, as determined by Federal Council.1.1.5 A person who is at least twelve (12) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age may be designated a Youth Member, without the right to vote.1.2 Application for Membership1.2.1 A person may apply for membership in The Party to:1.2.1.1 Federal council1.2.1.2 an electoral district association1.2.1.3 a provincial/territorial association1.2.1.4 a regional association1.2.1.5 a designate of federal council that has been authorized to accept memberships1.2.2 The above mentioned bodies have the right to set the amount of their own membership fee insofar as:1.2.2.1 it is the responsibility of the federal council to maintain a register of members; and1.2.2.2 the federal council may require a membership fee from each body mandated to receive members to cover the costs of servicing the member.1.2.2.3 the federal council shall ensure that members are notified as their membership fees are due.1.2.3 Applicants for membership and renewing members shall pay the membership fee directly to The Party and not indirectly through an intermediary person.1.3 Resignation and Removal of Member1.3.1 A person shall cease to be a member of The Party1.3.1.1 by delivering her/his resignation by mailing or delivering it to an address of The Party; or1.3.1.2 on her/his death; or1.3.1.3 on being expelled; or1.3.1.4 on having been a member not in good standing for 12 consecutive months.1.3.2 A member may be expelled by a resolution of the federal council or a general meeting of members. The person who is subject to the proposed expulsion shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the meeting before the resolution is put to a vote.1.4 Voting Rights1.4.1 A member’s right to vote on all matters, including all elections, shall commence after s/he has been a member for 30 days.1.4.2 When a former member rejoins The Party after having been a member not in good standing for more than one year, that member’s voting rights shall resume 30 days after rejoining The Party.

Bylaw 2 Federal Council

2.1 Selection of Members to Federal Council2.1.1 Chairperson and Councilors at Large Ten (10) persons shall be elected to Council as Councilors at Large as follows:2.1.1.1 Nominations shall be by ten (10) members of The Party in good standing2.1.1.2 All members of The Party in good standing shall be eligible to vote for these positions2.1.1.3 The Chairperson of The Party shall be appointed or elected byFederal Council from amongst the ten persons elected2.1.2 Provincial and Territorial Representatives2.1.2.1 Five (5) members of The Party in good standing residing within the province or the three territories shall be required to nominate for the position of Provincial Representative or the Territorial Representative in their respective jurisdiction2.1.2.2 All members of The Party in good standing residing within the province or the three territories shall be eligible to vote for Provincial Representative or the Territorial Representative in their respective jurisdiction2.1.3 The Leader2.1.3.1 One hundred (100) members of The Party in good standing shall be required to nominate for the position of Leader.2.1.3.2 All members of The Party in good standing shall be eligible to vote for the position of the Leader2.1.4 Election to Federal Council and Term of Office2.1.4.1 The vote, for any office of Federal Council, shall be by preferential ballot and a majority vote shall elect.2.1.4.2 All Council members shall be elected to serve a two year term or until their successors are elected, except the Leader who shall serve a four year term or until a successor is elected.2.1.4.3 In odd numbered years the representatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, the representative from the Territories, and five (5) Councilors at Large shall be elected2.1.4.4 In even numbered years the representatives of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbiaand five (5) Councilors at Large shall be elected2.1.4.5 The Leader shall be elected in 2006 and every four (4) years thereafter.2.1.4.6 Ballots for elections of Councilors at Large, Provincial Representatives, and the Territorial Representative shall have beside the name of each candidate on the ballot, the Province and the bioregion where the candidate resides.2.1.4.7 Ballots for election shall be mailed out at least 30 days prior to election day2.1.5 Removal From Office and Removal of Units2.1.5.1 The Leader or any member of Federal Council may be removed from office by a ¾ vote of Council2.1.5.2 The Leader may be removed from office by motion, at a gen-eral meeting, to hold an election to replace the Leader2.1.5.3 Any Federal Council member who fails to attend two consecutive Council meetings without apparent cause shall be suspended from Council unless the member provides satisfactory written documentation explaining the absences and is reinstated by a majority vote of Council.2.1.5.4 Any Federal Council member who fails to attend three consecutive Council meetings without apparent cause shall be removedfrom Council unless the member provides satisfactory writtendocumentation explaining the absences and is reinstated by a majority vote of Council. If the member is removed under these circumstances, the member shall be ineligible to run for a Federal Council position in the next election for Council.2.1.5.5 Federal Council or a general meeting has the authority to deregister any unit of The Party for cause2.1.6 Vacancy in Federal Council Office2.1.6.1 Federal Council has the authority to fill, by appointment, anyvacancy, however caused, until the next general meeting.2.1.6.2 All council members shall be notified of a vacancy within seven (7) days2.1.6.3 Notice of the vacancy shall be posted on The Party’s website and on The Party’s general electronic mailing list within the same seven (7) day period.2.2 Assignment of Member to a Province or Territory For voting purposes, the assignment of a member to a province or territory shall be based on the mailing address on file thirty (30) days prior to the Federal Council election day.2.3 Management Committee If established, the management committee shall:2.3.1 Consist of a chair, the Leader, two members at large, and the Executive Director.2.3.2 All members of the management committee may vote, except the Executive Director who shall not vote, but shall have a voice.2.3.3 The chair and the two members at large shall be appointed or elected by Federal Council from amongst their own members2.3.4 The management committee shall have a quorum of three, excluding the Executive Director2.3.5 Meetings of the management committee shall be at the call of the chair or by three voting members.

Bylaw 3 Regions for Constitution Article 8.2

The six (6) regions for the purposes of Article 8.2 of theConstitution of The Party are:3.1 Atlantic consisting of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick3.2 Quebec3.3 Ontario3.4 Prairie consisting of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta3.5 British Columbia3.6 North consisting of Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Bylaw 4 General Meetings

4.1 Calling of Biennial General MeetingThe biennial general meeting of members shall be called by the Federal Council by majority vote, and shall establish the location and the date of the meeting4.2 Calling of Other General MeetingsOther general meeting may be called by:4.2.1 A committee mandated by a general meeting4.2.2 Federal Council by a 2/3 vote of those voting4.2.3 Petition to Federal Council submitted and signed by 10% of the members of The Party in good standing4.2.4 Petition to Federal Council submitted and signed by the CEO of at least 1/3 of the registered electoral district and provincialassociations4.2.5 A resolution adopted by a general meeting by majority vote of those voting When a general meeting has been petitioned, Federal Council shall select the location and the date of the general meeting, which date shall be set within ninety days of receipt of the petition.4.3 Resolutions at General Meetings4.3.1 Members shall be notified at least thirty (30) days in advance of any deadline to submit resolutions for consideration at a general meeting of members4.3.2 Resolutions shall be submitted by at least five (5) Party members in good standing or a unit representing at least five (5) members4.3.3 Resolutions that are not submitted in advance and are moved from the floor of the meeting shall only be considered if they are of an emergency nature and shall require a 2/3 vote to be considered by the meeting.4.3.4 Emergency resolutions shall only be considered after all other resolutions submitted in advance have been disposed of.

Bylaw 5 Selection of Candidates for Member of Parliament

5.1 CandidatesCandidates shall be selected by The Party as follows:5.1.1 Where there is an electoral district association, the electoral district shall select the candidate in accordance with the association’s bylaws.5.1.2 Where there is no electoral district association, the selection shall be conducted by a meeting mandated by a general meeting or Federal Council where all Party members in good standing in the electoral district may vote and participate5.1.3 Where there are no Party members in an electoral district, selection of a candidate shall be by a general meeting, federal council, a committee established by a general meeting or Federal Council, or by a procedure mandated by a general meeting or Federal Council5.2 Withholding a Candidate EndorsementThe Leader of The Party may withhold a candidate endorsement, but such withholding requires ratification by a 2/3 vote of Federal Council.

Bylaw 6 Shadow Cabinet

6.1 The shadow cabinet shall be selected at a general meeting of members, and such selection shall respect gender parity6.2 The shadow cabinet may fill its vacancies between general meetings of members6.3 The shadow cabinet shall be chaired by the Leader or his/her designate6.4 The Leader may appoint two (2) Deputy Leaders6.5 The shadow cabinet may create the election platform insofar as it does not conflict with Party policy6.6 Each member of the shadow cabinet shall:6.6.1 act as critic for one or more ministries of the federal government6.6.2 liaise with non-governmental organizations dealing with the same policy areas as the ministry(s).

Bylaw 7 Party Documents

7.1 The federal council shall maintain for viewing by all members:7.1.1 The Constitution and Bylaws of the The Party.7.1.2 The Rules of Order of The Party7.1.3. The Adopted Policy of The Party7.1.4 The Election Platform of The Party for the immediately previous election7.1.5 All minutes of previous general meeting and Federal Council meetings7.2 Items shall be forwarded by mail to members at cost on request.

Bylaw 8 Financial Procedures

8.1 Agency: Federal Council or a general meeting may appoint a registered agent (as per the Canada Elections Act) to issue tax receipts and maintain books for any recognized unit. Agency may be revoked by Federal Council or a general meeting.8.2 Fundraising: Units may conduct legal fundraising activities.8.3 Borrowing: Only a general meeting or federal council may authorize borrowing by The Party or any unit thereof, on behalf of The Party.8.4 Sovereignty: No unit has rights to funds raised by another unit except insofar as federal council or a general meeting may levy fees from units with registered agents to cover the costs of Party registration, annual audits or other essential activities.

The Winds of Change.....& A New Springtime!!!

2008-09-11T08:05:00.020-04:00

The winds of change are blowing once again.....I have just returned from retreat in the mountains of Québec, with my spiritual family at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac. I try to get away a couple of times a year for quiet time, prayer, and reflection. This visit was much more fruitful than the last one. On my last visit back in March, I was weighed down heavily with a terrible cold and flu. This time I felt 100% going up to the Monastery and was in a much better state of mind and health to listen for the voice of the One...

My formation to become an Oblate of the Abbey of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac is now complete! :-) I am relieved that this stage of the process is over. I suppose in the spiritual sense, formation never really ends. The formal aspect of it for me though finally has. Formation lasted one year and was quite involved. Each month I would read and reflect on various aspects of Benedictine life and then submit written reflections to Father Raymond Carette via the Internet. And so over the last year I have read a tremendous amount of books, articles and literature on Benedictine spirituality. It was interesting to see how each aspect of Benedictine life is so closely and intimately related to all others. I have said many times over the last year that the one thing I noticed about myself and my daily living more than anything else was just how compartmentalized my life truly was. Each aspect of my life neatly separated and distinct from others. Spiritually this can have an exhausting effect! I know, I have lived it.

For many years now I have devoted myself to the development of my "intellectual life." Learning how to become proficient at doing theology, (I'm no master) although I don't claim to have the formal education usually associated with being a "theologian," I have devoted a number of years now to intellectual pursuits in the fields of philosophy and theology. It was the fruit of this practice that over the initial 15 years of my spiritual journey as a Christian led me to seek out the Catholic Church and to be received by her into her fold. As Solomon rightly remarked, to the reading of books there really is no end! Lately though, I have either just grown weary from it all, or I am losing I.Q. points and don't realize it. I'm finding my interest in theology and "knowledge gathering" waning, replaced by something I am finding much more sublime...

Over the course of my Oblate formation, I read very little "theology" so to speak, but much material instead on "spirituality." Now, I am definitely in favor of formal education and sound doctrine. We need good theologians in the Church! No Question! My intellectual pursuits have served me well. But.....like Saint John the Baptist who prepared the way for Christ Our Lord, and then as spoken by his own mouth was required to decrease that Christ might increase, I am finding my intellectual life must now make room for a much more committed spiritual life. I am feeling very strongly the call to a much deeper conversion. As one of the Saints of the Church said, (I believe it was Augustine???) "There are parts of my soul which have yet to hear the Gospel." I am longing to enter more deeply into the full Liturgical life of the Church, the Hours, the Mass. The Rosary is becoming my personal devotion of choice, and meditating and contemplating the Mystery of the Incarnation, and the God who suffers with us and for us is consuming my thought life. Communal prayer in the Hours, praying together with the whole Church must come first of course, but my personal devotional life is also beginning to take definitive shape.

I am finding theological ideas are more and more difficult to explain and communicate to others, and increasingly difficult to grasp as others explain them to me. (Again, am I losing I.Q. points??? :-) I am finding rest and peace in the simple things of God. There is nothing, NOTHING more important than love. Saint Paul's treaty of it in 1 Corinthians 13 is coming to life in my mind and heart as I focus and meditate on this passage. The 2nd and 3rd chapters of Saint John the Apostle's 1st Epistle also have a place here.

I have heard and read over the last year real life stories of some young monks in Benedictine Monasteries who were absolutely brilliant theologians. BRILLIANT! After 10 years in the Monastery they left religious life, and denounced their faith altogether. It came as no surprise to the superiors of the Monastic Community though, they saw in them no development of the interior life, no deep conversion of the soul. They neglected to travel the way of love, with all of it's hardships. I am beginning to see in very clear focus now that being a Christian is about far more than sound doctrine, and believing the right things. Sound doctrine is important, as is fruitful labor, but nothing is more important than love. Love supersedes all... We must strive to develop our interior lives, to cultivate true and deep conversion of the soul, and attain to salvation...

Do I see Christ in others? No matter who they are? NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE? Do they see Christ in me?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, PLEASE have mercy upon me, a sinner....

Guide us in the way of Love....

40 Days for Life

2008-09-08T07:44:00.024-04:00

Christians of all stripes are invited to participate in the National 40 Days for Life effort running from the 24th of September through the 2nd of November. You can visit the official "40 Days for Life"website by clicking here. In addition to prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in not only Ottawa but throughout Canada, and indeed throughout the rest of the world, PLEASE!!! consider consider volunteering to be a part of the peaceful prayer vigil outside of the Morgentaler Abortuary at 65 Bank Street, (corner of Bank and Sparks) for one or even more hours during the 40 days. Please help in spreading the word to others about this important life-saving effort!

When will this end? We are shocked to hear about the practices of say the Aztec people who sacrificed human beings by the thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands or more, and yet we are just as bloody, and just as savage as they were if not more. Simply because we do it behind closed doors with antiseptic, doesn't change the reality of what it is. I am not trying to belittle the gravity of the decision a person may make in deciding to procure an abortion, what I am pointing out though is the malady of a society centered in greed, selfishness and self-assertion. This becomes a problem in an "individual rights" based society, as my buddy Frank once pointed out to me. In regards to the issues surrounding the Pro-life/Pro-Choice debate, I don't see how we can secure each individuals rights without it being at the at least perceived expense of the others. Confucius would say that Justice is not a matter of balancing each ones individual rights or negotiating various self assertions, but rather of becoming part of and fitting into the "cosmic order." A notion of justice which involves asserting individual rights will in the long run, or perhaps in the very short run, serve only to undermine justice, and will lead to envy, resentment and competition.

Justice can only come where there is virtue. There can only be virtue when there is love. Those who love, do not seek to assert themselves, but rather choose to submit themselves to a grander vision.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us!!!

Back From the Long Week-end...

2008-09-01T19:29:00.042-04:00

Well, we're back from spending the long week-end with my parents at their cottage in Calabogie. The kids had a wonderful time, although for some strange reason my little son didn't want to go to the beach! My little girl went with Mommy and Grandma, but little guy decided he would rather stay at the cottage and play Star Wars toys with Daddy. :-) We had a blast! He just can't get enough of Empire Strikes back and the whole "I am your Father" thing. He did it all week-end with various action figures. Every time someone got into a scuffle, (among his action figures of course), he would have one announce to the other, "I'm your father!" PRICELESS!!!

Louise (my wife) and I also had an opportunity to get "back to nature a little bit." Sometimes I forget just how artificial our lives can sometimes be. We as a race live somewhat disconnected from the natural order I find. At least here in North America anyway. Walking around outside in my bare feet on dirt roads and in the grass felt surreal! We also got to have a couple of campfires which we haven't done in literally years! On Saturday night there was a beautiful sunset and Louise thankfully was armed with her camera. She got a number of wonderful shots, and so I decided to take a few of the campfire also.
I had a wonderful experience last week-end in a more religious way as well. Sitting there on Sunday night in front of the campfire, I decided to pray a Rosary. Just........sitting there...... staring into the fire, slowly and rhythmically reciting the prayers of the Rosary, contemplating the Glorious Mysteries was something that affected me deeply. I decided to read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, "The Rosary of the Virgin Mary." I spent the week-end also engaged in praying the Hours at all five of the prescribed times. Vigils, Lauds, Sext, Vespers, and Compline. At first I thought it might be a burden, but after incorporating them into my day for a few days now, I find that it brings a strange yet sublime rhythm to the day. I have become addicted so to speak... The Hours and the Rosary are coming to the forefront of my communal prayer and personal devotion activities.

Lastly, on Sunday morning we went to this great little Parish in Calabogie for Mass at 10:30. Will and J0-Jo had never been to this Parish and were a little awkward to say the least! I sat right at the end of the centre aisle and as the Procession entered the Church, I managed to kiss my fingers and touch them to the Gospel Book as it went by. This is something common in Eastern rite Catholic Churches and Orthodox as well, but I could tell by the look on their faces, they weren't to familiar with this practice! (LOL :-) Oh well, it was a significant moment for me, sending chills down my spine...

The only thing missing....especially at the Church, were the Lussier's...

And yes Michelle, these pictures are yours, ours, for the scrabooking!!! :-)

Benedictine Reflections: Praying the Hours

2008-08-28T19:50:00.006-04:00

This month, I have been reflecting on the Liturgy of the Hours. As part of my Oblate formation I was asked a few questions about the significance of prayer in the Benedictine life. I have really and truly enjoyed the time have spent on this. It has been a very interesting month. This is the last month of formation for me, and since I am heading off to the Monastery in September, I thought I might take my time with this assignment.

The Office, or "Opus Dei" in the Benedictine tradition, is a unique treasure of the Church. Unlike personal prayer and or devotion, the Liturgy of the Hours is the public prayer of the whole Church. And although the ordained, Priests and Deacons, as well as those living the Religious life in communities have been obliged historically to celebrate this Liturgy, the mandate to Pray the Hours belongs to the whole Church. The Hours is an established form and order of prayer composed by the Church consisting of Psalms, Hymns, Scriptural and Spiritual readings which ideally are to chanted at stated times every day. The Hours is somewhat unique in the liturgical life of the Church because it consecrates the whole day and night to God as has been done from early times, fulfilling the command of Christ to pray without ceasing.

As I have been studying and researching this month, Vatican II and the renewals thereof went a long way in revising the Hours to make them more accessible to the whole Church. So, 9 hours became 5, Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer. As an Oblate I am obligated to pray both Morning and Evening Prayer. This month though I have sensed the desire, and the need to go deeper. So,...over the next few days I am going to try and implement the full Liturgy of the Hours into my day. It will be a challenge to be sure. But I have found in my own experience that time for prayer doesn't just come about, I will have to make it happen!

This is all part of my desire to enter more fully into the Liturgical life of the Church. I want to gain a more full understanding of that profound Sacramental Mystery that is the Body of Christ. Entering into the very prayer of Christ through His Church just seems to be a no brainer! So, I will take a few days to make the time to Pray the Hours, at least the full Liturgy of them, and see how it goes. I'll be posting more about the Hours in the coming days. Maybe my home Parish might be interested in praying Friday Vespers as a community? Who knows, first things first...

"Saving Darwin," by Karl W. Giberson

2008-08-24T20:07:00.024-04:00

This last week I had the opportunity to read a truly fascinating book! The title of the book is "Saving Darwin: How to Be a Christian and Believe in Evolution," by Karl W. Giberson. Giberson is professor of physics at Eastern Nazarene College and director of the Forum on Faith and Science at Gordon College. As the title of the introduction "The Dissolution of a Fundamentalist," indicates, Giberson is a former Fundamentalist and Young Earth Creationist. (YEC). As many of the readers here know as well, I was once in the same Young Earth Creation camp, with my copies of Henry Morris' work, and the Ken Hovind 'seminar' tucked neatly under my arm. Well, those days are gone....and new ones have dawned. Giberson's book was a very welcomed contribution, one well worth reading for others out there who have made the journey out of YEC and into 21st century.

Giberson tells his personal story of his wrestling with the facts of science and the established facts of nature and how he has come to believe, along with the rest of the scientific community that the Earth is of immense age, and that biological evolution is so well established now as to be virtually undeniable. I enjoyed the way he brought Charles Darwin to light. Darwin has so often been vilified and demonized by radicals that getting a good clear picture of this man has proven difficult. He is not the monster, or the devil that creationists like Morris or Hovind would have us believe he was. The real Darwin was a man who struggled with his faith and the popular Biblical anthropology of his day, and the observations he had made of the natural order while on that fateful journey on the Beagle. This section gave me a whole new appreciation for Darwin the man, that I never had before. Darwin it seems, was not trying to overthrow Christianity, or attack and destroy the faith of Christians for his own selfish purposes as is so often and nauseatingly asserted by his critics. He was man faith who struggled to make sense of what he observed, and what he believed about creation.

Giberson also makes plain the fact that the Young Earth Creationist/Old Earth Evolutionist controversy is almost entirely a cultural phenomenon isolated within the United States. The problems associated with Young Earth Creationism from a scientific point of view are insurmountable. How a group of pseudo-scientists and grass roots movement like Young Earth Creationism has managed to convince half of the population of the USA that their view of science is correct is truly baffling! Young Earth Creationists do not publish their work in scientific journals, and are never subjected to peer review. Their books are published by one small Evangelical Press or another, catering to their particular audiences. Giberson really drives this point home.

In one chapter, chapter 8, "Evolution and Physics Envy," Giberson goes into some of the evidence for biological evolution. I never really understood the fact that the mountain of evidence supporting this idea is exactly that, a MOUNTAIN! To deny it, seems to the height of incredulity. Of particular interest to me also were the discussions surrounding this evidence and the dishonesty of the Creationist/ID camp with regards to it. Now Giberson is not attacking anyone or trying to be malicious. He simply explains the facts, most importantly those facts surrounding some of the well known and famous trials in the United States Court system where these two ideas have met. I was saddened to see the obvious. Creationists and ID folks are prone to the same human weaknesses and frailty as the rest of us, sometimes resorting to dishonesty and deception to forward their agenda.

Now having said all of that, what I find lacking in the book is a solution to the problem of how then to interpret the opening chapters of Genesis, not to mention some the theology of Saint Paul. Giberson goes a long way in showing how the Young Earth Creation model is in all fairness beginning to look like complete buffoonery, and yet there isn't much offered for the hermeneutics complications that arise. In the case of the Fundamentalist, ascribing to sola-scriptura that way they do, and with their literalist approach to Holy Scripture, there is no solution I don't think, other than to simply deny the science entirely. This is obviously the root they have taken. Giberson seems to be a little unsure of how to approach the Book of Genesis. I could be wrong, but that is the impression I get.

For Catholics and Orthodox, and for a great many Protestants I might add, the war that Fundamentalists have raged against the natural sciences over the interpretation of Genesis has never really been an issue. The majority of Christianity has never taken these passages in their literal sense, but have approached them from a different set of assumptions entirely. Some Ancient Near Eastern Studies would do the Fundamentalist crowd some good. It sure helped me!

In the end, the book is excellent! Evolution, and the natural sciences are not the enemy of the Bible or of the Christian faith. Charles Darwin is not Satan in disguise, and there is nothing to fear from the progress of science. Evolution may be at odds with a particular theology, but it is certainly not at odds with the ancient Christian faith. I highly recommend the book! Especially for those like myself who have come out of YEC!...

Hey Charles, sorry for the way I maligned you for all those years. I just didn't have all of the facts...

Last Month of Benedictine Formation...

2008-08-18T20:09:00.011-04:00

Well, the Father who is the Oblate coordinator at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Benoit du Lac has informed me that this month of August,will bring to an end to my formation. It has been a very interesting and in a sense long year for me! :-) I have so many things I want to read, and yet so many books I must read. It has been good though. I feel as though I have been given the tools I need to at least begin the journey into the Benedictine life. It is a life characterized by a slow immersion into God...

This month, I am exploring the nature of Benedictine prayer. This is perhaps what I have enjoyed the most over the last year. In the Divine Liturgy of the Church, and in this case praying the hours, I have found something I have been looking for for as long as I can remember. To enter into the prayer of the Church, as we pray as the body of Christ, the very prayer of Christ, in the Spirit to the Father, is quite frankly, overwhelming. Benedictine prayer is built on the twin pillars of the Divine Office of course, and Lectio-Divina, the ancient practice of praying the Holy and Sacred Scriptures themselves. I'll be posting on these two topics towards the end of the month, when the time comes to write my reflections for Father Raymond.

I have also been fascinated this month while reading the "Handbook on Guadalupe." I was never really very familiar with the story of Saint Juan Diego and the Miraculous Image on his still after 500 years venerated tilma. The story of approximately 9 million conversions over 9 years of the natives of Mexico beginning around 1531 B.C. is inspiring to say the least. It has set me to thinking, how exactly would you go about the evangelization of the Aztec people? This was a religion that was absolutely brutal! I haven't seen "Apocolypto" yet, but I am planning to now. I am fascinated also by the obvious connection between Our Lady of Guadalupe and her mission in 1531, and why the Pro-Life movement has taken her as their Patroness! Maybe time to cultivate a devotion to her, Our Lady, under this Title. The Lady of the Roses is calling out to us, "Come and love my Son!"

I guess it goes without saying that I have also become very excited to find out that there are a number of Benedictine Abbey's in the world that have devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe! You know I will be in touch with them very soon!!!

For Me, There is Just Something About Her....

2008-08-15T11:42:00.007-04:00

“Know and understand well, you the most humble of my son, that I am the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows. And to accomplish what my clemency pretends, go to the palace of the bishop of Mexico, and you will say to him that I manifest my great desire, that here on this plain a temple be built to me; you will accurately relate all you have seen and admired, and what you have heard. Be assured that I will be most grateful and will reward you, because I will make you happy and worthy of recompense for the effort and fatigue in what you will obtain of what I have entrusted. Behold, you have heard my mandate, my humble son; go and put forth all your effort.”

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, intercede for the Church, protect the Holy Father, help all who invoke you in their necessities. Since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the Grace of a firm faith and sure hope amid the bitterness of life, as well as an ardent love and the precious gift of final perseverance.

Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us....

What Do You Think Mike???

2008-08-11T19:46:00.026-04:00

Today in the course of my daily routine, I happened to walk in on a Pro-Life/Pro-Choice discussion. There was a particularly difficult objection being raised against the Pro-Life position, one that I have heard many times before seeing as it is a favorite. I literally just stumbled into the discussion which was very informal to begin with. I got asked for my opinion... I didn't really have time to offer any, so I directed some of my colleagues and friends to visit this page, and I would think it over, and post a few thoughts... So here goes.

The objection was as follows:

What about the case of a woman who has been sexually assaulted, (raped), and has become pregnant as a result? Surely under such circumstances abortion would be considered one possible solution? It would even seem to be the most compassionate for the woman would it not? Why should she be forced into motherhood against her will, and carry the child of a rapist?

This objection on the surface would seem to be a very powerful one indeed! At least, it would seem that way. So, what if anything would a Catholic Pro-Lifer like myself have to say in response to this? Well, having given it some thought, and having encountered similar objections in the past, I'll do my best to at least offer some response, even though I realize some may find it inadequate.

First off, let me say that I find this objection to be flawed on a number of levels. Not the least of which is the fact that I have found it on many occasions to be insincere. Now don't misunderstand me to be saying that those persons who honestly raise this one are themselves insincere. I would not and should not presume to know what motivates others. But I do find it, the objection itself, for the most part to be insincere just the same. I'll tell you why. This is an appeal to "hard cases," "exceptional cases," if you will. The Pro-Choice position isn't that abortion should be legal only in cases of rape, or incest, or in the case of the mother's life being at risk. It is the belief that freedom of choice with regards to elective abortion is a fundamental right of all women. In fact it is most often seen as absolutely essential to guaranteeing them equality with men. In my experience, and again, it is only my experience, instead of trying to defend their position with facts and arguments, it gets disguised and veiled behind emotional appeals to rape and other similar circumstances.

Let's assume for a moment that we allow the argument from rape to succeed, and we have abortion legislation in place to make the procedure available in cases of sexual assault. This would still not justify abortion-on-demand, for any reason deemed fit by the child's mother. It would still limit abortion to cases of sexual assault. (I don't think this would work at all, but that is another post...). Exposing the smokescreen is rather simple. I will usually ask the Pro-Choice advocate if he or she would be willing, granting that sexual assault cases were completely legal, whether they would then acquiesce and support legal restrictions on abortion-on-demand for the sake of convenience, which as the studies show account for the majority of abortions by far? The answer is usually no. To which we can respond, "then don't use this emotional appeal to rape victims in order mislead others into thinking you supported abortion only in 'hard cases.'" Arguing for abortion-on-demand from the hard cases of rape and or incest is like arguing that we ought to do away with any and all traffic laws because someone might have to break a few in order to get a loved one to the hospital in a medical emergency. Exploiting the pain and tragedy of a rape victim is, I think intellectually dishonest. That is the problem I find with the objection as it is often presented, and now I'll try to offer a few thoughts about other possible solutions.

I'm trying to be brief, (too late!), so I won't offer any sources or footnotes here, just ideas. We can discuss them if anyone would like to challenge them...

- Statistically, consenting fertile adults have about a 3% chance of conceiving a child following an act of intercourse. About 14,000 abortions a year are due to rape or incest, accounting for just a little over 1% of the total abortions performed. Conception does not occur right after the sex act, and so in the case of rape, there are medical procedures that can remove the semen before the ovum becomes fertilized.

- In the case of a rape, we must be very careful to see to it that the right person gets the blame. What is difficult about this case is not whether an innocent child should die by capital punishment for the crimes of his or her father. The difficulty lies in the woman, the victim of the crime, having to take on motherhood when she may not desire it, nor be ready for it. This is where family, friends, the Church, all must come to support with corporeal acts of mercy and charity to support her. HOWEVER, the fact remains, none of this is the fault of the child. We should not punish the child because of our rage towards the rapist.

- I believe we can draw a close parallel between the violence of rape, and the violence of abortion. Both are done in response to a subjective and totally misguided sense of need, and both at the expense of an innocent person. Now a mother may not hate her child the way the rapist probably hates women, but that will be no consolation to the child. I just don't think that the violence of abortion is the solution to the violence of rape.

- For an innocent child to suffer capital punishment for the crime of a sex offender, will do nothing bad to the rapist, and certainly do nothing good for the victim, (the mother). It would prove difficult I think to come up with a worse therapy for a woman who is the victim of sexual assault, than to add the guilt and turmoil of having her child killed.

- A human person is a human person regardless of the circumstances under which he or she was conceived. How is the nature of a pre-born child, conceived through rape, any different in nature than any other pre-born child? And, why is it that Pro-Choice advocates always seem to refer to a child as the mother's, until she is raped? Then he or she is the fathers, not the mothers? Seems inconsistent to me.

- Women I think will often think that a child born conceived in sexual assault will be a constant reminder of their pain. On the contrary, the innocence of the child often has a healing effect. Also, adoption is certainly an alternative. All children are wanted children. Someone out there will love and welcome them with open arms and hearts. Having and holding an innocent child can go a long way in the healing process, and serve it much better than the knowledge that the child died in an attempt to deny or reduce a rape victims trauma. I realize how easy it is to say this as a man, but I am drawing on the experience of a personal acquaintance.

- What about the people around us who may be the result of sexual assault? Do they deserve to live? Should we kill them? May we kill them? "Ah!, but that is not the same," you say! But isn't that the real issue? ARE THEY THE SAME? Is there ever any exception to the fact that the unborn is a human being? (Again, this is where the debate really needs to take place. What is the nature of the unborn? That is the only real question that needs to be answered.). What is exceptional about the nature of the rape case, is not the nature of the child, but the very difficult situation of the mother. I don't see how one person can or should be killed under the guise of compassion for another. We must together seek alternatives that are compassionate equally to mother and child. Instead of taking the simple way out, and encouraging a woman to have an abortion, we ought as Catholics be willing to make real sacrifices in the name of building up the civilization of love. We should offer tangible help, and give sacrificially.

- Remember, "hard cases" account for less than 3% of abortions. We must go to extreme lengths to care for the true and only victim of rape, the mother. We must never make the unborn child the scapegoat for a crime he or she did not commit...

I'm Back...

2008-08-10T12:24:00.010-04:00

Well, I'm back. Back to the computer anyway. I took a little time away from blogging and reading to re-evaluate my priorities, re-think where I am, and where I am going. It is good sometimes to just sit and be quiet. Taking time out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life to listen to the still small voice.... It was a much needed opportunity to rest and re-charge my batteries.

So, where to from here? When I first started blogging on this site, I am a few ideals in mind and topics of interest that I wanted to "put out there" and see what discussion if any I could generate. Now, I have decided that some of those things are of less importance, and others have come to the forefront of my mind. I gave the blog a bit of a different look, and gave it a bit of a different purpose as well.

This month of August is the last of my formation to become an Oblate of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Benoit du Lac. It has been a very interesting year, and hopefully will bring much fruit as the journey into this spirituality continues. Benedictine life is a slow immersion into God. For this month, I will be exploring the twin cornerstones of Benedictine prayer, namely the Divine Office, (Liturgy of the Hours) and Lectio-Divina. I will be posting some of these thoughts and reflections over the next few weeks.

Soon, in September, Children's Liturgy will begin once again. I have been looking forward to this all summer! However, as a Deacon at my Parish reminded me just this last week, we should cherish the quiet times with God. Through reflection and Prayer, prepare for the work ahead. Words of wisdom from a trusted spiritual adviser. :-) This has raised in my mind again the issue of how exactly to go about forming my children in the faith. The chief responsibility is mine, and it is one I take very seriously together with my wife. Even though I have many topics of interest, my number one task should be the handing down of our precious faith to the next generation. The time has come in our household to begin a concerted effort with our little ones to give them the formation they require. Our faith is so rich, so deep, and so vast, with good formation, we need fear no ideas, no rival claims, and no challenges. Instead we can be confident in who we are, in whom we have believed, and can feel free that we can without hindrance receive the gift of the other, and find Christ in them, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they may believe.

I am also planning to involve myself more fully in the Pro-Life activities of my Parish. Coupled with that is a new found fascination with Our Lady under the Title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Readers here will be hearing more about her on this page in the future as well. Throw RCIA into the mix for September, and I have a pretty full schedule ahead of me! Our politicians may also hand us, the electorate, a Federal election this fall. Should be interesting to say the least. Finally, some politics to discuss!

Do It Just The Same...

2008-08-02T10:39:00.005-04:00

People are often unreasonable and self-centred. Forgive them just the same...

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind to them just the same...

If you are honest, people may still cheat you. Be honest with them just the same...

If you find happiness, people may become jealous. Be happy just the same...

The good you do for others today, may be forgotten by them tomorrow. Do good to them just the same...

Give the world the very best that you have, and even though it will never be enough, give your best just the same...

For in the end, it is between you, and God. It was never between you and them anyway...

Surrender your rights to the Other, whether friend or foe, Christ is always the Other...

The LAZY Days of Summer

2008-07-28T20:39:00.005-04:00

The lazy days of summer are here. Things have wound down so much at my Parish the silence is almost more than I can stand! The good thing though is that it has given me some time to think over a few things and ponder where this road I'm on is going to take me next.

I think I will give this blog a make-over. So many things have happened over the last few months and even though I seem a little undecided about where to take this page, it is becoming slowly more clear to me the direction I'm going to take. I am figuring out two things these days. 1. There are many topics that interest me and that I would love to raise on this page and see if we can get some discussion going. (This is proving more difficult than I at first thought.) And 2ndly, there are matters which require my attention that although may not be as interesting to me personally, are far more consequential. Some things I have been involved with over the years have become more of a burden, and those things which were once a burden are beginning to press me in on every side.

This is what I love about the long summer days. So much time it seems to reflect and to reconsider, and ultimately re-evaluate your priorities. Last Sunday afternoon, as I sat out in the front on my house with my bare feet resting in the grass, drinkin' a Kieth's, I realized it was time to make a change. So, stay tuned if you like. Things are going to get a little different here on Rome Is Where the Heart Is..., and hopefully I can enjoy the whole blogging experience a little more again...

Why Raise the Abortion Issue?

2008-07-24T11:22:00.034-04:00

So why am I trying to raise this issue of abortion anyway? Well there are at least a few reasons I can summarize.

The first and most obvious one is the fact that the stakes are incredibly high! I realize that in the minds of many this issue is dead now, and that "abortion on demand" is an entrenched reality of our society. As of the year 2000, approximately 40 million abortions have occurred in the United States alone since abortion was legalized back in 1973. Click here and go to Statistics Canada for Canadian Abortion rates. If the Pro-Choice position is correct, then the freedom to choose is an expression of equal rights, fairness and ultimately justice. Elective abortion would be seen as a necessity making society as a whole a better place for all. If we were to go back to a society where abortion were not readily available, or legal for that matter, (Canada has no law governing abortion), it would of course be seen as a huge fall backwards in the history of human rights. If the Pro-Life position is correct however, then the estimated 100,000 - 150,000 abortions which occur each day on a global scale, amounts to 100,000 - 150,000 human casualties, even though none of them will make the 6:00 o'clock news. Ironically, 1 child shot with a bullet would. If abortion does not take the life of a child, then the pro-life mentality is at best simply a nuisance, and at worst a serious threat to women's rights and personal liberty. Then again if it does kill an innocent and defenseless human being???.....It simply isn't a case I don't think of who is right and who is wrong. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the stakes are enormously high!

In light of the obvious magnitude of the question, it is remarkable to me how much uncertainty seems to exist around this issue. In my own personal experience, many people I have interacted with often have very strong feelings and opinions about this. At the same time though, there seems to co-exist a certain lack of certainty as to why a given position is held. I'm hoping a discussion here can help to inform and enlighten all involved.

Thirdly, this issue is so divisive! The recent appointment of Dr. Henry Morgantaler to the Order of Canada showed just how evenly divided Canadians are. Although we may try to argue that Dr. Morgentaler deserves the Order of Canada for a variety of reasons, (I oppose his appointment), there seems to be no way realistically to separate the man from his legacy. But again, just because people feel strongly about an issue, doesn't mean they are equally strongly informed about it. The ideas some people seem to entertain about abortion seemingly have come not from research, but rather indirectly from hearing oft-repeated slogans and from Hollywood films like The Cider House Rules.

Lastly, I would like to make a thorough, comprehensive, and accurate presentation of the Pro-Life position, something I find lacking terribly in the mainstream media. Am I biased towards the Pro-Life way? Of course I am! BUT!!! I try to be fair. I'm not trying to condemn anyone who holds a different point of view, I would just like to subject them both to scrutiny. I don't believe for a second that all Pro-Choice advocates are bad or evil people plotting to destroy the world. I think that they believe honestly in their hearts, (at least the Pro-Choice folks I know and love personally) that elective abortion is necessary and ultimately what is best for society.

I also believe that good discussion can be had here which benefits both sides. I concur along with Randy Alcorn, author of Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Objections, (to whom I owe tremendous debt for some of the ideas shared here), that we have a threefold common ground.

1. We all have access to and share the same empirical data. We ought to both make use of the all of the relevant scientific and psychological evidence and strive not to deny any of it.

2. We, on both sides of the issue, share the ability to be logical and rational in applying this truth.

3. Even though it was more pronounced say 30 or 40 years ago, most people still share a common ground of morality with some sense of justice, fairness, and compassion.

The complications arise I believe not from opposing values which are I think mistakenly believed to be forever polarized, but on disagreement over the application of these values and the truth of certain facts. Both sides I think we can safely and fairly admit, believe that all human persons possess certain inalienable rights regardless of whether or not they are protected by the government. That is why you have both sides appealing to a fundamental right, one appealing to "life," and the other appealing to "liberty."

The Pro-Choice advocate does not seek to deny human beings the fundamental right to life. He or she simply believes that this does not extend to the unborn since they are not fully human, (again, here is where the debate must take place) and dependant on the mother who is asked to make considerable nonobligatory sacrifices on their behalf. The Pro-Life advocate does not seek to deny human beings the liberty to make choices that one believes is in their best interest. He or she simply believes that this right does not extend to elective abortion, since this would conflict with the life, liberty and interests of another human person.

So.....having thought it over, I believe that we can find a common ground of values, and the question as to which position is ultimately the right one, would seem to rest on which one is best attested by the established facts of nature, and is most consistent with the aforementioned common values.

So......anyone up for some discussion?

Pro-Life/Pro-Choice: Preliminary Remarks

2008-07-21T19:53:00.009-04:00

I have decided after a week or so of thought to go ahead and bring up the Pro-Life, Pro-Choice abortion debate here on this blog. I'm not sure how it will pan out, whether there will be any discussion or debate, or even if there will be a need for a 2nd post, but I will raise it anyway. This issue is one that touches me personally as readers here know, and so it is with a certain sense of conviction that I enter into this arena...

I would like to say at the outset that it is not my intention to judge or criticize anyone. I would never seek to exploit the pain of others to make my case, nor would I trivialize what is a very divisive and potentially explosive issue. The emotions of persons on both sides of this debate can wax hot in defending their respective views. I have witnessed personally, and experienced first hand just how difficult this discussion can be. So let me say here and now in this first post, regardless of you views, you are welcome to join the discussion, and express your opinions here. Having said that, here goes...

The Pro-Life position can be summarized as follows. Pro-Life advocates argue that elective abortion unjustly takes the life of an innocent and defenseless human being. The argument can be stated as follows:

Premise 1. Intentionally killing an innocent human being is morally wrong.

Premise 2. Elective abortion is the intentional killing of an innocent human being.

Conclusion Therefore, elective abortion is morally wrong.

Anyone familiar with logic and form arguments knows that the challenge laid against this one is going to be to the second premise. It is here that the one question that will trump all others demands to be answered. "What is the nature of the unborn?" This question is the key to the whole debate in my estimation. It is the key to understanding and answering all objections raised against the Pro-Life position.

If Pro-Life advocates are right about the humanity of the unborn, then clearly, CLEARLY abortion is morally wrong. However, if the unborn is not human in nature, then abortion requires no more justification than having a tooth pulled. Again, the whole debate hinges on this one question. "What is the nature of the unborn?" Objections against the Pro-Life position based on choice, privacy, bodily rights, and back-alley abortions miss the point entirely. The issues surrounding abortion are complex and difficult, and I would never try to make light of anyone who has had to agonize over a decision of this magnitude. However, as far as the morality of abortion, it is really very simple. Before we can settle any other questions, we need to settle the only one with any real weight. So I ask,

What is the nature of the unborn?

A Fork in the Road...

2008-07-16T20:41:00.017-04:00

Well......tonight I learned from my father that the younger sibling I would have been big brother to was a little sister. (Refer to my recent blogs on pro-life to get a little background info). Like I said in my earlier posts, this seems to be 'haunting' me so to speak. What would my life have been like with a little sister? I have a big sister, well, we share the same father, but not the same mother. We didn't grow up in the same house. But this little one I never met was my full sister. My family doesn't regret the decision to abort, seemingly motivated by economical considerations and the aversion to the added responsibility. This is neither here nor there I guess, I'm just thinking......thinking.......thinking.....What was she like? How would she have enriched our lives if only she had been granted opportunity?

This brings me to the fork in the road. Up to this point, I have enjoyed writing this blog. I hope you out there who visit regularly enjoy it as well! :-) I plan to continue to post here of course, but I think I might take the blog in a different direction. The vision I had back in February when I first logged on has changed somewhat. Maybe it's time to tackle some issues that are pressing me these days, ones that up until now I have avoided.

In the "Blog Description" above, I mention how I have not repudiated my past, but cherish my roots in the Protestant and Evangelical world's. I have many friends who are still in those worlds and we get along pretty well. But somehow, I feel as though I need to apologize for the Catholic Church and the Catholic Faith, on a seemingly regular basis. Not necessarily on this page, but in a general sort of way. Sometimes I shy away from posting certain things or discussing certain ideas for fear they may offend the sensibilities of those I consider friends. I have tried to take an approach on this site that doesn't restrict anyone from speaking their minds and expressing themselves freely. Odd how I find myself feeling constrained on my own page. Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe it isn't.....

So, on that note, the Pro-Life issue is one that is close to my heart. I am not interested in polemics any longer! In fact I find polemics nauseating. Although I am going to open up a discussion on this page to the issue, I realize how heated this can become. It is my firm conviction that the Catholic Church has taken the flagship position on the issue of Pro-life and human sexuality. Let's open up this page to the discussion, and see what happens. I will take the approach of attempting to answer the primary objections to the Catholic position of Pro-life as they are presented by the Pro-choice advocates. I'm not looking to attack anyone, and hopefully we can keep it civil, fair, and kind.

Secondly, as has become a little more evident to me lately, the claims of the Catholic Church are far-reaching indeed. First and foremost in my mind at the moment is the issue of the Papacy, the primacy of Peter in the New Testament, and the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as the successor to St. Peter. I realize full well that I will be challenged here also, (Frank! :-) and I am prepared for that. I hope to generate some some good dialogue. I won't apologize for where I stand, but I refuse to judge or treat superficially those who have a different position. It is my desire to bring some ideas out into the open, subject some of mine to debate and discussion, and hopefully any and all who take part are enriched for the experience.

Now,......which issue to raise first???

The Year of Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles

2008-07-10T20:04:00.061-04:00

June 28th, 2008, until June 29, 2009 marks the Jubilee year dedicated to Saint Paul commemorating approximately the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the great Apostle to the Gentiles. As Catholics entering into this year of reflection, there are many questions we can ask ourselves. "Do I share the conviction and passion of St. Paul to spread the Catholic faith in the world through my example, and through my words?" As for me personally, "Am I committed to my vocation as a father and husband to instill the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and a corresponding knowledge and understanding of the faith to my children?" "What am I doing to evangelize the world?"

Well, these questions demand lengthy thought and reflection in order to gain the mind and heart of the Church in approaching them. So, taking once again the Columbia magazine as my guide, here are 10 ways to celebrate this great Saint and Apostle, Saul/Paul of Tarsus.

1. The conversion of Saint Paul is recorded in the 9th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Each of us has a 'Road to Damascus' conversion that the Holy Spirit is calling us to. Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal to you the conversion to which He is calling.

2. "...and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

- Saint Paul, Letter to the Galatians, 2:20, NRSV.

Study the lives of some of the great saints who have like Saint Paul lived this out so completely. Eg. Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Benedict, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Teresa of Avila....

3. Read, study, and reflect on the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of Saint Paul contained in the New Testament.

4. Take up the challenge of The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and begin the ancient practice of Lectio Divina in hopes that the Church may have a 'new springtime' of spiritual growth and evangelization. Click here for an introduction to Lectio Divina. I also recommend "Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures," by M. Basil Pennington.

5. Study the Church's teaching on divine revelation and biblical interpretation in such Church Documents and resources as follows:

- The Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum )

- Relevant sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( 26 - 184 ) and also the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church questions (1 - 32).

- Pope Benedict's book, Jesus of Nazareth.

6. Pray and reflect on the Cross of our Lord. In particular, pray about Saint Paul's teaching about the power of cross in the spiritual life. "Preach Christ Crucified" in the way you carry the cross and also help others to carry theirs. "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -Saint Paul, Letter to the Galatians, 6:2 NRSV.

7. Develop even more deeply a Pauline reverence for the Holy Eucharist. Read and pray Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter Dies Domini, or his encylical Ecclesia de Eucharistia. Also consider Pope Benedict XVI's post-synodal apostolic exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis.

8. Participate in parish and also diocesan Masses during the year of Saint Paul. Attend Mass on the feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. (Dec. 26) See Acts of the Apostles, 9:54-8:1. Make a pilgrimage during the year of Saint Paul to a Parish in your city named after Saint Paul. For my home town of Ottawa, consider Saints Peter & Paul Melkite Catholic Church.

9. Seek the intercession of Saint Paul to become a more effective, humble, and loving witness to the love of God in the world. Respond to the call of Pope Benedict XVI and Mother Church for universal holiness and the call to mission. Study classical Church texts on missionary spirit and evangelism, in particular those which discuss Saint Paul. Examples include, Vatican II's Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity, Ad Gentes Divinitus.

10. Study and reflect on some classical paintings of Saint Paul, and or perhaps spend some time in prayer with Icons of Saint Paul. For an Internet tour of some paintings, see the website Jesuswalk.com.

For myself, I am going to kick off the year by reading "Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity?" by David Wenham.

Novena to Saint Paul

O St. Paul, great Apostle of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God. You are God's special vessel of election. Through your intercession we hope to receive from Him this special grace. (Make here your request.)

O St. Paul, glorious disciple of Christ, with great zeal you spent yourself to proclaim the Truth of the Gospel to a pagan world. Move hearts to conversion as you were so powerfully moved so that they will spread light instead of darkness.

May we never contribute to or be a part of any communication that is contrary to our Faith. May we seek, instead, to promote, read, hear and view only those materials whose beneficial contents will bring greater glory to God, the exaltation of His Church or the salvation of souls. Amen.

Saint Paul, Pray for us....

Abortion Isn't Only About Women, or Children...

2008-07-08T14:27:00.044-04:00

As a Knight of Columbus, I received my copy of the July 2008 issue of Columbia magazine this week. (Click on the link to view online version) The cover story reminded me of something that we often overlook in our society. I thought it was particularly pertinent to the current discussion here on this blog and so decided to write a little about it. This month's cover reads, "SPECIAL REPORT: MEN AND ABORTION. As somebody who has been personally touched by this issue, I am glad to see the Knights of Columbus beginning to forge relationships with other organizations which seek to raise awareness to the suffering of men who have either played a direct role in the procuring of an abortion, or have felt its effects,....as I have. Most of what I will touch on here can be read on-line at the above link. I will also offer a few personal thoughts.

On a global scale, approximately 40 million abortions are performed annually. Each unborn member of the human family who suffers the agony of this death has both a mother, and a father. And while it has long been known that abortion can have negative psychological affects on women, it is becoming increasingly apparent that men also can be forced to deal with post- abortion trauma. The city of San Francisco hosted the first of it's kind international conference on male post-abortion trauma back on November 28-29 2007. The event was co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and the Milwaukee based National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing, or NOPARH. The conference was titled
"Reclaiming Fatherhood: A Multifaceted Examination of Men Dealing with Abortion." The message of this conference was that abortion can impact men as well as women. There is another such conference planned for September 8-9, 2008 in Chicago. As anyone interested can read further in the articles I have provided links to, I'll try to keep it brief in this post.

New research, although still in it's infancy, has shown that men can experience a wide variety of emotions due to the abortion of one of their children. Feelings such as loss and sadness, grief, powerlessness, guilt, remorse, regret, anger and even rage. It seems men can suffer from post-abortion symptoms that are consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. (Visit Chris Aubert's website and read his personal testimony by clicking here). Indeed, some of the emotional turmoils in the life of a man which can be attributable to abortion can also include anxiety, sexual dysfunction, depression and a host of others. Vincent M. Rue, a psychotherapist who holds a doctorate in child development and family relations, is the director of the Institute for Pregnancy Loss in Jacksonville Fla. ( Read an interview with Dr. Rue on the Knights of Columbus Columbia homepage). It was Dr. Rue who in testimony before the U.S. Congress in 1981 provided some of the earliest evidence of post-abortion trauma, identifying the condition as "Post-Abortion Syndrome." It is a myth to suppose that all, or most, or even some men simply don't care whether or not the woman who is carrying their child has an abortion. Finally, men are beginning to speak out and challenge the idea that this is a woman's only issue.

"A woman should have the right to choose, it's her body." "This is a private matter between women and her doctor." These matras are coming under increased scrutiny. One aspect of the abortion issue that rarely gets any mention is the fact that in the United States, men have no reproductive rights whatsoever. In the case of an abortion, this only fuels in men the feelings of inadequacy, and powerlessness. In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a husband has no legal right to limit his wife's decision to abort, or even to be informed of her decision. This just doesn't make any sense to me at all! In the day and age in which we live, with technology where it is, and I'm thinking here of artificial insemination, the cry goes out across the land that women don't need men to raise or even have children. I beg to differ. Granted, a woman can become impregnated through artificial means, without any contact with man right? Or can she? Last time I checked, a woman will still need sperm to conceive a child. In order to get that "sample," a man will in all likelihood visit a fertility clinic and "make a donation." How is he going to do that? .......I trust you see my point. There will still be a sexual act of sorts, and there will still be contact with the sperm of the doner. Now, where am I going with this? The fact is that men do have legal rights in the cases of both frozen embryo's, and adoption decisions. How, HOW can we leave out the father in the decision to abort a child? Maybe it's time for legislation which will protect the rights of father's as well? Can you imagine though the chaos in the court system if fathers were in a legal position to challenge an abortion?

So, what is my personal experience with abortion? I have to tread lightly here, because I do not want to offend anyone in my family. At the same time, I am not violating any confidences, this has been spoken about openly and rather shamelessly in my family ever since I can remember. So....here goes.

I grew up an only child. I have been told however from a very young age that it nearly wasn't the case. I had a little brother or sister on the way, but........."we took care of it." When I was little, I didn't really understand what that meant. The last thing I want to do here is sound judgemental. I am not judging my parents.....I am not......But, I am grieved. At least I think I am. Over the last little while, I have begun to think about how my life might have been different growing up with a younger brother or sister......I can't help but feel that there should have been a fourth place at the dinner table at home while I was growing up....I know I know, it's none of my business. What about my grandparents on both sides of the family who never got to love another grandchild?, and who never felt that love reciprocated?.........What about my Aunts and Uncles who were denied a nephew or niece?, and their children who were denied another cousin?.....I know, it's none of their business either......What about my own parents who.......I'm not sure which word to use here............"denied"...... themselves another child, and potentially another son or daughter-in-law? What about the grandchildren who may have been born to them through my brother or sister?.......What about my children, who may have had another aunt or uncle and the pleasure of cousins?.......So many people who could have loved my little brother or sister, and so many people he or she could have loved. I'm asking myself, why????? Why at 34 am I increasingly being haunted by these thoughts? Why the inner confusion and turmoil?

I know, I know,......it's none of my business anyway. Right?......Or......does this affect more people than we realize?