What can you tell me about the Scapular?

It all started with Saint Simon Stock.  At least that's how we know him.  Stock is believed to be derived from the old English usage of the word for tree trunk.  Legend has it that at 12 years of age Simon began to live as a hermit in a hollow oak tree - and hence the name Stock came into use.  We really don't know any other name for him.
Remember:  A hermit is a person who withdraws from the people to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion and to always pray.  
He eventually became a travelling preacher and then a monk of the Carmelite Order where he became known for his holiness.

At age 82 St. Simon was elected the head of the Carmelite Order in England.  He helped it spread throughout England, and southern & western Europe.   Four years later - when he was 86 years old - the Carmelite Order was suffering a great stress.  St. Simon prayed, begging the Blessed Mother for special protection.  He composed a prayer to her - known as the Flower of Mount Carmel.  The Virgin Mary appeared to him, along with a multitude of angels, bestowing the brown scapular of the Carmelites upon him. She told him that "anyone dying in this ... shall be saved."   About a year later Pope Innocent IV wrote a letter of recognition of the visit and allowed the promotion of the scapular. 
Saint Simon died in france in 1265.  It is thought that he was 100 years old!! 

What does it mean "whoever dies wearing this will be saved?   Primarily, know that the scapular is not a magical charm, nor a lucky charm, nor a special device that will beam us into heaven!  It is the 'putting on of God.'  Think about how we get dressed.  We put on our socks to protect our feet from being rubbed raw by our shoes - and to keep our feet warm.  We put on our clothing.  Well, when we put our scapular on, we are being mindful of wearing our 'God-cloak' so to speak.   So, whoever dies wearing God will be saved.  The Scapular reminds us to make this an intentional choice every day.   

What is the Carmelite Order?   The Carmelites are people who dedicated themselves to God through Mary, the Queen of Mount Carmel.  Mount Carmel was the place where Elijah manifested God's greatness in the defeat of against 400+ prophets of Baal.  God caused fire from heaven to come down and burn the sacrifice which had been flooded with water.   (see 1 Kings 18)

Does forgiveness mean you have to have a relationship with the person that hurt you emotionally? Or is it possible to forgive them, still love them as a child of God, but not want to associate with them? I'm hung up on this as far as an adult relative (in mid-30s). I don't want to have a relationship with him because of one too many lies he told me. I told him this then he came back quoting Mother Teresa and how we are to forgive people.

What I have been able to discern is that forgiving and bringing someone back into my friendship/confidence is not what Jesus' commandment is.

When I say I can forgive, that means I won't use what you did to me against you in conversation or in other arguments with you.  In the meantime, I may still hurt.  My trust of you may have been broken.  That broken trust in you is a consequence due to the action which caused me to hurt.  

When Jesus forgave sinners he told them to "go and sin no more."  (John 8:11) People who could not follow his edicts - like the rich man who said he wanted to follow Jesus and asked Jesus what more he could do as he was already following the law  (Matt 19:21) and then couldn't do as Jesus said - those people who couldn't, or wouldn't, follow Jesus, Jesus did not chase down and beg to return to him.  

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus insists on a conversion of heart as well as a reconciling with one's brother ... (and that would mean any brother or sister in Christ) and a love of enemies. (CCC 2608).  

Not everyone is a brother (sister) in Christ.  Just who is a brother or sister?   Jesus said it himself;  "Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me."  (Mark 3:35)     - Someone who is not following the will of God (ie: has a lifestyle of lying) yet 'quotes the Bible' (or Saints) to a follower of Christ is really just trying to manipulate a result. 

Also, we as Catholics know that in order for forgiveness to be obtained in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, true contrition "together with the resolution not to" do it again (CCC1451) is necessary.  A person who continues to do the same thing over and over - without trying to overcome it - is not showing true repentance.  Conversion has not occurred.

And ..."Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused." (CCC 1459)

In order for a reunion or a repairing of a relationship to occur, both sides need to do something.   One chooses to forgive.  The other sets things right and changes the hurtful behavior.    Without that change in behavior, that person is just spouting forth an empty set of words ... "I said I was sorry!"  

The Bible does not say we must make someone who hurt us our best friend, our confidante, or even bring that person back to his/her former status.  My goodness, Paul said in 1 Cor 5 to the Corinthian community that the person who was sinning by living with his father's wife should be expelled from the midst of the believers.  There was no repentance there!  

Is the person who is touting "bring me into your confidence," "trust me," really a ‘brother’ ('sister')?   Is true contrition being shown?  Is the natural consequence of the sin against you one which makes you leery of being near that person?  ie:  Does trust need to be re-built?  Trust building takes a long time.  When the sin is great, it may take longer to rebuild trust.  We are called to be discerning.  When the trust is rebuilt, then the other questions about renewing the relationship can be revisited and discerned anew.  In the meantime, remember that people can say anything they want, but just because they say it doesn't make it true.  He can tell you he's a zebra, but until the spots change and turn into stripes, he's going to have a hard time convincing anyone that he's not still a leopard.

Hope these thoughts helped!  Thoughts from anyone else?

Are relics like lucky charms or what?

Actually, the idea of relics are biblical!  One demonstration of the capacity a relic has to deliver the power of God's miracles, can be found in the book of 2 Kings.  In chapter 13 you can find the story of the bones of the prophet Elisha (the one who followed Elijah) bringing about a miracle.   When Elisha died, he was buried in a cave.  Some time later, another man died. He had to be quickly put into the same cave as Elisha in order to avoid a band of Moabite raiders who would pillage the land each year.  When his dead body "came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet."  (vv 20-21).
     Something to keep in mind about relics is that any miraculous power they convey is not because of luck or magic or "mojo."  It is because God has chosen to manifest His power through them.  It's the same way God works miracles through the touch of a Saint long before the Saint dies.  It's also the same way God works through the Sacraments.  
     We demonstrate affection and honor to the relics just as we would demonstrate that same affection to the Saints themselves if they were present to us.  The relics are a remembrance to us of the holiness of that Saint's life.  They also provide us with a reminder that we too are called to be Saints. 

Solomon's Fall

Not too long ago we were hearing about Solomon in our readings during the daily Masses.  Let's unpack 1 Kings 11. 
      Solomon, unlike his father, gave his heart away to the idols of the other nations.  How did this happen?  Through his many wives.  God told the Israelites not to marry 'foreign' women.  Why?  Because they did not worship God, but instead worshipped many gods.   But Solomon followed the way of the kings of the other nations and he married many women ... every time he made a pact with another king from another nation he took a daughter of that king to seal the pact.  These many women brought their gods with them - and their beliefs.  Solomon wanted to please his wives and so he built altars for them to worship their gods upon; and he eventually started to listen to their talk about these same false gods.  Sadly, he began to make offerings up to those false gods.  Because he adored the false gods, the kingdom which had only been together for about 120 years was torn apart at his death.  

That should not have come as any surprise.  God had not only given this law to all the Israelites, God had spoken to Solomon - twice - and reminded him to keep the covenant. 
Solomon blew it.   The entire nation of Israel suffered the consequences of his behavior. 

 ... Well, how about truly considering these questions: 

How much like Solomon am I? 
How much like Solomon is our nation?  
What might I need to do to get back on track with God? 
What can I do to help the nation get back on track with God?

Got any thoughts about this that you'd like to share?  We'd love to hear what you have to say!

Can you explain in a nutshell what the story is about divorce in the Catholic Church?

In a nutshell?  No,  I  can't!  But there is a devotional called 'One Bread, One Body' online and it can!  Here's what they said about it on February 28th of this year: 

" JESUS LOVES THE DIVORCED"

" 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another commits adultery.'  Mark 10:11-12

"Jesus does not believe in divorce, and He never will (see Heb 13:8). In fact, Jesus hates divorce (Mal 2:16). Of course, this does not mean that He hates those who are divorced. The very reason He hates divorce is because He loves those who are divorced and did not want to see them hurt by divorce.
"The Church, as the body of Christ, has always been true to Jesus, the Head of the body, and has opposed divorce. In recent years, some denominations, not in full communion with the Catholic Church, have ignored Jesus' words forbidding divorce and second marriages. The Catholic Church has recognized that divorce is sometimes not the fault of divorced persons but something imposed on them by their spouses. In this case, those divorced are not rejecting Jesus' prohibition of divorce but are victims of injustice. The Catholic Church has also realized that not every marriage is a marriage by God's standards, and the Church's diocesan tribunals discern such marriage cases carefully and prayerfully. Therefore, the Church may discern that some second marriages are actually the first and only marriages by God's standards. However, individuals should not discern that for themselves. The Church alone has that responsibility.Taking into account these clarifications, as Christians we must oppose divorce and second marriages. We must say, do, and love as Jesus does.
 Other resources for more information are:  
James 5:9-12, Psalm 103:1-4, 8-9, 11-12, Mark 10:1-12
and a Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022814.cfm

Copyright © 2014 Presentation Ministries

If you would like to receive a daily devotional from One Bread, One Body, just add your name to the list on the following site:  http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp 

pose divorce and second marriages. We must say, do, and love as Jesus does."

What is that little gold vessel on the ambo (pulpit) side of the church that's on the wall just below the pictures of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & St. John Neumann?

            That is a reliquary.  That's the big church-word for a 'relic holder.'   In the center of the reliquary is a little circle inserted.  It looks like a little sun or moon.  That is the part which holds the relics.   Relics are objects which are connected with either Jesus or a saint.  This can mean something which the saint wore, touched, or even part of the saint such as a piece of hair or a chip of the saint's bones.  In our case the relics are little pieces of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's bones.  She was the first native-born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.  

We are actually very blessed to have these relics.  When she was canonized on September 14, 1975 our priest, Fr. John Biller was privileged enough to be at the canonization.  He brought these relics home to our church.

Somebody is knocking

http://www.ebay.com/usr/wesellart

                     

This image has been created many times in a number of ways.  It's a rendition of the quote from the book of Revelation:  3:20  "Here I stand, knocking at the door.  If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with me."

Look closely at this picture.  What is unique about this door on which Jesus knocks?  

It has no door knob, no handle on the outside!  What does that mean?  That the only way Jesus can get in is for us to open it from the inside.  

This has triggered many a conversation about how Jesus is knocking on our hearts (feel it?  We might say it's our heartbeat!).  Jesus is so respectful of the gift God gave us called free will that he waits for us to invite him to enter!  

Will you open that door for Him today?  What does opening that door look like?

The Ark of the Covenant

Wow, what a thought that Mary, the Blessed Mother is the New Ark of the Covenant.  It's actually not a new thought.  The Bible spoke of Mary as the Ark in the Book of Revelation.  (Chapter 12) 

There is a fabulous Monstrance in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago, Illinois which honors that title of Mary.  It's the largest Monstrance in the world.

Photo: 2008 dimitre.com             http://thedivinemercy.org

**  A Monstrance is that holy piece of equipment which holds the consecrated host during Adoration.  Usually it is formed like a sun with the Host being the center part of it.

This monstrance is actually an Icon too.  It is titled "Our Lay of the Sign - 

Ark of Mercy," and was carved from linden wood then gilded.  It is nine feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. It  was unveiled and blessed by Cardinal Francis George, on May 31, 2008, on the Feast of the Visitation.

The idea of this iconic monstrance was conceived nine years before it was completed!

Look at the woman placed upon a replica of the Old Testament's Ark of the Covenant.  It is Mary. She is dressed in red as is the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  The red symbolizes her suffering with Christ. 

The big circle in her heart is actually the place the consecrated host - Jesus - goes.  (Remember that part of the monstrance is called the luna.  Luna means moon in Spanish.)

Why do we call Mary the Ark of the Covenant?   Actually she is the Ark of the New Covenant;  Here's a quick reasoning on why: 

The Old Testament Ark Contained the Commandments, Manna, & Aaron’s Rod
New Ark Contained Christ Our Lord: Logos, Bread of Life, King/Priest
 
The Old Testament Ark was said to contain three things: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments carved by the finger of God, the priestly rod of Moses’ brother Aaron, and the heavenly manna that sustained Israel in post-Egyptian wandering.
While the old Ark is acacia wood wrapped in gold, the New Ark of the Covenant is the Immaculate Woman Mary. Since being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, her womb became the dwelling place of God on Earth until the birth of Christ. As the New Testament is a perfection and fulfillment of the Old, so too is Christ’s Incarnation in the Virgin Mary a perfection of the Old Ark of the Covenant. The contents of the New Ark perfect the contents of the Old Ark insofar as Christ the Lord takes upon himself the roles of the former objects: Word of God, Bread of Life, & Eternal Priest."
http://www.stpeterslist.com/2022/4-biblical-reasons-mary-is-the-new-ark-of-the-covenant/

Culture of Waste

Remember that Pope John Paul II labeled these times as having a "Culture of Death"?  Out of that belief, and his sadness in that, came his Theology of the Body which instructs us as to the beauty and dignity of who we are as humans.  

Well, have you heard Pope Francis refer to these days being ones of a 'culture of waste'?  Last June (2013) in a general audience he said that people are being sacrificed to the "Idols of profit and consumption."(Quoted in the Pittsburgh Catholic special insert for the 1 year anniversary of being Pope on March 7, 2014, p 5)
He said that when we break our computer we see it as a tragedy, but the poverty of the people around the world, their needs and crises are seen as normal.  And that is a waste.  If the stock market drops 10 points, societies mourn the tragedy.  However, when someone hungry, poor, or homeless dies it doesn't even make the news.  And that is a waste.  "In this way people are thrown aside as if they were trash."  ibid 


What might we do to help put an end to this 'culture of waste'?  What can we do to make a difference in our little corner of the world?  

Faith News: Genders

What about the 'political correctness' thing that Facebook is doing?  Did you know that Facebook is giving its users (about 159 million per month) the opportunity to better describe themselves?   They are giving users about 50 choices to describe their gender!!  50 choices to tell your gender! 
What does that mean?   Well, gender = male or female.
They are giving 48  more things for people to use such as:  androgynous, transsexual, gender fluid, bi-gender ... and so on.  

What makes this so distressing?  The Bible tells us that God created us as male and female in His image.  This takes away from that and lets society believe that God isn't the one who created them, that we, the society did. 

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI predicted this turn  in 2012 when he was still the Pope.  In his Christmas message to Vatican prelates he said, "When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his being. ... When God is denied, human dignity also disappears.   Whoever defends God is defending man."
taken from March 2, 2014 Our Sunday Visitor  p17   "More Gender Benders." by Teresa Tomeo


Does this Facebook change bother you too?  What do you think? 

Faith News: Euthanasia

Did you see that Belgium has passed a law to allow euthanasia for small children?  On February 13, 2014 Belgium's lower house of Parliament passed legislation that allows "doctor-assisted killing of terminally ill children facing 'unbearable physical suffering.' " 

Who's next?  !!