tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35504882100969163232024-03-05T21:32:18.785-08:00Your Word From The WiseBringing you Eastern Catholic wisdom straight from the horse's mouth.Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-49081429413267417332021-10-12T07:15:00.072-07:002021-10-12T20:55:39.172-07:00Some Support for Fasting<p></p><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IQ3UboDG9CQSFhG0uDwZ1h_3GpyqHcy3VekqxuPniSgcp9vuPHpSQ7bmOXlfrJ1uv1hGvZ3lbJoY7m_rMeY6H8b9_Jqq_fgXv6pP8kGMgxsc6J7DzimFXiyouOIH_ddUe_zsro-lWBPl/s300/baba+borscht.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An older woman in a head scarf winks, smiles, and points toward the reader's right shoulder. A bowl of borscht and slices of bread float beside her. A light pink background with horizontal blue bars creates a stylized background." border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IQ3UboDG9CQSFhG0uDwZ1h_3GpyqHcy3VekqxuPniSgcp9vuPHpSQ7bmOXlfrJ1uv1hGvZ3lbJoY7m_rMeY6H8b9_Jqq_fgXv6pP8kGMgxsc6J7DzimFXiyouOIH_ddUe_zsro-lWBPl/w353-h196/baba+borscht.jpeg" title="Baba's Borscht" width="353" /></a></div></div><div>You feel called to grow deeper in your relationship with God through the rhythms of the church but don't have the time and experience for gauging next steps? </div><div><br /></div><div>You were raised with a fasting culture that emphasized giving up and suffering? </div><div><br /></div><div>You fast from food without difficulty but never really learned the theological and spiritual components of fasting?</div><div><br /></div><div>You do not have access to a strong, healthy church community and are looking for sustainable ways to develop your domestic church life?</div><div><br />You've been fasting for years but now have children, a spouse, relatives, medical conditions, budget or time constraints that require re-assessing what you're doing? </div><div><br /></div><div>You were raised fasting but never learned the hows and whys of menu planning or nutrition? </div><div><br />You are in a position of teaching others about food or fasting?</div><div><br /></div><div>You're bored or listless and want to re-commit yourself to a lived faith life?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If this describes you, I made a little thing to share!<br /></b><h3><b>Click here to download the PDF:</b></h3></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZZq7qgLWaJG_ffINaQ7iVK6c-Kp1Beok/view?usp=sharing"><b style="background-color: #00eaff;">Traditional Slavic Fasting<br />on the 2021-22 Gregorian Calendar</b></a></h1><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>😇🙏🏼 </b><b>Please offer a prayer for my intentions when you use it. 👏🥰</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Included in the PDF:<p></p><div><p></p><ul><li>A one-page cheat sheet for major fasting dates in 2021-2022 for the Slavic tradition on the Gregorian calendar. Easy to hang in a pantry, cupboard, on a bulletin board, or on the fridge.</li><li>A quick overview of the aims of fasting and the typical structure of abstention.</li><li>Nutrition information for fasting (protein, iron, calcium, Vit B12 and Vit D, iodine, omega-3s, etc)</li><li>A sample week's menu with images. Foods from around the world that provide a well-rounded nutritional profile, ease of use, low cost, and family-friendliness are prioritized.</li><li>An extensive list of whole food ingredients.</li><li>St. John Cassian's Eight Deadly Dominoes on fighting the passions.</li><li>Quotes from the Fathers on fasting.</li><li>St. John Chrysostom's homily on fasting.</li><li>Fr. Milan Savich's explanation of the meaning and purpose of fasting in the Byzantine tradition.</li><li>FAQs on fasting.</li><li>Bonus meal plan ideas and a recipe.</li></ul><div>This menu emphasized diversity to give you a lot of new ideas. If there's interest, an update will include a batch prep menu with ingredient lists to streamline shopping and cooking--let me know if you'd like to see that and how many people you'd want it to plan to feed. And add your own favorite prayer-fasting-alsmgiving advice for others who are looking to grow!</div></div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-2963838145240485192019-01-27T17:49:00.001-08:002019-01-29T06:55:13.526-08:00Spiritual Reading in Minutes A Day7 Spiritual classics between now and Pentecost--you can make it happen!<br />
<br />
I’ve come up with a plan to read seven classic and liturgically thematic works before Pentecost (four of which are free online), broken down into prayerful <b><i>accessible</i></b> chunks you can start right now.<br />
<br />
Much of the content is food for thought needing days to chew on it before returning to it so this schedule takes advantage of that by interweaving connected themes between books for focused spiritual growth. I thought I would share so others can join me! <i><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDG3pghgV26ywdhmktQO8smR78wq3pdZ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Download it here!</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>*Alexander Schmemann’s <b><i>Great Lent: A Journey to Pascha </i></b></li>
<li>**Alexander Schmemann’s <b><i>Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week</i></b><i> (<a href="https://www.stnicholasdc.org/files/Holy%20Week/A-Liturgical-Explanation-of-Holy-Week.pdf" target="_blank">free online</a>)</i></li>
<li>Vassilios Papavassiliou’s <b><i>Thirty Steps to Heaven: The Ladder of Divine Ascent</i></b></li>
<li>Vladimir Soloviev’s <b><i>A Short Story of the Anti-Christ</i></b> <i>(<a href="https://www.goodcatholicbooks.org/antichrist.html" target="_blank">free online</a>)</i></li>
<li><b><i>The Way of a Pilgrim</i></b> <i>(<a href="http://jbburnett.com/resources/french_way_of_a_pilgrim.pdf" target="_blank">free online</a>)</i></li>
<li>Brother Lawrence’s <b><i>Practice of the Presence of God</i></b> <i>(<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OCcTI3rPdDssGN0RBYmmw8Bwq6ieUlBw/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">free online</a>)</i></li>
<li>Catherine Doherty’s <b><i>Sobornost: Experiencing Unity of Mind, Heart, and Soul</i></b></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
Those on the old paschalion just move the date forward one week this year. Daily reading reminders at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YourWordFromTheWise/" target="_blank">Your Word From the Wise's FB page</a> include both new and old calendar.<br />
<br />
*All of the books are appropriate for any Christian. Schmemann covers Byzantine liturgical practice which is beneficial to understand and explore the universality of the faith no matter one's tradition. Those who are already familiar with his work and not living within a Byzantine framework might prefer a more western lenten book for these Schmemann days.<br />
<br />
May I suggest instead of <i>Great Lent</i> that such a person read <i>Station to Station: An Ignatian Journey through the Stations of the Cross</i> by Gary Jansen (intro and part one divided between the first three Great Lent reading days and each station subsequently getting its own reading day) or read the lenten classic <i>The Sadness of Christ</i> by Sir Thomas More which is <a href="http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/morebib.htm" target="_blank">free online</a> and works out to only about 4 pages of reading per assigned day to get through the entire parts 1-5.<br />
<br />
**Instead of Schmemann's <i>Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week</i>, the reader might choose <i>Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection</i> by Pope Benedict XVI or <i>The Living Flame of Love</i> by St. John of the Cross which is <a href="https://www.basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/St.%20John%20of%20the%20Cross-The%20Living%20Flame%20of%20Love.pdf" target="_blank">free online</a>. The intro and prologue would be read Palm Sunday, Stanza 1 on Holy Monday, Stanza 2 on Holy Tuesday, Stanza 3 lines 1-46 on Holy Wednesday, Stanza 3 lines 47-67 on Holy Thursday, and Stanza 3 lines 68-85 on Great and Holy Friday, with Stanza 4 completing the work on Holy Saturday.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYxgOqRA__H997ZccB5NJKESBkPYiJ5dJg_zZsgMQxtS0vQ_W85g-FpqaNJTau7Sm61leX5Iwawlph4bUz8WAUwFTqWUuiAcso2HjAtKGCMgrc5O9pecv4A9qXDDmB39iNCfPgHjEpuG2/s1600/Icon+tryptych.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYxgOqRA__H997ZccB5NJKESBkPYiJ5dJg_zZsgMQxtS0vQ_W85g-FpqaNJTau7Sm61leX5Iwawlph4bUz8WAUwFTqWUuiAcso2HjAtKGCMgrc5O9pecv4A9qXDDmB39iNCfPgHjEpuG2/s400/Icon+tryptych.jpg" width="500" /></a>
</div>
<h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lenten and Paschal Reading Plan 2019<br />Preparing for the Great Fast</span></h2>
</div>
</h2>
<b>Jan 27: The Thirty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost</b><br />
<i>Epistle: 1 Tim 1:15-17 Gospel: Luke 18:35-43</i><br />
28: Great Lent Introduction - Lent: Journey to Pascha<br />
29: Great Lent Ch. 5 - Participation in Lenten Services and Appendix (9) - A Total Rediscovery<br />
30: Thirty Steps to Heaven Intro and Step 1<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s1600/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s320/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDG3pghgV26ywdhmktQO8smR78wq3pdZ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Download your printable schedule here!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
31: Great Lent Ch. 1 - The Desire (Zacchaeus)<br />
February 1: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 2<br />
2<br />
<br />
<b>February 3: Zacchaeus Sunday</b><br />
<i>Epistle: 1 Tim 4:9-15 Gospel: Luke 19:1-10</i><br />
4: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 3<br />
5: Great Lent Ch. 5 - “Taking It Seriously…” and A Lenten "Style of Life”<br />
6: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 4<br />
7: Great Lent Ch. 1 - Humility (The Publican and the Pharisee)<br />
8: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 5<br />
9<br />
<br />
<b>February 10: Publican and the Pharisee</b><br />
<i>Epistle: 2 Tim 3:10-15 Gospel: Luke 18:10-14</i><br />
11: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 6<br />
12: Great Lent Ch. 2 - The Triodion and Ch. 5 – “But By Prayer and Fasting"<br />
13: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 7<br />
14: Great Lent Ch. 1 - Return From Exile (Prodigal Son)<br />
15: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 8<br />
16: Great Lent Ch. 4 - Saturdays of Lent and Sundays of Lent<br />
<br />
<b>February 17: Prodigal Son Returns</b><br />
<i>Epistle: 1 Cor 6:12-20 Gospel: Luke 15:11-32</i><br />
18: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 9<br />
19: Great Lent Appendix (1) - An Urgent and Essential Question and Appendix (2) - “Religionless Religion”<br />
20: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 10<br />
21: Great Lent Ch. 1 - The Last Judgment (Meat-Fare Sunday) and Great Lent Ch. 2 – The Holy Scriptures<br />
22: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 11<br />
23<br />
<br />
<b>February 24: Last Judgment (Meatfare)</b><br />
<i>Epistle: 1 Cor 8:8-9:2 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46</i><br />
25: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 12<br />
26: Great Lent Appendix (6) - The Meaning of Communion and Appendix (7) - The Meaning of Preparation for Communion and Appendix (8) - Confession and Communion<br />
27: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 13<br />
28: Great Lent Ch. 1 – Forgiveness (Cheese-fare Sunday)<br />
March 1: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 14<br />
2 <br />
<br />
<b>March 3: Adam and Eve Cast from Paradise (Cheesefare)</b><br />
<i>Reading: Rom 13:11-14:4 Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21</i><br />
4: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 15<br />
5: Great Lent Ch. 2 – The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem<br />
6: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 16<br />
7: Great Lent Ch. 4 - The Beginning: The Great Canon<br />
8: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 17<br />
9<br />
<h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lenten and Paschal Reading Plan 2019<br />Preparing for Pascha</span></h2>
</div>
</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s1600/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s320/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDG3pghgV26ywdhmktQO8smR78wq3pdZ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Download your printable schedule here!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>March 10: Sunday of Orthodoxy</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Heb 11:24-26, 32-12:2 Gospel: John 1:43-51</i><br />
11: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 18<br />
12: Great Lent Ch. 3 - The Evening Communion and Great Lent Ch. 3 - The Order of Service<br />
13: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 19<br />
14: Great Lent Appendix (3) - Why Sacraments? and Appendix (4) - The Norm and (5) - The Decay: Its Causes And Its Excuses<br />
15: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 20<br />
16 <br />
<br />
<b>March 17: Gregory Palamas</b><br />
<i>Reading: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12</i><br />
1:10-2:3 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12<br />
18: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 21<br />
19: A Short Story of the Anti-Christ (first half)<br />
20: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 22<br />
21: Great Lent Ch. 4 - Mid-Lent: The Holy Cross<br />
22: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 23<br />
23 <br />
<br />
<b>March 24: Veneration of the Holy Cross</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1</i><br />
25: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 24<br />
26: A Short Story of the Anti-Christ (second half)<br />
27: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 25<br />
28: The Way of a Pilgrim 1 <br />
29: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 26<br />
30 <br />
<br />
<b>March 31: John of the Ladder</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20 Gospel: Mark 9:17-31</i><br />
April 1: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 27<br />
2: The Way of a Pilgrim 2 (first half) <br />
3: The Way of a Pilgrim 2 (second half)<br />
4: The Way of a Pilgrim 3<br />
5: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 28<br />
6 <br />
<br />
<b>April 7: Mary of Egypt</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Heb 9:11-14 and Heb 2:11-18 Gospel: Mark 10:32-45 and Luke 1:24-38</i><br />
8: The Way of a Pilgrim 4 (first half)<br />
9: The Way of a Pilgrim 4 (second half)<br />
10: Thirty Steps to Heaven Step 29<br />
11: Great Lent Ch. 4 - On The Way to Bethany and Jerusalem<br />
12: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Beginning of the Cross: Lazarus Saturday<br />
13<br />
<br />
<b>April: 14: Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9 Gospel: John 12:1-18</i><br />
Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Palm Sunday<br />
15: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - The End and On Monday<br />
16: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - The Ultimate Passage and On Tuesday<br />
17: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - On Wednesday<br />
18: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Holy Thursday<br />
19: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Great and Holy Friday<br />
20: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Great and Holy Saturday<br />
<br />
<b>April 21: Pascha</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 1:1-8 Gospel: John 1:1-17</i><br />
Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom<br />
22: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Holy Pascha<br />
23: Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week - Pentecost and Pascha<br />
24: Practice of the Presence of God - Intro and Preface<br />
25: Practice of the Presence of God - First Conversation<br />
26: Practice of the Presence of God - Second Conversation<br />
27<br />
<h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lenten and Paschal Reading Plan 2019<br />Preparing for Pentecost</span></h2>
</div>
</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s1600/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LnTCbYd1HMrl0oKywFFhOY9nV191FUJrI2LN90zOhwu3JVPw54_IVM8ks5mf55F3T0kNpOywBZOT01-ktU8CeD45Qh1p67Kpe5M6yxasvjEWtNU6h2KscmH7fnrjgQeMRBh5WVn4ufxW/s320/Lenten+and+Paschal+Reading+Plan+2019-2.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDG3pghgV26ywdhmktQO8smR78wq3pdZ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Download your printable schedule here!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>28: Thomas Sunday</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 5:12-20 Gospel: John 20:19-31</i><br />
29: Practice of the Presence of God - Third Conversation<br />
30: Practice of the Presence of God - Fourth Conversation<br />
May 1: Practice of the Presence of God - First Letter<br />
2: Practice of the Presence of God - Second Letter<br />
3: Practice of the Presence of God - Third Letter<br />
4<br />
<br />
<b>May 5: Myrrh-bearing Women</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 6:1-7 Gospel: Mark 15:43-16:8</i><br />
6: Practice of the Presence of God - Fourth Letter<br />
7: Practice of the Presence of God - Fifth Letter<br />
8: Practice of the Presence of God - Sixth Letter<br />
9: Practice of the Presence of God - Seventh Letter<br />
10: Practice of the Presence of God - Eighth Letter<br />
11<br />
<br />
<b>May 12: Paralytic</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 9:32-42 Gospel: John 5:1-15</i><br />
13: Practice of the Presence of God - Ninth Letter<br />
14: Practice of the Presence of God - Tenth Letter<br />
15: Practice of the Presence of God - Eleventh Letter<br />
16: Practice of the Presence of God - Twelfth Letter<br />
17: Practice of the Presence of God - Thirteenth Letter<br />
18<br />
<br />
<b>May 19: Samaritan Woman</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 11:19-26, 29-30 Gospel: John 4:5-42</i><br />
20: Practice of the Presence of God - Fourteenth Letter<br />
21: Practice of the Presence of God - Fifteenth Letter<br />
22: Sobornost - A Strange New World and Experienced at Pentecost<br />
23: Sobornost - One in Mind and Heart and An Exchange of Hearts<br />
24: Sobornost - The Fiat of a Jewish Maiden<br />
25<br />
<br />
<b>May 26: Man Born Blind</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: John 9:1-38</i><br />
27: Sobornost - Trinity: Fire, Flame, Motion<br />
28: Sobornost - A New Creation<br />
29: Sobornost - An Inner Pilgrimage<br />
30: Sobornost - Becoming a Contemplative<br />
31: Sobornost - Forging a Chain of Hearts<br />
June 1<br />
<br />
<b>June 2: Fathers of the First Nicaean Council</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 20:16-18a,28-36 Gospel: John 17:1-13</i><br />
3: Sobornost - Unity in Eucharist<br />
4: Sobornost - Service in Christ<br />
5: Sobornost - The Little Mandate<br />
6: Sobornost - Obstacles to Sobornost<br />
7: Sobornost - We Have a Father<br />
8<br />
<br />
<b>June 9: Pentecost</b><br />
<i>Epistle: Acts 2:1-11 Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-40846662911147748912018-08-31T19:31:00.001-07:002018-08-31T19:45:54.998-07:0015 Ways We Can Protect Against Abuse Right NowA few of us ladies wanted to *do something* about the sexual abuse scandals and we wanted to make sure what was done included the needs and desires of Byzantines as well... so we went ahead and made the petition ourselves!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dg2pwDXG1SoxUbQO-JnF1sF09ZgkMKy33JV0JU35GeOVVSZPmJg29KtAWKjOATTwJ-f6XLwgOrLVXBEfSH38sb9d0vhVUIdprpIevaTY5sPOmGg0ohnqDMEQoqtOSF3HSSHUPwf9BhtH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-31+at+6.48.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dg2pwDXG1SoxUbQO-JnF1sF09ZgkMKy33JV0JU35GeOVVSZPmJg29KtAWKjOATTwJ-f6XLwgOrLVXBEfSH38sb9d0vhVUIdprpIevaTY5sPOmGg0ohnqDMEQoqtOSF3HSSHUPwf9BhtH/s200/Screen+Shot+2018-08-31+at+6.48.07+PM.png" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>We included only issues all can agree on in the hopes of getting a huge number of signers. </b><br />
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Facebook gave us a $30 boost credit but then they rejected our ad for being "political or of national importance." Go figure.<br />
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We need you to sign and share! Please note signees may choose to hide their names from view. It does not show their name to me or the public. Please let your priest and religious friends know that!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/642/506/389/15-ways-we-can-protect-against-abuse-right-now/" target="_blank">Add your voice by signing at The Petition Site:</a> </b><a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/642/506/389/15-ways-we-can-protect-against-abuse-right-now/" target="_blank"><b>15 Ways We Can Protect Against Abuse Right Now</b></a></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO05HOcfAJtCjbP8bBPfh7GVRpoPVkq_kvBP_dr8kC2nwWUepX0TcuoSJHLecfH4t3BNFQxyfdS2r757Om67NPb3pcQn-2-tS82Jl4hrrXaBcrBLKlx4RUVzk4y2-lnnF-yATokxjW6C3G/s1600/More+Button+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO05HOcfAJtCjbP8bBPfh7GVRpoPVkq_kvBP_dr8kC2nwWUepX0TcuoSJHLecfH4t3BNFQxyfdS2r757Om67NPb3pcQn-2-tS82Jl4hrrXaBcrBLKlx4RUVzk4y2-lnnF-yATokxjW6C3G/s320/More+Button+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>FYI: It's a non-partisan platform. They don't rent/sell/loan your info. They know how to keep all your content safe and legal. All while being free. </i><i>That means the small annoyance of having to click an almost invisible "more" text button in the lower right to reveal the full content was a worthwhile trade-off. Just in case you have any difficulties seeing it all, the full text of the petition is posted below.</i><br />
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<i><b>Please <a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/642/506/389/15-ways-we-can-protect-against-abuse-right-now/" target="_blank">click through</a> and sign!</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBAZXhhHq1w5AjzcX8qWaTsjvTqn43wZPolvLBujTAWzPo_2IlzLWPWAG3y1CtB-6L9ujHVyZWDb7vgqGWY_En7m86TmtmHQe19cMrm_ux0HUHnSex1IGjDpS8aFoA1KhikIcyF2skg28/s1600/Care2+Petition+15+Things+to+Do+Right+Now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBAZXhhHq1w5AjzcX8qWaTsjvTqn43wZPolvLBujTAWzPo_2IlzLWPWAG3y1CtB-6L9ujHVyZWDb7vgqGWY_En7m86TmtmHQe19cMrm_ux0HUHnSex1IGjDpS8aFoA1KhikIcyF2skg28/s320/Care2+Petition+15+Things+to+Do+Right+Now.jpg" width="320" /></a>In response to deplorable revelations in the ongoing sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, we, concerned laypeople, seminarians and aspirants, religious, clergy, and people of good will recommend these 15 points of immediate change to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.<br />
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These revisions to the Church's Safe Environment protocols are a <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">first and immediate step</em> toward addressing some of the more nuanced points that recent scandals have highlighted as problematic in the Charter's current state.<br />
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While additional and difficult work will be required in reconciliation and repentance, all people of good will can agree on the immediate and necessary implementation of these 15 actions.<br />
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<b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As such, we call on the hierarchy to immediately make these amendments in the Church's policies and practice</span> </b>as we work to bring mercy and justice to all affected by abuses within the Catholic Church:</div>
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<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AUDIT:</span> </b>An impartial external audit will be conducted in order to identify the areas and mechanisms of corruption, along with avenues for rehabilitation and prevention, in order to align the Church's institutional culture and practices with Catholic doctrine, morality, and its members' state of life.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>VULNERABLE ADULTS:</b></span> In addition to protecting children and the elderly, the definition of vulnerable adult will be expanded to include seminarians and religious aspirants; employees and subordinates; those being threatened or coerced; those with a large mental or developmental disparity by age or by ability; those who were previously victims or trauma, neglect, or abuse which made them susceptible to grooming or other forms of coersion; those for whom a large disparity of wealth, access, or resources presents a situation of intimidation and coercion; victims of human trafficking; those who are unfamiliar with the culture or its norms and safeguards due to immigration or language barriers; and when the accused has a relationship of spiritual authority over the victim.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY:</span> </b>We will recognize that clergy and religious have a relationship of spiritual authority over all who know them to be clergy or religious and they are, therefore, representatives of the Church in all such relationships.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ALL ADULTS ARE EQUAL:</b></span> All adults (and those functioning in adult roles such as teens providing independent supervision of children), from volunteers through hierarchs, will follow the same Safe Environment protocols while acting in the name of the church.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LAW ENFORCEMENT FIRST:</span> </b>A report of sexual or other criminal abuse is to be properly reported to the civil authorities with notification given to the church.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GOOD FAITH REPORTING:</span> </b>Any report of sexual abuse or other criminal activity that is only made to the church will be reported to law enforcement by the church herself.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TRANSPARENCY:</span> </b>All reports of sexual or financial abuse--including the expanded definitions of vulnerable adults above--which were not previously turned over to law enforcement will now be voluntarily turned over to law enforcement by the church.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>VICTIMS' ADVOCATE:</b></span> A victims' advocate will be available to all reporters of violence and abuse to compassionately act in the interest of the alleged victim as he or she navigates the reporting, testifying, and healing processes. If allegations or findings of abuse are made public, the advocate will arrange for the spiritual and psychological support of the scandalized. The advocate must have appropriate training, qualifications, and resources to act in this role.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>CLERGY FAMILIES:</b></span> Advice on provisions specific to married clergy and their families will be sought from affected stakeholders in order to allow clergy families the highest degree of protection, flexibility, and freedom from onerous burdens.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>DUE PROCESS:</b></span> A measurable system of due process will be instituted in order to protect the good name and reputation of the workers who labor ethically in the vineyard of the Lord, that they not have cause to fear the repercussions of any false accusations.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THIRD PARTY REPORTING:</span> </b>A report of sexual, financial, or criminal misconduct by a third party will be able to initiate an investigation (ie someone who learned of the allegations indirectly, such as the catechist of an informant).</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>WE'LL ACT EVEN IF YOU DON'T:</b></span> A church investigation along with findings and recommended actions will be done to its fullest extent following a report of mismanagement or abuse even when the alleged victim, accused, law enforcement and/or other key players do not cooperate with the church's investigation.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>VIOLATION OF INNOCENCE:</b></span> The classroom training given to minors and vulnerable adults through the Safe Environment program will be updated to catechize them in their Christian identity, biology, vocation, and community in a way that helps them to have healthy relationships, boundaries, and a Christian worldview without violating their innocence by introducing inappropriate or fearful thoughts, images, or abuses.</li>
<li><b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IMMORALITY:</span> </b>All clergy and religious who have a pattern of immoral behavior concerning chastity appropriate to their state in life, financial mismanagement, or criminality will be permanently removed from all teaching, preaching, and public ministry.</li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "sofia_pro_semi_boldregular" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SANCTIONS:</b></span> The bishop will publicly release the names of those who by internal investigation or legal proceeding are found to have likely or positively abused others, and/or when sanctions are placed on a person's preaching, teaching, confessing, traveling, or other aspects of public life.</li>
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<b style="font-family: sofia_pro_lightregular, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/642/506/389/15-ways-we-can-protect-against-abuse-right-now/" target="_blank">Sign the petition now!</a></b></div>
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Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-19529945526017834662018-08-03T12:51:00.000-07:002018-08-03T13:51:33.005-07:00Where to Find MeI am really bad at that "networking" thing. I would say I'm not a natural salesman but I won awards during my short stent wandering around Sears getting people to sign up for siding installation. They gave me a bonus for every person who confirmed the appointment with a phone call so I had a nearly 100% phone call rate, before the days of cell phones even. I'm told that was a highly unusual skill.<br />
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There's a difference, though, between that kind of one-on-one salesmanship and making connections <i>for their own sake</i>. Maintaining connections as a social fabric. The kind of skill used in social networking. In maintaining multiple platforms to be where the people are.<br />
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I love and appreciate the Sir Ken Robinsons of the world who can tuck morsels of truth into lighthearted, relatable banter. Have you seen his multi-tasking joke about the difference between men and women? It's at 13:47. Isn't he hilarious? And yet so seriously real?<br />
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To be funny, I'd say the frying an egg portion describes me to a T. To be real I would say my multitasking is not so much external (though I do the same as any other woman in that regard) but an internal work of organizing people and ideas. I intuitively see the root needs undergirding the superficial presentations. While most people focus on the means, I focus on the end. It is hard to then add the everyday maintenance of the superficial or fleeting on top of that.<br />
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I'm the kind of person people seek out when they're hurt or troubled, seething or confused. The kind who can be fully present, discussing the hopes and challenges of our human existence. Troubleshooting ways to meet their own goals. The ultimate realist. I'm told I paint a picture in my writing that makes others feel like they're there. That I can organize and clarify in a way that is unparalleled. And I'm also told that I'm a dreamer, an optimist, someone who defines our existence not just by where we are but also by what we are called to be.<br />
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I start at the end and work back to the present. That isn't how most people think. "I didn't know where you were going with this and was a little overwhelmed and scared at first, but now I'm following and am on the same page," is a sentiment I frequently hear if I do not spend a great amount of time editing to be able to <i>start</i> a conversation with the <i>now</i>.<br />
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There's a place and a need for voices like mine because we speak for the vulnerable who have entrusted their most intimate reality with us and we say to that inner self reflected in all of us that there is more, there is a way, there is hope.<br />
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To my great sadness, being an introverted counselor-manager type doesn't garner many dinner party invites. You aren't ever likely to find a crowd gathered around me laughing uproariously like they did with Sir Ken's talk. Even when I put alcohol in others' hands, they somehow feel disinclined to drink. My presence, it seems, is a reminder of our end point, our <i>telos</i> in Christ.<br />
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I struggle, though, with communicating this perspective when the modern methods to do so require that social networking skill. If I update Facebook regularly, I'm not on Blogger. If I'm on Blogger, I'm not on YouTube. If I'm on all three, I'm irritable and short-tempered with my family because I cannot also be present with them. I multitask ideas easily but it is frying-an-egg-serious when I'm with a person or his or her needs.<br />
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Where have I been? With my family. They've needed me. People are being born, people are dying. It's that stage of life.<br />
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It's a beautiful and worthy use of my time. But it is also steeped in the tedious ephemeral of the now. Without the opportunity to connect with others on a deeper level that grounds us in history and unites us in purpose, I am not able to return to those who need me replenished with a grounding of self.<br />
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So I am online as well. But I am told that's not enough. I can't only be on Facebook. Or Blogger. Or YouTube. There's also Twitter and Instagram and Snapchat and Google Plus. They all have dimensions and algorithms that need to be optimized. They want a picture. A story. A package. Unique presentations refined for their core demographics. Networking.<br />
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The tedium only accelerates my burnout.<br />
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People like me tend to be renewed through academic or professional circles. Circles they typically built before family life. I built no such circles then, when our society facilitates such things. None that lasted, at least. You might be <i>shocked</i> to learn that I was the kid who started the Catholic campus ministry at my university. And that it was not a move welcomed by the school's social or scientific staff who actively thwarted the work. Or that the priest assigned to campus ministry turned out to be highly troubled, driving people away and causing us to disassociate from the Newman network before his removal from public ministry the following year.<br />
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I struggle to find the place for a person like me in this networked world. This world that archives everything you say and do and produce. This polarized world that guarantees vitriol that is ready to be slung at you, your spouse, your children, your friends. I feel a great need to protect my family and to guard my heart, to stay focused on God, and yet to do so not in the future but in the <i>now</i>. The ever-present now, which is all we really have. The now that has my to do list torn from my notebook and trampled on the floor that also holds laundry from the trip we just returned from too sick to address, videos to edit and relish and share, letters to write, meals and curricula to plan, doctors and medicines and therapies to organize, and so many people to love.<br />
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You don't need me on Blogger, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, email... You just need me to be present. And I need the same from you.<br />
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-Catherine<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Catherine.Alexander.on.FB" target="_blank">My Facebook page</a> often features information on the faith, travel, education, planning, inspiration. It rarely features politics or popular news.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ByzCath/" target="_blank">The Byzantine Catholic Facebook group</a> is the most popular Facebook group in which I regularly participate (and help moderate). I'm also at Lynne Drozdik Wardach's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/353242374861165/" target="_blank">Great Fast Meals</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/byzimom/" target="_blank">ByziMom</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/YourWordFromTheWise" target="_blank">Your Word From the Wise YouTube Channel</a> has interviews and other inspiring wisdom from others. It is updated when I get someone to give an interview. I do not produce content for it's own sake so there are no duds. It's asking the questions you want answered and then usually following through for a deeper understanding of the response. You'll need to subscribe to be notified. If you're connected to a larger Eastern Catholic network like a parish or eparchial or social network page, please share these wonderful nuggets so I'm free to just produce them.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2QXEQ4SJmxGfcwYopteyOw/videos" target="_blank">Rómen Catholic YouTube channel</a> has videos from my travels. (The title is a play on words as Rómen means "of the east" in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.) Churches, monasteries, hikes, museums, travel trailer/RV life, conferences, that sort of thing. It will ebb and flow based on my travels. Brand new with under 100 subscribers, it is not yet eligible for a custom URL. So hit that subscribe button to help me out!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/YourWordFromTheWise/" target="_blank">Your Word From the Wise Facebook page</a> has basically the same purpose of this blog and my news feed, except it is more refined to Eastern Catholic social content. Which in Facebook algorithm means not enough interaction for posts to be shared to the newsfeeds of those who don't ask specifically for notifications from it. It's a double-edged sword. I need more followers who engage to be able to get my content shown to them but can't get followers without people already present and engaged. This is why people have a whole career out of SEO.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMeansUniversal/" target="_blank">Catholic Means Universal</a> is a project I want to see come into fruition. Check it out! It builds local intra-church awareness (Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Oriental Catholic, FSSP, Anglican Ordinariate, dioceses, eparchies, seminaries, parishes, schools, religious houses, monasteries...) and promotes respect among everyday Catholics and our leaders by holding a joint procession called This is Our Cross. It's the perfect opportunity to encounter one another in love, united in Christ. And it is so easy to implement on a single day. Contact me if you want to see it happen, too!<br />
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I also make <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjTFJ1MTVISXYxTGc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">informational graphics</a>. Things like prayer sheets, Confession guides, instructional or curricular text, that sort of thing. I make them available free of charge in response to an expressed need. Much of this work is not online as it is too unique to be of general value. For example, I made a year's curriculum based on the names of the students in a class, teaching them the faith through their patronal saints. <i>Awesome</i> but not useful to others, and potentially violating children's privacy to share their names online. I'd like to eventually re-work some of my guides to be able to offer a convenient purchase option for those who'd like to just buy a printed, laminated copy.<br />
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I was asked last week to begin the process for what I hope could turn in to a huge project. It's a little daunting by its size but it is needed and I think my abilities will uniquely improve the work that could potentially affect every Catholic in our nation. I am humbled and determined to stay in the present, leaving any worry about the future to God who provides. I'm likely to share what I learn if the project flourishes. Please pray that it does so only because of the great need it would address.<br />
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And then there's me, my family, our parish, our life. I don't share that online but it is full and blessed.Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-61991876197055158042016-11-06T07:42:00.004-08:002024-03-04T18:04:22.758-08:00The Bible in the Domestic Church<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR98ttOy_z_bE1Jot_e6kXJkM6VOFZaaB2m1MkO4QnJQp__wFC9CnkqwMGALXAduZMJ0GfnQE8tKMrmr89yFvj_UTc5fIUQ-9gAU4dCFcdA5InAzMlU-BNN0vF-A9K9KWn3b_M7XjgQUDs/s1600/CatherineAlexanderSpeakingAtECBCNov2016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR98ttOy_z_bE1Jot_e6kXJkM6VOFZaaB2m1MkO4QnJQp__wFC9CnkqwMGALXAduZMJ0GfnQE8tKMrmr89yFvj_UTc5fIUQ-9gAU4dCFcdA5InAzMlU-BNN0vF-A9K9KWn3b_M7XjgQUDs/s320/CatherineAlexanderSpeakingAtECBCNov2016.jpg" title="Catherine Alexander Speaking at the Eastern Catholic Bible Conference in November 2016" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Catherine Speaking at the Eastern Catholic Bible Conference</i><br />
<i>Photo by Nick Havrilla, Sr</i></td></tr>
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I spoke at the first ever Eastern Catholic Bible Conference yesterday on the topic of the Bible in the Domestic Church. Several asked me for the recording or transcript of my talk and for a copy of the documents I referenced, so here they are!<br /><br /><b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g9i2KyTFuBp91fA07-jdsJIIYGdHrs6n/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">The Bible In the Domestic Church Parts 1-4 (Full transcript)</a></b><div><i>Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of my talk combined into a single document for easy use.</i><b><br /></b>
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjRFZEV0xHdllaTFU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Who is God?</a></b><br />
<i>Part 1 of my talk, covering the Trinitarian communion of God and the incarnation and virgin birth of Jesus</i><br />
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjc1lKY0NyVGI2bHM/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Who am I?</a></b><br />
<i>Part 2 of my talk, covering personhood and being and rebirth through Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist</i><br />
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjTGJ0SGJSLTR2ZDA/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">To What am I Called?</a></b><br />
<i>Part 3 of my talk, covering the vocations of celibacy and marriage and their associated spiritualities and communities</i><br />
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjWjBxVDRvVWRBakE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">How Do I Live Out My Calling?</a></b><br />
<i>Part 4 of my talk, covering practical and attainable ways to grow within the domestic church, during which the below resources were mentioned</i><br />
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</i> <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjTFJ1MTVISXYxTGc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Resources for the Domestic Church</a></b><br />
<i>A short list of recommendations to share some of the options available out there to inform and support the work of the domestic church</i><br />
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjYmFUcmpQZEgxeFE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">When Eastern Catholics Commune at a Roman Catholic Mass Pamphlet</a></b><br />
<i>A single-page pamphlet addressing the most common questions and practicalities related to intra-Church communion including the canonical foundation, babies and young children receiving the Eucharist, and how the topic can be approached.</i><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjSFRKWm5KR3U2V0U/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Byzantine Morning Prayer for Adults</a></b><br />
<i>A single-page morning prayer rule for adults which focuses on spiritual growth through the Byzantine tradition</i><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjMUlaY2ZYRWk4SWc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Byzantine Morning and Evening Prayer for Families</a></b><br />
<i>A single-page morning and evening prayer rule for families which introduces the Byzantine tradition and encourages continued growth in a sustainable way</i><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjVHp6aHNhRFREU1k/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Byzantine Examination of Conscience for Married Parents, Married Adults, Single Parents, Single Adults, Clergy and Religious, Youth, and Children</a></b><br />
<i>A series of compatible examinations which encourage continued spiritual growth through the full life span, each on a single page and tailored to the needs of a different demographic.</i><br />
<i><span id="goog_1809614047"></span><br />
</i> <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxjYmFUcmpQZEgxeFE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Byzantine Examination of Conscience in a Visual Format (pictures)</a><span id="goog_1809614048"></span></b><br />
<i>A single-page examination that has a picture accompanying each point, followed by a series of cards that can be cut out (and laminated and/or placed on a ring if desired) to use one at a time, including the option of selecting only those that have been a challenge to take into Confession. Particularly helpful for pre-readers, those with learning differences or attention constraints, and those with disabilities.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypWds_USKxja3Q0RlRDSE4tbVE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Byzantine Rule of Repentance with a Byzantine Confession Guide for Adults, Simplified, and in a Visual Format (pictures)</a></b><br />
<i>A single-page prayer rule in preparation for Confession (most suitable for teens through adults) with a Confession guide for every age and ability, i</i><i>ncluding a visual format which is particularly helpful for pre-readers, those with learning differences or attention constraints, and those with disabilities.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ov7TVzbh6wiavEgatbQSNZe0RveL3z6Q/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Roman Catholic Prayer Rule</a></b></div><div>Morning prayer, evening prayer, rule of repentance, and Confession guide designed to optimize the prayers needed for Mass and the most popular Latin/Roman devotions, most to all of the prayers also on the list of indulgences.</div><div>
<br />
<br /></div></div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-9990719975289315802011-12-10T23:39:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:41:12.724-08:00Church Ascription Upon Conversion<br />
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Fr. George Gallaro is one of my heroes. In case you don't remember who he is, you can <a href="http://yourwordfromthewise.blogspot.com/2011/05/when-easterners-live-in-western.html" target="_blank">read his impressive credentials on this previous post</a>. I've written him twice asking him to share his wisdom with all of us through this blog. Twice he has written me back almost immediately with a wealth of wisdom to share.</div>
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This is a topic I've received several requests to cover and have seen a lot of confusion over. I'm grateful that Father George shared it here with us and think it will be referenced frequently. I'm also grateful that he took the time to put it into text because I suspect these words will be searched on a regular basis. He gives the canonical low-down on joining a church sui juris when converting.</div>
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<b>BAPTIZED NON-CATHOLICS </b><br />
<b>COMING INTO FULL COMMUNION </b><br />
<b>WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Fr. George Gallaro</b></div>
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The Second Vatican Council declares in its Decree on
Ecumenism (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unitatis redintegratio</i>)
that, when those who have been validly baptized in non-Catholic Churches or
Ecclesial Communities spontaneously ask to enter full communion with the
Catholic Church, either as individuals or as groups, “it is necessary to impose
no burden beyond what is essential.” (UR 18)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (<i>i.e.</i> CCEO) in its
canon 897 affirms that: “A member of the Christian faithful of an Eastern
non-Catholic Church is to be received into the Catholic Church with only the
profession of the Catholic faith, after a doctrinal and spiritual preparation
that is suited to that person’s condition.” Since this constitutes a very
delicate act, it is advisable to ascertain the weighty reasons why one asks for
admission into the Catholic Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The competent ecclesiastical authority to receive one into
full communion is specified in the CCEO in the canons 898-899.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The same Code in canon 35, following the Decree on the
Eastern Churches (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orientalium ecclesiarum</i>),
declares that: “Baptized non-Catholics coming into full communion with the
Catholic Church should retain and practice their own rite and should observe it
everywhere in the world as much as humanly possible.” In the case of Orthodox,
the new Church of ascription shall be one of the autonomous Eastern Catholic
Churches, the closest in its ritual approach. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Protestants who enter into the full Catholic communion are
to be ascribed to the Latin Church, since their Ecclesial Communities sprang
from the Western/Latin tradition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The rationale of this norm is mainly ecclesiological: full
communion with the apostolic Church of Rome does not imply alienation or loss
of the rite, understood as liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary
patrimony. Canon 35 was written with an ecumenical perspective in mind: to
establish and to preserve communion one must “lay no greater burden than
necessary” (Acts 15: 28).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Eastern Orthodox who joins the equivalent Eastern
Catholic Church finds the surroundings in keeping with his/her Christian
history and identity. That does not mean that he/she cannot continue to attend
the Latin Church, even though it is desirable that he/she should be helped to
uphold his/her own Church tradition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the text of canon 35 does not explicitly specify if
the norm is for validity or for lawfulness, one may infer that this is not an
irritating law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Canon 32 §1,
dealing with Catholics who desire to transfer validly to another autonomous
Catholic Church, requires the consent of the Holy See. Furthermore, insofar as
legitimate ascription to another autonomous Catholic Church constitutes the
basis for the validity or lawfulness of certain juridical act (e.g., the
validity of a marriage or the lawful admission to a religious institute of
another autonomous Catholic Church) one may conclude that canon 35 has a
binding force, after all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes, a baptized member of an Eastern non-Catholic
Church who enters in full communion with the Catholic Church wants to be
ascribed into the Latin Church. If so, one must, with the prior approval of the
local Latin bishop, seek an indult (<i>i.e.</i> permission) from the Holy See. The
canonical reason for such a petition must be serious, e.g., the spiritual
wellbeing of the petitioner or the unity of the family when the petitioner is
married to a Latin spouse.</div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-6364049290062273942011-12-10T23:11:00.000-08:002011-12-10T23:15:20.678-08:00The Year in ReviewI did this experiment of trying to blog in 2011 while waiting for opportunities to return to video. I thought it was worth trying because I could do more from home, since I needed to be home more this last year, and could provide the same quality information. It didn't work out so well.<br />
<br />
One major hurdle I had was in getting responses to interview requests. No one likes cold callers. I didn't know if my emails weren't going through or if the person on the other end was not interested. I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew so I'd wait on one person before asking the next and the lack of response slowed this process down considerably. Another major hurdle I faced was that those who responded favorably were often impressed with my questions and too busy to respond to them in text. Text is more formal, more detailed, more scrutinized, and more involved. After spending the time writing and editing the few interviews which were completed, I would send the final work for approval and it wasn't uncommon to not hear back. Dozens of hours of work sit ready and unpublished, much of which is no longer of particular interest because it was concerning current (at the time) events. People who have wisdom to share are, as an obvious correlative effect, very busy people. I need to be able to have 15 minutes or 30 minutes or 60 minutes or whatever it is that they're available for and then they need to be done, but I didn't accomplish that with the text model.<br />
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On a personal front, I am able to write the best questions when I talk with a person and learn what is important and of interest to him or her. I'm also most motivated to work when I have personal connections. Working on my own at home with a computer screen and text was a personal challenge which I did not always conquer.<br />
<br />
All of this combined to an end product others were happy to see, but I didn't get requests for more of it. On the other hand, I continue to receive regular requests for my video interviews. This affirmation that the content is what people are interested in and the video medium is where it is best conveyed has brought me back to video interviews. It is obvious that my talents are best used in service to the church there.<br />
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God willing, I will be taking videos in the coming weeks and I will be posting video interviews regularly throughout 2012. I've heard you loud and clear and I'm responding to your call! Please pray for me that I continue to seek God's will and that I conform to it so that whatever I do brings glory to Him.</div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-9797678595261881532011-07-23T21:52:00.000-07:002011-07-23T21:52:47.049-07:00Interview with His Beatitude Sviatoslav of the UGCC<div>
I am in the process of re-focusing on original video content, but this interview with the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church was too huge not to post.</div>
<blockquote>
<i>Culture experts say there is no question more difficult than the question of identity. Greek Catholics hear many definitions of their church, for example, that we are Eastern rite Catholics, or Eastern Catholics, or Orthodox in communion with Rome, or maybe even other formulations. Which wording do you think is the most accurate? </i></blockquote>
Read the patriarch's response to that and numerous other questions Mariana Karapinka & Anatolii Babynskyi asked him in their article "<a href="http://risu.org.ua/en/index/expert_thought/interview/43376/">His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk): 'I Will Continue to Build the Patriarchate'</a>"Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-23001070754130601042011-05-08T12:02:00.000-07:002011-05-08T12:11:24.446-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<i>By singing praise to your maternity, we exalt you as a spiritual temple, Theotokos. For the One Who dwelt within your womb, the Lord who holds all things in his hands, sanctified you, glorified you, and taught all to sing to you...</i><br />
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Step-mothers, single mothers, biological mothers, adoptive mothers, estranged mothers, birth mothers, natural mothers, first mothers, religious mothers, spiritual mothers, foster mothers, grand-mothers, godmothers, mothers whose children died in miscarriage or abortion, mothers who placed their children for adoption, mothers whose children live with others, mothers whose children live at home, mothers who made poor decisions, mothers who were not able or allowed to parent, mothers who have sacrificed greatly, mothers whose children are still growing in their wombs or are waiting for them around the world, mothers whose children are grown and gone, mothers whose sons and daughters are in harm's way as they protect and defend others, mothers who visit their children's graves, mothers whose children have no graves at which they can sit and grieve...<br />
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However you came to be a mother and wherever your children now are, I pray today as the English world celebrates Mother's Day that our Lord shower you with graces just as He did for His own mother and that the Theotokos--she who bore and gave birth to God and who stood at the foot of the cross as He died upon it--will pray for the salvation of you and your children.</div>
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<i>O never failing protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator; despise not the petitions or sinners who have recourse to you, by your goodness extend your help to us to call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you.</i></div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-73751955159394216882011-05-06T13:07:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:39:09.905-07:00Melkite patriarch tells West not to encourage Arab revolutions<blockquote>
Damascus, Syria, May 5, 2011 / 07:47 pm (CNA).- Patriarch Gregorios III, the Syria-based head of the Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, is warning Western leaders not to encourage the revolutions currently shaking up the Middle East.</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dont-encourage-arab-revolutions-melkite-patriarch-tells-western-leaders/">Read about it here...</a>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-30206822780274387752011-05-06T06:05:00.000-07:002011-05-06T06:05:38.721-07:00When Easterners live in Western Territories - Part 3 of 3Here is Part 3 of 3 from Fr. George Gallaro's discussion of canonical integration of Eastern faithful in Latin dioceses.<br />
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<b>Obligations of Latin Diocesan Bishops</b><br />
Let us examine now can. 383 § 2 of the Latin Code which regards the obligations of the diocesan bishops in assisting the Eastern faithful residing in their dioceses.<br />
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<i>Through priests ... of the same rite</i><br />
The first and simplest way for the pastoral care of the Eastern faithful in the safeguard of their rite is the ministerial service of priests of the same rite as the Christian faithful. As an alternative the bishop can even entrust the pastoral care of these faithful to priests of other ecclesiastical jurisdiction and ritual tradition, provided they are qualified to give such a spiritual assistance. The norms for the pastoral care of the people on the move – <i>Erga migrantes</i> (May 3, 2004) – could also be helpful in this matter.<br />
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<i>… Or through parishes of the same rite</i><br />
A further step along with the designation of priests of the same rite as the faithful is the erection of parishes of that same rite. As mentioned, the Eastern faithful acquire with their domicile or quasi-domicile not only their own hierarch but also their parish priest.<br />
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If an eparchy covers a vast territory, it is difficult to establish several parishes. They will necessarily be established in places with greater concentrations of faithful. And in this case the priests will have difficulty in maintaining regular contacts with their faithful. The Eastern Code, in order to assure the pastoral care for all faithful, suggests to the eparchial bishop to designate the pastor of another autonomous Church, with the consent of the eparchial bishop of the pastor to be designated. Should the proper bishop of some faithful be lacking and already been duly entrusted to a bishop of another autonomous Church, even a Latin bishop, he is to take care of these Eastern faithful through priests of their same rite.<br />
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<i>... Or through an episcopal vicar</i><br />
This is the third proposal by the Latin Code which corresponds to the decree <i>Christus Dominus</i> (23,3): “… or through an episcopal vicar endowed with the necessary faculties.” If the groups of Eastern faithful of one or more autonomous Churches residing in a Latin diocese are numerous and well organized, the diocesan bishop is urged to appoint an episcopal vicar for them. Thus the diocesan bishop, through the person of his episcopal vicar, will guide the various groups, study their problems, care for their spiritual needs and coordinate their pastoral activity.<br />
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<b>Rights and Duties of a Patriarch and a Major Archbishop</b><br />
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In compliance with the Eastern Code the authority/jurisdiction of a Catholic Patriarch and Major Archbishop is limited to the territory of the respective patriarchal or major archiepiscopal Church. There are however cases in which they can intervene outside their territory for the pastoral good of the faithful of their autonomous Church, including those who live in Latin dioceses.<br />
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<i>As for the nomination of a priest, a pastor or an episcopal vicar</i><br />
In these cases, as mentioned above, one deals with internal norms of the receiving diocese, and therefore the choice of the candidates is exclusively up to the local bishop (CIC cc. 477, 515, 523). A previous consultation with the hierarchy of the autonomous Church of the faithful in question would be commendable, especially in dealing with a patriarchal or major archiepiscopal Church. It also would be highly desirable that the designation of more suitable candidates could come from the patriarch or major archbishop.<br />
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The Eastern Code is more demanding in this matter. In fact, its can. 193 § 3 requires that the local diocesan bishop for the faithful of a patriarchal or major archiepiscopal Church acts in agreement with its respective superior authority. However, can. 193 regards only Eastern eparchial bishops. The Papal Commission for the review of the Eastern norms proposed in 1988 to include “also the Latin bishops,” but in 1990 the supreme legislator did not want to bind by this norm the Latin bishops. However, since the more frequent cases regard the Eastern faithful present in Latin dioceses, it could be said that said omission has made useless the content of the norm.<br />
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Since one deals here with a norm of papal law, the patriarchs and major archbishops could equally demand the observance of this norm which gives them an important faculty/power. The Latin bishops, on the other hand, could make a stand against this presumed “intrusion” of other hierarchs in the internal affairs of their dioceses, since the norm in question is present only in the Eastern Code. Then what? It is desirable that the good common sense and ecclesial spirit of these hierarchs incite them to willingly cooperate for the well-being of the faithful, to quickly resolve eventual conflicts, and to avoid all opposing trends.<br />
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<i>Seeking Information on Eastern Faithful</i><br />
The Eastern Code foresees another right of the patriarch and major archbishop which could create conflicts with the Latin bishops. “It is the right and the obligation of the patriarch (and major archbishop) to seek appropriate information concerning the Christian faithful who reside outside the territorial boundaries of the Church over which he presides, even through a visitor sent by himself with the assent of the Holy See.” (c. 148).<br />
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The patriarchs and major archbishops visiting their faithful are generally well received by the Latin bishops. But how would these Latin bishops react if the said patriarchs or major archbishops were to criticize the way in which the pastoral care is carried on in their dioceses? Once again, the Latin Code does not say much on the matter!<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
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The Christian faithful of the Eastern Churches have the right and duty not only to preserve the traditions of their own Church and to worship God according to the their liturgical customs in their historical territories or in other regions of the world, but also, insofar as possible, when they live under the jurisdiction of bishops of a different autonomous Church.<br />
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We have just considered the case of Latin bishops, and seen as they are invited to meet the pastoral care of the Eastern faithful through qualified clergy and convenient facilities in order to preserve their traditions. This is not only a right of the faithful but also a pastoral requirement since their separation from the original milieu could cause doctrinal and moral confusion.<br />
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Vatican II and the Latin Code offer to the Catholic bishops some trusty guidelines, while the Eastern Code gives to the patriarchs and major archbishops the faculty to assess the state of their faithful in the so-called diaspora either personally or through appointed visitors. Also the Holy See, through the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, follows these faithful and, when necessary, proposes to the Roman Pontiff the practical norms to solve the various issues.<br />
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The Christian faithful of the so-called diaspora are not neglected by their particular Church nor by the Universal Church. The successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, also continues to promote the progress of the faithful custody and diligent observance of all the Eastern Ritual Churches.Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-24167599098048425382011-05-05T07:15:00.000-07:002011-05-05T07:15:15.858-07:00When Easterners live in Western Territories - Part 2 of 3Here is Part 2 of 3 from Fr. George Gallaro's discussion of canonical integration of Eastern faithful in Latin dioceses.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Duty of the Faithful to Observe Their Own Rite</b><br />
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The Vatican II decree On the Bishop’s Pastoral Office in the Church, <i>Christus Dominus</i>, states: “...Where there are faithful of a different rite, the diocesan bishop should provide for their spiritual needs either through priests or parishes of that rite or through an episcopal vicar endowed with the necessary faculties. Wherever it is fitting, the latter should also have episcopal rank …” This passage is confirmed by both current codes: CIC cc. 372 § 2, 383 § 2 & 518; CCEO cc. 193 & 280 § 1.<br />
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I would like to raise here two questions: Do Eastern faithful in the so-called diaspora have the right to this pastoral care or are they persons which arouse the generous solicitude of the Council Fathers? Furthermore, does not the implementation of this norm upset the internal equilibrium of the diocese and endanger the unity of the diocesan community?<br />
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The Latin Code answers to the first questions. In dealing with the obligations and rights of all the Christian faithful, its can. 214 states, “The Christian faithful have the right to worship God according to the prescripts of their own rite approved by the legitimate pastors of the Church and to follow their own form of spiritual life so long as it is consonant with the doctrine of the Church.” Although the first part of the canon seems to simply refer to the external ritual aspect of liturgical prayer, the second part, with its reference “to follow their form of spiritual life of the faithful,” opens new horizons.<br />
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The Latin Code uses here the term “rite” (ritus) as in<i> Christus Dominus </i>(CD 23,3) and <i>Orientalium Ecclesiarum</i> (passim), that is, as the synonym of a particular Church. The Latin Code thus underlines the inner element of rite, considered in its wider and fuller meaning, as indicatory of the face of each Church.<br />
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The Eastern Code, instead, stresses the extrinsic element of the individuality of the Eastern Churches by the supreme authority (there can be in fact several different Churches having in common the same liturgical tradition and spirituality). By using more precise terms, canon 17 of the Eastern Code eliminates every ambiguity: “The Christian faithful have the right to worship God according to the prescriptions of their own autonomous Church and to follow their own form of spiritual life in accord with the teachings of the Church.” This twofold right is so important - dealing with the spiritual life of the faithful - as to be part of the category “of the proper original elements of the ecclesiological and spiritual fabric of Vatican II,” or still as “an articulation of divine law.” In order to attain this specific right, the faithful enjoy another right, that of addressing their needs to their shepherds who in turn have the obligation to assist them.<br />
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<b>Plurality of “Rites” in a Latin Diocese</b><br />
The other question derives from the difficulty of some Latin bishops to meet the needs of their Eastern faithful for fear of throwing out of balance the unity of their diocese. To justify that, they call on can. 225 of the Latin Code which deals with the “general obligation and the right of individuals to work so that the divine message of salvation is made known” under the guidance of the ecclesiastical authority.<br />
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One cannot exclude that the carrying out of the right of the faithful to observe their own rite may sometimes encounter serious difficulties, as, for example, the small number of faithful of a particular rite scattered throughout a vast territory. On the whole, the fact that within a diocese there are ritual differences should not create any problem, as for the presence of different languages. On the contrary, the ritual differences enrich a local Church as a witness of the universality of the Christian message and the wealth of the Catholic Church. However, the Fathers of Vatican II clearly affirmed that the “variety of rites within the Church in no way harms her unity, but rather manifests it.” This text regards not only the Universal Church but also the Particular (Ritual) Churches.<br />
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The diocesan bishop, in his ministerial service, has to take care of all the faithful entrusted to him, including those who find themselves in singular circumstances. Vatican II and the two Codes, the Latin and the Eastern, clearly underline the bishop’s obligation towards the faithful of different ritual traditions, for whom he must, among other things, guarantee the right of fidelity to their ritual tradition.<br />
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The Eastern Code, more sensitive to this issue, dedicates one full canon (c. 193) to the bishop’s obligation towards the faithful of other autonomous Churches. In the first paragraph, “the eparchial bishop is bound by the serious obligation of providing everything so that these Christian faithful retain the rite of their respective Church ... and to ensure that they foster relations with the superior authority of their Church.” The next paragraph corresponds to the Council’s text and the mentioned Latin Code’s canon, while the third paragraph imposes to the eparchial bishop “to draw up a plan in consultation with the respective patriarchs (or major archbishops) for the care of these faithful.”
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Tune in tomorrow to read part 3 where Fr. George explains what remedies and solutions are available to those issues raised by easterners in western territories...Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-68952260979976330222011-05-04T21:14:00.000-07:002011-05-04T21:14:23.289-07:00When Easterners live in Western TerritoriesFr. George Gallaro is a professor of canon law and ecumenism at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, among many other distinguished positions he's held in these fields over the almost four decades he's been a priest, such as being a judicial vicar and a staff member for the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He holds a licentiate in ecumenical theology and a certificate in liturgical theology as well as a doctorate in Eastern canon law.<br />
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I asked Fr. George about the Italian Episcopal Conference's leaked decision to forbid married Romanian Catholic priests from serving their faithful in Italy. Below is part one of three in which he presents the issues that occur when easterners live in western territories.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Canonical Integration of Eastern Faithful in Latin Dioceses</span></b><br />
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<b>Fr. George Gallaro</b><br />
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In compliance with the Church common law, every faithful acquires a domicile or quasi-domicile in a diocese or parish from the place where he/she resides. In order to understand the obligation of a Latin bishop towards these faithful present in his diocese, it is necessary to see when Eastern Catholics “enter” into a Latin diocese and are therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the local bishop.<br />
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The 1917 Latin Code of Canon Law (cc. 215-217) underlined the territorial aspect of the diocese, and the jurisdiction of its bishop extended on all faithful residing within its borders. As a consequence, the faithful subject to another personal jurisdiction had to be explicitly indicated, as free from the jurisdiction of the bishop “of the place,” who normally was a Latin.<br />
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A precise determination on Eastern faithful without their own Church Shepherd goes back to Pope Leo XIII - in the Apostolic Letter On the Eastern Churches, <i>Orientalium Dignitas</i>, November 30, 1894. In its directive part of the document, Leo XIII solved the issue of the faithful residing outside the territory of their own ritual patriarchate (or equivalent) and lacking their own clergy, by establishing the norm that these Eastern faithful were subject to the jurisdiction of the local Latin bishop. By the same apostolic L\letter Leo XIII extended the jurisdiction of the Greek Melkite Patriarch to all the territory of the Ottoman Empire (later on, all the other Patriarchates followed this norm).<br />
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In 1949 these directives were still in force, even though outdated, as it appeared more and more clearly that each jurisdiction was and is at the same time territorial and personal. These groups of Eastern faithful were ritually different but subject to the local Latin bishop. These norms which considered the Latin diocesan bishop as the only bishop “of the place” were out-of-date with the promulgation of the canons On Marriage in the Eastern Church, <i>Craebrae Allatae</i> (1950). This motu proprio in fact recognized the co-existence of more jurisdictions in the same territory. The canons clearly indicated who, in case of a plurality of bishops or pastors, is competent in single cases to assure the validity of marriages celebrated by Eastern faithful residing outside their own territory.<br />
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The norm relating to domicile or quasi-domicile on the part of Eastern faithful lacking their own ritual authority was extracted from the canons On Persons, <i>Cleri Sanctitati</i> (1957) - not yet promulgated. It became then unequivocally clear the link between the single Eastern faithful and the bishop and pastor endowed with the faculty to validly assist and bless their marriages, although they were of “different rite.”<br />
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In those territories where there was more than one ritual bishop, the local Latin bishop was not automatically in charge of the Eastern faithful residing in his territory. These faithful were subject to Latin jurisdiction only when explicitly designated by the Holy See or, in specific cases, by their patriarch.<br />
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Finally, the Second Vatican Council underlined the community aspect within a diocese. Indeed, Vatican II describes a diocese prescinding from its territorial limits: “a diocese/eparchy is a portion of the people of God that is entrusted to a bishop and gathered in the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and the Eucharist.”<br />
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The 1983 Latin Code (c. 372) also states that “a diocese is limited to a definite territory” so that it includes all the faithful living in the territory. But it adds that “where in the judgment of the supreme authority of the Church it seems advantageous after the conference of bishops concerned have been heard, particular churches distinguished by the rite of the faithful or some other similar reason can be erected in the same territory.”<br />
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The erection of an ecclesiastical province or region, even in the case of a patriarchal or major archiepiscopal Church (but “outside of their territory”) is in fact of exclusive competence of the Holy See. Such an erection is indicated by the decree on the Eastern Churches, <i>Orientalium Ecclesiarum</i> ( N. 4), as a provision to be adopted when it’s necessary. The norm is resumed by the decree On the Bishops Pastoral Office in the Church, <i>Christus Dominus</i> (N. 23, 3) which quotes the aforesaid paragraph of <i>Orientalium Ecclesiarum</i>, but only as a last resort. The Latin Code limits further this provision as it imposes on the supreme authority of the Church ( = the Roman Pontiff or an Ecumenical Council) to hear the Episcopal Conference concerned.<br />
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The pre-Vatican II Eastern norms – On Marriage (1949) and On Persons (1957) - is now incorporated, with due updating, in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1990). Can. 916 § 4: “If there is no pastor for the Christian faithful of a certain autonomous Church, the eparchial/diocesan bishop for those same faithful is to designate the pastor of another autonomous Church, who is to assume their care as their proper pastor.” § 5: “In places where not even an exarchy has been erected for the Christian faithful of a certain autonomous Church, the local hierarch of another autonomous Church, even the Latin Church, is to be considered as the proper hierarch of these faithful. If, however, there are several local hierarchs, that one whom the Holy See has designated is to be considered as their proper hierarch or, if it concern the Christian faithful of a certain patriarchal (or major archiepiscopal Church), the one whom the patriarch (or major archbishop) has designated with the assent of the Holy See.”<br />
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I leave to others the answer to the question that could be raised by the term “as their proper pastor” (tamquam parochus proprius) used in the canon, and other canonical directives mentioned in cc. 148 & 193 of the Eastern Code. It could be in fact raised the doubt if the designated bishop and parish priest are truly (de iure) the bishop and parish priest of those faithful, or only temporary carers or simple substitutes.<br />
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Looking at the issue from the faithful’s side, one could ask if they are full-fledged members of those dioceses and parishes of acceptance, and have thus double membership, their own autonomous Church and the diocese or parish of their domicile, or if, as “entrusted” faithful, they are in a sense only “guests/visitors.”<br />
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Tune in tomorrow to read part 2 where Fr. George discusses the canons that come into play when easterners live in western territories...</div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-47648401747279823332011-04-22T11:26:00.000-07:002011-04-22T11:26:36.346-07:00Pope Addresses Iraqi ChristiansI am looking for the full video of the Q&A session that Pope Benedict televised live today. He chose 7 questions on suffering to respond to on Good Friday. One of the questions was from Iraqi Christians. Here's an overview:<br />
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In 2008, these Christians in India were systemically targeted by Hindu fundamentalist mobs who blamed Christians for the murder of a Hindu leader. Police exonerated the Christian community, which has been in India since the earliest days of Christianity, but their houses were still burned, many brutally murdered, and thousands driven from their homes. Here's a newscast from the time:<br />
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<i>Wednesday's Wages are a series of posts which highlight past and present struggles faced by Eastern and Oriental Catholics including the topics of bioethics and persecution. Do you know of a homily, lecture, interview or biography which you think should be featured here? Leave a comment to let me know.</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-47938078392289148122011-04-14T18:47:00.000-07:002011-04-14T18:50:47.145-07:00The Armenian RiteThe Armenian Catholic website has a short history on the development of the Armenian rite, explaining how it originally copied the Church of Jerusalem and then developed into its own rite in the following centuries.<br />
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The neighboring peoples' churches had already organized their adoration rules until Armenia became officially a Christian country in 301 due to The Illuminator and the Armenian church was constructed. The apostles Tatyos and Partoghomios did not let any trace of rite in our literature in Armenia. Before The Illuminator, when Christianity entered Armenia, due to the preachers of the Greek and Syriac churches, they brought with them to Armenia the adoration invented by their churches with the preaching of the Christian religion. This could not be different, because the Armenian Christianity and the Armenian church were going to be organized after three centuries from the Syriac and the Greek ones, while these two churches were going to have time to be organized before us, to progress, to have exceptional patriarchs and saints, who due to their help those churches improved and progressed, while we were still suffering from the paganism.</blockquote>
Read the rest <a href="http://www.armeniancatholic.org/inside.php?lang=en&page_id=63">here</a>.<br />
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<i>Theological Thursdays brings you homilies, lectures, interviews, and biographies on diverse topics including history, theology, spirituality, and philosophy as they pertain to the Eastern and Oriental Catholic Churches. </i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-67608310837468781972011-04-12T17:51:00.000-07:002011-04-12T17:51:45.341-07:00PysankyFather Paul Luniw of <a href="http://www.stmichaelterryville.org/">St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church</a> in Terryville, Connecticut demonstrates the art of making pysanky.<br />
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<i>Talented Tuesdays is a feature which focuses on art, architecture, music, culture, food, and the running of the domestic church. User submitted questions and solutions are welcomed. </i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-41225659598092072832011-04-05T19:24:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:24:50.998-07:00Frescoes at Mar Musa MonasteryThe Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian (Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi, دير مار موسى الحبشي) is a Syriac Catholic monastic community of monks and nuns that is situated near the town of Nabk, Syria. The monastery is focused on religious dialogue particularly between Muslims and Christians. It's also the home to some beautiful medieval frescoes. <a href="http://www.deirmarmusa.org/">The monastery's website can be found here.</a><br />
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From archaeological and historical evidence, we know that the monastery of St. Moses existed from the middle of the 6th century and belonged to the Syrian Antiochian Rite. The present monastic church was built in the Islamic year 450 (1058 AD), according to Arabic inscriptions on the walls, which begin with the words: "In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate".</blockquote>
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The frescoes in the church date from the 11th and 12th centuries.</blockquote>
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In the 15th century the monastery was partially rebuilt and enlarged. The monastery was abandoned in the first half of the 19th century and slowly fell into ruin. Nevertheless, it remained in the ownership of the Syrian Catholic Diocese of Homs, Hama and Nabk. The inhabitants of Nabk continued to visit the monastery with devotion and the local parish struggled to maintain it.</blockquote>
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In 1984, restoration work began through a common initiative of the Syrian State, the local Church and a group of Arab and European volunteers. The restoration of the monastery building was completed in 1994 thanks to co-operation between the Italian and Syrian States. This Italian and Syrian school for restoration of frescoes was created at Deir Mar Musa in 1989 and will complete the restoration of the frescoes in the context of Syrian European co-operation. </blockquote>
<a href="http://www.cometosyria.com/en/pages/Deir+Mar+Mousa+syria/32/38">Read more about the church's frescoes as well as their architectural, agricultural, and interreligious dialog efforts here</a>.<br />
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<i>Talented Tuesdays is a feature which focuses on art, architecture, music, culture, food, and the running of the domestic church. User submitted questions and solutions are welcomed. </i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-88959565739325101132011-04-04T09:20:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:21:02.768-07:00Holy Cross in Placentia, CA<b><i>Monday's Map: We're traveling with the angels! </i></b><br />
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Today we're flying over to Placentia, California, USA where you'll find the Melkite Greek-Catholic parish of Holy Cross.<br />
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Holy Cross parish serves all of Orange County and also draws from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties with its full liturgical cycle, Eastern Christian Formation program, and active parish organizations. They are planning the construction of a new temple, office facilities, and a meeting center with classrooms to serve the parish's growing needs. Their youth group is active and their Lady's Society is the largest of its kind in any church in the United States. </div>
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Their priest, Fr. James Babcock, works with the <a href="http://lightoftheeast.org/">Society of St. John Chrysostom</a> and was recently interviewed on The Illumined Heart. The host, Kevin Allen, is an Orthodox Christian whose program airs on Ancient Faith Radio, an Internet-based Orthodox radio station. They discussed "the similarities and differences between Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholics and the Roman Catholic Church." <a href="http://audio.ancientfaith.com/illuminedheart/tih_2011-04-01.mp3">You can listen to their interview here</a>, then you can <a href="http://www.holycrossmelkite.org/">visit Holy Cross on the web</a> and in person.<br />
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<b>Liturgy schedule: </b><br />
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<li>Great Vespers is celebrated each Saturday at 6 p.m. </li>
<li>Orthros (Matins & Lauds) is celebrated each Sunday at 10 a.m. </li>
<li>The Holy and Divine Liturgy is celebrated each Sunday at 11 a.m. </li>
<li>Holy Days and Weekdays as announced </li>
<li>Eastern Christian Formation Program (Grades 1-8) Sunday after Liturgy</li>
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<b>The parish is currently served by the following:</b><br />
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<li>The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite James Babcock, Pastor</li>
<li>The Reverend Deacon Edward Faulk, Pastoral Associate</li>
<li>The Reverend Deacon Elias Kashou</li>
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<i>Monday's Map highlights Eastern and Oriental Catholic institutions as well as those who run and serve them.</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-34490850525745333222011-03-31T07:09:00.000-07:002011-03-31T07:16:08.165-07:00"We want our church to be alive"<blockquote>
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Newly elected and enthroned Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) gave his first press-conference to Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv before his trip to Holy See and audience of Pope Benedict XVI.</blockquote>
He answers the questions "What awaits us, where are we going, where are we headed?" concerning the topics of unity of the Ukrainian Churches, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church strategy, the issue of patriarchal status for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, relations with the Orthodox world, Catholic education, and missions in eastern Ukraine.<br />
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<a href="http://risu.org.ua/en/index/expert_thought/interview/41546/">See the English version of the entire press conference here</a>.</div>
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<i>Theological Thursdays brings you homilies, lectures, interviews, and biographies on diverse topics including history, theology, spirituality, and philosophy as they pertain to the Eastern and Oriental Catholic Churches. </i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><strong><span class="selection-end" id="selection-end" style="height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><a href="http://risu.org.ua">Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua</a></span><span class="selection-end" id="selection-end" style="height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span></strong></span><span class="selection-end" id="selection-end" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; height: 1px; line-height: 18px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /><a href="http://risu.org.ua">Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua</a></span></div>
</div>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-46509402419393262812011-03-30T13:59:00.000-07:002011-03-30T13:59:31.839-07:00Ukraine: A Forgotten GenerationAid to the Church in Need, an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Pope, made the below video to discuss the plight of Ukrainian children following the fall of Communism. It specifically addresses how the Communist Persecution affected the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church's ability to provide social and educational care to the poor.<br /><br />
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<i>Wednesday's Wages are a series of posts which highlight past and present struggles faced by Eastern and Oriental Catholics including the topics of bioethics and persecution. Do you know of a homily, lecture, interview or biography which you think should be featured here? Leave a comment to let me know.</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-45046564809929165672011-03-27T12:33:00.000-07:002011-03-27T12:35:35.957-07:00Adoration of the Holy CrossThe Byzantine Churches celebrate the mid-point to Golgotha today with the Feast of the Adoration of the Holy Cross. Here's a glimpse into the Melkite celebration. Click the link to read the bishop's entire homily.<br />
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<a href="http://www.melkite.org/Bustros/3rdSundayo%20Lent.htm"><b>"God's Love Sign"</b></a><br />
Homily for the Sunday of the Holy Cross<br />
By Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros<br />
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What meaning can the cross have in our daily lives? The first meaning is God’s forgiveness. When we are burdened and cast down by an overwhelming sense of guilt, feeling that we can never be forgiven, that we can never again look God or men in the face, the Cross brings us the great plus of God’s forgiveness. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34), that was the most precious prayer ever addressed to God by a man in favor of his murderers; and it was Jesus’ prayer on the Cross.</blockquote>
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<i>Saintly Sundays highlight saints, feasts, and liturgical seasons in the Eastern and Oriental Catholic Churches.</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-65489823097209304392011-03-19T18:28:00.000-07:002011-03-19T18:30:03.054-07:00Chaldean Memorial of the Faithful DeceasedSubdeacon Anthony gave me permission to post the full content of his below post, which he wrote for his church's newsletter. Please visit his blog and thank him!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://aboriente.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/the-memorial-of-the-faithful-deceased/">The Memorial of the Faithful Deceased</a></span><br />
<small>By <a href="http://aboriente.wordpress.com/about-me/">aboriente</a></small>
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<i>O Christ King, give rest to your
servants’ spirits in peace among all your saints, where suffering does
not reign, nor grief or distress, but the promised eternal life. –
Mawtwa</i></blockquote>
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On Friday, March 4th, the last Friday of
the Season of the Epiphany, St. Mary’s parish celebrated the Memorial of
the Faithful Deceased. This commemoration is the Chaldean equivalent
to that of All Soul’s in the Roman liturgical calendar, or the Saturday
of the Dead in the Byzantine liturgical calendars. In these Eastern
rites, the date is the eight Sunday before Easter, and two before Lent,
but on that day, the members of those churches traditionally began to
abstain from meat. But in our Chaldean (Church of the East) practice,
this date marks the last Friday before entry into Lent itself.</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote>
This day is a day that our people recognize
by tradition. The names of dead friends and relatives are presented to
the priest and are then read aloud during the service. This is due to
the apostolic {and Old Testament} belief that prayers for the dead avail
them. In his Mystagogical Orations, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a doctor
of the Catholic Church whose writings are greatly appreciated by our
rite, talks of petitions “[on behalf also of all] who in past years have
fallen asleep among us, believing that it will be a very great benefit
to the souls, for whom the supplication is put up, while that holy and
most awful sacrifice is set forth.”</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Apologists will readily recognize that
quote as one used to defend the doctrine of Purgatory, which explains
theologically what the Church has practiced and believed from Her
beginning. We pray that they may be forgiven their sins, and that their
oblation may be accepted with that of the saints. We pray that at the
resurrection they will be able to stand before Him and sing His glory
with the hosts above.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote>
The timing of this feast, at the gates of
the onset of Lent, is not an accident. We remember, in the season of
Epiphany, that Christ revealed to us Truth, the Trinity, and hence
enlightened our minds that we may be saved from the darkness of
ignorance. As we get ready to enter into contest with Evil with the
ascetic labor, we remember those who have finished their struggles and
race in this life. We pray to Christ that when He reveals Himself again
in glory, in His mercy He will forgive them.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote>
Let us enter into Lent hopeful, remembering
also of the communion of saints, knowing that we pray for those who
have gone on before us, just as they will pray for us before the throne
of the Compassionate One, our Lord and King, our God. Let us now labor,
awaiting His second dawning.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote>
<i>From the silence his day dawns, and
his saints are all awake, and all those who labored, wearied and
prepared are lighting their lamps. – Morning Hymn of Mar Ephrem</i> </blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<i>Social Saturdays bring you homilies, lectures, interviews, and biographies related to funerals, memorials, and prayers for the dead. Do you have a prayer request you'd like to add? Please put it in the comment box any time this week so we can pray with you.</i>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-66874885590557174652011-03-16T13:08:00.000-07:002011-03-16T17:31:24.660-07:00History of Voluntary or Mandatory Clerical CelibacyBelow is a very small excerpt from a work by A. G. Bell III which covers the author's well-cited research on the history of celibacy and marriage among clergy in the Catholic Church. The link has the full article.
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.newbyzantines.net/byzcathculture/ordination.html">Ordination of Married Man in the Eastern Church</a></b>
<br />
<blockquote>
In the previous year, 1971, the Holy Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church at its annual meeting in Ain-Traz, Lebanon, attempted to clarify the relationship between the priesthood and celibacy and marriage. The Synod stated in point 9 of its “Official Teaching”: “As regards the question concerning the connection between celibacy and the priesthood, the experience of our Church confirms, as we have already stated, that there is no intrinsic connection between celibacy and the priesthood; the two are distinct charisms. Celibacy, together with the priesthood, is a special way of bearing witness in the Church.” The Synod took great pains in its “Official Teaching” to show the advantages of both married and celibate priests and the need for both in today's Melkite Church.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In Europe today, the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia has been ordaining married men to the priesthood as has been its custom since its origins. This discipline was never voided, even though there was at times a strong tendency to latinization in that region when some Latin hierarchs or strongly latinized Byzantines wanted to impose celibacy in the Greek Catholic Church. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the territory of Ukraine ordains to the priesthood candidates who are married, and has never stopped, even during the underground period from 1946 to 1989. There had been an attempt to change the traditional discipline for a short period after World War I in Galicia (Western Ukraine). The three bishops there-Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky of Lviv, Bishop Josaphat Kotsylovski of Peremyshl and Bishop Gregory Khomyshyn of Stanislaviv-decided to admit to seminaries only candidates who were willing to accept ordination as celibates. However, due to a shortage of suitable candidates, Metropolitan Andrew soon reversed his decision and began to accept candidates who would marry before ordination. The eparchies of Peremyshl and Stanislaviv also could not attract a sufficient number of celibate seminarians. Later, Metropolitan Andrew's successor, Metropolitan Joseph Slipy preferred ordaining celibate candidates. Towards the end of World War II some of the older, married Galician priests fled with their families from the Communists and went to Western Europe and eventually to North America. </blockquote>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550488210096916323.post-38257994387543991602011-03-11T15:30:00.000-08:002011-03-14T07:48:42.002-07:00Social Saturdays (3/12/11)<i>It's Saturday! That means we're chatting with the living and praying for the dead. </i><br />Prayer Requests:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>For the souls of the reposed</b>, especially for Metropolitan Nicholas and for D. </li>
<li><b>For those suffering because of the recent earthquake and tsunami</b> and their aftereffects, particularly those missing or hurt and their families.</li>
<li><b>For A</b>, that he be restored to peace and health.</li>
<li><b>For Eden and Selah</b> as they face surgery tomorrow.</li>
<li><b>For C,</b> that all making decisions on his behalf bring glory to God.</li>
<li><a href="http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE72C05220110313"><b>For Christians in Ethiopia</b></a>, Europe, Egypt, Somalia, China, the Middle East, and around the world who are persecuted for their faith. </li>
</ul>
Continuing Prayer Requests:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>For the souls of the reposed</b>, especially Kaye, Tim L., Mother Nadia Baranik, Fr. Constantine Brown, Elaine Dorko, Helen Boytim, and George Michael Ritchey. </li>
<li><b>For an abused woman and mother, A</b>, who is in desperate straits and in need of many prayers, <i>especially this Tuesday</i>. </li>
<li><b>For Kat's family</b>, including their current and future children, that they be restored to health and guided in discernment and finances in their next adoption. (Kat has other prayer requests at the link.) </li>
<li><b>For Francisco and his mother</b> who are surrounded by violence that the Lord protect them and give them hope and peace as well as guide them to jobs that allow them to provide for their needs and glorify Him. </li>
<li><b>For all of our clergy, religious, and monastics</b> that they be directed in strength, courage, patience, and fortitude to radically live God's will for their lives. </li>
<li><b>For mothers, that they not abort their offspring</b>; for infants in danger of being put to death in the womb; for a change of heart of providers of abortions and of their collaborators; for human victims of stem cell research, genetic manipulation, cloning, and euthanasia; and for all entrusted with the government of peoples, that they may promote the "Culture of Life" so as to put an end to the "culture of death." </li>
<li><b>For Your Word From The Wise</b> and all who are connected to it, that it may bring glory to God. </li>
<li><b>For the intentions of those who are praying.</b> </li>
</ul>
Do you have a prayer request you'd like to add? Please put it in the comment box any time this week so we can pray with you.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<hr />
<br />
<b>What's going on at Your Word From The Wise?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>I followed up on the interviews that are out. </li>
<li>I sent out an interview request.</li>
<li>I coordinated and conducted a new interview. It will hopefully be posted soon!</li>
<li>I added the Link Within widget to the blog which automatically pulls 5 related posts and places links to them at the bottom of every post. It says the recommendations it makes will get better with time.</li>
</ul>Catherine Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18436029487767464817noreply@blogger.com0