On December 24th 2001 sometime near midnight, Father Valentine Handwerker welcomed me back to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  It was something that had been brewing inside of me for a while, inspired by both conversations with other catholics and to certain degree 9/11. In the end I’m sure all the credit goes to The Holy Spirit, since there had been for two or three years, obstacles to me ignoring the work of The Church in the world around me as I had done for so long.

So on that day, when my friend (and later best man at my wedding) asked me if I wanted to attend Midnight Mass with him and his mother at the cathedral in Memphis, I jumped at the chance. I decided I would insist the first priest I saw hear my confession. Left to divine providence, the first priest I saw was Father Val. Father Val had been pastor where I went to grade school. So it was the last priest I had known from childhood who welcomed my back to the church as an adult.

So that was my Christmas Eve of ten years ago. That means this year was an anniversary of sorts for me. My heart was full or love for God, His Church and the many people who have helped make the faith filled (but certainly still imperfect) Catholic I am today.

While this was listed in my lenten reading list, I will admit I cheated a little. I actually started this book the Monday before Ash Wednesday. I couldn’t help it though. It was sitting there just calling out “Marc, Marc! Read me now!”.

The full name of this book is “Signs of Life: 40 Catholic customs and their Biblical roots” To me the title says it all. It goes into detail about those 40 customs that range from Sacraments like Ordination and Marriage to sacramentals like the Rosary and Holy Water all the way to prayer traditions like grace before meals and the morning offering. What I really like about reading this book though were the Biblical references. I managed to learn a lot new things about my Catholic faith and how our traditions are rooted in the Sacred Scripture.

Signs of Life was an easy and enjoyable read, but yet it was packed with interesting facts. Some things were news to me, while others were things that I needed reminding of. It’s one of those books you have read, and read again later after you’ve let the information slip your mind. It also makes a good reference work for apologists, since it references Scripture for all 40 items.

Overall, I would highly recommend Signs of Life to general audiences. It wouldn’t be a problem for young adults learning about their faith or an adult who is curious about why they have done “those things” all their lives.

Original content Copyright 2007 Marc Smith
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My answer is this senator, nothing.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist that since one of the cable channels was running the first two Godfather movies back to back a week or so ago. While I was channel surfing as I often do, I landed in the middle of that scene. It’s been running through my head as I considered this blog post.

Lent is the time of year that Catholics prepare for Good Friday and Easter. It’s not what you find in you belly button when you’ve been wearing a new white t-shirt all day. It’s also not what I did when I let you borrow my lawn mower. I want my mower back BTW. It’s partially based on Our Lord spending forty days in the desert fasting and praying. It’s also a time for

Jesus’ temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning.” By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert. CCC #540

There’s also a tradition of “giving something up” for Lent. Some folks give up sweets, others television and yet others beer or coffee. No matter what it is, it’s usually something that people enjoy. They give it up to take a share in the redemptive suffering of Christ, by voluntarily missing out on something they enjoy.

Well, this year I’ve decided to do something a little different. Instead of a “to-don’t” list, I’ve come up with somewhat of a “to-do” list. I’ve picked out ten books that I will work hard to get read during these forty days.

Here’s the list of books I’ve put together for Lent. They’re books I already have in my stack of “to read”, and not necessarily titles that are “Lent related”. There’s no particular order here either.

Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots By Scott Hahn

Prayer Primer : Igniting a Fire Within By Fr. Thomas Dubay

The Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine By Pope Benedict XVI

God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life By Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols By Mike Aquilina and Lea Marie Ravotti

The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine (Penguin Classics) By Eusebius

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love By Carl Anderson and Eduardo Chavez

Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church By H. W. Crocker III

The Confessions of Saint Augustine (Image Book) By by St Augustine

City of God By St Augustine

I know this is a bold plan, but I don’t mind being bold for my faith. The last three titles make this especially so. There are forty days in Lent (not including Sundays), so I basically have four days for each book. Some of these will go faster than that. We’re four days in and I’ve already made a huge dent in Signs of Life. I plan to finish it tomorrow and get a long way with Church Fathers, so I am off to a good start. As I finish these, I’ll try to do a writeup on each one here on WT while the book is still fresh on my mind.

So, am I a loser for not picking out a few things to give up for Lent? Well, when you consider that I don’t have exactly the best in reading comprehension skills and some of these books are pretty deep, I do have a tough row to hoe. I won’t be able to keep up with my normal leisurely activities. Less television, no video games and a shortage of time for online actives all constitute a sacrifice to me. Better yet, its all going to better myself in a number of ways as well. Plus I won’t have those lines from all those movies floating through my head, since I won’t be doing any channel surfing.

I am hoping that by the time I get to the real meaty books at the end, I will have gotten into a groove that will push me to the end of the list. With that hopefulness in mind (we should always be full of hope), I also have a few C. S. Lewis books that I’d like to read if I finish early. Like I said, I’m being bold.

Well, I guess I should finish this writing stuff and get to reading!

Original content Copyright 2007 Marc Smith
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

His comparison got me to thinking. We often think that when God touches us in our lives, it is a “touchy feely” comfortable experience. But often times when He gives us a helping of His grace, it’s like we’re branches and there’s a storm trying to shake us loose from the tree. Our own concupiscent natures make us want to resist this infusion of grace. That’s because that change goes against that nature, our nature. Such a change is not something that comes easy. It’s a hard thing to go through, but it’s also a process that takes time. We have to work on it constantly and never let our guard down. One slip and we could undo untold amounts of time hanging on.

We have to weather the storm, no matter how hard it is to hang on.

So here I am, wanting to get back in the swing on blogging. I’m thinking that a post on Lent is great idea. I can explain it all! The problem is that I’d still be writing after Lent is over. Besides, why should I take on this task when Jimmy Akin (a man whose job it is to explain the Catholic faith) has already put together a page full of links explaining the observance of Lent. So if you’re curious, check out Jimmy’s page “Welcome to Lent”.

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The graphic is of course an Advent wreath. Advent is the season of the year that Christians wait and prepare for the coming of Jesus leading up to the feast of the Incarnation, otherwise known as Christmas or the feast of the Nativity.

You can learn more about Advent on the article ironically at newadvent.org.

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If you know me, you know that my wife Suzette is from the Philippines.  We met online in 2002 and after chating online and on the phone for a few months I decided to go over and meet her in person.  Part of my preparation of the trip was to seek out a blessing form a priest I know for the journey. Now when asked who the patron saint of travelers is, any Catholic is likely to answer with Saint Christopher.  His name is a good answer, so I was a little surprised when father invoked Saint Raphael in the blessing. Saint Raphael is is also a good friendly saint to the traveler who is going on a long journey. While father did not knwo the reason for my trip, he did know where I was going. Since I was traveling so far away, he decided to ask for this Saint’s intercession on my behalf for my long journey to the Philippines.

After wards father and I were casually talking about the Saint as he had to explain to me the why Saint Raphael, instead of the expected Saint Christopher.  He then asked me why I was going to the Phillipines.  I told him it was ot meet a woman I had met on Catholic Singles Online. He looked at me like I was crazy.  When I asked him what was wrong, he simply answered, “Saint Raphael is also the patron of those seeking a spouse”. Of course it would only be a couple of short years later that Suzette and I were married.  So as Paul Harvey would say, “Now you know the rest of the story”.

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“Zosimus“, that kills me every time……

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She persisted with her religious vocation despite serious health problems, and in 1928, she was ordained, taking the name Sister Alphonsa.

[From BBC NEWS | South Asia | Vatican to canonise Indian woman]

Now while I am sure that no one from the BBC would stoop so low as to use the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the Oxford dictionary requires an account to look up words. So I’ll use MW instead. They define “ordain” as:

1: to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority

[From ordain - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary]

Other wise this was great article, until it got an agenda.

Indian Christians have been accused by hardline Hindu nationalists of “forced conversions” – especially among low-caste and tribal peoples.

They are also accused of making conversion to Christianity a condition for receiving treatment at medical centres they run.

[From BBC NEWS | South Asia | Vatican to canonise Indian woman]

UM…OK….While I don’t know if this may or may not be happening, I’m not sure what it has to do with the subject of this story. And, if it is happening, it is deplorable and what Christ wanted out of us. Our Blessed Lord offered the woman at the well the water of life before she converted, not after.

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Check out SQPN for all the great Catholic podcasts yo can get on your iPhone.

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Original content Copyright 2007 Marc Smith
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Please visit the SQPN site for more info on and episodes of “That Catholic Show“.

For more information on the topic, Catholic Answers has tract on the teachings of the Church Fathers on the subject. They also have a tract that is generally discussed the Catholic teachings on the forgiveness of sins.

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He announces on his blog that it’s time….

DATE: 3 November 2007
TIME: 4:30 PM
SITE: St. Louis Catholic Church, Memphis

I won’t be mailing out a large mailing list of invitations or announcements for my upcoming Diaconal Ordination. I’m saving my money for printing and postage for announcements of my Priestly Ordination (7 June 2008). Also, it takes place during the regular vigil mass for the parish, and I expect that the church will be pretty full.

Nevertheless, if you read this, you’re invited! And there will be a nice reception at the parish afterwards.

Please keep Dennis in your prayers.

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Assumption as:

966 “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.

The first paragraph of the Wikipedia article on the Assumption sums things up pretty well also:

According to Roman Catholic doctrine and the traditions of the Catholic Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mary, the mother of Jesus) “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”[1] This means that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united. The feast day recognizing Mary’s passage into Heaven is celebrated as The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics. This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950 in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. In those denominations that observe it, the Feast of the Assumption is commonly celebrated on August 15.

This is also a holy day of obligation in the US and most other places. If you’re not Catholic and you’re wondering why the Catholic Churches seem so busy today, this is why. The holy days of obligation for we catholics requires us basically treat the day like a Sunday as far as our spiritual and worship life is concerned.

The Catechism explains Holy Day of Obligation as:

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.”117 “The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.”118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2183 “If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.”

If you have any questions about this or any other aspect of the Catholic Church, feel free to leave of comment or contact me through email. I might not know the answer off the top of my head, but I do know how to find the answer.

God bless everyone and Happy Assumption Day!

BTW – The quotes from the catechism include paragraph numbers before each paragraph. This is the referencing method used in it. You can pick any copy or printing of it and find these paragraphs using the paragraph number.

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“The Latin Mass is so pure, it’s so reverent, I just feel more spiritual when I worship this way,” said Drew Sill, 30. “And I like the fact that the Latin Mass is the same in every culture in the world. It brings us all together in community.”

Awesome Drew, just awesome!

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The life giving waters of the Earth and the life giving waters of baptism. Just awesome!

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Original content Copyright 2007 Marc Smith
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Below you an listen to a promo he’s done. I encourage anyone out there that doesn’t know much about Catholicism, or thinks they know plenty to have a listen.

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Maria Johnson was kind enough to take some photos for me since i was having trouble with Suzette’s camera. Here they are:

This is me with Fr. Roderick, the founder of SQPN and a podcaster with many shows. He’s probably most known for first the Catholic Insider, then his Daily Breakfast. I never go a day with Fr. Roderick’s Daily Breakfast. I’m still confused though. Is he really Mormon?

This is me with Fr. Bill Kessler, who does the Technopriest podcast. It’s always interesting to hear his comments on life as an over-worked pastor who has a gadget obsession. I have to say though, the best part are the homilies. The man can write some awesome homilies.

Here I am with Greg and Jennifer Willits. They the Rosary Army podcast. Jennifer is also the host of That Catholic Show, which Greg produces.

If you haven’t seen That Catholic Show, click on the name and go check it out. Greg, Jennifer and everyone else involved do a wonderful job with it.

Since I’ve been in every picture, you already know me. You also just saw Greg in the last shot. But the guy in the middle is guy who forgot the microphones. He’s Mac Barron. He and his wife do the podcast Catholic in a Small Town. It’s one of the funniest podcasts I listen to. Mac and Katherine are a hoot to chat with and are just a funny in real life as they are on the podcast.

Not pictured….And I don’t know how we missed out on this….But I didn’t get a picture with Paul Camarata of the SaintCast. Paul does a great job of letting us know about the saints in way that’s easy to understand and inspiring, as the saints should be. He travels some too and will do “sound seeing tours” of sites such as churches where he goes.

I did get a couple of humorous pics on the trip too.

Here’s one of Fr. Roderick trying to tune in to the latest episode of “Lost”.

Here’s one I took at a rest stop on the way back. It just struck me as odd. I guess they must have had a lot of problems with dogs doing their business on the hydrant.

Anyway, I had a great time. If there was any way I could’ve gone without driving in Atlanta traffic, then it would’ve been perfect. I want to thank everyone at SQPN for being so friendly and gracious.

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A motu proprio is a papal rescript in which the clause motu proprio (Latin, “of his own motion”) is used, signifying that the provisions of the rescript were decided by the Pope personally and not by a cardinal or other advisors. It is normally in the form of a decree, resembling a papal brief except that it is not sealed and countersigned. The first motu proprio was issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. It continues to be a common form of rescript, especially when establishing institutions, making minor changes to law or procedure and when granting favours to persons or institutions.

This one that Pope Benedict issued yesterday (7/7/7), is called “Summorum Ponificum“. Click on the the title for the full text. You can also click here for an explanatory letter from the Pope himself.

But does all this mean? I’ve seen an article that implied that Papa Ben was doing this just to upset so-called “liberals”, whatever a “Catholic liberal” is. I’m not so sure about that. Another headline I read said that he was “rolling back the clock”. I laughed. So what does it mean? Well, to be honest much smarter folks than me have already said a lot about it. I’ll just defer to these scholars.

• First off, Fr. Z of the blog and podcast “WHat Does The Prayer Really Say?” has some excellent commentary on the document itself.
• Fr. Z also has some commentary on comments made by Fr. Fredrico Lombardi, a papal spokesman which is a good read.
• Fr. Z (yes, I love the guy) also has some comments on Cardinal Ricard’s (who was responsible for communication with the group SSPX that has been at odds with the Vatican over the Latin Mass) reaction to the Motu proprio.
• Fr. Z (yes, him again) reacts to an AP article on the Motu proprio.
• Jimmy Akin (only one link???) has some comments on the document itself on his self titled blog.
• Jeff Miller on his blog The Curt Jester comments on the document. Expect some humor.
• Finally Fr. Martin Fox takes a little more guarded view.

So basically this does loosen the use of the older Latin Mass. I am concerned as is Fr. Fox about the possible resource strain this could cause for individual parishes. But the Holy Father was smart enough to give us some lead time. This document doesn’t take effect until September 14.

All in all I am excited though. I used to go to the Latin Mass back in Memphis, when Fr. Mike was still at Blessed Sacrament. It was awesome! I hope to be able to go somewhere here in Nashville really soon.

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