“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” -- Matthew 25:40
The goals of the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty:
1. Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
Learn more about the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty, sponsored by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops & Catholic Relief Services, at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/
Schedule too crazy to attend a group Bible study at your parish?
Here's your answer!
Free, online Bible studies from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.
You may have heard of Scott Hahn, an outstanding theologian and author who converted to the Roman Catholic Church from Protestant Christianity. He understands and expresses Catholic beliefs very clearly, and knows the Bible forwards and backwards.
A number of FREE Bible studies are available at: http://www.salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online
Topics include:
Covenant Love: Introducing the Biblical Worldview
Genesis to Jesus: A Journey Through Scripture
The Lamb's Supper: The Bible and the Mass
"He Must Reign: The Kingdom of God in Scripture
Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God
Reading the Old Testament in the New: The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Saint Paul
NOVA Science Now podcast has an excellent discussion of science and religion that is respectful of both areas of human research into our understanding of our place in the Universe.
These NOVA Science Now episodes do an excellent job in clarifying how science and religion cover separate spheres of rationale inquiry. Science explores the physical world using human reason, and cannot answer questions such as "why are we here?" or "what is our purpose?". Religion explores the transcendent, that which is beyond the physical world; religion uses human reason paired with faith, and its job is to explore questions such as "why are we here?" and "what is our purpose?" and to probe the nature of God. There is no inherent conflict between the two, no battle that need be fought.
As an example of the harmony between science and religion, I have observed that well over half of the scientists and engineers that I work with at a high tech R&D lab are active in their church, synagogue or temple.
The question is not Science vs. Religion. The question is whether any one person accepts the gift of faith, or rejects it. If they reject faith, then they tend to use human knowledge to support that position. If they accept faith, then they delight in any scientific discovery as glorifying God. "The heavens are telling the glory of God," is a favorite Bible quote for one astronomer who is also a Christian.
NOVA Science Podcast from PBS
Link to the various podcasts from NOVA: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/rss/podcasting.html
Link to the RSS feed itself: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/rss/nsn-podcast-pb.xml
Episodes:
Defining Science: The Power of Science
Defining Science: Science is Not Dogmatic
Defining Science: Science vs. Religion
Defining Science: Only a Theory?
Judging Intelligent Design
Sorry that I could not put in links to the individual episodes, but if you subscribe with iTunes or Juice or other podcatching software, you can see the list of episodes and listen to these. They are about 17 episodes back from today.
Lectio divina is a slow, contemplative way to pray the Scriptures. I learned how to do this from my diocesan coordinator for Small Christian Communities, and I have used it with wonderful results in RCIA, my Small Christian Community group, and various ministry committee meetings at my parish. This can be done alone, but the spiritual insights are astounding when done with a small group. Try it!
Gather in a quiet spot at a time set aside for contemplation and prayer. Allow 20 minutes. Describe the process so that people know what to expect, and guide people firmly through the process.
Select a short, stand-alone passage from the Scriptures. Part of the previous Sunday's Gospel is usually excellent.
1. Read the Gospel. Everyone spends a minute or so in silent reflection.
2. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone sharing a single word, short phrase, or image that stands out to them. DO NOT DISCUSS. Be brief. You may need to restate the ground rules.
3. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone sharing just a sentence or two about what INSPIRES or CHALLENGES them. Again, do not discuss. Be brief.
4. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone giving a short prayer. When all are done, the leader concludes this reflection time with a prayer.
OK -- now you are done with the Lectio divina. Now you can talk freely, discuss, debate, look up references and commentaries, or otherwise go on with your meeting.
Yes! You really read the Scripture passage through FOUR TIMES. Trust me -- try it! The profound insights that have come out of a group of committed Christians all listening to their hearts is beautiful -- and usually everyone has a different and important insight. Lectio divina is a direct encounter with the Living Word of God. No previous experience is necessary! But please follow the directions given above -- it is a time for each person to share whatever comes to their hearts -- it is not a time for Bible study per sec.
Here are some websites that talk about it more:
Written description Fr. Luke Dysinger
: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Catholic/2000/08/How-To-Practice-Lectio-Divina.aspx
YouTube video by Fr. Jim Martin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DxaGZqprrs&feature=related
Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is a fantastic speaker -- a really down-to-earth Italian Catholic who is also a theologian. He really knows how to talk about our faith. His website has great information and links.
At my parish, we showed his DVD program, "Feast of Faith", and everyone loved it! One group got a copy and formed a small discussion group around it. Feast of Faith is all about the meaning of the Mass, how to prepare ourselves for it, what Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is all about, etc. Many parishioners were astounded by how little they understood the profound richness of the Eucharist: have you studied your faith lately? How about since your own Confirmation? Think about it.
I highly recommend Dr. Ambrosio's columns, audio cassettes and DVDs.
http://www.dritaly.com
http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/index.html
"What does the LORD require of you but to act justly and love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8
http://www.justfaith.org/
Do you feel the challenge to act on issues of poverty and injustice, but don't know how? The JustFaith program is an educational and spiritual program for lay people at the parish level. Parishioners meet weekly from September through May, and have outstanding experiences that include spiritual conversion.
JustFaith Ministries works in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This program is endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Learn to become agents of God’s compassion and healing in a wounded world. Answer the challenge of the Good News of Christ and work to address the needs of our most desperate sisters and brothers. JustFaith Ministries helps to fill the world with humble, faith-filled people who act with courageous justice and love with profound tenderness.
Your diocesan office of Social Justice will be able to direct you to parishes in your diocese who are holding the JustFaith program, and can help you start JustFaith at your parish.
Here are the best online resources that I have found to learn about the Saints, our friends and role models in heaven. Saints lead us to Jesus Christ. We can ask Saints to pray for us, just as we would ask our living friends and relatives to do so.
Saint of the Day website from the Franciscans is excellent. You can listen about the Saint of the Day via podcast or read via the webpage or RSS feed. http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofDay/
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: This online encyclopedia is an excellent all around resource, and is certainly a great reference for the Saints, with detailed articles on their lives. You can read online, and I see they have Twitter, RSS feed, and Facebook links. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/s.htm
Saints Website at SQPN has Saints and more Saints - find your patron saints, learn about their holy lives, find prayers: http://saints.sqpn.com/
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. -- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
The idea here is that we must stand up for the most vulnerable in our society; we must be the voice for those without voices. This means the very poor, the unborn, the elderly, minorities, the homeless -- Jesus is found in the faces of these poor. I really recommend you do spend time with Matthew 25:31-46 -- notice how the judgment is based on our actions towards the poor, and not based on how pious we appear to be. Think about it.
Pope Benedict XVI is embracing technology and wants to make it easy to talk to us! See his "Pope2you" website at: http://www.pope2you.net/index.php
Applications from the Vatican include Facebook, Wikicath, iPhone and YouTube! How cool is that?!
The book and movie may be fun thrillers, but watch out! This is fiction! But the tricky thing is that the fiction is portrayed as fact, and some actual facts are mixed in, so a casual reader may come away thinking that the fictions about Holy Mother Church are actually fact.
The Roman Catholic Church is not anti-science.
The Roman Catholic Church does not go about murdering scientists, mathematicians or astronomers.
We Roman Catholics embrace science that is performed to learn the truth about how this elegant universe works. The very heavens tell the glory of God, and the wonderful complexities of the physical world give glory to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A great article about the misinformation in Dan Brown's book/movie is on the website of Crossroads Initiative: http://crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/1175/Angels_and_Demons_is_False___Steven_Greydanus.html
A review of the movie is on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at: http://www.usccb.org/movies/a/angelsanddemons.shtml
Moving back to the Da Vinci Code and all of its errors, a great website is "Jesus Decoded" by our US Bishops: http://www.jesusdecoded.com/introduction.php
The key is to learn about your faith, to know your faith -- Dan Brown's attacks on the faith do not hold water for a minute, and are easy to refute with a few minutes at, say, Wikipedia or your Catechism.
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
As Catholics, we respect life from conception to natural death, and every step in between. Certainly, we want to do everything possible to support mothers and their babies. We also want to replace the Death Penalty with life imprisonment without parole, fight euthanasia and physician assisted suicide: all these need legislative advocacy -- writing letters to Congress and informing our parishes -- this is not "politics", it's morality. But we also must support the poor and vulnerable -- the mentally ill, the homeless and poor, those in other countries who are denied access to medical care and participation in their own government. Again, this is putting our faith into action, this is all part of discipleship -- as important as going to Mass, prayer, Bible study, and almsgiving.
Don't have time to read the Bible? Think again!
Easy to use, inexpensive PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and cell phone versions of the Bible abound!
I am steadily working my way through the book of Sirach just standing in line at grocery store checkout lines, airport lines, etc. Psalms and Proverbs also are fun to ponder when I'm stuck somewhere like the dentist's waiting room. I did a quick Google search on "Bible PDA Catholic" and "Bible iPhone Catholic" and found several good sources. Here are a few:
Olive Tree: Bible Software for PDA, iPhone, iTouch, Smartphone, Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry, HP iPaq, Nokia, just about everything: http://www.olivetree.com/ Search on "Catholic" to locate translations of the Bible that have the complete Old Testament and study notes from a Catholic perspective. Olive Tree has the New American Bible (NAB) that is currently proclaimed during Mass in the United States, the Catholic Youth Bible, notes from the Catholic Study Bible, and other translations with complete Old Testaments. (Remember, a few hundred years ago, Protestant leaders removed content from the Old Testament so be sure to get a Catholic Bible).
I have the Olive Tree version of the entire Holy Bible (both Old Testament and New Testament) on my HP iPaq in two translations with some commentary. http://www.olivetree.com/resources/cdpackages/catholic.php Works great. The search tools are extremely handy: I can jump to any verse in any book, and search for specific words -- I find this very useful when I lead RCIA Inquiry sessions and we want to look something up. I have the ENTIRE Holy Bible in TWO translations -- and it takes up a small fraction of the memory in my iPaq.
The New American Bible for iPhone http://www.iphonebible.org/#_home This page seems to be the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved New American Bible in iPhone format. (I don't have an iPhone myself, so cannot check).
Catholic Bible, Bookmarks, and Notes http://www.catholicpda.com/
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com I easily found Bible software on Amazon by searching for "Bible Catholic software"
YouTube has a wonderful selection of orthodox Catholic content!
Unfortunately, it also has some awful, sacrilegious, foul content -- so I did some very careful searching and sorting, and found the videos below. All of these are from Roman Catholic sources that are faithful and orthodox. Be a thoughtful consumer of Internet content -- be wary of clicking on any of the other videos that YouTube will automatically offer to you -- be discerning and evaluate the source.
The Vatican: http://www.youtube.com/user/vatican Straight from the Vatican to you -- recent statements by Pope Benedict VXI, latest news, Vatican Radio, press releases and more.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops videos:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.youtube.com/user/usccb Our Bishops speak out on current issues facing US Catholics. Videos on conscience protection for health care workers, poverty, faithful citizenship, etc.
For Your Marriage Campaign: http://www.youtube.com/user/foryourmarriage Fun videos interviewing married couples around the country, asking them "What have you done for your marriage today?"
Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America by Catholic Charities USA: http://www.youtube.com/user/ReducePoverty An excellent introductory video describing the plight of millions of Americans and what we as Catholics can do.
Catholic Charities USA: voices from the people: http://www.youtube.com/user/CCUSA2008 Hear directly from real Americans who are struggling; understand the stories and challenges of the working poor.
Other Catholic Videos Affliliated with Bishops:
The Catholic Sun: http://www.youtube.com/user/thecatholicsun Videos from the Catholic newspaper serving the Diocese of Phoenix. See topics ranging from immigration reform to making your iPhone a Catholic resource!
Daily Mass from the Catholic Bishops of Canada: http://www.youtube.com/user/dailymass
Star Quest Production Network (SQPN) Affilitates (Non-Profit Apostolates)
That Catholic Show: http://www.youtube.com/user/gregwillits, or http://thatcatholicshow.sqpn.com/ Humorous and warm looks into how to live everyday life as Catholics in the real world.
SQPN - Fr. Roderick: http://www.youtube.com/user/rvonhogen, or http://sqpn.com/ Variety of shows by Catholic priest, Fr. Roderick Vonhogen. "Godspeed!" takes you on tours of Cathedrals around Europe, "Healthy Catholic" discusses bodily and spiritual health, "Catholic Minute" provides a pot pourri of Catholic topics, "Catholic Insider" takes you around Rome, the Vatican, and other places in the world.
Start preparing yourself, your family and your fellow parishioners for the new translation of the Roman Catholic missal from Latin into English. This is going to be great! We'll all have to think about what we are saying during Mass for a few months!
But the "changes" will probably bother some folks since we are all now used to saying all the English memorized responses during Mass. I recommend that you learn so that you can help others.
What is coming are not really changes to the liturgy -- what is changing is merely the translation from Latin into English; our current Mass in English is not very accurate. Hey, back in the 1970's the Church was awfully busy translating the Latin missal into every language on Earth!
Here are websites that talk about the new English translation from the Latin in detail:
http://catholicinsight.com/online/church/liturgy/new_mass.shtml
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/missalformation/index.shtml
I think this is a terrific idea -- but I also hope that every parish gives orientation lectures to explain what's going on so people aren't thrown by the change. The changes will not roll out until 2010, but this really needs to be understood, welcomed and embraced now.
Remember -- it's only a new translation from the Latin, not a brand new liturgy.
Catholic Online has a great summary of the podcasts from the Star Quest Production Network (SQPN) founded by Fr. Roderick, a Roman Catholic priest: http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=5346
Food and Fellowship: The video series ‘Grace Before Meals’, hosted by the Catholic priest and chef Fr. Leo Patalinghug won the award in the Food and Drink category.
Christian Music: George Leite won the award in the Music category for his show ‘Catholic Rockers’.
Health in Mind and Body: Dutch priest Fr. Roderick Vonhogen won the Health/Fitness award for his show ‘Healthy Catholic’, a weekly show about physical and spiritual health.
Wake Up Inspired: Fr. Roderick also won the Religion/Inspiration award for his morning show ‘Daily Breakfast’, a mix of catechesis and popular culture. The "Daily Breakfast" is the most popular Catholic podcast on iTunes -- really a lot of fun, and I learn a lot. Catholics can have fun!
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have a website on ProLife activities: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/cappunish/index.shtml You'll see that ProLife includes respecting life from conception to natural death. Cruise around in the website to learn about the issues and what you can do.
The Catholic position is essentially based on two basic principles:
(1) human life is sacred because we are each made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis Chapter 1), and
(2) God bestows the human soul at conception.
Given these two principles, it is straightforward to logically deduce the Catholic position on a myriad of respect life issues.
"
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable."
-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
I had a chance to put this Catholic teaching into practice by participating in California's Catholic Lobby Day this past Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Sacramento. Catholics from across California learned about the issues, celebrated Mass (with 7 bishops!), processed to the State Capitol building, held a rally, and then broke into small groups to meet with the individual legislators (or their chiefs of staff) and explain our viewpoint as derived from Catholic morality. Learn more at the website of the California Catholic Conference (the organization of all California bishops that performs legislative advocacy): http://www.cacatholic.org/
Every state has a Catholic Conference. To find yours, go the the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website and find your diocese and bishop; the bishop's office will know: http://www.usccb.org
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” -- Matthew 25:40 
