View this excellent 1 minute video on YouTube to see many Catholic Apps for iPhones: http://tiny.cc/iPhoneCathApps
iConfess: A handbook to help you make a good Confession!
iViaCrucis: The Way of the Cross -- meditate upon our crucified Savior any Friday (it's not just for Lent)
iCatechism: Look up a question about your faith! What are angels? What is Confirmation exactly? What does the Vatican say about "just war"? It's all in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Catholic Reflections: a daily scripture passage, followed by a saintly reflection and a prayer in the form of a Mobile Widget.
Divine Office and iBreviary: Pray the Divine Office (aka Liturgy of the Hours)! Give it a go in Latin!
iMissal: Follow along during the Mass! Read the daily readings. Uses the official texts approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops with an entire liturgical year’s worth of sacred scripture.
Prayer: Has the Common Prayers from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church available in English as well as several other languages.
10 Catholic Commandments: Use this app to pray over the 10 commandments that also offers the option of accompanying music.
Divine Mercy: This app provides different images for each of the Our Father beads, helps you keep track of the day of the Novena you are on, and more.
Hail Mary: Pray the rosary with this app that lets you select the color of your beads, provides scripture readings and images, and is available in several languages.
Catholic Calendar: Liturgical calendar for every year from 1970 to 2300 and beyond.
My diocese has great resources for social justice topics.
Social Justice News is the monthly e-newsletter from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland. Email John and request to be put on the distribution list (jwatkins@oakdiocese.org)
Social Justice Resources (http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice) is a website which has a wealth of information on social justice issues, including educational materials and recommendations for action.
The newsletter and website contain news that goes way beyond the San Francisco East Bay; you can find issues affecting California State, America and the planet.
"Molokai: The Story Of Father Damien"
Molokai is the story of a priest, Father Damien, who chose to spend his life serving in a leper colony. The movie is a heroic story of great compassion and persistence in the face of physical hardship and isolation. Filmed on location on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai, the scenery is gorgeous, and it touches on the history and culture of Hawaii.
The Vatican recently announced that Blessed Father Damien de Veuster will be canonized this October.
The movie is available on Amazon, at Christian booksellers and Netflix.
"Charity in Truth" is a very readable document especially for those interested in economics, justice, and human development.
You can download and print the document from the Vatican website: <http://capwiz.com/cacatholic/utr/1/NKSYKVONIB/IYJOKVPZVA/3631167291> .
The letter has a great many subtleties and nuances than cannot be appreciated with a few selected quotes. With that caution, here are a few highlights to consider:
*"If we love others with charity, then first of all we are just toward them." (6)
*"A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized." (15)
*"Profit is useful if it serves as a means towards an end...Once profit becomes the exclusive goal...without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty." (21)
*"Openness to life is at the center of true development." (28)
*"Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone, and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State." (38)
*"Many people today would claim that they owe nothing to anyone, except to themselves. They are concerned only with their rights, and they often have great difficulty in taking responsibility for their own and other people's integral development. Hence it is important to call for a renewed reflection on how rights presuppose duties, if they are not to become mere license." (43)
*"The exclusion of religion from the public square - and, at the other extreme, religious fundamentalism - hinders an encounter between persons and their collaboration for the progress of humanity. Public life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character." (56)
http://www.whattheyplay.com
This family website lists current video games by title and platform, and provides ratings and descriptions so that parents and responsible teens can be informed consumers of entertainment software.
"What They Play" uses the rating system by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB); ratings are: EC (Early Childhood), E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone Above 10 Years Old), T (Teen), M (Mature), AO (Adults Only), RP (Rating Pending). The ratings are given from the perspective of caring parents, and are based on types of violence, use of alcohol/tobacco, and other potentially objectionable content.
Know what your kids are playing! Be aware of what you yourself are playing!
Fasting: Not Just for Lent! Consider spending a month fasting from pollution, taking responsibility for your own contribution to pollution. Here are specific ideas. Consider chosing one and commit to it with your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers:
1. Start or increase recycling of cans, plastic, glass, and/or paper.
2. To reduce junk mail, write to DirectMail.com, National Do Not Mail Registry, Prince Fredrick, MD, 20678. Request that they remove your name from all 3rd class mailing lists. You can make your request at no charge via the internet at www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail.
3. Buy cloth bags and use them instead of plastic or paper bags when shopping.
4. Buy and install a low flow showerhead, and take showers instead of baths. (Baths use twice as much hot water.)
5. Reduce time in the shower to 5 minutes.
“Beyond simply appreciating natural beauty, there is the active stewardship of ecological concern. Ecological stewardship means cultivating a heightened sense of human interdependence and solidarity.” -- from Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“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"
View this excellent 1 minute video on YouTube to see many Catholic Apps for iPhones: http://tiny.cc/iPhoneCathApps
