Fr. JC Maximilian

I know I really have not been writing that much.  Partly that is because the deacons have decided to take their preaching weekends, so I have not had to write a homily.

The main reason is because I had to have surgery this week.  They tell me that it was nothing serious, but I suspect that is easier to say when you are the one doing the cutting than the one being cut on.  I had to have a mastectomy (yes, I am a man, and yes, men can have problems with their breast, even cancer).  I was having some pain and swelling, due to “extra” tissue, and given my history of already having had cancer, they wanted to take it out.  I do not know the results of the pathology report, but the surgeon is very confident that it was benign.

I am not in much pain, thank God.  Just mostly tired.  So I have been resting.  Hopefully I can say Mass this Sunday.  But, I will not be writing for a few days.

Share This

[”The Virgin Mother and Child, with St Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas” by Fra Angelico]

What more need be said?  A blessing to all our mothers, especially for the gift of life and for sharing the Faith in Jesus Christ with us.

Share This

It is not my intention for this blog to become a polemical site. I have tried to stick to just sharing things of a more spiritual nature; my homilies, and other spiritual reflections — with a few amusing stories of my family. However, sometimes one needs to just speak up against an injustice.

As I am sure that most of the readers of this blog knows, shortly after arriving in Brazil, Pope Benedict, in answering a questions asked him, stated that politicians who vote to support abortion have excommunicated themselves, and therefore should not receive Holy Communion. Really this is nothing new; it states that in the Code of Canon Law, and it has been taught in moral theology for a very long time. It all has to do with what the Church teaches about the sanctity of human life, and the moral theology principle of cooperation in a moral evil. It is ALWAYS — meaning in EVERY TIME, EVERY PLACE, and EVERY SITUATION — an absolute moral evil to kill an innocent human life, and human life begins at conception. There is a difference between an ABSOLUTE moral evil and a non-absolute moral evil. The death penalty and “just war” are examples of non-absolute moral evils because there are circumstances when they can be morally acceptable.

I read the following from Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, as he responded to the Pope’s comments in Brazil concerning politicians who support abortion having excommunicated themselves:

“I’ve always thought also that those bishops and archbishops who for decades hid pederasts and are now being protected by the Vatican should be indicted,” he said.

I am not a philosophy major, nor a logician, but I am pretty certain that such a counter-argument is called something like a “red-herring.” The priest sexual abuse scandal has nothing to do with abortion, and the moral formal cooperation with the evil of abortion that voting for abortion rights. Senator Leahy is being diabolical (from the Greek meaning “to throw apart”). Satan always tries to cause division by using lies and half truths. This is what Senator Leahy is doing. He is trying to avoid acknowledging his own objectively evil actions (he is a big time supporter of abortion rights, there is not a situation when he things it is bad to kill a baby in the womb). He is being deliberately dishonest.

The priest sexual abuse scandal was horrible. Obviously the abusive priests did great evil, but many bishops did not respond as a shepherd should. For a long time the Vatican has been saying that bishops are suppose to be shepherds and not CEOs, and in this situation they too often acted to like a CEO trying to limit their liability. Yet we also must be fair to the bishops. Many of these cases of abuse happened when not much was known medically/psychologically about pedophilia and ebophilia. As a psychologist, I can tell you that up until the early 1980s it was thought that people with these conditions could be cured, so the bishops followed the best professional advice and sent them for treatment. We know better now.

Having said all this, I would like Senator Leahy to give evidence as to how the Vatican is protecting bishops who have covered up these crimes. I assume he is referring to Cardinal Law, formerly of Boston. As I understand it, Cardinal Law was interviewed by the legal authorities there in Boston, and they did not press any charges against him. That being the case he is free to leave the USA. He has a very minor, mostly ceremonial position in Rome (which the American press has overblown in importance). As far as I know there has been no further requests from the police or prosecutors in Boston to have Cardinal Law return to Boston for further investigation or even prosecution. The Vatican has not fought any extradition requests. So how are they protecting him or any other bishops?

The Vatican called for obedience to the Church’s teaching, which calls such sexual conduct sinful and criminal. It was the “liberal” priests in America who so often disobeyed the Vatican in so many matters, from the liturgy to sexual morality, who created the terrible situation. The fault does not lie with the Vatican, but with those who did not obey.

Yet all this has nothing to do with what Pope Benedict said about politicians who support abortion rights (well, I guess it does since he says that they need to obey the Church’s teaching). Shame on you Senator Leahy! Own up to your own evil actions and do not try to distract us from them by waving your red herring.

Share This

The deacons of the parish will be preaching this week, so I will not be posting a homily nor a podcast this week.  It some ways it is a bit of a relief because it has been a very busy week.

I think it was a record week for funerals, at least since I have been assigned here.  We had seven funerals this week.  Now, the pastor and I joke about the one effect of the merger has been an increase number of funerals, that “people are dying to get out of here.”  We averaged three funerals per week the first year of the merger, and I think we are going to beat that this year.  But seven in one week is really a lot.

The priest who is in residence at the parish, who is a big help with Masses, is away on business (some kind of Canon Law conference), so it is just the pastor and me.  Yesterday I had three Masses in a row:  the regular 8 a.m. Mass, then the 9:30 a.m. funeral (very sad, the woman was only 44, married with children), and then the 11 a.m. funeral.  I then went from the cemetery to our school to lead the children in the Stations of the Cross.  I am very impressed with how our school has really tried to instill some of the traditional devotions in the students.   After that morning and early afternoon I was tired.

I capped off the night with dinner at a friend’s house with his family.  I think I met this family my first week in the parish where I was first a deacon.  Their three children were much smaller then.  That is one of the joys of priesthood, seeing families grow, seeing the children reach the different milestones, especially the sacraments.  This is a very good family, raising the children with a deep love for Christ and the Church.  I have gotten to know Russ even better the last year, as he is the executive director of the Diocesan charity, the Mount Carmel Guild, that I serve of the Board of Directors.  Like most non-profits, we are always looking for funding.  The Mount Carmel Guild does two basic programs:  an emergency assistance program (food, some prescription help), and a home nursing program.  The home nursing program is really our main identity program.  After the acute care runs out, we help most elderly clients be able to stay in their homes.  Our nursing aides will help bath them, our nurses check their medications, help them with the managing of that, help with wound care, etc.  We are the only agency in the county that provides that kind of service.  Unfortunately, even though all kinds of county needs assessments say that this is the type of services that are most needed, no one seems to want to fund them.  Lots of people and other funding sources are available for things like transitional house because you can give them tangible results:  we moved X number of people from transitional housing to more permanent housing.  But it harder to help people see the value of services like helping elderly and disabled people stay in their homes, and not need to go to nursing homes.  Combined with the fact that the nursing program requires more skilled personnel, it is more expensive (and we DO NOT overpay any of our nurses; they truly are dedicated women who do this work as an apostolate, they do it for Jesus, even though it means they need to take a second job).  If anyone reading this blog knows of any possible funding sources, especially for our nursing program, please let me know.  We will ask anyone, as long as they would not be contrary to our Catholic mission.

Today I had the morning Mass, then spoke to the parents of the children making First Holy Communion.  I will be leaving soon to say a prayer at a luncheon for another wonderful non-profit (their appreciation luncheon for their volunteers), then I have Confessions, and the 4:30 p.m. Mass.  Tomorrow I have three Masses, and baptisms.  Plus it would have been my father’s 70th birthday, so I want to go to the cemetery, and it is my sister’s birthday.  Busy, busy, busy.  Life is good.

One amusing story.  Yesterday, after the morning Mass I wanted to run to Wawa for coffee before the first of the two funerals.  As I was walking to my car I met one of the sisters who live in the convent.  She was talking with one of our daily Mass ladies, so I went over and chatted with them.  Sr. Marie was my drafting teacher in HS, more than 25 years ago; she is in her 90’s.  After chatting with them for awhile I excused myself to go get coffee.  Well yesterday afternoon, a bit after 4 p.m., Sr. Marie called me.  She said that it had been bothering her all day, that she had not invited me into the convent for coffee (the parish has 2 churches in which we celebrate Mass, and the convent is at the one that is several miles from the campus where the rectory is), so she was calling to apologize.  I told her that no apology was necessary, and she should not fret one more second about it.  She is such a pious woman of God.

Share This

I was away this week for some training. My diocese has decided to participate in the “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds” program.  This is a leadership training program, developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute, specifically for priests.  It is only about a year old, but it is very evident that they placed a great deal of time in developing the program.  It is actually a two-year curriculum.  It is based on a model which they call SOTOR (which, allowing for a misspelling, is the Greek word for Savior) that stands for:  Self, One-to-One, Team, Organization, and Relationships.  Most of those components are pretty self-evident; Relationships means “strategic relationships,” that is relationships between your organization (the parish) and other organizations (e.g., other parishes, the diocese, other churches, charitable organizations, etc.).

This week was actually called “Preparing to Lead,” and stemmed from the premise that an effective leader must know himself.  So we looked at our basic dispositions (called DISCpositions, because it uses the DISC personality inventory), values, and our persona.  As a psychologist I have been through a lot of these professional development workshops, and many of them are poorly organized.  This was the best one I have ever attend.  Very well organized, and excellent pedagogue.  Instead of just one lecture after another, they talked for a few minutes, and then there was some type of interactive exercise which got us to apply what they were discussing.  Also, it really was specifically geared to priests and challenges that they might face in a parish.  It was also good to be with some of my fellow priests.  I am looking forward to applying some of the insights I gained about myself this week, to more effectively work with my parishioners.

Now that I am back, there was the pile of mail to go through, voicemail messages, and email.  The desk is finally cleared, and the phone calls have been returned.

Share This

Here is the file you asked me to upload Mr. Anderson.  I hope it works.  Please do not make this podcast available until next Saturday, March 17.

For my other readers, I will be away this week attending some training that the Diocese of Trenton is providing.  It is called “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds,” and was developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute in Philadelphia.

Share This

[Click here to go to a podcast of this homily]

Today’s Gospel reading reminded me of something that happened to me when I was a novice for the Dominicans, more than a dozen years ago. Our novitiate was in Denver, and early in the year, kind of a way to get to know each other, we went hiking in the Rocky Mountains — yes, I was younger and in better shape then. It was beautiful, and pretty amazing to see snow on the ground in August.

As we hiked together, we were chatting and joking on the way; probably not unlike Jesus, Peter, James and John in today’s Gospel. Near the top we sat down and admired the view, took in the fresh air. And of course after the exertion of the climb, we were tired, so I can understand Peter, James and John getting sleepy while they were at the top of the mountain.

In today’s Gospel reading, as Peter, James and John slept, Jesus started to pray, and while doing so He is “transfigured” and upon waking, Peter and his companions see Jesus speaking with Moses and the Prophet Elijah. Only in St. Luke’s account of the Transfiguration do we hear what Jesus, Moses and Elijah were discussing – Jesus’ exodus. The Greek word “exodus” means “departure.”

The background for all the Mass readings this month is Israel’s Exodus from slavery in Egypt. The Exodus was the central event in Israel’s religious history. It was that event which convinced them that they were indeed God’s Chosen People, for what other people could claim that God had personally delivered them in their time of trial? As the Israelites settled into their land inheritance, they also fell into sin. The prophets proclaimed to them that it was their sins that led them into the real captivity, the real slavery. The prophets predicted further that God would again personally intervene on their behalf, and that a Messiah would lead them in a “new Exodus,” sealed with a “New Covenant” (i.e., Jer. 23:7-8; 31:31-33).

St. Paul, in today’s second reading, reminds the Philippians, and us, that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). However, like some of the Philippians, too often our “minds are occupied with earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). The deepest yearning of the human heart is everlasting happiness, and such happiness depends on living in a close relationship with God. Like a plant that never gets sunshine, separated from God the human heart withers.

After Adam and Eve’s Fall in the Garden, staying close to God became impossible. Original Sin causes a loss of grace, and God is too bright for graceless, sin-damaged eyes to see. For souls weakened by sin, God is too far away to find. We would all live in hopeless frustration, unable to embrace God, the only person who can make us truly happy, if it was not for Christ Jesus. He shades the brightness of God, and crosses the distance.

The symbolism of today’s readings reminds us of this dilemma. In the first reading, God makes a covenant with Abram to seal His promise of salvation. By making the covenant God shows that He wants to be close to us, but in fact is still distant. God uses a burning torch and a smoking pot to represent His walking through the sacrificial animals. The smoke of the pot symbolizes God’s mystery. We cannot see God clearly, just as we cannot see through smoke. God’s spiritual purity and brightness are symbolized by the fire. It is too painful to look at directly, and anyone who comes too close will be incinerated.

These two symbols appears in the Gospel’s account of Jesus’ Transfiguration, which is a precursor of the New Covenant He will establish by His sacrifice on the Cross. This time the brightness shines out of Jesus Himself, indicating that God’s spiritual purity is one with Jesus, for Jesus is God. A cloud covers Jesus and a voice from the cloud reveals the mystery of God – in Christ Jesus the distant, mysterious God of the Old Covenant has come to walk with us. It is through and in Jesus that the age of frustration has come to an end. Once again, friendship and closeness with God are made possible.

What should be our response be to this marvelous presence of God in Christ Jesus? We should thank Him for His goodness to us by following His example. By giving us His friendship in Christ, God has bridged the distance between Himself and us in a gentle way. Likewise we should reach out gently to those around us.

Jesus comes down to our level in order to lead us up to His level. He is very patient with us. He even puts up with our tantrums.

Do we treat those around us in such a way? Are we patient with them, even when, especially when, they are throwing tantrums? Do we try to meet people at the level they are at, or do we wait for them to come to our level?

Jesus stills wants to teach the world – the whole world – about God’s goodness and just how much He loves us. Jesus wants to bring every man, woman and child close to God, because He knows that only God can make them truly, eternally happy. While Jesus is the bridge that bridges the gap between God and humankind, we are the stones of that bridge.

I am sure that all of us can think of someone in our lives who we can treat in a more Christ-like way. Maybe they need to hear the Good News. As we receive Holy Communion today, let us ask God to give us the strength to treat that person in a more Christian manner or to share the Gospel with that person who is still living in the darkness and slavery of sin. After we ask for that strength, let us promise to do our best to shine with Christ’s gentle light, bringing happiness to everyone around us [see www.epriest.com, Homily Pack, “Mar 4, 2007, Second Sunday in Lent (C)”].

Share This

Welcome to my new blog. I recently found out about StBlogs.net. I have been blogging, via Blogger, for about two years. I hope to move all my posts from my old site to here.

Share This

As I approach my second anniversary of being a blogger, I recently noticed on my little counter-thingy (yes, I still am not all that into the tech side of things) that I have recently passed the 10,000 visitors mark; and that’s in about 14 months of existence (I started this blog sometime in May 2005). I am sure that that is not much compared to many other blogs. After all, Catholic Rage Monkey, the first blog I contributed to, I think has had over 100,000 visitors, and they have only been around about a year and a half longer than my personal blog. However, I am amazed that so many people have visited. The counter-thingy allows me to go in and look at where people are from (I have no idea how that works, and it does not tell me who you are, just what country/state the server is in from which you entered the Internet). I expected most would be from NJ, or those places where I have family. After all, that was the many reason for starting this blog; so many of my out-of-state family and friends wanted to see my weekly homily that I thought a blog would be an easier way of making it available than remembering to send them all an email with it. But I know I do not have family, that I know of, in Germany but there is someone from there who visits from time to time. Some regulars seem to come from Virginia, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and England. I am not sure how many are “regulars” and how many just stumble onto the site in passing, but it is still amazing to me that people would read what I wrote.

I have not developed this blog as I had hoped. Originally I had planned to include reflections/summaries of various spiritual readings that I do, hoping to spark some discussion. While I have been doing the spiritual reading, I just have not done the blogging. The reason for that has be varied; of course the busyness of being a parish priest. Of course there has also been the various personal challenges that I have had since I started blogging — being diagnosed with cancer, the treatment, my father’s death, and a new assignment. I do greatly appreciate all of your support and prayers.

How about we do some howdies? If you are a “regular” just post a comment saying hello, and where you hail from. God bless you all. BTW, I’m in Trenton, NJ.

Share This

Last night, the Diocese of Trenton held its annual “Red” Mass. In case you do not know what a Red Mass is, it is a Mass that prays for lawyers, judges, and those who work in public service (i.e., politicians). The Red Mass is sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society; an organization of Catholic lawyers, judges, and public servants. Since the Mass was held at 4 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, I could not attend the Mass. You see, this year’s honoree is a native son of the parish at which I am currently assigned. He was born here in Trenton, attended Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows (before the merger with St. Anthony’s), and was married here. His mother, a wonderful 91 year-old lady, still is a faithful parishioner, although the honoree has since located out of State. Of course I am speaking about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Jr.

I had never met Justice Alito before, and only had a chance to speak with him briefly. He struck me as a very humble and sincere man. I know that he is very committed to his family. He frequently returns to Hamilton to visit his mother, and there is a rather persistent rumor that he does her grocery shopping at a local supermarket. He also looks in regularly on his aunt, his mother’s older sister, who has no other family besides her nephew and niece.

Justice Alito spoke at the dinner after the Mass (which I was able to attend) without notes. And while my poor memory will not allow me to give a detailed summary of his talk, the key point, IMHO, stemmed from two jokes that he told. First he spoke about a doctor, a lawyer and a teacher all arriving in heaven at the same time, and each were assigned their residence. The doctor got a nice house, the teacher a modest cabin, while the lawyer got a palatial mansion. When the doctor and teacher asked why the lawyer got such a palatial mansion, St. Peter replied, “Well, we have never had a lawyer in heaven before.” The second joke was about a lawyer who did not care for his residence in heaven, and being a lawyer, he filed an appeal with God. St. Peter told him it would take at least 3 years before his appeal would be heard. Later Satan came to the lawyer and said, “if you would like to file a change in venue to hell we can have your appeal heard right away.” The lawyer asked why, and Satan said that since all the judges are in hell the docket was very short.

While of course everyone laughed at these jokes, Justice Alito asked if it wasn’t a shame. Why has the legal profession gotten to be the punchline in so many jokes, and a reputation of being amoral at best, and immoral at worse. He pondered what would St. Thomas More, who of course was a lawyer and statesman as well as a devout Catholic, think he came to visit us today. While he was certain that St. Thomas More would applaud our religious tolerance, and independent judiciary, he feared that St. Thomas would be sadden by the lack of moral conviction in many in the legal profession and public service. In this country, while we have much religous liberty, it seems to be a liberty that we are only allowed to exercise privately and not express publically. Justice Alito thought that a key component in what he sees as a decline in the legal profession is that there is a move away for it being a profession, and being more of a business. He noted that while not that long ago most lawyers were generalists and most law professors had been practictioners, today most lawyers seem to want to specialize in a narrow area of the law, and in many law schools legal practitioners are looked down upon with near contempt.

I am not a lawyer, so I will leave it to those who are to comment on whether Justice Alito’s observations of the current trends in law are correct, but I was very impressed that he seems to genuinely reflect on how to integrate his faith into his professional life. He quoted from Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), from memory mind you. He also related much of what he said to the life of St. Thomas More, clearly someone he tries to emulate. It was a good evening.

Share This