"Love Is Not Tolerance"

What does it really mean to love authentically? How do we walk the fine line between tender and tough love? The great speaker and TV evangelist Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen offers timeless guidance in this poem...

Love is Not Tolerance

Christian love bears evil, but it does not tolerate it.

It does penance for the sins of others, but it is not broadminded about sin.

The cry for tolerance never induces it to quench its hatred of the evil philosophies that have entered into contest with the Truth.

It forgives the sinner, and it hates the sin; it is unmerciful to the error in his mind.

The sinner it will always take back into the bosom of the Mystical Body; but his lie will never be taken into the treasury of His Wisdom.

Real love involves real hatred: whoever has lost the power of moral indignation and the urge to drive the buyers and sellers from the temples has also lost a living, fervent love of Truth.

Charity, then, is not a mild philosophy of "live and let live"; it is not a species of sloppy sentiment.

Charity is the infusion of the Spirit of God, which makes us love the beautiful and hate the morally ugly.

1 Thess 5:17

"You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink."

--G.K. Chesterton

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

(1 Thess 5:16-18)

A Picture of Love

My column in this weekend's bulletin at the parish where I am Religious Education Coordinator. Happy St. Valentine's Day to my readers!

Today is Valentine’s Day, concluding National Marriage Week which was February 7-14! Despite what many think, this is not just another Hallmark holiday. This day actually started as the celebration of a wonderful Catholic Saint:

St. Valentine, a priest in Rome during the persecution of Christians in the 200’s, risked his life to help his fellow Christians to worship in secret. When the Emperor Claudius issued a decree forbidding marriage (in order to increase troops for his army, believing that single men made better soldiers than married men), Valentine defied this decree and urged young lovers to come to him in secret so that he could join them in the sacrament of matrimony. He knew that marriage is a holy union willed by God. Eventually he was discovered by the Emperor and was thrown into prison. While in prison, Valentine converted his jailor to the Christian Faith, and also healed the jailor’s daughter, who was blind. Legend has it that while in jail, he wrote letters to encourage the Christians and signed them “From Your Valentine”. He was martyred on February 14, and his feast day became Valentine’s Day.

Our society has a lot of mixed-up ideas about love. We might hear someone say “I love pizza”… then “I love my wife” and “I love Jesus”! In reality, love can only be toward a person – never a thing. It is about much more than flowers, balloons, chocolates, poetic cards, or warm feelings. True love is not just expressed in a costly gift, but in the giving of oneself. It can be much easier to bare one’s wallet than it is to bare one’s heart.

If we want a picture of love, all we need do is look at the cross. Jesus Christ, Love incarnate, came to show us that love equals sacrifice. He said to us: “This is how much I love you” – and then gave up His life for us.

How many spouses get motivated to do something memorable and romantic today, and then return to Mr. or Mrs. Grouch tomorrow? The challenge to each of us today is this: Am I willing to lay down my life – or at the very least, my comforts or preferences – for the sake of the one that I love?

Powerful Saintly Wisdom

"You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her, but only put in her hand a powerful instrument of self-destruction."

—Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

HT: Saint Quote of the Day

Pope Benedict on Beauty

This caught my eye immediately...a splendid article! Also very reminiscent of the theme of this book (if you haven't yet read it, this is an official recommendation to do so). :)

Vatican City, Nov 25, 2008 / 11:18 am (CNA)- Although the world is immersed in images, it can be empty of beauty, Pope Benedict said today in a message he sent to the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Literature as it explores the relationship between aesthetics and ethics.

Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, is hosting a public event with the theme—"The universality of beauty: a comparison between aesthetics and ethics," and to contribute to the discussion, Pope Benedict has sent the archbishop a message.

The topic chosen by the academy reminds us of the "urgent need for a renewed dialogue between aesthetics and ethics, between beauty, truth and goodness," the Pope writes.

This need to reconnect beauty with truth and goodness is not just limited to the "contemporary cultural and artistic debate," but extends to daily reality, the Holy Father argues.

Today we can see "a dramatically-evident split" between the pursuit of external beauty and the idea of a beauty that is rooted in truth and goodness. Oftentimes, society only understands the search for beauty as an "exterior form, as an appearance to be pursued at all costs," he explains.

"Indeed," the Pope writes, "searching for a beauty that is foreign to or separate from the human search for truth and goodness would become (as unfortunately happens) mere asceticism and, especially for the very young, a path leading to ephemeral values and to banal and superficial appearances, even a flight into an artificial paradise that masks inner emptiness."

Pope Benedict also calls on contemporary reasoning to rediscover the link between beauty, truth and goodness. "And if such a commitment applies to everyone," the Pope asserts, "it applies even more to believers, to the disciples of Christ, who are called by the Lord to 'give reasons' for all the beauty and truth of their faith."

When Christians create works that "render glory unto the Father," the Pope continues, they speak of the "goodness and profound truth" that they are portraying, as well as the integrity and sanctity of the artist or author. To this end, Benedict XVI encourages believers to learn how to "communicate with the language of images and symbols ... in order effectively to reach our contemporaries."

The Holy Father also mentions how at the Synod on the Bible the bishops noted that knowing how to "read and scrutinize the beauty of works of art inspired by the faith" can lead Christians to discover a "unique path that brings us close to God and His Word."

Finally, Pope Benedict cites John Paul II's Letter to Artists, "which invites us, to reflect upon ... the fruitful dialogue between Holy Scripture and various forms of art, whence countless masterpieces have emerged." His message closes by appealing to academics and artists "to arouse wonder at and desire for beauty, to form people's sensitivity and to nourish a passion for everything that is a genuine expression of human genius and a reflection of divine beauty."


How I love that final quote! My heart leaps to respond to his call "to arouse wonder at and desire for beauty". I believe that each of us are called, in our individual vocations, to contribute to this noble effort. What will you do today to manifest a reflection of divine beauty to the world?

HT: Catholic Fire

American Papist

Giving Thanks with a Catholic Flavor

Today, Americans gather to celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. For many, the day holds long-revered traditions. Perhaps it wouldn’t be complete without Grandma’s special pastries, or Aunt Mary’s cranberry sauce. Many a hostess will shop, plan, and labor to ensure that dinner is perfectly cooked and ready on time. Many a father, grandfather, or uncle may be eagerly waiting to watch some football. Many a child may anticipate indulging in sweet things. Whatever the individual traditions, many of us look forward to a joyful day celebrating the abundance of our blessings.

As with any holiday, it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle, bustle, obligations, and expectations of it all that we can lose sight of why we celebrate in the first place. So what if the turkey isn’t ready to go on a magazine cover, or if the pie crusts got a little dark? If you have bounty enough to eat a thanksgiving feast, you are wealthier than many in this world. And if you have a family with which to gather and celebrate, in an era of family brokenness and division, you are blessed.

Or perhaps we’re feeling a bit less grateful this year, what with the state of our economy, growing international unrest, and the strain it has all put on many American pocketbooks. St. Paul has a word for us there, however: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (Thess. 5:18, emphasis added)

Times considered less than ideally prosperous are the ideal time to re-notice and better appreciate the most important blessings in our lives – those that make us truly wealthy. Even if your thanksgiving meal is less than ideally bountiful, or your family can’t unite due to distance or division, there are still fundamental gifts for which to be grateful: Life. Love. Freedom. Beauty. Senses through which to experience the world. And most of all, the gift of Jesus Himself, brought to us through His Church.

The Greek word for “Thanksgiving” is Eucharistia. That’s right: the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of our Lord, is the ultimate “Thanksgiving Meal”. What better way to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day? The turkey bakes for hours anyway, and few cooks remain peaceful spending all day in the kitchen. Take an hour to leave the hustle and bustle as the invited guest of this heavenly banquet hosted by the Giver of Life. And see how much richer this “holy day” can be!

Find Mass times in your area here.

Silent Growth

"We need to find God, but we cannot find Him in noise or in excitement. See how nature, the trees, the flowers, the grass grow in deep silence. See how the stars, the moon, and the sun all move in silence."

Mother Teresa

~ ~ ~

Photo credit: My sister, Veronica, who often captures beautiful flower photos!

Life is Fragile

Quite a lot has happened over the past few weeks. Most significantly, a heartbreaking accident which took the life of my friend and fellow Suzuki violin teacher, Amanda Jahn, along with her two young children. All three were killed when a drunk driver blew a stop sign and hit them last Thursday night. At our Suzuki string group concert rehearsal just a few hours before, Mandy and I were playing violin together, and even joking about our paychecks. I received a tearful phone call at 7:30 the next morning with the tragic news.

One hears of these kinds of tragedies from time to time, but it is so very different when the victim is someone you know. It's a gripping wake-up call to live each day as if it were your last, and not to take one's family for granted. Many of us can't imagine the grief of the young husband and father who lost his entire family in one night. But he is a man of strong faith, which is carrying him through this great loss.

According to the news article in our local paper, Josh spoke with Mandy over the phone just minutes before the crash, and told her he loved her. They said goodbye thinking they'd be reunited within twenty minutes. How treasured that phone call and those final loving words must be to Josh now.

Indeed, life is fragile. It is also precious. Do we live each day as if it were our last? Give your spouse, parent, or sibling a hug today...we never know how long we have left with them.

Election Countdown/40 Days for Life: Day 17

Today's video is one of encouragement. Father Frank Pavone's exhortation to pro-life members of the U.S. Senate is one that we all should hear.

"Risk it!"

Fr. Pavone also wrote today's Day 17 Devotional with another significant reminder— that the pro-life message is rooted in the two basic truths of life:

There is a God;
He isn't me.

In reality, all the ongoing complexities are rooted in this, aren't they? When human beings think we are big enough, strong enough, advanced enough to try and take on the role of God. It's been happening since Eden with devastating results. The million-dollar question is: how long will it take us to get the message?

Election Countdown/40 Days for Life: Day 7

"Thoughts on Obama"

(Guest post by Veronica)

What is all the excitement about Barack Obama? What causes people to be so attracted to him? Obama calls for “change” and people are constantly hopping onto his change wagon. But what motivates this “change current”? Obama gives people a euphoria with his fancy words, smooth appearance, and passion-summoning ads, “Change” rallies, exciting words, and plastered smiles. It is an emotionally-charged approach to saying “Vote for me!”, and it is enticing people because emotional infatuation is a rather driving force these days. But do the majority of Obama's fans really know what kind of change they are rooting for? How do we know it isn’t just a cookie-cutter, fake approach to infatuate people? (If so, it has succeeded). Or even worse, is it the kind of change that will send our country on a downward spiral? Have we ever given it a thought that maybe Obama is not much more than fancy words and smooth appearance? That he can’t give our country much more than just a euphoria of passion? Consider it.

View today's Life Devotional here.

Election Countdown/40 Days for Life: Day 6

"143 Days"

You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.

You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days of experience as a surgeon.

You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.

You couldn't join the military and become a colonel after a 143 days of experience.

You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.

BUT...
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator (January 2005), to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days of active work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief.

And, strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and is even campaigning for him. We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are will accept it for the President of the United States of America?

(from an email)

There is an intriguing experience comparison of the two candidates here.

And today's Life Devotionals can be found here.

Of Walkers and Worship

At Holy Mass this morning, I ran into an elderly gentleman that my family has known for several years, but with whom I have not spoken in a while. We initially got to know him from attending Mass at the Cathedral, and that is where I saw him today. This same gentleman is now quite up in years, and as I watched him return from Holy Communion today I couldn't help but notice what an immense effort it took for him to make each step— even with the aid of his walker. Such fidelity struck me. Here is a man who can barely move, yet he still drives faithfully to Mass each morning, lifts his walker from his car, and propels himself into the Church on two unsteady feet to sit down slowly in a pew and worship his God. Many of the rest of us who are agile and nimble could use to take some inspiration from this depth of effort!

On Prisons

My lovely goddaughter recently posted photos which she'd received in an email identified as a "new prison" facility in IL. It is my habit to always check on snopes.com or some other such site to look up the reliability of such emails, which I did before commenting on her post. I thought I'd share part my comment here, since it contains some of my recent reflections (they will make more sense if you read the post under discussion first). By the way, comments on my comment are welcome! :)

I recently listened to a CD with the conversion story of Russell Ford, an Alabama prisoner who converted to the Catholic Faith while in prison and is now a leader in prison ministry and evangelization. His story is intensely powerful and shares some of the troubling details of prison life. And while reading further on him online, I read some appalling firsthand descriptions of a prisoner's environment.

The fact that I had just researched the above made it hard for me to believe that these photos are really a U.S. prison. So I searched "New Cook County Correctional Center" and quickly learned that those photos are actually of a court building and prison in Austria. According to snopes.com and urbanlegend.about.com (two reliable resources for checking on supposed information), the photos have been circulating via email the last several months, decrying the use of our tax dollars, when in fact this is not the case. As I know nothing of Austria's system or laws, I will not propose to pass judgment on the building of this prison. There is, however, no cause for Americans to be up-in-arms about their tax dollars going to it.

As to that "comparison list", I believe I've seen it before... but it seems to me unfitting for people of good will to make such complaints. I doubt there is any hardworking free man who would rather be behind bars, even if it is hypothetically "easier". Prisoners need our prayers and compassion, not our ridicule. The most valued American right and ideal is freedom. That freedom is justly forfeited by one who defies the law. The fact that a prisoner has lost his freedom should be punishment enough for him: we don't need to top it with sub-human conditions.

Now, just because I got on a soapbox here, please don't think I am upset with you, dear goddaughter. :) The subject of your post simply gave me the opportunity to share some recent knowledge and thoughts. I hope they will challenge you and your readers toward the most Christ-like response to this topic.

Bodies on Display

I read a disturbing article this morning at LifeSiteNews.com regarding the touring "human body" exhibits that have become highly popular in the last few years. In these exhibits, real human bodies which have been partially dissected and gone through an extensive preservation process are put on display. While many claim that they have unique educational worth, others have questioned from the beginning the moral uprightness of such an exhibition. As Christians, we understand the inherent worth of each human person — mind, heart, soul, and body. The Theology of the Body teaches that because the design of our bodies teach us about our Creator and our relationship with Him, the body is sacred and precious. Not an object for lustful fantasy, a toy for sexual conquest, a vehicle for trafficking of illegal substances...or a display at a science museum.

The issue also raises concern that such individuals were not given the reverent burial to which we as Christians believe each person is entitled.

The aforementioned article, however, reveals that the questionable nature of this topic goes even deeper than the concerns mentioned thus far. There is evidence that the bodies on display by some producers are very possibly the remains of executed Chinese prisoners. "BODIES: The Exhibition" even has a disclaimer on the opening page of their website stating that they "cannot independently verify that they [the bodies] do not belong to persons executed while incarcerated in Chinese prisons."

From the article:

Among the critics is Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, who according to NZ Catholic newspaper called the display a sort of "human taxidermy" that "degrades the actual people who, through their bodies, once lived, loved, prayed and died."

Read the complete article here.

Quality Time

Today I enjoyed an afternoon/evening spent with my goddaughter... drinking in the simple pleasure of each other's company and conversation interspersed with lunch, prayer, adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, a few walks, ice cream, and flowers. :) A lovely and memorable afternoon filled with one of the five love languages: quality time. For someone as continually busy as I am, finding quality time with those I love can be difficult. But still very rewarding...not only for their spirit (hopefully), but for mine!

His Vessel

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many — which one would He choose?

"Take me!", cried the gold one: "I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.

My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like you, Master,
gold would be best!"


The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall.

"I'll serve you, dear Master,
I'll pour out your wine
And I'll be at your table whenever you dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment you."


Unheeding, the Master passed on
to the brass...
It was wide mouthed and shallow,
and polished like glass.

"Here! Here!" cried the vessel,
"I know I will do.
Place me on your table for all men to view."

"Look at me!"
called the goblet of crystal so clear.
"My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I,
I will serve you with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy
in your home to abide."

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.

"You may use me, dear Master",
the wooden bowl said.
"But I'd rather you used me for fruit,
not for bread!"

Then the Master looked down at a vessel of clay,
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

"Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find...
I will mend and use it and make it all mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of itself,
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf,
Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud,
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right,
But this plain earthly vessel filled with my power and might."

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay,
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly: "There's work you must do.
Just pour out to others as I pour into you."

~ ~ ~

My heart is often consoled to remember that our Lord does not call the qualified —
He qualifies the called!

HT: Godly Ladies in Training

Where is your heart?

I had to share this powerful quote I just came across from St. John of Avila (not to be confused with St. John of the Cross — actually, John of Avila was spiritual director to John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila).

"Withdraw your heart from the world before God takes your body from it."

- St. John of Avila

Conservative vs. Liberal

With all the election-goings-on, I thought it would be timely to re-share this reflection that I wrote over a year ago...

Conserve on pride;
Be liberal with humility.

Conserve on anger;

Be liberal with gentleness.

Conserve on selfishness;

Be liberal with generosity.

Conserve on thoughtlessness;

Be liberal with graciousness.

Conserve on gossip;

Be liberal with charity.

Conserve on slander;

Be liberal with genuine praise.

Conserve on complaining;
Be liberal with gratitude.

Conserve on resentment;

Be liberal with forgiveness.

Conserve on self-gratification;

Be liberal with sacrifice.

A couple of my favorites

of the insights shared on Huck's Army Forum the last few days:

"You know, every time I remember God moving mightily in my life, it has always been at the 11th hour. I have learned to like it that way, makes things more exciting. And, like a previous poster reminded us, God gets all the all the glory that way - love it! This is the first time I've ever been involved in a campaign, and it is because it is first time I've ever been presented with a candidate that I can get excited about - a genuine person of character, who unashamedly stands for the right things. There is no question in my mind that Mike Huckabee is the best candidate to lead this nation, and that is why I became involved in this campaign. Never mind that when I started, he was behind - but I didn't care. I wanted to look back and be proud that, regardless of the outcome, I did everything I could to help get this nation on the right track with the right candidate. Nothing's changed, I still want that! We're still in this folks! Let's buck up and stand our ground, and after we have done everything, to stand! "

And...

"Governor Huckabee is not speaking the idle words of a dreamer when he says he will continue until somebody reaches 1191 delegates. The Lord has trained him all his life to persist against all obstacles until victory is achieved. Statistically, he should still be back in Hope, Arkansas, having quit high school to make a living and raise a family. Statistically, he should have been a Democrat instead of one of the handful of Republicans in his entire county. Statistically, he might be a pastor in a struggling little church of 100 or so. Statistically, Republican pastors never run successfully for public office...

Statistically, Governor Huckabee should never have been reelected again and again to serve 10.5 years [as Governor of Arkansas]. Statistically, nobody loses 110 pounds and starts running marathons in middle age. Statistically, this should not now be a two-man race with the Baptist pastor as one of the two. Statistically, God does not do miracles on the basis of statistics!"

LOVE that last sentance! So very true.

His Thoughts

After Huckabee barely missed the win many of us hoped for in South Carolina yesterday, I opened my Bible during night prayer last night and happened upon the following verse...

"Now many nations are assembled against you...

But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD,

they do not understand his plan..."

And indeed, how frequently we don't understand His plan (though we think we do). This race is far from over. We have our own hopes and evaluations of how things need to "work out". At times, it may seem as though the nation is assembled against us :), but in reality the thoughts and plans of Christ surpass any we have. Our God is a God of suprises. And of mystery. And of twists and turns in the road. And of power... power that will ultimately prevail if we trust Him enough.

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday! (That is, I'm assuming it's as lovely by you as it is here: very crisp and cold, but sparklingly beautiful, with sunshine turning brilliant the little layer of snow on our ground, and clear blue skies overhead. Frigid and frozen, yet magnificent!)