LETTERS
2001 LETTERS
December
November
October
September
July/August
June
May
April
March
February
January
ARTICLES
NEWS
ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
DECEMBER 2001
NOT EL POLLO LOCO, BUT FAR NIENTE
Perino's, the shuttered Wilshire district eatery, became an immediate favorite of mine after I learned in the press that the late Rt. Rev. Msgr. Benjamin Hawkes was a regular customer. Though your report on Cardinal Mahony's dining habits disturbed some, [see "Fettucine Cardinal Mahony," October Mission, and "Letters," November], I respectfully disagree with their thinking. I believe the paper did a service to the Catholic community by pointing out an overlooked restaurant worthy of consideration. You, also, effectively laid to rest the disrespectful urban legend, fostered by the Los Angeles Times, that the cardinal's favorite restaurant was El Pollo Loco.
It's good for everyone to know the cardinal, in addition to being an intelligent, effective and accomplished leader, is also a man of refined tastes and sensibilities.
Michael Malak
received via e-mail
FOR BETTER, NOT FOR WORSE
I was sent the excellent article on the death of the handicapped man, Robert Wendland. [See "Big Court Win," November 2001 Mission.] As you may know, there is a "book end" case here, in Clearwater, Florida. The young woman, Theresa Marie Schiavo, is brain damaged and is fed through a tube. She has no other devices and has lived for 11 years in this manner.
Miraculously, she is still alive, even after her husband has tried numerous times to starve/dehydrate her through court rulings in the probate system. She had no written directive, and her parents have been trying since 1993 to care for her.
It is another case of man's inhumanity to man transcending the vows of matrimony. How sad that "for better or for worse" is a meaningless phrase to some who utter the words.
Sincerely,
Jana Q. Carpenter, RN, MS
received via e-mail
HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
How I love your paper! I cannot count the ways, but will mention a few.
Your November issue, as usual, is informative, orthodox and much needed, especially when faithful and loyal Catholics cannot trust most diocesan rags, which are not worth the paper they are printed on.
Thank God for priests like Father Richard Perozich who presents authentic, orthodox Catholic teachings concerning the sins of homosexual activity [see "It's Unmanly."]. How sad that many bishops will not promote and allow Courage in their dioceses, rather than allow Dignity, a false and faulty so-called ministry which does not encourage homosexuals to live chaste lives, but rather "affirms" their unfortunate people to live in their sins. Such nonsense is indeed a false love. If anyone truly loves their fellowmen and their eternal souls, calling sinners to repentance is what Jesus would have all of us do. "Unless you repent, you will all perish." (Luke 13:3).
Tod Tamberg, archdiocesan spokesman, at long last has discovered your great publication, since, in the past, the archdiocese of Los Angeles pretended you were nonexistent [see "The Chancery Speaks", November Letters]. His pathetic attempt at saying that Charles A. Coulombe is now spooky rather than funny speaks volumes!
By the way, I encourage your readers to leave copies of your marvelous paper in parish bookracks. While the misguided liberals and liturgical pirates will not be thrilled, faithful Catholics may discover it and start reading it rather than their socialist diocesan rags, which are ideal to line bird cages with -- and the larger the birds, the better.
Thank you, Charles A. Coulombe, for your informative and timely column, "Roamin' Catholic," which can help loyal, reverent Catholics avoid flaky, lousy music, lousy sermons, balloons, butterflies, clowns, etc., at these once-upon-a-time Catholic parishes.
One final suggestion -- now that Tod Tamberg, mouthpiece of the archdiocese of Los Angeles, has discovered your orthodox, Catholic newspaper, let us make certain that he receives all future issues.
C. N. Santos,
Atascadero
EXPERIENCE THE REAL PRESENCE
The Mission prints monthly stories about liturgically creative Masses, which have become the norm these days. Probably a Mass that is celebrated correctly would be impossible to find, but have you ever heard of a Eucharist-free liturgy? An oxymoron, to be sure, since liturgy, in the Roman Catholic sense, is the Holy Eucharist. Even Webster's Dictionary defines liturgy as "a eucharistic rite." Father Hardon's pocket Catholic Dictionary says, "liturgy is the official public worship of the Church. It is the special title of the Eucharist." Nevertheless, Sister Margaret of the Pensacola-Tallahassee diocesan Department of Christian Formation identified the service we had just attended on Saturday morning, October 13, 2001 in St. Mary's Church, Fort Walton Beach, Florida as "liturgy."
The service, titled "Sacramental Catechesis Experience," was part of an all-day workshop sponsored by the Department of Christian Formation. The bishop, Rev. John H. Ricard, included a letter of his in the workshop schedule, concerning "the morning experience,"(which, by the way, did not include the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) [through which] "you will be able to share in the vision of sacramental catechesis for our diocese. This vision of sacramental catechesis, as separate and distinct from religious education, will renew and enrich the sacramental life of our parishes."
The bishop spoke for a few minutes before we were to experience this "liturgy." Another speaker told us, and I wrote this down for accuracy: "What we are trying to do is experience the Real Presence. to encounter the Divine Power of God. Abandon yourself to the God of this moment," he said, and everyone bowed his head. I wondered if anyone noticed that the Real Presence was in the tabernacle and that Catholics, with a fully vested priest present, were being asked to "experience the Real Presence" in their imagination instead of in their hearts; and what I personally experienced was outrage.
The "experience," as it was called, began as a beautiful teenage (age 13 or 14) girl wearing a white, transparent, long-sleeved dress (yes, you could see through it and maybe the poor thing probably wears jeans all the time and didn't realize you need to wear a slip under dresses -- especially white dresses.), crossed over with a sheer red scarf, marched up the aisle bearing a clay flowerpot filled with smoking incense. A red scarf was tied in her long blonde hair, and in her satin ballet slippers, she pirouetted daintily as she placed the smoking flowerpot somewhere near the left side of the altar, where it stayed smoking throughout the service.
Next came the procession, which consisted of a woman dressed in red, bearing the crucifix, followed by two more women, also dressed in red, bearing cascades of red and white ribbons. The red and white symbolized the Holy Spirit. Each "Sacramental Catechesis Experience" represents a different sacrament and colors change to suit the occasion.
Next came the priest, fully vested with red stole and Benediction robes (although no Benediction occurred). He seated himself in a chair that had been placed in front of the altar close to the smoking flowerpot, and in front of which were three jars of oils placed upon pedestals that were attractively draped with a red cloth.
More prayers were recited as if we were having a Mass, but there was no Mass. The red-robed priest read the gospel and gave a short "homily." Homily? Whatever.
After a few more prayers (I might not have the exact sequence of events because I was not prepared for what was going to happen), the priest came down into the congregation and began to talk about confirmation being something like the unknown sacrament. The crowd of some 200 people giggled along with him as he spoke of the "old" days when confirmation made us "soldiers of Christ," and when we expected a slap on the face from the bishop, but got only a tap, etc. Giggle, giggle.
The priest asked the crowd how they felt about their experience up to that point, because we were told to experience what we were seeing. "What did you notice first as you came in?" he also asked. Someone said, "the smell." The smell was the balsam. The crucifixes given to workshop participants had been dipped in balsam, he said. The rest of the discussion is a vague memory to me about feelings, experiences, odors, etc. The red candle next to the altar indicated that the Blessed Sacrament was present, yet not a word about the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle. Nor did many genuflect.
Following some words about "gifts" and how all of our gifts come from God, the priest turned the church into a Protestant meeting hall. Then we were told to turn to the person next to us and, during the next ten minutes, tell them about a particular gift we have. A man seated behind us had himself a loud and boisterous ego trip and rambled about what seemed to be his life story. My recently converted daughter-in-law was with me and I told her that we should not talk in church, and we sat quietly through ten minutes of loud conversation as if Almighty God (as St. Therese of Lisieux often referred to the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist) was not present in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
During one part of the service, members of the audience (congregation?) were asked to tell what they felt about some of their gifts. A friend of mine, whom I told about the "experience," said, "you should have said, "I have the gift of knowing enough to get the h--- out of this place!" Another friend said he wondered what was in that smoking pot to get the priest to say those things. Yet another friend, who is an author of several books and editor of a popular Catholic magazine, said my description reminded him of what the Protestants did during the Reformation.
The "experience" ended when the pretty flower pot bearer picked up the still smoking pot and pirouetted up and down the aisles of the church, holding it above her head, followed by the red-robed priest, who recited prayers and quoted scripture (I forget exactly what he was saying) as he marched behind the smoking pot.
Then Sister Margaret Kuntz, diocesan director of the Department of Christian Formation, told us what had just occurred and how it was put together and how we catechists should put together these services where the whole parish and entire families could attend.
Although we heard the words "Bible," "Catechism of the Catholic Church," papal documents and "signs and symbols," the very purpose of these things, which are sanctifying grace and salvation of the soul, were words that were never used. Lots was said about "community," however. Apparently the sacraments were simply instituted to make better persons of us and that's all.
Pauline Moulder
Pensacola, Florida
SPINELESS PANDERING
I can't believe how feckless and disdainful was Governor Davis' act of signing into law a bill giving rights to "gay marriage." [See "A Bill That Pro-Family Advocates...," News, this issue.] He blithely ignored the majority of the voters who voted not to grant those rights to homosexual couples. He has demeaned the meaning and institution of marriage. He has pugnaciously overlooked the recommendation of the state department of finance, who urged him to veto such a bill. He has spinelessly pandered to the special interests of a vocal minority. He acted in an extremely frivolous manner in spending taxpayer money, which we can't afford. The very same day he cried crocodile tears saying he had 'no choice' but to veto $50,000 for firefighter safety and rescue. He blatantly disregarded his demand to cut costs -- only last week Davis said all state budgets would have to be cut by 15 percent for lack of funds. Davis has disdained his own church's teachings on the sanctity of marriage -- he has set himself up as his own god. He has undermined the vote of the people and broken his written promise to every citizen of the state of California.
I am angered and ashamed. Our governor obviously cares nothing for the people.
Tesa Becica
Van Nuys, California
OUR PASSOVER
Like the Jews who sacrificed their lambs in the Passover feast, we sacrifice our Lamb in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We know that Jesus died only once, but it is the will of our Father that the offering Jesus made to Him on the cross with His wounds be made by us with His true flesh and blood, as a perpetual institution.
After receiving our wounded Jesus in communion, it is most important to enforce silence in our souls. We must constantly remove useless thoughts and reading, memories good or bad, day dreaming. This is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. From this moment on we no longer look up to heaven but enter into our souls to pray.
This is difficult at first, but as the fire of love grows, it becomes habitual. In this silence of the soul there is little reasoning, images or words, there is only love for Jesus' wounds. At work or at play, love always finds moments to love Him.
As the Jews crossed the waters piled high on both sides of them, we cross life pursued by temptations to sin piled high on both sides of us. We enter into our desert, our souls, and find safety in the wounds of our Lamb.
O souls that Jesus loves, when you feel the temptation pressing on you, stop! Stop all activities in your whole being. Then quietly enter into your desert and bathe your soul in the wounds of Jesus. Try to say nothing, only love. You will be before our Father and He will shelter you.
In Revelation 7:9-17, St. John saw the angels and a multitude that nobody could count, standing before Our Father and the Lamb. The multitude was praying day and night: there is no day or night in heaven. This multitude was not yet in heaven. John saw through thousands of generations. He saw them, he saw us all in our own times as we work or play or study. He saw our white robes. The angels saw the Lamb in our souls; they fell down and worshipped. John heard our song: Alleluia! Our salvation on earth, our deliverance from our infirmities is not from our strength, but from our Father Himself. He shelters us. As often as we are tempted, we pass over from slavery to freedom, because we wash our souls in the blood of the Lamb. This is the perpetual Feast of Passover.
O, incomprehensible goodness! The multitude falls down also and worships!
Jacques Lamothe, O.C.D.S,
Long Beach