Well, that's awkward

http://gremgoes.com/awkward-turtle/ 

The title, "The Devil's Favorite Word" intrigued me into clicking the link -- a blog post on i.d.9:16's site.  The word wasn't what I expected it to be.  It was awkward.  Yes, it was awkward reading it, but only because the "favorite word" spotlighted was the word "awkward" ... one that I happen to use frequently.

Why "awkward?"

Why do we find more things in life ‘awkward?’

Maybe part of the explanation has to do with alienation and community breaking down. We live surrounded by lifeless stuff and live less and less in the context of nature and human beings. People may be in the background, but rarely do we dwell with others. As a result, we are used to a sterile way of living that lacks intimacy and vulnerability. We control our lives and are used to keeping things (people most of all) at a distance. We do whatever we can to keep life comfortable. We aren’t used to moments when the depth and heart of things crash into us, lift us out of our comfort zone and call us to see or be seen, to know or be known.

We often escape these moments and dismiss them by saying, “This is awkward.”

Read the rest here.  It's definitely an examination of conscience for our generation. 

Happy feast day of Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano

As I've recounted many times, in 2010 when Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life was just beginning, the young people chose their two patrons: St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano.  Today is the feast day of the latter.

If you don't know anything about Bl. Chiara, you can read a short reflection here.  You can also watch a documentary about Bl. Chiara here.

Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano, pray for us!

Beautiful story for which a subject can't suffice

A different version of St. Francis', "Go Francis and rebuild my church, for which you can see if falling into ruin."

And more info here.

Quote book

“Matrimony is a Gospel in itself, a good news for the world of today, especially the de-Christianized world.” -- Pope Benedict XVI

Why I don't like the Sr. Cristina phenomenon

From the first video of Sr. Cristina Scuccia's appearance on Italy's "The Voice," I felt uncomfortable. The entire Catholic world seemed to be lauding her witness, while I felt something I could not quite pinpoint that just didn't feel right. I spoke to a couple of friends who generally share similar views as me, but both seemed to think it was a great moment of evangelization.

So, I stayed silent as the Sr. Cristina videos increased and the YouTube hits climbed into the millions. In some ways, Sr. Cristina was becoming the new "poster child" for the New Evangelization. Everyone was talking about her.

The "singing nun" sensation grew this week with Sr. Cristina's release of the first song on her album, a cover of Madonna's "Like a Virgin."

My adverse reaction continued, maybe even grew. But she reclaimed/redeemed/renewed what Madonna did 30 years ago, the headlines read. Still, I could barely bring myself to click on the video, and when I did I did not walk away convinced.

Finally, this morning I came across the first criticism I've seen. Barbara Nicolosi was interviewed by the Catholic News Agency and is quite vocal in her disagreement with Sr. Cristina's musical choices.

© MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP

Barbara Nicolosi, a Hollywood screenwriter and Catholic cultural commentator, suggested that Sister Cristina Scuccia’s choice of Madonna’s risqué song “reflects the lack of thought, seriousness and decorum that is predictable of so much of our societal and ecclesial life today.”

Sr. Cristina, an Ursuline nun, in early June won first place on the musical competition TV show The Voice Italy. She has now released a cover of the 1984 Madonna song as the first single of her new album.

Nicolosi noted the original song’s music video and its use of Catholic imagery was “widely condemned” among Catholics.

“It was clear that Madonna was ridiculing the Church’s reverence for the Blessed Virgin and so many lay people and clergy came out to speak against Madonna and the piece,” Nicolosi told CNA Oct. 22.

“That's another reason why this is a weird piece for a Catholic nun to try and repurpose.”

Nicolosi has plenty more to say here.

The piece confirmed some of my own misgivings, though we might have some different reasons behind our dislike of the pop music-singing nun phenomenon.  I think what bothers me in large part is two-fold.

First, the new evangelization seems to be confused with relevancy, and relevancy with modernity.  If it doesn't utilize the latest "thing" -- technology, slang, hit movie/music/television show, graphics, etc. -- then it isn't "relevant."  So we preach the Gospel by making T-shirts that look like secular T-shirts ... only ours have a Catholic message.  And we use the latest songs, but we change the lyrics.  We find the hit movie and redesign the poster.  And because the secular versions of these things are "cool" (although, I know the word itself is no longer "cool"), we hope that people will see the "Catholic" versions and jump on board.

Secondly, and somewhat related, a religious sister is one who is "set apart."  She is the bride of Christ in a unique way.  There is something mysterious about that, and it should be mysterious. In fact, I would argue that the mystery is intriguing and attractive to people who might not be regular church-goers.  "Here is something different," they might say.  "I want to learn more."

A religious sister is an icon of heaven.  I certainly hope we are not signing Alicia Keys and Madonna songs for eternity.  If a sister is "set apart" and a sign of heaven, then she has a unique gift to point our minds and hearts heavenward.  We should see this "something different" and be captivated.  We should see the joy and the love and the beauty and be pointed to God.

But, at least it seems to me, many of the people who were so intrigued by Sr. Cristina's appearance on "The Voice" were more entranced by the idea that a "Catholic nun" could sing or be on television or do something other than pray.  What different reaction might Sr. Cristina's rendition of "Girls just want to have fun" inspire versus the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist's "Mater Eucharastiae" CD?  Sure, Sr. Cristina has a powerful voice, but is "Girls just want to have fun" really intrinsically beautiful?  

Is it appropriate for one who is especially chosen in love as the bride of Christ to become some sort of commodity for the world who wants to be shocked and titillated by a habited woman who sings?  Yes, there are religious communities who have recorded CDs, but there seems to be a difference.  These CDs and television appearances are an invitation into a hidden life -- an opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of women who are praying and singing.  Sr. Cristina gave a performance, and though she may have been praying while she was singing, no one would necessarily know that based on the songs, style and way of performing.  

MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

One might argue that Sr. Cristina's music will be more popular because it is pop music, but lest anyone forget, chanting nuns and monks' CDs have shot to the top of the charts in recent years, dumbfounding many people.  There is something captivating about the music, the prayer, the witness that people find themselves listening to and then downloading and purchasing and playing.  They find it peaceful or inspiring or beautiful.

And beauty is a form of evangelization that we desperately need in an ugly world.

We certainly don't lack for performers in our culture.  We have any number of television shows to watch with singing competitions.  In that, Sr. Cristina became one among many -- another singer, another performer ... this one who happened to be a sister.  As a culture, I don't think we need a "Catholic" version of today's songs.  I think we need to be invited into something more, something beautiful.

Several years ago I was listening to another round of the age-old youth ministry battle -- Should those who serve the youth watch all of the latest movies, listen to the latest music and immerse themselves in the latest everything so as to be relatable?  Common thought is, "Yes."  But in this particular conversation, one young woman said she thought differently.  "These kids are surrounded by people who watch all of the movies and the shows and listen to the music," she said.  "And we tell them not to watch certain shows or listen to certain songs because they are bad influences.  Then we watch them.  What these kids need to know is ... 'I didn't watch that movie or listen to that song, and it's okay not to watch these things.  Not everyone is seeing this movie or listening to this music.  That itself is an invaluable witness.'"

Her thoughts struck me and have resonated with me even 8 years later.  The world needs witnesses who in not "keeping up" with all of the latest fads are actually saying it's possible to live differently and it's worth living differently.  I don't need to watch MTV to know that a young person needs to encounter Love.

So, in summary, after such a long post (!), I certainly respect Sr. Cristina's desire to spread the Gospel and to share her talents.  She has certainly been vocal about her desire to evangelize, and has been a witness in her decision to renew temporary vows when some women might have jumped for the chance of fame and fortune.

But every time I see a video of her clutching the microphone like a pop star or diva, I cringe a little. I cringe because it seems to me the songs and style are not becoming of a sister, are not worthy of a sister.  I cringe because I want to see something truly, counterculturally different when I see a religious sister.  I want the world to know that the Church has her own unique, beautiful gifts to offer -- not just covers and replays.  In seeing one who is "set apart," people's hearts can truly be captivated and brought to Something More.  Meeting people where they are doesn't have to be synonymous with catering to the lowest common denominator.  The world needs to be invited above.  A lay person might be called to do this by being "in the world" (not of it), but it seems that those who are consecrated are called to a different form of fostering encounters with Christ.  

And that's why the world may be pressing the "Share" button with every new Sr. Cristina release, but I just can't jump on board.

What to read about the Extraordinary Synod

Now that the Extraordinary Synod has come to a close (and we have another year to wait until the Ordinary Synod), there are plenty of articles circulating with commentaries, interviews and summaries of the event.  Here are a few that I have found particularly interesting:

- "Archbishop Kurtz on synod and next steps" (video)

- Fr. Raymond de Souza, "Never too late to listen to Pope Benedict XVI"

- Fr. Raymond de Souza, "Eleven Ways the Synod Failed Pope Francis' Vision"

- George Weigel, "An extraordinary Synod, indeed"

- Mark Brumley, "Synod Suprise"

A real life love story ... in Cincinnati

Despite depressing news headlines daily, there seems to be a rise in headlines announcing the death of couples married for decades, within hours of one another. The stories are always touching, but the most recent one to grab my attention is from a local couple -- Cincinnati natives Helen and Joe Auer. The two were married for 73 years ...

When Helen Auer died on Wednesday, she was sitting in her chair. Her husband of 73 years came into the room and knew right away. Joe leaned over, gave her a kiss goodbye, and whispered in her ear: “Helen, call me home.”

Just 28 hours later, Helen did. Joe Auer died at the age of 100. His children figured he could manage one night without her, but not two. Wednesday they will have a funeral mass in front of the same altar where they were married in 1941.

Read more of their beautiful story here.  Many more pictures of the couple are available through Meyer Funeral Home's site.

Happy first feast day of *Saint* John Paul II!

"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Looking toward the next Synod in 2015 ...

If I had five minutes to present at the Extraordinary Synod ...

Now I know that I am not, nor ever will be, an invited guest at the Synod.  There are married couples present in the discussions right now from around the world.  Most, if not all, of the couples have been married for decades and lead various marriage preparation or enrichment programs across the globe.  They have all been given a few minutes to speak to the Holy Father and the 200 or so bishops in attendance.  Their statements have also been disseminated to the public through the Vatican Press Office.

Knowing that I am not a national or world marriage leader, nor a veteran of a marriage spanning decades, as the Synod unfolds, there are still a few things I wish I could say -- that someone would say -- to the Synod fathers.  It would be something like this ...

Holy Father Pope Francis, Cardinals and Bishops of the world -- thank you for making marriage and the family such a priority that you are dedicating two Synods -- an "extraordinary" and an "ordinary" -- to these topics.  Thank you for wanting to bring the beautiful truth of these teachings to the world.  Thank you for recognizing the struggles and graces of family life and seeking to better understand so as to articulate the incredible identity of the family.

It is certainly no secret that marriage and the family are under great attack in our world.  This is manifested in differing ways by continent, country and region.  I believe, however, that all of these attacks have one thing at heart.  It is what St. John Paul II referred to in his encyclical letter, "Evangelium Vitae" as the "eclipse of the sense of God and of man."

The crisis of marriage and family is fundamentally, I believe, a crisis of anthropology.  We do not know who we are.  Formed strongly by the industrial, sexual and technological revolutions, we think we are what we do, the pleasure we obtain and the speed at which we can obtain objects and pleasure.  We, as a culture, as a world, are massively confused about what it means to be human; what love, freedom, sacrifice, truth, suffering, conscience, sexuality, our very bodies are and mean.  

It's a common misconception that the Church's "rules" are arbitrary and perhaps even vindictive sentences from a group of celibate men.  It is widely believed that Church teaching is not rooted in anything, is not valid or thoughtful or for our own good.  

This is what we need you to teach and preach and live and encourage.  The world needs to know that because of who we are -- and because of who God is -- we are called and invited to live accordingly.  We need to know that the Church doesn't give us arbitrary rules but a beautiful plan to be authentically human.  We need to know that openness to life isn't something we should grit our teeth and bear, but something we are blessed to receive.  We need to know that same-sex attraction doesn't make a person evil or undermine their dignity, but that same-sex sexual encounters cannot fulfill us.  We need to know that cohabitation isn't "test driving" commitment, but instead that we are capable of the radical risk of giving our life to our spouse.

We don't just need to hear about controversial teachings, though these are important.  We need to hear that marriage is a Sacrament, a vocation, a path to holiness.  We need to hear that marriage is a privileged way of revealing God's love to the world.  We need to hear the stories of married saints whose family life was heroically lived.  We need to hear Mass petitions for families.  We need to be sent forth with confidence that God's grace makes love possible.

We need to be challenged.  We live in a culture of mediocrity.  We are told consistently not to strive for higher things -- in fact, that we are incapable of higher things.  The Church is the lone voice stating confidently, "You are called to be more!"  This is a compliment, not an insult.  We need to hear it, to know it, to believe it.

We need mercy, yes, but we also need truth.  In fact, the two belong together.  To receive both of these, we need to know who we are.  And this brings us back to the beginning (literally, to the beginning of these thoughts and to the "beginning" of Genesis).  Holy Father, Cardinals and Bishops, you have been entrusted with so much goodness and beauty -- promoting and safeguarding the Catholic faith in the world today.  We need you to remind us of who we are, who the family is, who God is, and what He is calling each of us to live.  We don't need the truth to be watered down; we need it to be lovingly expressed.  

Please don't forget that the Church's teaching on marriage and family is beautiful.  What a gift to the world if you could remind us of that, encourage us to embrace that beauty and renew our confidence that this beauty is possible.  

36 years ago today!

I can never get enough of this video!  It was 36 years ago that we received our first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

What kind of movies did St. John Paul II watch?

Well, apparently, he watched "The Princess Bride."

The New York Post (via Catholic Vote) just wrote this:

Of all the fans who have professed undying love for “The Princess Bride,” there’s one star Cary Elwes never expected to hear from: Pope John Paul II.

Elwes briefly met His Holiness at the Vatican in 1988, a year after the movie was released. After posing for a quick photo, the pontiff turned to the actor and asked if he was the one from “The Princess and the Bride.”

Elwes was so startled, he could barely speak. “Yes,” he answered.

“Very good film. Very funny,” the pope said.

“I mean, what are the chances of that?” Elwes tells The Post. “‘Inconceivable’ was what went through my mind.”

Read more here.

A bucket list for an unborn baby

(If the video above does not show up, please click here.)

 Little Shane was born, baptized and welcomed home to heaven yesterday.

Expect joy