"Verbum caro factum est" - 'The Word became flesh"

(Photo Credit: L'Osservatore Romano/HO/epa/Corbis)

Pope Benedict's Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World)
Message on Christmas Day (my emphasis in bold; my comments in blue):

“Verbum caro factum est” – “The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14).


Dear brothers and sisters listening to me here in Rome and throughout the world, I joyfully proclaim the message of Christmas: God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus. (What a simple yet profoundly needed message - God is not a stanger, He is not far away - sorry Bette Midler, God is not watching us from a distance - He is intimately close to each of us - may we not push him away)

This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our most daring hope (Wow - that God has become man - how can we ever really wrap our minds around that - what a daring hope). First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the person of Jesus of Nazareth! (Christmas is a reality - God has really become man!)Being in his presence, observing his works and hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).

“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ. (Don't let the phrase 'God loves you' become an empty memory of something you heard in Sunday school growing up - God loves you! - What a beautiful mystery!)

God in fact does not change: he is faithful to himself. He who created the world is the same one who called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I am who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob … a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God does not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he is communion, unity in Trinity, and all his words and works are directed to communion (This is what we are called to "God himself is an eternal exchange of love... and he has destined us to share in that exchange" - CCC 221). The Incarnation is the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will of the Father and the working of the Holy Spirit, creation reached its high point (God revealed himself "in the fullness of time"). The ordering principle of the universe, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a certain time and space.

“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is revealed to those who receive it in faith, for it is a mystery of love. Only those who are open to love are enveloped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Saviour. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the “yes” of our hearts.

And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth which is also Love? Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating; young people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the family and the workplace; the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly existence (He is what every human heart longs for).

“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of Christmas is also a light for all peoples, for the collective journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”, God-with-us, has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his Kingdom is not of this world, and yet it is more important than all the kingdoms of this world. It is like the leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work for true development would flag: the impulse to work together for the common good, in the disinterested service of our neighbour, in the peaceful struggle for justice. Belief in the God who desired to share in our history constantly encourages us in our own commitment to that history, for all its contradictions. It is a source of hope for everyone whose dignity is offended and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man and woman free from the source of all enslavement (What is the source of all enslavement?  Sin.).

May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the Land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence. May the comforting message of the coming of Emmanuel ease the pain and bring consolation amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East; may it bring them comfort and hope for the future and bring the leaders of nations to show them effective solidarity. May it also be so for those in Haiti who still suffer in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and the recent cholera epidemic. May the same hold true not only for those in Colombia and Venezuela, but also in Guatemala and Costa Rica, who recently suffered natural disasters.

May the birth of the Saviour open horizons of lasting peace and authentic progress for the peoples of Somalia, Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire; may it promote political and social stability in Madagascar; may it bring security and respect for human rights in Afghanistan and in Pakistan; may it encourage dialogue between Nicaragua and Costa Rica; and may it advance reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.

May the birth of the Saviour strengthen the spirit of faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the Church in mainland China, that they may not lose heart through the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion and conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his Church, may keep alive the flame of hope. May the love of “God-with-us” grant perseverance to all those Christian communities enduring discrimination and persecution, and inspire political and religious leaders to be committed to full respect for the religious freedom of all.

Dear brothers and sisters, “the Word became flesh”; he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem! To everyone, a Merry Christmas!

(Wow, that was good.)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas - believe it or not, it is still liturgically correct to say this even though as I type this the date is December 29th.  As Catholics, we celebrate the birth of our Lord for eight days called the Octave of Christmas (December 25th - January 1st (which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God)).  The season of Christmas lasts through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.  Hey, we don't mess around - we have a lot to be thankful for so we celebrate for a while!  I mean, c'mon!  God has become man!  Why celebrate that for only one day!?  This is a big deal!  The people in darkness have seen a great light!  Besides Easter, this is the greatest feast of the Church's calendar - let us celebrate in praise and thanksgiving!  This is the time to celebrate the coming of the long-awaited Messiah!  If you were living in Biblical times and the people had been waiting for centuries for the coming of the Messiah, then he comes and you found out about it would you just celebrate for one day then move on with your life?  I think not. Isn't it interesting though that every year people start preparing for Christmas after Labor Day and then when Christmas Day comes they start packing up their decor and putting away the fine china the next morning?  What a commentary on the state of our culture.  It's like we spend all night getting ready for the morning and then when morning comes we go to bed.

In continuing celebration of the Octave of Christmas I present you with the following:

Fr. Robert Barron commenting on the Genealogy of Jesus:

Bishop Sheen on 'What's My Line?'

This was a television game show that was on in the '50s and '60s.  The show would have a panel and a moderator and a guest.  The panel would have to guess the occupation of the guest through 'yes' and 'no' questions.  At the end of the show a celebrity was brought on as the guest, the panel would be blindfolded and they had to guess who it was.  In this episode, Bishop Fulton Sheen was the celebrity guest.  Bishop Sheen had a weekly television show in which he would talk about and explain our Catholic faith.  He even won an Emmy for his show!  I love listening to his old shows and reading books written by him.  He was absolutely amazing.  You can easily see that people thought very highly of him in this video.  Note the great applause when he appears and the statement "Well, that is the most solid round of applause I've heard in a long time."  Also, the great respect shown to him by Mr. Daly and all the panelists, especially when the final panelist kisses his ring at the end which is a gesture of respect for his office as bishop who is a successor of the Apostles.  By the way, the celebrities would often have to disguise their voices because their distinct voices could have given them away - I think it's hilarious that Bishop Sheen chose to answer the questions in French to disguise his voice!  His concern for the poor also shines through when he requests that the prize given to him at the end of the show be sent to the leper colonies.

The Lord Is My Inspiration

"...man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself." - Gaudium et Spes 24: 3

O Antiphons

Today is the beginning of the O Antiphons.  These are the antiphons that begin and end the Magnificat in Vespers during the final days of Advent.  Fr Z. has more detailed info on the O Antiphons here.
They are beautiful verses invoking titles of Christ.  In Latin the titles are Sapientia (Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse), Clavis David (Key of David), Oriens (Dawn), Rex Gentium (King of the nations).

Here are the Antiphons from the Breviary:
Dec. 17th:  O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.  Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Dec. 18th:  O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:  come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

Dec. 19th:  O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you.  Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

Dec. 20th:  O Key of David, O royal power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven:  come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

Dec. 21st:  O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:  come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Dec. 22nd:  O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. 

Dec. 23rd:  O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Here is a resource with scriptural citations of each of the titles and the Latin text of the antiphons followed by a good English translation - and you can hear the Latin antiphon chanted (which is awesome!) by clicking on the speaker icon.

After reading the O Antiphons, you see the significance of a familiar hymn:


Come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Chorus: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
from ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.
 
Hymn lyrics from fisheaters.

Fr. Robert Barron Comments on People Leaving the Church

As. Fr. Barron points out, the Church recognizes that there are certain aspects of truth in other faiths, however, the Church must point out that the fullness of truth subsists in the Catholic Church.  The Church is a divine institution founded by Jesus Christ.  It's doctrines are unchanging as the Church, the Bride of Christ, must remain faithful to her Bridegroom, Jesus.  The Church proposes the fullness of truth to us and it is for us to freely accept it so as to enjoy the fruits of grace the Lord wishes to joyfully bestow upon us through his Church.  The Church's teachings are not to impose on us or to make us mad, rather her teachings help us to become the best people we can be; to become the people God has created us to be. When we enter deeply into prayer, examine our hearts and study the teachings of the Church (not just what the Church teaches but also the why behind the what), we come to the realization that what the Church teaches is what our hearts truly long for which is authentic love, not a watered down and "I-will-determine-truth-for-myself" version of love.  If we wish to live an authentically Christian life which is to become like Jesus, we must heed his command, "Take up your cross and follow me."  Love demands sacrifice.  But also as Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  The more we examine our hearts and learn what and why the Church teaches what she does, the more we realize the meaning of these words of our Lord.  It may be difficult at times, for example, to say no to contraceptives when we live in a culture that is constantly telling us that contraceptives are good, but to say no to contraceptives is to take the Lord's burden upon yourself and guess what, the Lord's burden is easy and light.  Why?  Because what the Lord offers me is what my heart truly longs for so when I receive what the Lord offers it is not a heavy burden rather it is light and easy and I carry it joyfully.  Saying no to contraceptives is actually saying a joyful yes to something much greater and fulfilling - saying yes to life and authentic love. If you are considering leaving the Catholic Church, I beg you for your own sake, take time to truly learn the Church's teachings and pray deeply; talk to someone who really knows what they're talking about regarding the Church.  There are so many resources available to you, many of which can be found on the sidebar of this blog. I guarantee you that if you learn the truth you will not want to leave because you will discover that all your heart has longed for is found in the Catholic Church.  Why?  Because the Church was divinely instituted by Jesus and if Jesus has given me this gift how could I ever reject it?

Yay, Sr. Miriam James!

Check out this article about Sr. Miriam James, SOLT who will be joining us for our women's retreat April 1-3.  We're so blessed and excited that she is coming!  What a great and inspiring story she has! Click here to read it.

Here is an excerpt: 

"With her parents no longer telling her what to do [when she went to college], Sharon stopped attending Mass, never went to confession, and was certainly not going to be found at any prayer meetings. Instead, worldly pursuits consumed her time. In addition to her scholarship, she had a boyfriend on the football team and a schedule full of parties. She was free to do as she pleased, which was supposed to bring her happiness.

Yet instead of being filled with happiness, she was empty. “After getting a taste of having everything the world says you should have to be happy, but finding my heart utterly empty, I began to deeply yearn for something more. The partying, boyfriends, school and sports didn’t fill me. When I was truly honest with myself, I had to admit that I was shattered within.”

It was the spring of her freshman year in college when she had this awakening. “I realized that when I died, God wasn’t going to ask me if my mom and dad went to church on Sunday. He would ask me, ‘What did you do with your life?’” This sobering thought led her on a slow journey back into the Church."

Continue reading here.

An "Advent Minute" from the Dominican Sisters

Click here for an "Advent Minute" from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.

Why Do We Use an Advent Wreath and Why the Colored Candles?

Need some prayers to help you through your finals?

Call on St. Joseph of Cupertino!  St. Joseph Cupertino is a patron saint of students and those travelling by air.  Why is St. Joseph Cupertino a patron saint of students?  Well, he was not so good at studies and only by the grace of God did he pass an examination by his bishop.  When he was studying for the diaconate and priesthood he was supposed to be able to expound on many passages in the Gospels, but he was only able to expound on one verse from the Gospel of St. Luke, "Blessed is the womb that bore you." Here is the recounting of the story from EWTN:

"...for the diaconate and the priesthood a special examination had to be passed, in presence of the bishop himself. As a matter of form, but with no hope of success, Joseph was sent up to meet his fate. The bishop opened the New Testament at haphazard; his eye fell upon the text "Beatus venter qui te portavit [Blessed is the womb that bore you]," and he asked Joseph to discourse upon it. To the surprise of everyone present Joseph began, and it seemed as if he would never end; he might have been a Master in Theology lost in a favorite theme. There could be no question about his being given the diaconate."

Why is St. Joseph Cupertino a patron saint of those travelling by air?  St. Joseph Cupertino was a mystic and very often had experiences of levitation.

St. Joseph Cupertino was incredibly humble.  One phrase that I love from EWTN's account of his life is this: "Joseph's absent-mindedness, from his childhood upwards, had not been only a natural weakness, it was due, in great part, to a wonderful gift of seeing God and the supernatural in everything about him, and he would become lost in the wonder of it all. "  St. Joseph Cupertino saw beauty in all of God's creation and would get so caught up in awe that he would go into ecstasy. He saw beauty in ordinary things.  If only we would all do the same - to be in utter awe at what we usually see as completely ordinary such as a bird flying by, a cloud lingering in the sky, a flower blooming or the face of a friend.

So as you students continue to take your final exams this week, don't forget to ask St. Joseph Cupertino to pray for you!  Study well and may the things you've studied be what is asked on the exam, just as in St. Joseph Cupertino's case!

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - a holy day of obligation - so please make it to Mass today!

What is the Immaculate Conception about? Many mistakenly think that this feast is about the miraculous virgin conception of Jesus, but it is actually about the conception of his mother, Mary.

This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about this dogma:
490 To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with thee gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace". In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immmune from all stain of original sin.

492 The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son." The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love."

By the grace of God and the merits of her Son, Mary was free of Original Sin and personal sin her whole life long.  How can this be?  Here is a great explanation from Catholics United for the Faith.
The basic gist though is to prepare a worthy dwelling place for his Son and by the merits of his Son, God gave Mary the grace of being free of Original Sin and all personal sin. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" (Luke 1:28).  Remember God is outside of time, so he can apply the graces won for us on the cross by Jesus to his Mother even before Jesus is conceived. The Church Fathers would explain it in the following manner:  If I have fallen in a hole and a man comes by and pulls me out then he has saved me from the hole.  If I am standing at the edge of the hole and a man comes by and prevents me from falling into it then he has also saved me from the hole.  Such is the case here - Mary was about to fall in but Jesus saved her from it before she fell in - so Mary can also sing "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1: 46-47).  Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant.  Just as in the Old Covenant God's word, the Ten Commandments, dwelt in the Ark, so in the New Covenant, God's Word, the Word made flesh, dwelt in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception.  Many misunderstandably think that Catholics worship Mary, but the reality is no, we don't worship her.  Worship is due to God alone.  However, we do honor Mary as the Mother of our Lord and recognize the indispensable role that she has played in salvation history.  She is the Mother of God and our Mother.  Just as Jesus gave Mary to John the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the cross, "Son, behold your Mother", so has he given her to all he has redeemed. 

Mary is my mother and I give thanks to God today for the graces he has bestowed on her and the great faith she expressed in saying yes to him - "Be it done unto me according to Thy word!"

Read more about this dogma and its biblical consistency here and here.

Also, check out these videos about the Immaculate Conception by Dr. Mark Miravalle, professor of theology and mariology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.  You can view more of Dr. Miravalle's videos on this topic here.

Feast of St. Ambrose

Today is the Feast of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.  The entry in the breviary says this about him:  "Ambrose was born of a Roman family at Trier about the year 340.  He studied at Rome and served in teh imperial government at Sirmium.  In 374, while living in Milan, he was elected bishop of the city by popular acclaim and ordained on December 7.  He devotedly carried out his duties and especially distinguished himself by his service to the poor and as an effective pastor and teacher of the faithful.  He strenuously guarded the laws of the Church and defended orthodox teaching by writings and actions against the Arians.  He died on Holy Saturday, April 4, 397."

St. Ambrose was an incredibly holy man.  He is often known for playing a large part in the coversion of St. Augustine and baptizing him.  St. Ambrose is one of the 33 doctors of the Church.

From EWTN:  "Paulinus writes thus of him: 'Whenever any person confessed their sins to him in order to receive penance, he shed such an abundance of tears as to make the penitent also to weep. The sins which were confessed to him he never disclosed to anyone, only interceded with God.'"

You learn more about St. Ambrose here and here.

Prayer from the Breviary:
"Lord, you made St. Ambrose an outstanding teacher of the Catholic faith and gave him the courage of an apostle.  Raise up in your Church more leaders afer your own heart, to guide us with courage and wisdom.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."  Amen.

What is Advent all about?

Check out this video:

Gracias to Marcel.

Pope Benedict had some amazing words about waiting in his Angelus Address on the 1st Sunday of Advent:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a new journey of faith that on the one hand commemorates the event of Jesus Christ and, on the other, opens to its ultimate fulfilment. It is precisely in this double perspective that she lives the Season of Advent, looking both to the first coming of the Son of God, when he was born of the Virgin Mary, and to his glorious return, when he will come “to judge the living and the dead”, as we say in the Creed. I would now like to focus briefly on this evocative theme of “waiting”, for it touches upon a profoundly human aspect in which the faith becomes, so to speak, completely one with our flesh and our heart.

Expectation or waiting is a dimension that flows through our whole personal, family and social existence. Expectation is present in thousands of situations, from the smallest and most banal to the most important that involve us completely and in our depths. Among these, let us think of waiting for a child, on the part of a husband and wife; of waiting for a relative or friend who is coming from far away to visit us; let us think, for a young person, of waiting to know his results in a crucially important examination or of the outcome of a job interview; in emotional relationships, of waiting to meet the beloved, of waiting for the answer to a letter, or for the acceptance of forgiveness.... One could say that man is alive as long as he waits, as long as hope is alive in his heart. And from his expectations man recognizes himself: our moral and spiritual “stature” can be measured by what we wait for, by what we hope for.

Every one of us, therefore, especially in this Season which prepares us for Christmas, can ask himself: What am I waiting for? What, at this moment of my life, does my heart long for? And this same question can be posed at the level of the family, of the community, of the nation. What are we waiting for together? What unites our aspirations, what brings them together? In the time before Jesus’ birth the expectation of the Messiah was very strong in Israel – that is, the expectation of an Anointed one, a descendent of King David, who would at last set the people free from every form of moral and political slavery and find the Kingdom of God. But no one would ever have imagined that the Messiah could be born of a humble girl like Mary, the betrothed of a righteous man, Joseph. Nor would she have ever thought of it, and yet in her heart the expectation of the Savior was so great, her faith and hope were so ardent, that he was able to find in her a worthy mother. Moreover, God himself had prepared her before time. There is a mysterious correspondence between the waiting of God and that of Mary, the creature “full of grace”, totally transparent to the loving plan of the Most High. Let us learn from her, the Woman of Advent, how to live our daily actions with a new spirit, with the feeling of profound expectation that only the coming of God can fulfil."

New Film About Bl. John Henry Newman

At Catholic Campus Ministry we have three buildings: St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, the Marquette Student Center and the Newman Center. The Newman Center was named after Bl. John Henry Newman, a former Anglican who converted to Catholicism. All over the country there are campus ministries bearing the name of Bl. John Newman. The Holy Father just recently beatified Cardinal Newman when he was in England in September. As a result, interest in Bl. John Newman has gone up and I recently learned about a new film being produced about his life. Here is some info on it:



Another good example of the legacy of Bl. John Newman is the Cardinal Newman Society. May Bl. John Newman intercede to God for us as we strive to spread the Gospel on campus and enlighten minds on the beautiful relationship of faith and reason.

Fr. Barron Commenting on Pope Benedict as Witness to God

By the way, you can read our post about what the Pope really said about condoms here.

The Beauty of the Human Person

In the intro course on Theology of the Body that we do here at CCM we always end the semester with watching films then analyzing them in light of TOB.  One of the films that we watch is The Butterfly Circus, a short film made over a year ago starring Eduardo Verastegui and Nick Vujicic.  Watch it here:



How does this film relate to Theology of the Body?  This film has a message of hope - that every human life has worth and dignity regardless of race, disability, age or any other thing that may cripple us.  Our worth is not determined by what we do but who we are - human beings created in the image and likeness of God.  Eduardo's character sought to bring that out in Nick's character - encouraging him not to believe the lies that he had heard, lies that were telling him he wasn't worth anything, but rather to believe the truth that God loves him and has a great plan for his life - to see the "beauty that can come from ashes", that "the greater the struggle the more glorious the triumph." This is a tremendous aspect of the Theology of the Body - that every human life has worth and dignity and deserves to be loved, not used.  This short yet powerful film shows the beauty of the human person and our ability to use our talents for good rather than evil and that redemption is available to us all.  No wonder this film won the 2009 Doorpost Film Project. What a great way to conclude our semester study of Theology of the Body.

This Is Just Too Cute

Thanks to Fr. Gonzales

Tony Melendez Coming to Leopold!

Everyone be sure to join in this great opportunity to hear and meet Tony Melendez at St. John Catholic Church in Leopold on Thursday, December 9th, 7pm-9pm. 
Tony and his family are such wonderful people and we're so excited that he is going to be coming to our area!
CCM students - we will be taking a carpool to the event so stay tuned for details if you want to join in!
Tony was born without arms and does everything, including play guitar, with his feet.  He played for Pope John Paul II in 1987 in L.A. and the Pope lept off the stage to greet him following his performance saying, "My wish to you is to continue giving this hope to all the people."
Learn more about Tony and his ministry here.

Happy Birthday, Fr. Scanlan!

Happy Birthday to Franciscan University's dear Fr. Michael Scanlan!  God's grace has worked wonders in the lives of so many, especially Franciscan students, through Fr. Scanlan.  We are so grateful that he has and continues to be open to God's grace and call in his life!  Let the Fire Fall, a biography about Fr. Scanlan, is back in print and you can get it here.

Congratulations, Msgr. Rice!

Seminarian Brian Fisher, CCM & SEMO graduate
Mark Buesse and Msgr. Rice following his vocation
presentation in our Chapel in the spring of 2009.

Several CCM students who frequent this blog will remember meeting Msgr. Rice when he came here a few semesters ago to present a talk in our Chapel on vocations; and, of course, many of our students from the St. Louis area know or at least know of Msgr. Rice.  We were very pleased to hear this morning that the Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Rice as the next auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis!  Congratulations! Bishop-designate Rice will be ordained to the episcopate on January 13th at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis by Archbishop Carlson. We also congratulate Bishop Hermann on his retirement! Thank you Bishop Hermann for all your wonderful and faithful years of service!  Find out more information on Bishop Hermann's retirement and Bishop-designate Rice's appointment here.

Happy Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Martyr

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them,"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.  Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John;  you will be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).  - John 1: 35-42

A Homily on the Feast of St. Andrew:

Advent and Christmas Resources from the USCCB

The USCCB has a lot of Advent and Christmas season resources available to help you enter into the mystery of these seasons through prayer.  One of the items that you can download is Advent and Christmas with Pope Benedict, a booklet with a Scripture verse and a short excerpt from the one of the Holy Father's homilies, speeches, or other words of inspiration about or related to these liturgical seasons.  You can find other resources at the USCCB website.

Catholic Conference of Illinois calls for Rejection of Civil Union Legislation

The Catholic Conference of Illinois, on behalf of Cardinal George and the other Bishops of the Conference are calling for the Illinois General Assembly to reject Senate Bill 1712 which is attempting to pass civil  union legislation.  You can read the Conference statement here.  Thomas Peters has more information here, including information on contacting your representative to voice your concern.  We have a lot of students from Illinois here in Cape, so please be sure to contact your representatives to tell them of your opposition to this bill!

Help Us Get to the March for Life!

Last year thanks to the generosity of many community members we were able to take five students to the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  This year we have 26 students signed up to attend and we need your help to get them there! 
This Sunday we will begin fundraising for this opportunity for our students to witness to the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death at the 2011 March for Life in January.  We need to rent vehicles and gas for 26 students to travel to D.C.  Please help us get there!  If you would like to donate to this effort please contact us at http://www.ccmin.org/.  You can also give directly at CCM after Mass this Sunday.  We cannot express enough how much the generosity of the community means to us.  Without your support and prayers we would not be able to provide so many opportunities to grow in our Catholic faith to the students of Southeast Missouri State University. Thank you for your support and may God bless you all!

Joy of Christmas Concert this Friday!

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Joy of Christmas Concert this Friday at 7pm at Old St. Vincent's at the corner of William and Main in downtown Cape Girardeau!  This event is open to the public and admission is free.  There will be a free will offering taken up to benefit CCM students' pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes and Spain next summer. 
All are invited to enjoy music to celebrate the coming Christmas season.  May we humbly prepare ouselves during this Advent to celebrate the coming of the Lord who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Why is the First Sunday of Advent the Beginning of a New Liturgical Year?

"...every human life has an incomparable, a most elevated dignity."

Saturday the Prayer Vigil for All Nascent Human Life was held in Rome and all over the world.  You can read the full text of the Pope's homily here.  Here are some excerpts the I really liked (my emphasis added).

"The Incarnation reveals to us, with intense light and in an amazing way, that every human life has an incomparable, a most elevated dignity."

"Believing in Jesus Christ also means having a new outlook on man, a look of trust and hope. Moreover, experience itself and reason show that the human being is a subject capable of discernment, self-conscious and free, unique and irreplaceable, the summit of all earthly things, that must be recognized in his innate value and always accepted with respect and love. He has the right not to be treated as an object of possession or something to manipulate at will, not to be reduced to a mere instrument for the benefit of others and their interests. The human person is a good in and of himself and his integral development should always be sought. Love for all, if it is sincere, naturally tends to become a preferential attention to the weakest and poorest. In this vein we find the Church's concern for the unborn, the most fragile, the most threatened by the selfishness of adults and the darkening of consciences. The Church continually reiterates what was declared by the Second Vatican Council against abortion and all violations of unborn life: 'from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care. '"

Awesome words of wisdom from the Holy Father.  No human life, whether still in the womb, toddler, teen, adult, or on the verge of their last breath, deserves to be treated like an object.  Human life from its beginning stages to its final stages is sacred.  Advent is a great time to reflect on the reality and sacredness of the child in the womb.  Let us pray for an end to the scourge of abortion, infanticide, contraception, assisted suicide, euthanasia and all crimes against humanity.  And let us faithfully reach out in love to those who feel they have no other choice but to succumb to these things.  There is another choice!  Choose life that you and your descendants may live! (Deut. 30:19)

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." - Bl. Mother Teresa


Thanks for the video link, Emily!

Bishop Johnston Celebrating Vigil for All Nascent Human Life

In heeding the Holy Father's request, Bishop Johnston will be celebrating Vespers, Rosary and Benediction to pray for all nascent human life this Saturday, November 28th at 7pm at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.  If you're in town please come to pray with us that all human life, including life in the womb, may be respected and treated with dignity!

Matt Maher at the Show Me Center

Popular Catholic recording artist Matt Maher will be appearing at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau on Friday, January 28 at 7pm along with popular Christian artists Mercy Me, The Afters, Thousand Foot Crutch, and Jars of Clay as part of the 2011 Rock and Worship Roadshow.  Tickets cannot be purchased in advance, so be sure to arrive early to purchase your $10 ticket at the door!

Matt's music is a favorite among CCM students.  Here's a taste of his music if you're not familiar with it:

Holy Father's General Audience Address - November 24

Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Saint Catherine of Siena, a Dominican tertiary, a woman of great holiness and a Doctor of the Church. Catherine’s spiritual teachings are centred on our union with Christ, the bridge between earth and heaven. Her own virginal entrustment to Christ the Bridegroom was reflected in her celebrated visions. Catherine’s life also shows us the importance of the spiritual maternity exercised by so many women in every age. From this great saint let us learn to grow in holiness, love for the Lord and fidelity to his body, the Church.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We at CCM pray that you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!  And to all our students, we pray you have a restful break and safe return to campus next week!  May we give thanks to God for all the many blessings he has given us, especially the gifts of life and faith!  Deo Gratias!

Bishop Johnston Talks about New English Translation of the Roman Missal

Bl. Miguel Augustin Pro, pray for us!

Fr. Pro stretched out his hands in imitation
of our Lord before his execution.

Today is the feast of Bl. Miguel Pro.  Fr. Pro was a priest in Mexico during persecution of the Church in the country in the early twentieth century.  In order to minister to the people and administer the sacraments he would often have to disguise himself to avoid arrest.  In 1927 he was arrested along with his two brothers.  Fr. Pro and his brother, Humberto, were martyred on November 23, 1927.  When Fr. Pro was led to his execution by firing squad he carried a rosary and crucifix.  For his last request he asked to have a moment to pray.  He knelt down, prayed, and stood up in the form of a cross, forgiving his executioners saying, "May God have mercy on you.  May God bless you.  Lord, You know that I am innocent.  With all my heart I forgive my enemies."  He then proclaimed "Viva Christo Rey!" ("Long Live Christ the King!") as the firing squad took aim. 
This and other information can be found in a booklet called Viva Christo Rey by Ann Ball which we have in our Chapel on campus. 

The Church has NOT Changed Her Teaching on Condoms.....What the Pope Really Said

The media has been having a field day this weekend misinterpreting what the Pope said about condoms in a book called Light of the World which is an interview between Pope Benedict and journalist Peter Seewald. All over the tv, newspaper and internet you've probably seen headlines such as "Pope Softens Teaching on Condoms", blah, blah, blah. No, he hasn't. Here's some quick advice: If you ever hear the media reporting on something regarding the Church - disregard and go look at what the Pope or the Church actually said. Don't rely on the media to form your understanding of the Church because more often than not the media misunderstands, misinterprets or just plain gets it wrong. So let's look at what the Pope actually said in the interview:

Q: On the occasion of your trip to Africa in March 2009, the Vatican’s policy on AIDs once again became the target of media criticism.Twenty-five percent of all AIDs victims around the world today are treated in Catholic facilities. In some countries, such as Lesotho, for example, the statistic is 40 percent. In Africa you stated that the Church’s traditional teaching has proven to be the only sure way to stop the spread of HIV. Critics, including critics from the Church’s own ranks, object that it is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms.


A: The media coverage completely ignored the rest of the trip to Africa on account of a single statement. Someone had asked me why the Catholic Church adopts an unrealistic and ineffective position on AIDs. At that point, I really felt that I was being provoked, because the Church does more than anyone else. And I stand by that claim. Because she is the only institution that assists people up close and concretely, with prevention, education, help, counsel, and accompaniment. And because she is second to none in treating so many AIDs victims, especially children with AIDs.

I had the chance to visit one of these wards and to speak with the patients. That was the real answer: The Church does more than anyone else, because she does not speak from the tribunal of the newspapers, but helps her brothers and sisters where they are actually suffering. In my remarks I was not making a general statement about the condom issue, but merely said, and this is what caused such great offense, that we cannot solve the problem by distributing condoms. Much more needs to be done. We must stand close to the people, we must guide and help them; and we must do this both before and after they contract the disease.

As a matter of fact, you know, people can get condoms when they want them anyway. But this just goes to show that condoms alone do not resolve the question itself. More needs to happen. Meanwhile, the secular realm itself has developed the so-called ABC Theory: Abstinence-Be Faithful-Condom, where the condom is understood only as a last resort, when the other two points fail to work. This means that the sheer fixation on the condom implies a banalization of sexuality, which, after all, is precisely the dangerous source of the attitude of no longer seeing sexuality as the expression of love, but only a sort of drug that people administer to themselves. This is why the fight against the banalization of sexuality is also a part of the struggle to ensure that sexuality is treated as a positive value and to enable it to have a positive effect on the whole of man’s being.

There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.

Q: Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms?


A: She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.


As those of you who have gone through our Theology of the Body studies here at CCM know, contraception is an intrinsic evil. This has been and will always be the teaching of the Church. Doctines and dogmas of the Church are unchanging. Sex is meant to be an expression of profound love between a husband and wife. The Church's teachings on human sexuality are incredibly beautiful and help us understand what it means to be human and truly live out the beauty that God has called us to. It must be understood that when the Church says 'no' to something like contraception, it is saying 'Yes!' to something much more true, beautiful and good for us! Our hearts deeply desire what the Church teaches and we discover that when we truly learn why the Church teaches what she does. The Church is helping us understand how to live our lives as a self-gift as Christ himself lived. Isn't that what being a Christian is about? To be like Jesus Christ? To live like him? To love like him? How did Jesus live? Jesus offered himself up for us in a free, total, faithful and fruitful gift. That, in turn, is also how we are called to love - and that is what authentic love is. So if sex is meant to be a profound expression of the authentic love of a husband and wife (who are to be icons of the spousal relationship of Christ and the Church), then we must ask ourselves if contraception expresses authentic love which is free, total, faithful and fruitful. The answer, of course, is no, it does not. Why? Well, the purpose of contraception is to thwart conception therefore it attempts to suffocate the fruitful aspect of authentic love. Contraceptives also tempt people to engage in pre-marital or extra-martial affairs because they diminish the possibility of conception. Also, in using contraceptives you say to your spouse that you do not want to give yourself totally because you are withholding your fertility. For more on all this read these books.

Ok, so back to the Pope's interview. What was he saying? Let's first look at what he didn't say: The Pope did not say that condoms are ok for contracepting. Contraceptives are never ok. In fact, he didn't even say that condoms are ever ok. He stated many times that condoms are not moral or real solutions in combating the fight against AIDS - reiterating what he had said on his pilgrimage to Africa a while back. There are better and more conrete ways of preventing the spread of HIV - and in countries that have realized this, the spread of HIV has decreased significantly. Now let's look at what the Pope did say: He basically said that sometimes a person's intention of not spreading infection could be a first step in awakening a moral responsibility in the person which could lead to an authentic "humanization of sexuality" and authentic moral living (which, of course, would mean sex only in marriage as well as no condom use or other contraceptives). But condoms are not a moral or real solution. As Emily Bissonnette points out, "the Holy Father is not saying that this intention makes condom use good." (By the way I highly recommend reading Emily's commentary on this issue - just click on the link to read it.)

The Church's teachings are for our good and happiness and to help us authentically live out our humanity created in the image and likeness of God. The Church's doctrines and dogmas are unchanging and the Pope is the Guardian of Truth. The media has totally blown what he said out of proportion and out of context - as it usually does. Again don't rely on the media to learn about the Church. Learn about the Church from the Church.

Read more voices of truth on this topic here:
Thomas Peters
Dr. Janet Smith
Emily Bissonnette
Jimmy Akin

Watch the Consistory on TV or Online

Fr. Patrick is travelling to Rome for the Consistory of Cardinals this weekend. You can watch the Consistory on EWTN live at 3:30am on Saturday and it will be re-aired at 11am for those that like to sleep in the wee hours of the night.  The Papal Mass and presentation of the cardinal's ring will be aired live at 2:30am on Sunday with a re-airing at 11am.  The Holy Father will install 24 new cardinals this weekend; two of which are Americans:  Archbishop Raymond Burke, who was once archbishop of St. Louis and is now serving the Church in Rome, and Archbishop Donald Wuerl who is the ordinary of Washington, D.C. 

Dominican Sisters Appearing on Oprah November 23rd!

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist first appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show on February 9th.  Praise to be God, the show went so well that they were invited to appear again!  The Sisters will be on Oprah again on Tuesday, November 23rd.  The sisters sent out an announcement about the upcoming show saying, "We have accepted this invitation in the hopes of reaching an audience we might not otherwise reach with the witness of our life and the Gospel. Please join us in praying that the show will be for the good of souls and the honor of God."

Be sure to tune in to support them and pray that their beautiful witness will bear much fruit in our country and the world!  You can learn more about them at http://www.sistersofmary.org/.

Here is a clip from their first appearance back in February:

Holy Father Requests Prayers for Children in the Womb

Pope Benedict will lead Vespers at St. Peter's on Saturday, November 27th for the "Vigil for all Nascent Human Life".  He has requested that "...all Diocesan Bishops (and their equivalent) of every particular church preside in analogous celebrations involving the faithful in their respective parishes, religious communities, associations and movements.”  Read more about it here.


And for all CCM students - if you would like to come with us to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January please sign up by November 24th in the Chapel. 

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." - Bl. Mother Theresa

Holy Father Pleas for Freedom for Christian Woman in Pakistan

Today the Holy Father pled for the freedom of a Christian mother of five in Pakistan who is accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed and has been sentenced to death.  How can we help?  First of all, pray.  Then go here to find out more.

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - Nov. 17

Dear Brothers and Sisters,


Our catechesis today deals with Saint Juliana of Cornillon, better known as Saint Juliana of Liège. Born at the end of the twelfth century, Juliana was orphaned young and became an Augustinian nun. Intelligent and cultured, she was drawn to contemplative prayer and devotion to the sacrament of the Eucharist. As the result of a recurring vision, Juliana worked to promote a liturgical feast in honour of the Eucharist. The feast of Corpus Christi was first celebrated in the Diocese of Liège, and began to spread from there. Pope Urban IV, who had known Juliana in Liège, instituted the solemnity of Corpus Christi for the universal Church and charged Saint Thomas Aquinas with composing the texts of the liturgical office. The Pope himself celebrated the solemnity in Orvieto, then the seat of the papal court, where the relic of a celebrated Eucharistic miracle, which had occurred the previous year, was kept. As we recall Saint Juliana of Cornillon, let us renew our faith in Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and pray that the “springtime of the Eucharist” which we are witnessing in the Church today may bear fruit in an ever greater devotion to the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.

The Call of God

Next week in the RCIA class here at CCM we will be talking about the sacrament of Holy Orders.  Here is a preview of what we'll be talking about:

Awakening 2010

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Awakening Retreat Nov. 12-14th!  Everyone had a great time and grew in their faith over the weekend.  Here are some photo highlights:

Love vs. Use

Emily Bissonnette has once again written a fabulous article on Theology of the Body over at catholicexchange.com.  Here are some snippets that I enjoyed.  Read the whole article here.
______________________
"Because a person has a rich inner life and has free will that allows him to be a unique person, he can never be used as a means to an end. Central to the Church’s teachings about sexual morality is the understanding of the human person as a body/soul unity. John Paul summarized, “Sexuality morality comes into being not only because persons are aware of the purpose of sexual life, but also because they are aware that they are persons” (Love and Responsibility 33)."
______________________
"In his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II said that the root of this type of society [a society that embraces the culture of death and use] is an “eclipse of the sense of God and of man” (#21).  When our vision of God is obscured, then we are unable to discern the greatness and the call of the human person.  Without a proper vision of what it is to be human, we have difficulty discerning the beauty and goodness of our Creator."
______________________
"The challenge for us is how to communicate the beauty of life as a gift and the joy of treating others with love to a world that seems to have lost sight of our call to greatness. When we share this gift with the world, we will eventually see the culture, music and media begin to reflect this vision."

Archbishop Dolan Elected To Be USCCB President

Congratulations, Archbishop Dolan!
___________________________

U.S. Bishops Elect Archbishop Dolan New President, Archbishop Kurtz Vice President, Bishop Bransfield Treasurer, Also Vote on Chairs-Elect of Six Committees

BALTIMORE (November 16, 2010) — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) elected Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York as their new president and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky vice president at their annual Fall General Assembly.

Archbishop Dolan, who succeeds Cardinal Francis George of Chicago as president of the USCCB, was elected 128-111 on the third ballot in a run-off with Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona. Archbishop Kurtz was elected 147-91 on the third vice presidential ballot in a run-off with Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., of Denver. Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Kurtz begin their three-year terms as president and vice president at the conclusion of this week’s meeting.

The bishops elected Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia to serve as USCCB treasurer-elect of the USCCB in a 123-114 vote over Bishop Paul Bradley of Kalamazoo. As Archbishop Kurtz is vacating the office of treasurer to assume the vice presidency, the bishops affirmed by acclamation that Bishop Bransfield assume the office immediately.

The bishops voted for the chairmen-elect of six committees who will begin their three-year chairmanships in November 2011. The bishops elected:

Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for Military Services to chair the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance in a 138-105 vote over Bishop Randolph Calvo of Reno, Nevada.

Bishop Joseph McFadden of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to chair the Committee on Catholic Education in a 120-118 vote over Coadjutor Bishop David O’Connell of Trenton, New Jersey.

Bishop Denis J. Madden, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, to chair the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs in a 125-113 vote over Bishop Ronald Gainer of Lexington, Kentucky.

Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, to chair the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis in a 137-102 vote over Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, Kansas.

Bishop Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio, to chair the Committee on Child and Youth Protection, in a 146-92 vote over Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas.

Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore to chair the Committee on International Justice and Peace in a 145-93 vote over Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, New York.
____________________________

Also, congrats to Bishop Conlon to chair the Committee on Child and Youth Protection.  He was my bishop during my Steubenville years and is a wonderful shepherd!

Jesus in the Womb Christmas Ad

This poster created by ChurchAds.net was made to help us remember that Christmas is about the Incarnation of Jesus.  What a fabulous way to recognize the reality of the Incarnation from the moment of conception!  It has caused quite a stir in the UK - read more about it here.

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - November 10th

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This past weekend I made an Apostolic Journey to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona, two great cities of Spain and Europe. I came as a pilgrim among pilgrims in this Holy Year of Compostela, to venerate the Apostle Saint James the Greater. The traditional practice of embracing the image of the Saint symbolizes our embrace of the Gospel which he preached and the mission which we receive in Baptism to bear daily witness to Christ and to strengthen society by our fidelity to the wisdom and truth of the Gospel. On Sunday, in Barcelona, I dedicated the Church of the Sagrada Familia, the masterpiece of the great architect Antoni Gaudí. In this magnificent edifice Gaudí wished to celebrate the eternal source of all beauty, made flesh in Jesus Christ, who calls all humanity to become, in the Church, a temple in which God dwells. Let us pray for all families, that they may fulfil their unique role in society, and for all the people of Spain and Europe, that they may always find in their Christian roots the inspiration to pursue, along the pathways of our time, the historic mission of the Continent in today’s world."

The Human Experience Out on DVD!

CCM welcomed Grassroots Films to the SEMO campus last April for a screening of the film The Human Experience.  Over 600 students and community members came out to see this amazing film and we were so excited to see such a great turnout!  Jeff Azize and Jeff Ptazynski from Grassroots Films were on hand to answer questions and hinted that the film would be available for purchase by the end of 2010 - well they were right! 

You can purchase the DVD here.  Need a refresher to remind yourself how great the film is?

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - November 3rd

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Marguerite d’Oingt, a thirteenth-century Carthusian prioress and mystic. Marguerite’s writings, which include the earliest known examples of Provençal French, were inspired by the evangelical spirituality of Saint Bruno; they reveal her fine sensibility and her deep desire for God. Marguerite viewed life as a path of perfection leading to complete configuration to Christ, above all in the contemplation of his saving passion. She imagined the Lord’s life, his words and his actions, as a Book which he holds out to us, a Book to be studied and imprinted on our hearts and lives, until the day we read it from within, in the contemplation of the Blessed Trinity. Marguerite’s writings, filled with imagery drawn from family life, radiate a warm love of God and deep gratitude for his grace which purifies our affections and draws us more closely to him. The life and writings of Marguerite d’Oingt invite us to meditate daily on the mystery of God’s infinite love, revealed above all in the sufferings of Christ on the Cross, and to find in it the strength and joy to place our lives at his service and that of our brothers and sisters."

Fr. Barron Commenting on the Lord's Prayer

The Pope and the 'Smokeboat'

Some of you have heard of the huge thurible used at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela affectionately called the 'botafumeiro' or 'smokeboat'.  But here's a treat not too often seen:  the Pope and the Smokeboat!


This huge thurible is 5 feet tall and can get up to 42 miles per hour.  What I think is also interesting is how many guys it takes to make it swing!  Take a look at the video again!  Look at how many men are swinging that thing!

Thanks to Rocco Palmo.

"There Be Dragons" Behind the Scenes

Check out this behind the scenes look at "There Be Dragons", a film about two friends who grow up to find themselves in the midst of the Spanish Civil War - one turns away from God (Manolo) and one turns directly toward Him (St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei). 


You can view the trailer for the movie here.

Check out this video about St. Josemaria Escriva:


"Anything done out of love is important, however small it might appear. God has come to us, even though we are miserable creatures, and he has told us that he loves us: “My delight is to be among the sons of men.” Our Lord tells us that everything is valuable — those actions which from a human point of view we regard as extraordinary and those which seem unimportant. Nothing is wasted. No man is worthless to God. All of us are called to share the kingdom of heaven — each with his own vocation: in his home, his work, his civic duties and the exercise of his rights". ~ St. Josemaria Escriva