Archive for June, 2007
A Small Church
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
When I showed up this week at Acton University, I wasn’t expecting to know anyone. The first evening, I walked around the reception greeting people and exchanging pleasantries (which is always a little uncomfortable).
But, lo’ and behold, I ran across Mr. Eduardo Siguenza, whom I always knew simply as “coach.” Plainly put, coach was the soccer coach at Franciscan University, but many of us (even those of us who didn’t play soccer) got to know him in other ways. Coach was (and is) a great teacher of the Faith. His love for Christ, and especially Our Lady, is apparent to anyone who talks to him for more than five minutes. Many of us call him “coach” because he was a real coach in the spiritual life and in the issues of life.
I lost contact with coach after I was done at FUS, and what a blessing it was to have him at the conference, to sit with him at meals, and hear him talk again about Jesus Christ and Our Lady. Because of his presence, the conference was also a mini-retreat for me.
I thank God that coach was at the conference. It was such a blessing to see him.
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Entry for Friday, June 15, 2007
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Today is the last day of the Acton University. The lectures today were on the nature and function of money, the social teaching of John Paul II, economic liberty in Catholic social teaching, and the evening lecture was given by Fr. Sirico, who is the co-founder of the Acton Institute. His talk was on the “Entrepreneurial Vocation,” and served as a great summary of the week’s university.
Tomorrow I head out for Canada.
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Entry for Thursday, June 14, 2007
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
The conference talks today were mainly on the Catholic social encyclical tradition, economics and human action, subsidiarity and effective private charity (which is a very important and often confused subject), and the evening lecture was on wealth and poverty redux. It was given by Dr. Gilder, who wrote the popular – and controversial – book “Wealth and Poverty,” which demasked many misconceptions. It’s a monumental book, and certainly demands a read.
I’ve really enjoyed this time to explore the social doctrine. It’s so important for us to know the principles which the Church gives us, and within which economic and political thought and action can be justly held and performed.
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Honest Discussion Can Bring About Understanding
Friday, June 22nd, 2007
“The Post and Courier”
By The Rev. Jeffrey Kirby
It seems most people today are looking for answers to deeply existential and spiritual questions. These inquiries often lead to an intense, and sometimes painful, search for truth.
In the midst of different cultures and times, the Christian tradition has always claimed that Jesus Christ is the truth made flesh, and that truth searches for us. In Jesus Christ, the person can find all the answers to their questions. The Catholic Church has always claimed to hold the fullness of this truth and its subsequent means of salvation.
The claim is an awkward one in our pluralistic society that tends towards religious pluralism, where truth is often relativized and conviction can be dismissed as arrogance.
The Vatican recently released five questions and answers that seek to clarify and explain this claim of the Catholic Church. The questions and their responses have caused a stir among theologians, non-Catholic Christians, and many people of good will. Why has the Vatican written these responses, and why would it release them now?
The answers were written in response to five questions raised and presented by theologians to the Vatican in reaction to the document Dominus Iesus in 2000. Such questions are always taken very seriously. They are reviewed and discussed by panels of theologians, and debated and argued by different schools of thought. After such deliberation, the Vatican gives its answers and clarifications.
For these five questions, the process took seven years, and have now been publicized.
The questions, and their answers, are given in order to provide assistance to academic and general theological work. They are meant to “clarify confusion on certain questions and to correct false understanding” within Catholic theology. No tone is intended by the responses. They are not a formal document themselves, and should be read only within the context of more doctrinally expansive and pastorally applicable documents of the Church (some of which are listed in the introduction itself of the questions and answers).
Beyond this explanation of the purpose and timing of the questions and answers, most people want to know: What is the Catholic Church claiming overall, and what is it trying to say? Is the Catholic Church claiming that it is better than other Christian bodies? Is it trying to say that non-Catholic Christians are not real disciples of Christ? Is it arguing that non-Catholics are all going to hell?
The Catholic Church is claiming none of the above. In responding to the five questions, the Catholic Church is clarifying an age-old claim that it is the visible Church founded by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, and that it has the fullness of his teaching and the means of salvation. It explains that other Christian bodies certainly have elements of truth and sanctification, and that there are many committed disciples of Jesus Christ outside of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church makes no claims of eternal judgment of heaven or hell on anyone, non-Catholic or Catholic.
What then is the Catholic Church saying? Does it really believe that it is the one Church founded by Jesus Christ, and that it has everything that Jesus wanted to give his disciples?
The Catholic Church acknowledges that truth is one. Something cannot both be and not be, in the same way and at the same time. For example, bread cannot both be and not be the Body of Christ.
Reflecting reality, only one view is true. Recognizing that the New Testament repeatedly speaks of one Church, the Catholic Church asserts that Jesus Christ desired to found only one Church to hold and preserve the unity of his truth and the means of salvation. The Catholic Church believes that the one Church of Christ was founded on St. Peter and the Apostles, and that it subsists in the Roman Catholic Church, guided by the Pope and Bishops, who are the successors of Peter and the Apostles. For this reason, in theological terminology, the Catholic Church reserves the word “church” only to bodies with an historical succession from the apostles. (This is not to say that the word “church” cannot be used in popular jargon or conversation.)
In a society as open as we are, the point comes across as a strong claim. For secular people, it might appear as arrogantly outlandish. To some non-Catholic Christians, it might appear as an exclusivist assertion of self-importance.
Of course, non-Catholic Christians will not agree with the claim. The Vatican knows that reality. But it also understands that authentic dialogue is about being honest with one’s beliefs and claims. The Catholic Church sees this claim as essential to its inheritance, and identity as a body. As seen in the five questions and answers, it wants to present its teachings with respectful precision and charitable clarity. Anything else would be offensive and unhelpful to true theological discussion and spiritual sharing.
Many will disagree with this claim made by the Catholic Church. Challenges and differences of opinion are a part of life. Truthful dialogue can sustain this disagreement, and fruitful discussion can help us all to understand where each other is standing, and what we can learn from each other.
The Rev. Jeffrey Kirby is a deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Visit his Web site at www.jeffrey-kirby.com.
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Entry for Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Friday, June 15th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Today, the talks were on such issues as: Christian Anthropology: Freedom and Virtue, Christianity and the Idea of Limited Government, the Economic Way of Thinking, and a pre-showing of the new movie, “The Call of the Entreprenuer.” Our evening conference was a testimonial of a successul entreprenuer entitled, “A Journey From Pride to Gratitude.” It was a long day, but very informative and educational. This whole subject is an essential part of the Church’s social doctrine. Understanding it can help us to provide the Gospel’s answers and insights to public discourse and policy.
Please pray for all men and women who work in and for the free market.
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Entry for Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Friday, June 15th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
This evening, in the Acton conference, we met a survivor from the Dutch resistance during World War II. The woman was a brave soul, who expressed the truths of civil society in a beautiful and concrete way. She also explained the sacrifices and convictions that are necessary for a civil society to persevere and to overcome any threats. Of course, her lived experience with the Nazis gave her comments a powerful credibility. I think we oftentimes take civil society for granted. We forget that, through our fallenness, a state of barbarism is always at the gate. We have to be vigil.
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Entry for Monday, June 12
Wednesday, June 13th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
I woke up this morning in the United States. In Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s hard to think that Holy Cross University, the Piazza Navona, the North American College, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the coffee bar on the fifth floor of the Vatican parking garage is now an ocean away.
I went from the city of the Apostle Peter to the city of Gerald Ford. Go figure.
I’m home in the US. I don’t have to do math to call someone because of the time difference, or go to the ATM (not what the Italians call the “Bank-o-Mat”), and when I’m buying something. Here everyone uses the dollar, and most people speak English. God bless America!
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Entry for Sunday, June 10
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007
Praised be Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar!
Today, most of the universal Church celebrates Corpus Christi, the celebration of Christ’s enduring eucharistic presence with his People until he returns in glory. What a tremendous Gift!
I went to a Vigil Mass last night celebrated by one of the Vice-Rectors, and so this morning my only focus was to finish up a few quick things in my room, eat breakfast, and head to the airport for my flight.
After clearing my room on the fourth floor, I put my furniture the way it was when I moved into the room five years ago. It was weird. It certainly wasn’t “my” room any more. I lived there for five years (really four, but it was my room during my pastoral year). I’ve grown to live with good-byes, but they will always remain a poverty of my heart. I look forward to Paradise when “good-byes” are gone. And, compared to other experiences, this was an easy one, although still tough. When I return to the seminary next year as a student priest, most things will be different.
So, after removing my name sheet from the door, I went to catch my taxi. A few of the guys came to see me out, which was gracious of them. For some, it was farewell because they weren’t returning or because of a pastoral year, etc. I wish them all the best. The cab had a hard time getting to the airport because of President Bush’s own flight out, but I got there in time.
On the trans-Atlantic flight, I spoke with a great Catholic family from Texas. Such good people! And from Cincinnati to Grand Rapids, I spoke with a young Catholic accountant. It was a good and informative conversation. God was good in sending such encouraging travel companions.
I arrived in Grand Rapids for a conference hosted by the Acton Institute, which argues for a just and free society (www.acton.org). Tomorrow I’m going to try to recover from jet-lag before the talks begin.
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Entry for Saturday, June 9
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Last night, the mosquitos came back. They must have missed the memo on last week’s slaughter. I was awakened twice by the bugs, and has about five bites. It was time to fight back. Finally, I just got up and waited. It was over. None of them made it out. St. Francis of Assisi was right when he said that mosquitos come directly from hell. After the battle, I was able to get some sleep.
I served a private Mass this morning in St. Peter’s Basilica. I was grateful to have that chance before I headed home for the summer. We had the Pius X Altar, which is beautiful. It was the first Mass I’ve ever attended at that altar (it can be one of the popular ones).
After Mass, I met up with some other NAC seminarians and a couple of Legionaries of Christ. We headed down to St. Peter’s, with the hope of catching a glimpse of President Bush’s motorcade. We missed him entering the Vatican, so we waited until he left. We did get to see the motorcade on the President’s way out. Two of the seminarians had large Texas flags (which many people thought was the flag of Chile), and there were several “intense” conversations with people about President Bush, the USA, the Iraqi War, etc. It was almost like being on Oprah, or Jerry Springer.
After the President left, I went back to the seminary, ran some errands in the city, and then worked to move all my things from the fourth floor to the first floor. My room next year will be on the first floor with other student priests and the Rector of the seminary.
Moving things made for a long night. When things were finished, I tried to get some sleep.
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Entry for Friday, June 8, 2007
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
My first exam today was on “Readings in Moral Theology,” a type of tutorial class. The exam was a one-on-one conversation with the professor on different books, which I chose from a general reading list of the program. The exam went well. I focused on the virtue ethicists. I’ll write more about them soon.
For lunch, I went with another seminarian for a sandwich, and sat in St. Peter’s Square, eating and talking about theology. It was a good conversation.
My second exam was on Trinitarian communion and human society. The professor was late and logistics were a little crazy at first. I had to laugh, since this would be my last exam (and I’m suppose to fly out on Sunday). Everything turned out well, and the exam was completed.
After the exam, I headed back to the seminary. I tried to pack some more, clean my room, throw out notes, and try to organize things.
In the evening, I went to supper with Fr. Leatherby and Joe Prevatali. Both are great guys. Fr. Leatherby is completing his licentiate in dogmatic theology. Joe is heading home for a pastoral year. This evening was a type of farewell.
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