Via American Papist, The Catholic Vote's third ad:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up
Perhaps one of the best speeches I have ever heard:
Jimmy V's acceptance speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards.
Jimmy V's acceptance speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards.
Moving on Up
but not to the Eastside, back to the Westside.
I informed the Cathedral staff this morning of my request to change residences, which has been approved by Archbishop Pilarczyk.
As of August 1, 2009, I will be in residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood. It is actually the neighboring parish to where I was first stationed when ordained 5 years ago, so I know the area well.
Why leave the plush confines of the Mother Church of the Archdiocese? Frankly, I miss parish ministry. (At this point, all the priest/pastors are screaming: 'WHAT?!?!') While the Cathedral is very comfortable, it is also very quiet. I miss having the 'people in the pews' around to chat, share and form.
I am very grateful for the three years I spent at the Cathedral, but am looking forward to being connected again with a parish.
I informed the Cathedral staff this morning of my request to change residences, which has been approved by Archbishop Pilarczyk.
As of August 1, 2009, I will be in residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood. It is actually the neighboring parish to where I was first stationed when ordained 5 years ago, so I know the area well.
Why leave the plush confines of the Mother Church of the Archdiocese? Frankly, I miss parish ministry. (At this point, all the priest/pastors are screaming: 'WHAT?!?!') While the Cathedral is very comfortable, it is also very quiet. I miss having the 'people in the pews' around to chat, share and form.
I am very grateful for the three years I spent at the Cathedral, but am looking forward to being connected again with a parish.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Writer's Bloc
Sorry for the silence, but just struggling writing a few things here the last few days. Plus, an even worse fate, numbers are swirling in my head instead of words. I used to think I was a math person, till I had to do a budget. Looking at it, makes less than a scatter graph thrown across a page. I cannot make any sense of these numbers, but I have some insight in how to do this. I think.
Anyway, working on finishing up last minute applications, starting to get programing going for the next year, and tied up loose ends for a retreat (YEAH!) (I'm going to a Trappist Monastery in Iowa for five days, sounds lovely!)
Have a great one, will catch up later.
Anyway, working on finishing up last minute applications, starting to get programing going for the next year, and tied up loose ends for a retreat (YEAH!) (I'm going to a Trappist Monastery in Iowa for five days, sounds lovely!)
Have a great one, will catch up later.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Feast of St. Benedict
To understand Pope Benedict's 'Marshall Plan,' I think it is important to look back at today's Saint, for he figures greatly in the current Holy Father's plans; at least he seems to.
St. Benedict, founder of Western Monasticism, writer of the Rule, and, really, savior of Western Europe. At a time when Europe was in shambles, he stepped away from the chaos and shambles as the western empire crumbled and focused on prayer, learning and work; calling Europe to embrace her spiritual heart and soul.
For those who have eyes to see, one can see some very strong parallels between St. Benedict's day and age and the day of Pope Benedict. Europe (and America to an extent) has lost her spiritual center, and the Holy Father, in his first three encyclicals, in his homilies and audiences, is calling her to reground in Christ.
"I resolved to preach nothing but Christ, and Him Crucified!"
Now, I sit down to begin my journey through this third encyclical, while watching bikers slog their way through the Pyrenees.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Go Up to the Altar of God
My next article for the Catholic Telegraph appears this week, focusing on the rise of Temple Sacrifice in Old Testament Judaism. Connections to Christ will be made in my next article.
As the Israelites moved from a nation on the move to settling in cities in the newly conquered Promised Land, one of the first desires was to build a suitable house for the Lord, as David desires in Second Samuel. The People of Israel had been worshiping God in the Tent of Meeting since the time of the Exile some 200 years prior, and now that they were established, a permanent structure was seen as fitting.
However, because David had too much blood on his hands, God chose his son Solomon to build the original Temple in Jerusalem, on the highest mountain within the City of David, where it continues to stand, now under the Dome of the Rock Mosque.
The location that was chosen was not accidental. Throughout the Scriptures, sacrifice is offered to God not in the low places, swamps and marshes; but rather on the mountains so that they could be ‘closer’ to God, at least metaphorically: Noah offers his sacrifice on coming out of the Ark on Mt. Ararat, Abraham ‘sacrifices’ Isaac on Mt. Moriah, Moses’ sacrifice upon Mt. Sinai, and Solomon builds the Temple upon Mt. Zion. This ‘ascent’ represents a lifting of hearts and minds to the God of Heaven and orients us towards the life to come, rather than life here on earth. We can see this reflected in architecture that raises the altar and the main sanctuary in Catholic church buildings so that we, too, may lift our eyes to the Lord.
Worship in the Old Covenant, however, was not just the ‘lifting of eyes to the Lord.’ It was very much centered around sacrifice. Daily in the Temple, at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, the Tamid would be offered before the Lord. This offering of a lamb, bread and wine was a continual reminder that the People of Israel were to be offered to God. They are marked as God’s Chosen People, and the lamb is symbolic of an offering of self to the Lord God. In this way, all the people participated in Temple worship on a daily basis.
Yet, there was more than one type of sacrifice offered in the Temple, so that while the Tamid was the high point of the day, animals were being offered continually to the Lord through the ministry of the priests, of particular note for our discussion here is the Sin Offering discussed in Leviticus 4. Here, the layman brought an animal before the priest and laid his hands upon it, confessing his sins to the priest as he did so, symbolically placing them upon the head of the sacrifice. The layman then slits the throat and cleans and prepares the animal, which is then presented to the priest. The priest has caught the blood of the animal, and, with the rest of the carcass, burns the sacrifice on behalf of the layman on the Altar of God.
In looking at the Catholic Mass of today, strong parallels leap forward to bring us not just to Jesus’ offering of self on the Cross, but back to the very foundations of sacrifice as instituted by God, through Moses, on Mt. Sinai. God truly has planned this out from the beginning. As we enter into the deep mysteries we celebrate at every Mass, all of history becomes present in an eternal, and now even greater, offering back to God the Father, for it is now the offering of Christ back to His Eternal Father. Reality is never more “real” than in the Eucharist!
Hence, as Catholics, we see the great need for our priests. It is the priest alone who, unworthy though he is, presides at these great cosmic mysteries. Here, he offers not just the bread and wine to be turned to the Body and Blood of Christ, but also himself and his people, who are no longer just chosen, but adopted to be sons and daughters of God, in Christ.
For more information on the priesthood and the Year for Priests, visit www.cincinnativocations.org
As the Israelites moved from a nation on the move to settling in cities in the newly conquered Promised Land, one of the first desires was to build a suitable house for the Lord, as David desires in Second Samuel. The People of Israel had been worshiping God in the Tent of Meeting since the time of the Exile some 200 years prior, and now that they were established, a permanent structure was seen as fitting.
However, because David had too much blood on his hands, God chose his son Solomon to build the original Temple in Jerusalem, on the highest mountain within the City of David, where it continues to stand, now under the Dome of the Rock Mosque.
The location that was chosen was not accidental. Throughout the Scriptures, sacrifice is offered to God not in the low places, swamps and marshes; but rather on the mountains so that they could be ‘closer’ to God, at least metaphorically: Noah offers his sacrifice on coming out of the Ark on Mt. Ararat, Abraham ‘sacrifices’ Isaac on Mt. Moriah, Moses’ sacrifice upon Mt. Sinai, and Solomon builds the Temple upon Mt. Zion. This ‘ascent’ represents a lifting of hearts and minds to the God of Heaven and orients us towards the life to come, rather than life here on earth. We can see this reflected in architecture that raises the altar and the main sanctuary in Catholic church buildings so that we, too, may lift our eyes to the Lord.
Worship in the Old Covenant, however, was not just the ‘lifting of eyes to the Lord.’ It was very much centered around sacrifice. Daily in the Temple, at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, the Tamid would be offered before the Lord. This offering of a lamb, bread and wine was a continual reminder that the People of Israel were to be offered to God. They are marked as God’s Chosen People, and the lamb is symbolic of an offering of self to the Lord God. In this way, all the people participated in Temple worship on a daily basis.
Yet, there was more than one type of sacrifice offered in the Temple, so that while the Tamid was the high point of the day, animals were being offered continually to the Lord through the ministry of the priests, of particular note for our discussion here is the Sin Offering discussed in Leviticus 4. Here, the layman brought an animal before the priest and laid his hands upon it, confessing his sins to the priest as he did so, symbolically placing them upon the head of the sacrifice. The layman then slits the throat and cleans and prepares the animal, which is then presented to the priest. The priest has caught the blood of the animal, and, with the rest of the carcass, burns the sacrifice on behalf of the layman on the Altar of God.
In looking at the Catholic Mass of today, strong parallels leap forward to bring us not just to Jesus’ offering of self on the Cross, but back to the very foundations of sacrifice as instituted by God, through Moses, on Mt. Sinai. God truly has planned this out from the beginning. As we enter into the deep mysteries we celebrate at every Mass, all of history becomes present in an eternal, and now even greater, offering back to God the Father, for it is now the offering of Christ back to His Eternal Father. Reality is never more “real” than in the Eucharist!
Hence, as Catholics, we see the great need for our priests. It is the priest alone who, unworthy though he is, presides at these great cosmic mysteries. Here, he offers not just the bread and wine to be turned to the Body and Blood of Christ, but also himself and his people, who are no longer just chosen, but adopted to be sons and daughters of God, in Christ.
For more information on the priesthood and the Year for Priests, visit www.cincinnativocations.org
Extra, Extra, Read all about it!
My media blitz for this week continues:
My last article in the Telegraph (Zeal for Salvation) appears today on Catholic Exchange. (Please also read the comment at Catholic Exchange, too.)
I was on the radio live this morning here locally in Cincinnati. The spot will be replayed tomorrow in the 7:00 hour which is broadcast nationally on EWTN of the Son Rise Morning Show. Listen onling at http://www.sacredheartradio.com/
Finally, my next article for the Telegraph appears in this week's edition, which should be online soon. I'll post the text here in a separate post.
My last article in the Telegraph (Zeal for Salvation) appears today on Catholic Exchange. (Please also read the comment at Catholic Exchange, too.)
I was on the radio live this morning here locally in Cincinnati. The spot will be replayed tomorrow in the 7:00 hour which is broadcast nationally on EWTN of the Son Rise Morning Show. Listen onling at http://www.sacredheartradio.com/
Finally, my next article for the Telegraph appears in this week's edition, which should be online soon. I'll post the text here in a separate post.
Monday, July 6, 2009
No one can take His place
“The priest offers the holy Sacrifice in persona Christi, this means more than offering “in the name of” of “in the place of” Christ. In persona means in specific sacramental identification with “the eternal High Priest” who is the author and principal subject of this sacrifice of his, a sacrifice in which, in truth, nobody can take his place.”
Wanna hear more? Join us this Wednesday at 8:40 AM on 740 AM Sacred Heart Radio, for discussion of John Paul's 1980 Letter to Priests: Dominicae Cenae, On the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thomas, the Apostle
So, am I the only one that sees Thomas as the Modernist Apostle?
"Unless I see, unless I touch, unless I experience; I will NOT believe!"
Isn't this a maxim for the age in which we live? Unless it is verifiable by science, unless it has experiential data; we will not believe.
(On a side note, isn't God great that He gave us Thomas as an example for the Modern Age, even though he lived in the Classical Age?)
So, how are we to make sense of this? I think there are several possibilities:
1) Thomas is the spokesman, not only here, but throughout the Gospel of John, especially. (Think of Jesus going to Jerusalem for the raising of Lazarus, it is Thomas who says: "Let us also go to die with him.") Thomas gives voice, thought, to even what we experience, and should give us the courage to come before Our Lord to seek greater understanding, not out of doubt or dispair. (St. Anselm: Theology is Faith seeking understanding.) We investigate so that we may come to a deeper level of understanding, but we must always think with the Church.
2) In a time of crisis, we must turn to Christ. It is easy to forget that the world of the Apostles had just been violently turned upside down. As often as they heard Jesus talk about going to Jerusalem to give his life as a ransom for many, I have to think that down deep that expectation for the militaristic Messiah was still there. Heck, look at the request of James and John: Lord, can we sit at your right and at your left? Was this the heavenly kingdom about which they spoke, or an earthly? Thomas, in his confusion, was at a point where he couldn't take much more. One can easily see his thoughts: 'I spent THREE YEARS with this man, to have it come to this?!?!?!' Yet, Our Lord takes us where we are, and gently, or not so gently as the case may be, chides us back into relationship, into belief. 'Yes, Thomas, I tested you, so that I could refine you, purify you, cleanse you for the upcoming trials and difficulties that you will face.'
3) Thomas' response is the perfect utterance of faith: "My Lord and My God!" When it comes down to it, this is the trump card. This is how Thomas is brought back into the fold, laying his weakness before the Lord, that He may do with as He will. So often, men want to come to the seminary out of strength: 'Look at all that I have to offer! I have these gifts, these talents, these abilities; I've done this, this and this; I am perfect for this!' It doesn't work this way. God doesn't need our strengths, He needs us. And the only way He can use us/me, is if I offer Him my very self, coming through my weaknesses. St. Peter's initial response in the Gospel of Luke: 'Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.' The tax collector who gives half of his possessions to the poor. The poor widow who gives two small coins, for she offers all that she has. With Thomas, let us humbly offer our prayer of praise: "My Lord and My God!"
I think that about does it, thoughts?
I'm off to put my nose in the middle of a book all day, wedding tonight, family gathering over the enext two days, so unplugging till Monday, likely.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Hidden Treasures
So, I am not the only blogging member of my family.
However, she's only got ONE post!
Updates
Thanks to all who commented on the last 'social media' post, great discussion, although I am not sure about the tendency here to talk about your host in the third person....
Anyway, we now have a fan page on Facebook! (I know, hold your applause, we're just getting started!)
For those having trouble getting me on the same page, I have no idea why that happens. If it is b/c of some security thing I have on, how do I turn it off?
We did add 8 new members to the group page, so some people are getting through. I have no idea.
Oh, since I got blasted by email, Brant Pitre's CD sets are also available at the Catholic Shop in Madiera. (Anyone want to sponsor me a copy of the three volume set on Sacraments?)
Off to the Reds' Game with some priest buddies, hopefully no replay of the last time we went to a game.....
Anyway, we now have a fan page on Facebook! (I know, hold your applause, we're just getting started!)
For those having trouble getting me on the same page, I have no idea why that happens. If it is b/c of some security thing I have on, how do I turn it off?
We did add 8 new members to the group page, so some people are getting through. I have no idea.
Oh, since I got blasted by email, Brant Pitre's CD sets are also available at the Catholic Shop in Madiera. (Anyone want to sponsor me a copy of the three volume set on Sacraments?)
Off to the Reds' Game with some priest buddies, hopefully no replay of the last time we went to a game.....
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thank you, Mr. Postman
Today's postal delivery brought one of those fun little boxes with the smiley face on the side, whoo hoo, Christmas in July!
Contents:
Kinship by Covenant, A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God's Saving Promises; by Dr. Scott Hahn, his Doctoral Disertation from Marquette. From the looks of it, not for the feint of heart, but some serious Biblical Theology here.
Along with, came the Catholic Bible Dictionary, also edited by Scott Hahn (I'm on a kick of his lately.)
To complete the set, yesterday's mail brought "God's Family and Ours: The Church and the Trinity" by, you guessed it, Dr. Scott Hahn. This one's part of the CD of the Month Club from Lighthouse Catholic Media. (Twitter)
Tomorrow brings another expected Amazon drop, sadly not by Scott Hahn, but by Dr. Brant Pitre. I've finished his lecture series on the Bible and the Mass (AWESOME!) (This would make a great gift for a priest for the Year for Priests, hint hint hint....) and am now in the midst of his series on Paul, much needed shot in the arm for me on St. Paul. Tomorrow, I should receive his written work: Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile: Restoration Eschatology and the Origin of Atonement.
I'm on a huge academic kick right now, finding time to read all this....... yikes. Good news, retreat is coming before too long.
'Social' media
Today at lunch, I experienced the ever frightening prospect of meeting someone in person whom I have only known online.
Luckily, Catholic Meme was fantatstic!
We chatted about how to use new media/social media in the Vocation Office, and she gave me a great deal of homework!
I've just (finally!) set up a feedburner that my posts here also drop into twitter a(@fatherschnippel)
Next assignment: Fan Page on Facebook! Problem is, no idea how to do it! We're working on it here in Vocation Central, tho, and we'll launch it here as soon as we get it going.
By the way, we already have a Facebook 'Group' page, so I'm not completely behind the mark on this one! Holy Smoke! We've only got 29 followers! Why have you not joined the best vocation group there?!?!?!?!?
(For those keeping track, remember how I whined about getting a Facebook ID? No? Good, I can't find the link, now, so forget about it.) My Facebook ID has just changed, I got one of those fancy dancy new ID's!! www.facebook.com/kyle.schnippel Won't you be my friend?
Other rooms that we inhabit in this world wide web:
http://blip.tv/cincinnativocations
(We feed those through iTunes, search 'Cincinnati Vocation Office' to find us there and sign up for auto downloads into your ipod.)
Not me, but info from the Archdiocese is at www.twitter.com/cathtelegraph
I think that's good for now.
Luckily, Catholic Meme was fantatstic!
We chatted about how to use new media/social media in the Vocation Office, and she gave me a great deal of homework!
I've just (finally!) set up a feedburner that my posts here also drop into twitter a(@fatherschnippel)
Next assignment: Fan Page on Facebook! Problem is, no idea how to do it! We're working on it here in Vocation Central, tho, and we'll launch it here as soon as we get it going.
By the way, we already have a Facebook 'Group' page, so I'm not completely behind the mark on this one! Holy Smoke! We've only got 29 followers! Why have you not joined the best vocation group there?!?!?!?!?
(For those keeping track, remember how I whined about getting a Facebook ID? No? Good, I can't find the link, now, so forget about it.) My Facebook ID has just changed, I got one of those fancy dancy new ID's!! www.facebook.com/kyle.schnippel Won't you be my friend?
Other rooms that we inhabit in this world wide web:
http://blip.tv/cincinnativocations
(We feed those through iTunes, search 'Cincinnati Vocation Office' to find us there and sign up for auto downloads into your ipod.)
Not me, but info from the Archdiocese is at www.twitter.com/cathtelegraph
I think that's good for now.
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