Mary, most Holy mother of God, pray for us

In response to the title of this blog, Alan Perez wrote the following:

I'm sorry to cut in but there is two thing on this post that totally totally totally totally bugged me. One the praise to a man (obama) is insanity . Two "Mary, the holy mother of God"? since when Mary is holy? God is holy no human being no man or woman are titled to be called holy except for the God man Jesus who is holy..Please open up your bible and tell me where in all 66 books that says mary a "Holy mother". i will recant if you prove me wrong and please do it according to the word of God which is the bible. You dont pray to mary pray to Jesus for he is the one who died for your sins not mary. If Mary even hear people praying to her she'll be in outrage. Also if mary is holy why dont we say the same to king david?. This is why america is not gospel harden is gospel ignorant.

Your first question Alan is "Since when is Mary holy?" Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary saying ""Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" Here we have an angel acknowledging Mary's holiness, for what is being holy if not being full of God's grace? We also, in rightly calling Mary, the mother of God, acknowledge her holiness, for Jesus was born of her womb and God would not let His Son be carried in a vessel that was in any way not pure and filled with His grace. 

Your second question I believe is "Where in all 66 books that says Mary a "Holy mother"? The original Catholic bible contains 73 books but I think I can answer your question by referring to the ones common to both our bibles. I don't believe there is a specific place in any book of the bible that refers to Mary as Holy Mother. But then, there is also no place in the bible that says that everything that is to be known about Jesus' life is contained in the bible. Quite the opposite, in fact. John 20:30-31 says,"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." And John 21:25 says, "But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." These verses clearly indicate there are a great many things about Jesus' life not recorded in the Gospels. This is why Catholics adhere also to the sacred Traditions, which have been passed on to us through the Catholic church from the apostles. St Paul writes in 2 Thes 2:15, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." Here we have St Paul clearly instructing Timothy to adhere to the sacred traditions and to sacred scripture.

Your third point, Alan, seems to be asking why we pray to Mary?. The answer to that is that we don't pray to Mary. We ask Mary to pray for us. In the same manner that we may ask a friend to pray for us, we also ask Mary, the mother of God, to pray for us. To join with us in prayer to Jesus. In James 5:16 we read "Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." Who is more righteous than those souls who are now perfectly joined in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven?

I hope this answers your questions, Alan, about Mary's place in the Catholic faith. If you have any others, please let me know as I will be happy to answer them.

Yours, in Christ,

Dan Hughes

Help me, fellow Catholics, please...

There is no dire personal emergency, just to allay any fears about the title of this post. I do, however, sincerely request help from my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

For some time now, it has bothered me whenever anyone chooses to label anyone or anything in our faith liberal or conservative, progressive or regressive. These terms, for good or bad, will always be linked to political viewpoints. As a political viewpoint, they carry some serious baggage when also applied to the Christian faith and faithful. They invite us to look at our faith with political lenses, which in many cases, can be seen as putting a false god before our God. They are also instantly divisive. When you posit one you instantly posit the opposite as well, even unintentionally. As opposite poles they are tangental at best or parallel at least. Either way, they do not meet. As our faith is unitive (we are united in Christ through the Holy Spirit) these terms can never accurately portray the faithful nor the faith. 

I toyed with the terms orthodox and heterodox. While orthodox (meaning faithful to doctrine) is very accurate I had a problem with heterodox (meaning different from doctrine). Doctrine is comprised of the fullness of God's revelation. We believe that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide the church unerringly in matters of doctrine. If a group of people hold views different from doctrine, then they are not truly members of the church. Remember, at baptism, we proclaim that we agree with all the Catholic church teaches. 

Now, I'm not by any token suggesting we ignore or don't acknowledge that there are those within the church that hold different viewpoints on matters of doctrine. I think we all can agree there. What I've been seeking is a more accurate description of the entire body of Christ. A description that doesn't have us igniting politically tinged firestorms or words that posit the exclusion of any one group. 

I may have stumbled (or been led) to a better description. For the sake of brevity, I'll need to ask for some license in describing our faith. One way to view Catholic Christianity is the crucifix. The vertical view indicates our traditional or orthodox view of us at the foot of the cross, Jesus, the perfect sacrifice (and our priests acting in persona Christi), at the center and God, the Father, at the top, accepting the sacrifice. The horizontal view indicates the brotherhood of all nations being called to gather within Jesus' outstretched arms.  Many of those who like the progressive or liberal view tend to focus on the brotherhood and communal aspects of our faith. Likewise conservative elements seem to focus more on the traditional sacrificial aspect. I think true orthodox embrace both equally with the right focus on the union of the 2: Jesus Christ. The heterodox would be the ones who go completely off any end of the crucifix.

By using the terms verticalists and horizontalists to describe the different groups within the body of Christ, we stay away from divisive and politically charged terms. We are still united at the intersection of the 2 beams. Indeed, neither could be complete or exist without the other. These terms also allow the accurate use of the term orthodox as it completely encompasses both, with Jesus at the center. 

So, what do you think? Are verticalists and horizontalists better and more accurate terms for our brethren in Christ? Please, I truly would like some feedback on this.

As always, in Christ Jesus.

The Sign of the Cross

I've been struck recently just how much and how deep the symbolism is when making the sign of the cross. The subject came up when I was talking to my friend, Rebecca, who has asked me to be her sponsor in the Catholic faith. I had heard somewhere that no one is really sure exactly when making the sign of the cross began. Setting aside the when, as I began to reflect on the meaning, some flood gate opened and all of these popped into my head. The deeper symbolism, beyond affirming a Trinitarian God, is what I want to write down here. 

• We can look at it as a statement of faith, affirming our belief that God is 3 persons with one Divine nature.
• When we make the sign of the cross entering the church and bless ourselves with holy water, we recall our baptism and the promises we made to God.
• The sign of the cross reaffirms Salvation history beginning with the Father, the Creator, the Son, the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier.
• Are we not also reminded of God's revelation and how we are called to spread the Gospel? The vertical reminds us that God sent His only begotten Son, the Eternal Word, to show us the Way. The horizontal motion, the Holy Spirit, reminds us that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to sanctify us and spread the Good News of salvation from East to West.
• St. Paul exhorts us to preach Christ, and Him crucified. His sacrifice is the source and summit of our faith, made present at Mass. It is Christ who hangs at the center of the vertical and horizontal beams of the cross. When we make the sign of the cross, it is we who are at the center of the cross, reminding us that we too are called to sacrifice.
• As members of the body of Christ, we also offer ourselves to the Father at every Mass.
• As Christ's body hangs at the center of the cross, we are reminded that, through baptism, we become members of Jesus' mystical body, the church, with Jesus as the head.
• The vertical motion reminds us of the Holy sacrifice of the Mass while the horizontal motion reminds of the communal nature of the church, which is the body of Christ.
• It reminds us we are made in the image and likeness of God - the Son, eternally begotten of the Father and the Holy Spirit, the eternal expression of their Love. We are called to imitate that community of love in the sacrament of marriage where the expression of conjugal love between a man and woman is a child.

The sign of the cross isn't just a gesture to splash some holy water around us! Nor is it something to be done hurriedly, sloppily and without thought. This incredibly simple gesture reveals the nature of God, the nature of our Faith and the nature of our Mission! It is Divinely inspired. Let's treat it that way. 

The Golden Calf has been remade

I overheard part of a conversation today between 2 young men having a couple of beers and attempting to solve the problems of the world. (Well do I remember those days!) I heard one of them opine: "I wish there was some way that we could combine the best parts of socialism, like taking care of other people, and the respect for individual liberty, like libertarianism!" I thought to myself that way already exists. It's existed for 2000 years. It's called Christianity! 

It reminds me just how far secularism and political ideology have become entrenched in our culture and how marginalized Christianity had become. Political ideology seems to have become the golden calf today, replacing faith in the one, true God, with man made artifacts.

The golden calf was in today's reading from Exodus at Mass. As I was listening to this passage being read (Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28) I couldn't help but be struck by the parallels that I see in our world today. A short time after Moses left the Israelites to go on the mountain to pray, they forgot all about God saving them from the Egyptians by the parting of the Red Sea. Instead of being grateful, they became resentful for having to leave their nice safe life as slaves. God's promise to them to lead them to the Promised land was forgotten. Having to endure a journey of hardship (punctuated by a few miracles to remind them the Almighty God was watching over them) they became angry and resentful and turned to the things of man instead of being faithful to God.

Doesn't this parallel our own journey as mankind since the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus? Jesus saved us from the slavery of death and promised us eternal life with him. He showed us the Way to eternal life. Not necessarily an easy journey but He would remain with us, to watch over us, guide us and show us miracles, such as the Eucharist, to remind us He was still with us in the Holy Spirit. At the end of our journey: Paradise! Eternal life with Him!

The secularism, modernism, humanism and moral relativism that pervade so much of our society today, coupled with the marginalization and even outright anger and hatred for all things Christian and pertaining to God seem to be a re-creation of the events in Exodus. People have once again turned their backs on God. They speak of Jesus with scorn and hatred.

There is yet Hope. I feel a growing wave of evangelization coming from the church. A distilization and coalescing of the true Body of Christ is happening. A line between those faithful to Christ, His holy Church and His chosen Apostle, Pope Benedict, and those who would have a more "modern" church and faith becomes clearer to me every day. The new media is rapidly becoming a gathering place for the faithful to spread the Gospel and to communicate and support each other. 

We pray for all those who have lost their way. I include them in my nightly rosary. I also pray for those who have kept the faith and in whom I see the light of Jesus Christ burning brightly. I have Hope and Faith and Love. Yet, I recall several years back that I had the distinct feeling Jesus was telling me that it was time to decide. No more sitting on the fence and being a part time Catholic. That He needed Apostles again. That there will be martyrs again. 

It's getting a bit late and I need to wrap this up, say my prayers and get off to bed. This blog feels unfinished and scattered somehow. Like I've only scratched the surface of a great many things. I'm afraid I'll have to leave it this way for now. 

May our Lord, Jesus Christ, be generous in his blessings and shed abundant grace on all.

Drop kick the evil one!

Yesterday, in an intense spurt of sarcasm, I commented on a post by Patrick Madrid regarding a website he found that advertised that you! could help Jesus choose future YouTube topics. For a fee, of course. In my cracking wise, I was offering the secrets to certain Angelic wrestling tactics like the one St Michael used to banish the evil one from heaven. This morning, I ran across this picture from NASA of an unknown object striking Jupiter. Well, my slowly waking brain made the connection between the two (drop kick the evil one plus object hitting Jupiter) and presented me with a rather nice thought this morning. Perhaps one too many Looney Tunes in my formative years! Here's proof that the prayer to St Michael is efficacious!

Time to pray the Angelus. I think I'll add the prayer to St Michael this morning!

Edit 7-25-2009: Added a better picture from Hubble.

The Miracle at Cana

The last several times I've been praying the Luminous mysteries of the rosary, the miracle at the wedding at Cana has been playing a central role. My usual thoughts and contemplations on this mystery have usually centered on Mary's words to the servants: "Do whatever He tells you."

These are the words that first took on real meaning to me as I was beginning my search for a deeper meaning and practice of my faith following my reversion conversion. I had been asked to join the RCIA team at my parish after sponsoring a friend the previous year. It was being a member of this group that showed me how little I truly remembered of the faith from my catholic school upbringing. My poor catechesis, that is the lack of a solid foundation for my faith, would become apparent as I struggled to answer questions. I began to search for help in learning more about the fundamentals of the faith. I had been hearing about an Archbishop Burke, who was saying catholics in public office should be denied Holy Communion if they are not practicing their faith in their public life. This orthodox stance really grabbed my heart. Here was a man willing to stand up for the Truth! The Holy Spirit led me to a site (www.Mariancatechist.com) for Marian Catechists. They offered a self study course that seemed perfect for me. The material was written by Fr. John Hardon, who, along with Archbishop Burke, founded the Marian Catechists. It was within this material that the words, "Do whatever He tells you." found fertile soil in my heart.

A deeper meaning of these words has begun to unfold for me lately. While the guests and wedding party were certainly the ultimate recipients of the miracle Jesus performed when He changed the water into wine, who were the true witnesses? The servants! It was they who our Lord instructed to fill the jugs with water (likely grumbling about having to fetch so much water!). It was the servants who would have absoloutely no doubt that what they fetched was indeed water. And it was the servants who would have been the most credible witnesses of the actual miracle of turning the water into wine. So it was these servants who would have been the first to spread the news of this miracle. 

As I ponder this revelation, I am astounded anew at several levels. Jesus, being perfect in all that He did in His human life, was the perfect teacher. Not just in what He said but what He did. His every action was a teaching moment. In displaying His Divinity in this manner, was He not revealing what the true role of what a catechist and evangelist should be, i.e. that of a servant? Was He not also revealing that the lowest would be the first to spread His Word and thus elevated? And did not our Lord, knowing full well who He was first revealing Himself to, also know that the servants would spread this news primarily to other servants? Does it not reveal to us who are called to preach and teach about Jesus that we must be first and foremost servants?

I've just begun to contemplate the incredible implications of this revelation and realize the depths of this one act. This is yet another onion with an abundant number of layers to be peeled in contemplation of Jesus' Divine teachings. You may want to consider this next Thursday when you pray the Luminous mysteries.

Jesus, I love you and trust you.

Jesus, I love you and trust you.

Jesus, I love you and trust you.

Jesus, please help me to love you and trust you more.

Amen.

Same sex marriage follow up

Since I posted my blog on same sex marriage, I've been waiting for a response. What I posted here was from my Live Journal account. I have 2 friends who decided to comment on my post there, both of whom seemed to be in favor of allowing same sex marriage. I have a comfortable enough relationship with both of them to be able to engage in a dialogue about some of these issues without any name calling or irrational hystrionics that appear in some blogs. One thing has me puzzled, however. Now, I must describe both of these friends as highly intelligent, well educated individuals, able to craft and develop viewpoints and to defend same. What I find curious in this instance, however, was their lack of response to my response.

I crafted what I believe to be a well reasoned response to their questions, also couched in a respectful manner, laying out my reasoning behind my position on this issue. The silence is deafening. I would have thought that either one, or both, would have at least responded with some reply as I was only responding to their questions. Yet neither replied. A month has now passed so I think it's reasonable to assume that no response will be forthcoming. While I'd like to think that my reasoning was so amazingly compelling as to have completely addressed and silenced any objection they might raise, my realistic streak won't let me get away with that one. It's most likely an out of sight, out of mind thing. Yet, it still bothers me.

If this issue, same sex marriage, were so compelling that they felt the need to engage in a dialogue, or at the very least challenge my position, initially, why not respond with whatever they consider their version of a reasonable argument in favor? Is it because there really isn't any "reasonable" response, only an "emotional" one? Is it because, once you ask people to delve deeper into their personal convictions, it turns out that they find their convictions are no thicker than a sound bite and are not really backed up with a solid argument?  Has moral relativism truly become so pervasive so as to blind otherwise incredibly intelligent people to actual moral principles? I truly don't know. I pray for them. It's all I can do, I think.

'Tis most passing strange...

Two people who were very prominent figures in my youth passed away today: Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. 

Michael Jackson was virtually the same age as me. Growing up, I remember listening to the Jackson 5 on AM top 40 radio. During one of my recent downloading frenzies on Napster, I grabbed a bunch of Jackson 5 songs and gleefully listened to them, in stereo!, remembering how they were connected to the very simple, happy times of my youth. Although his later life took him through some pretty strange twists and turns, I find it difficult to judge him too harshly. After all, I managed to navigate a good portion of my life through some pretty strange twists and turns. His songs with the Jackson 5 will forever be associated with an incredibly happy time in my life and for that I am thankful.

10 years later, right about the time he was staging perhaps the biggest comeback in pop music history with the release of Thriller, it was Farrah Fawcett who was having an impact on my life. Her red swimsuit poster was a must have for any red blooded American boy. She was just the epitome of the 70's. There was a down-to-earthed-ness about her that was incredibly attractive, not to mention her stunning natural beauty and a hairstyle that defined a generation. She just screamed feminity in an unapologetic and incredibly un-slutty manner. A rare combination in today's world. I was very gratified to read that she received the sacrament of annointing just prior to her death. That simple yet powerful gift of God's grace.

2 prominent icons of my youth left the earth today and with them, a little bit of me left as well. Mostly in the form of realizing that this life is fleeting and we can be called out of it anytime He wills it. Make the most of each day. We only get to take with us what we have given away to each other in love. The most precious gift we have to give away is ourselves. I'm going to make an increased effort to do just that, with the help of God's infinite love, mercy and Grace. 

Same sex marriage

Since setting up this blogspot, I've been trying to narrow down a topic to expand on. Leave it to the Holy Spirit to provide opportunies! A friend commented on a post I made regarding the California Supreme Court upholding the passage of prop 8. I'll post her response in italics and my reply below.

What Dan said. :-) I can understand you and others being against same-sex marriage for moral reasons. From a legal standpoint, however, I don't get what the big deal is. I know you think they are afforded all of the same rights as married couples already without the benefit or marriage, but that's not really true. They are still lacking in a lot of areas. My biggest question(s) to you, as a true opponent of same sex marriage, what does it really matter to you if Jack and John are allowed to be married? Like I said, I understand your moral objection. I get that. I'm talking legally here. If they were to allow it, how does it affect you as a fellow citizen from a legal standpoint? Does it? I'm not trying to start a big argument or tell you you're wrong. Like Dan, I'm open to the discussion and trying to see the other side.

The first thing I would challenge you on is whether or not they already enjoy equal civil rights. You say they are still lacking in a lot of areas. Like what? Which specific civil rights are they still lacking? I’m not aware of any. If, in fact, they are, then the prudent course would be to seek to have legislative measures employed to address any imbalance. Frankly, this would also be the path of least resistance. I can’t think of a single group or religion, especially Catholicism, that doesn’t support equal civil rights for all citizens. 

Secondly, it’s difficult to completely separate moral and legal arguments as they are both derived from the same source: God. The Declaration of Independence affirms that, referring to the laws by which a group of people to govern themselves, “…the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, …” The Judeo-Christian roots of our laws (federal and state) are also quite evident: prohibitions against theft, the taking of innocent life, etc. However, I will attempt to address your questions without specific references to a particular set of dogmas or doctrines, ok?

Marriage always has been, is now and always will be a union of one man and one woman in an enduring bond. This is consistent with biology and natural law, regardless of religion, and should be obvious to all. It is a mutual personal gift between the two that serves the couple in many ways, allowing them to grow in love and, through that love, to bring forth children.

Next, it’s important to understand why societies, for millennia, have always defined marriage as being the union of a man and woman. For a society to thrive and flourish it must have new members. Marriage provides the most stable family structure for the raising of children, which allows a civil society to grow and flourish. Common sense and a vast amount of empirical evidence reveal that children’s welfare is best served, in most cases, by their being reared in a stable home with their mother and father. This fact has been recognized by societies for time out of mind. Recognizing marriage between a man and a woman, and encouraging this union, serves societies best interests. Well reared children who live with their mother and father are much more likely to grow to be good citizens. Good citizens create wealth, stability and security for the members of the society. 

I think the real question that isn’t being addressed is: “Why is the term ‘marriage’ so important to those driving the same sex union bandwagon?” Simple. It would denote acceptance and approval by a majority of citizens at the societal level. Both of which have been demonstrated not to exist when brought directly to the people of California, twice now. Equal civil rights? Yes. Redefine marriage? No. 

The real issue in the movement for “same sex marriage” is less one of benefits. It’s more about societal acceptance and approval and the means with which this movement has chosen to pursue them. The state does not have the “right” to redefine the definition of an institution whose existence spans thousands of years and crosses every culture and is rooted in natural law. Nor does the state have the “right” to legislate my acceptance or approval of a relationship which every fiber of my being tells me is disordered according to biology, natural law, common sense and moral law.

So, let me take a stab at your question, “How does it affect me from a legal standpoint?” If successful, this movement would further erode and devalue marriage, forcing yet another unstable element into an increasingly unstable society, primarily made so by our “enlightened society” over the past 40 years or so. It would also overrule the will of the majority of the people of this state who felt, and voted, as I did. It would mean that an “enlightened” minority would be able to dictate to the majority, for their own good. There’s a word for that. It’s called tyranny – the opposite of liberty. 

Various posts on various topics

Over the past week or so, the folks I follow over on Facebook have shared a number of articles on a variety of topics, most concerning Catholicism, that I just haven't had the time to read and digest thoroughly. I decided to post as many of them here as I can and read them at my earliest opportunity. 

Beyond Liberal and Conservative: Catholic Must Become the Noun http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=33679

The 'Rhetoric of Rant' and Religious Controversy http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6162&Itemid=48

Pro-Life Women's Group Launches New Abortion Outreach to Young Americans  http://www.lifenews.com/nat5122.html

Guest Opinion: Are You Really Catholic?  http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=33587

Catholic Bishops of New York State on Marriage  http://www.nyscatholic.org/pages/news/show_newsDetails.asp?id=485

49 MILLION TO FIVE by Ann Coulter  http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=315

“Obsessional” Fear of Suffering Ushering in Euthanasia Culture  http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060306.html

A Good Journalist May Be Hard to Find, But Not a Late-Term Abortionist  http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060313.html

Why Focus on Pro-Lifers?  http://www.ncregister.com/daily/pro-lifers_arent_the_problem/

The Dictatorship of Relativism  http://catholicexchange.com/2009/06/03/114729/

I think I'll be fortunate to make it through all of these but at least they're all in one place now!

As always, in Christ,

Dan Hughes

Welcome!

I decided to set up this blog for a variety of reasons. In my journey to a sober life, one of the fundamental steps in my recovery was embracing the value of honesty. Indeed, this is the value inherent in the first of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. I find that more and more in my life, any attempt on my part to conceal or hide any truth about me, my life and beliefs makes me extremely uncomfortable. The reason for this is obvious to me. The grace of Jesus is incompatible with dishonesty. He is Truth. (note: the sun broke through the normal late afternoon clouds and shone warmly on my face as I wrote that last line.) The more I avail myself of the grace He offers through the sacraments, prayer and meditation, the less tolerance I have for any dishonesty in my life. I have also found that I can no longer remain quiet about the Truth. It must be spread. It refuses to remain locked inside me any longer. 

This blog is an attempt to share the Truth. It also is an attempt to conquer my fears of having unpopular, politically incorrect view points and to fearlessly share and defend the same. It will also help me face my fears of any societal, political or religious retribution that may result. It represents my first foray on the web using my real name and no longer hiding behind a pseudonym. Lastly, I need the practice just coherently organizing and writing down my thoughts. This last part, I think, is crucial to my continuing journey with Jesus and spreading His Gospel. 

While I will attempt (and fail, likely, more often than not) to write much about my own thoughts here, I'll also be posting links to other writings and articles that reflect my opinions about the world. 

May the grace and peace of Jesus be with you now, and for all the days of your life.

Dan Hughes