ActiveParishioner.com Blog

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Baseball season (my personal favorite) is in full swing now, and Spring seems the ideal time to take a look at the spiritual insights that “our nation’s favorite past time” has to offer.

I have always considered baseball a mystical, even holy, sport. I am not alone. Many people, including baseball’s former Commissioners Fay Vincent and Bart Giamatti, have been fascinated by the game’s more profound dimensions, and countless books have been written which explore the connections between baseball and life’s most salient mysteries. Here’s a sampling:

1) In baseball, as in the journey of life, the object of the game is to leave home in order to return home. There are always dangers lurking in the field and there are risks involved in advancing from base to base, but the player who never manages to leave homeplate never really plays the game. As Christian people, we trust in a loving God who is both our Origin and our final Home. In countless ways throughout our lifetimes we are called to venture forth from the safety of home (and even of figurative “homes” like our comforts, complacencies, and unquestioned assumptions …) so that we can acquire new skills and sensitivities, learn how to confront and conquer dangers, discover what it means to take delight in play, and realize how very important it is to help and support one another in the field. Life is, in other words, the Journey and the Return.

2) Baseball, unlike any other sport, acknowledges error to be an inescapable part of its unique Truth. As Fay Vincent points out, most people learn at a very young age that failure is the norm in baseball. After all, those who hit safely in only one out of three chances are the players who are baseball’s greatest stars. The game of baseball reminds us poignantly that mistakes, errors, injuries, hurts and failures are inescapable facets of life. More than that, they are unavoidable pieces of the glorious — but often pain-filled — truth which is gradually unraveled as we fragile and imperfect human beings try to grow and love and forgive and care for one another in our fragile and imperfect world.

3) Baseball is a timeless game (no clocks running), with boundaries that extend into infinity. Like the mystery of life, it has a magic and a rhythm all of its own. We will never understand it completely, and we can never learn enough about it. If we allow it to, however, the quest itself can become a source of infinite wisdom and boundless joy.

“What’s your carbon footprint?” is a popular question these days. Our country celebrates Earth Day not just for a day but rather seeks to build awareness year-round.  Given that stewardship of the Earth is a positive value, one wonders what the Catholic Church has to say about this.  Is there anything in our tradition that we can explore?

A new book, Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth, addresses this topic beautifully.  Drawing on the wisdom of the Franciscan tradition which includes a reverence for the Earth and nature, this book brings together the richness of the Christian faith with practical guidelines for everyday Catholics.  This book is gentle, yet powerful.  One example of advice given is to “Start small.  Don’t try to change too much at once. . . Choose one [action] that most connects to your heart, and approach it as a spiritual practice” (p. 147). 

If you are looking for a refreshing book this springtime, this one is a great choice. 

Additional Catholic books on the environment can be found at the ActiveParishioner.com’s Environment section.

5/27/2008  - 5/30/2008
RBTE - Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit
St. Charles, IL

5/28/2008  - 5/30/2008
DISC - Diocesan Information Systems Conference
San Antonio, TX

5/28/2008  - 5/30/2008
CPA - Catholic Press Association - 2008 Catholic Media Convention
Toronto, ON

6/5/2008  - 6/8/2008
CTSA - Catholic Theological Society of America
2008 CTSA Annual Convention - Generations
Miami, FL
  
6/8/2008 - 6/9/2009
CSWNA - Catholic Social Workers National Association
Inaugural Conference - Catholic Social Work: Living the Mission
Grand Rapids, MI

6/16/2008  - 6/18/2008
NDCL - Notre Dame Center for Liturgy
36th Annual NDCL Conference - The Forgotten Sacraments
Notre Dame, IN
Focusing on four sacraments within parish life — Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick — this conference explores how each of these often overlooked sacraments in its liturgical celebration connects us to the Paschal Mystery within an ecclesiology of communion. The Notre Dame Center for Liturgy is a Catholic national center dedicated to supporting and enriching liturgical life.
  
6/18/2008  - 6/22/2008
Serra USA 2008 Annual Meeting
South Bend, IN
Serra USA is an organization of individuals that promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Catholic Church.
  
6/22/2008  - 6/24/2008
CHA - Catholic Health Association
2088 CHA Assembly - The Future of Compassion
San Diego, CA

6/30/2008  - 7/2/2008
NACFLM - National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
NACFLM 2008 Conference
San Francisco, CA
  
6/30/2008  - 7/3/2008
NPM - National Association of Pastoral Musicians
NPM Convention (Regional) - In the Midst of Change… “Jesus Christ, the Same: Yesterday, Today and Forever 
East Brunswick, NJ

Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.

On Friday, April 18, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the United Nations. The full text is available here in English and Spanish. He affirmed the UN’s “desire for peace, the quest for justice, respect for the dignity of the person, [and] humanitarian cooperation and assistance.” He also spoke of how new situations arise as times progress and how there is a need to discern and “distinguish good from evil” in these new situations.

On Sunday, April 20, the Pope paid his respects at Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center in NY in a very moving service.  His prayer is available here in English and Spanish.

The Pope also celebrated Mass in two large settings in New York.  The first was on Friday, April 18, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  In attendance where priests and religious women and men from around the country. The homily is available in English and Spanish. The second was at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.  The homily is also available in English and Spanish.

Under a beautiful blue sky, Pope Benedict celebrated Mass in the morning at Nationals Stadium in DC.  The crowd of over 46,000 participants was both joyous and reverent.  The text of the homily is available here in English and in Spanish.  Interestingly, the Pope preached in both languages.

Later in the day, the Pope met with the heads of Catholic colleges and universities. This was a much anticipated gathering. Would the Pope come to draw a hard line and chastise the Catholic educators?  Such rumors abounded before the trip. The presentation itself, however, was filled with respect, with hope, with gratitude, and with a call to continue working to form the entire student, not just the intellect of the students. The complete text can be viewed in English and in Spanish. As Pope Benedict noted, the US has many excellent, public academic institutions. Catholic academic institutions have a unique role in also sharing the Good News.  “A university or school’s Catholic identity is not simply a question of the number of Catholic students. It is a question of conviction . . . Is the faith tangible in our universities and schools? Is it given fervent expression liturgically, sacramentally, through prayer, acts of charity, a concern for justice, and respect for God’s creation?” Pope Benedict also touched on the dangers of individualism and relativism, common themes in his talks. He challenged Catholic educators, “While we have sought diligently to engage the intellect of our young, perhaps we have neglected the will.” The Pope laid out a signpost for Catholic universities, “Clearly, then, Catholic identity is not dependent upon statistics. Neither can it be equated simply with orthodoxy of course content. It demands and inspires much more: namely that each and every aspect of your learning communities reverberates within the ecclesial life of faith.”  It is only by helping students to fully understand, grasp, and live the Good News that we fulfill our mission in Catholic education. 

Afterwards, Pope Benedict gave a presentation to representatives of other religions. He praised dialogue among diverse faiths and traditions.  And he also praised the value of religious freedom which is a part of the foundation of democracy in the US.  And he called all to further dialogue, understanding, deeper search for truth, and also to continue working together to build a better society.  “I…invite all religious people to view dialogue not only as a means of enhancing mutual understanding, but also as a way of serving society at large.  By bearing witness to those moral truths which they hold in common with all men and women of goodwill, religious groups will exert a positive influence on the wider culture, and inspire neighbors, co-workers and fellow citizens to join in the task of strengthening the ties of solidarity.”  The complete text is available here in English and in Spanish.

Wednesday, April 16 was a busy day for Pope Benedict XVI visiting Washington, DC.  Not only was it his birthday, but the Pope also met with President Bush and with all of the US Bishops.

In a mid-morning ceremony at the White House, President Bush warmly welcomed Pope Benedict.  President Bush’s remarks are available here. The President told the Pope, “In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred… In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this ‘dictatorship of relativism’… In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but in a spirit of mutual support.”

The full text of Pope Benedict’s response is available here in English and in Spanish. The Pope eloquently recognized America’s quest for freedom throughout history and how it has been linked to a moral order that recognizes God as Creator.   The Pope also noted that Americans, by their actions, recognize that “freedom is not only a gift but also a summons to personal responsibility.”

In meeting with the US Bishops, the Pope touched on many topics — welcoming immigrants, the rich diversity within the US, the generosity and contributions made by Americans especially in times of crisis, and the respect for freedom of religion that is so rooted in US history.

The Pope then challenged the bishops to examine how to counter the influence of materialism and how to help Catholics deepen their living relationship with Christ. He emphasized the value of community as opposed to unchecked individualism.  The Pope encouraged the bishops to maintain and expand education opportunities, both in schools and in adult faith formation. He also encouraged the bishops to speak more vocally in the public square. He extolled the values of marriage and family life.  The Pope also directly addressed the sex abuse scandal within the Church and the need to protect the vulnerable wherever they are. He encouraged the bishops to build a closer relationship with the priests within each diocese. The Pope ended by encouraging prayer.  The full text of the Pope’s speech to the bishops is available in English and in Spanish.

Pope Benedict then responded to questions from the bishop on the increasing secularism and relativism in intellectual life, on the quiet attrition as some Catholics practice less and less, and on the decline in vocations to the priesthood.  The Pope’s responses are available here in English and in Spanish.

Pope Benedict XVI will be making several stops during his visit in Washington and New York.  The official set of prayers, Mass readings and liturgical texts that will be used during these stops is available online.  If you would like to pray alongside those who will be attending these events, this is a great way to do it. 

The first official spiritual event will be the Evening Prayer Service with the US Bishops at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC on Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30 pm. 

This will be followed by the 10 am Mass in DC at the newly-opened Nationals Park on Thursday.  In examining the readings, it is interesting to note that the first reading is printed in Spanish even though the rest are in English.  The Vatican has become very attentive to the multi-cultural diversity within the Catholic Church in the US, especially the large Spanish-speaking Catholic population.

On Friday, an Ecumenical Prayer Service will be held at St. Joseph’s Parish in New York at 6 pm.  During the Concluding Rite, the Pope will pray, “May the gifts of God unite us in faith, hope, and love now and forever.”

On Saturday, the Pope will celebrate Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York at 9:15 am.  Again, the first reading will be in Spanish, and this time the responsorial psalm will alternate between Spanish and English. 

At 4:30 pm on Saturday, the Pope will lead a blessing when he meets with young people having disabilities and will also lead a prayer service in a meeting with seminarians and youth, both at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. 

On Sunday at 9:30 am, Pope Benedict will lead a prayer service at Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center in NY.  Part of the Holy Father’s prayer will include, “God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth.  Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred . . . Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.”

The final event will be Mass on Sunday beginning at 2:30 pm in Yankee Stadium in NY.  The second reading is printed in Spanish and the responsorial psalm will again alternate between Spanish and English. 

It is often fascinating how a news story changes shape and perception depending on the reporter and the angle of the story.  What is missed by one media outlet can become the focus of the story reported by another media outlet.  With Pope Benedict XVI about to arrive in the US, it will be interesting to note what is covered and what is emphasized by the different media personnel and what is actually going on behind the scenes. 

As a viewer, it is often hard for us to compare stories and know what is most accurate.  A new website, LiveNewsCameras, is providing a very interesting glimpse that will help with this dilemma.  Offering live news feeds from around the country and even around the world, viewers can now click on a news station and see exactly what is going on there.  It is easy to switch between cities and media outlets.  And it is fascinating to watch what is actually going on behind the scenes. 

Although the site is in Beta testing, it will provide a timely contribution to viewing Pope Benedict’s visit to the US this week. 

Pope Benedict XVI has released a message to the people of the United States about his upcoming visit which starts on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.  The Pope emphasizes that the purpose of his visit is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the US.

The Pope has chosen “Christ our hope” as the theme for the visit.  Pope Benedict comes to proclaim the Good News that Christ is the hope for all men and women everywhere.  He recognizes “how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in” the US and comes to share it with us.

The Pope also expresses his gratitude and asks for prayers.  The message also includes a special part in Spanish, recognizing the growing Hispanic population within the Catholic Church in the US.

During his upcoming visit to the US, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 81st birthday on April 16.  And what might be an appropriate gift for Americans to give a Pope?

The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) has come up with a wonderfully creative birthday gift which enables everyone interested to participate.  NCEA is collecting pledge forms from students and other interested individuals who commit to doing volunteer service hours between now and May 31. These service hours will be a “gift” to the Pope on his birthday.

So far, over 200,000 people have agreed to donate over a million service hours. Parishes and schools are asked to record the totals and officially forward them to NCEA.  Individuals must complete pledge forms by Friday, April 11. 

Our society is often characterized as being materialistic.  What a wonderful idea to use the occasion of the Pope’s birthday to show the true meaning of giving. The hours given will help many people, including the volunteers and those they serve. 

To make a pledge, visit the NCEA Birthday Blessings site.  And don’t forget to turn in your pledge form by April 11.

Sunday, March 30, marked the twenty-fourth anniversary of Karl Rahner’s death. Rahner, a German Jesuit, was perhaps the single most influential Catholic theologian of the 20th century. Some consider his theology too dense and complex for ordinary folk to plow through. I think the richness and beauty of his thought are well worth the effort.

Rahner’s work greatly influenced both the substance and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. He endeavored throughout his life to coax the Church forward with gentleness, persistence and love. There can be no better way of doing theology than his way — with a deep sensitivity to the concrete concerns of ordinary believers, and with a firm conviction that progress happens not by rejecting or abandoning the past, but by working to stretch and develop it, maturing its instincts and enlarging its insight.

If you aren’t easily intimidated by intricate ideas and long sentences containing multiple clauses, Rahner’s Foundations of Christian Faithprovides a good summary of the essential elements of his thought (his lifetime publications totaled 1,651). Below, I have provided a smattering of that thought — hopeful, Easter season kind of thought — to whet your appetite. Said Rahner:

“The first thing we should learn from Jesus is to be fully human.”

“God laughs. The laughter of the carefree, the confident, the unthreatened.”

“The message of Easter is the most human news brought by Christianity. That is why we have most difficulty in understanding it. It is most difficult to be, do, and believe what is truest, closest, and easiest.”

“Salvation is not a kind of posthumous, spiritual reward for good behavior, granted to some and withheld from others; it is simply a continuation of what has taken place during one’s life, a sharing in God to the extent that each person has developed the capacity for it through the practice of faith, hope and love. Heaven and hell are, in a sense, the same thing — remaining whatever you have made of yourself, forever.”

“The Church should be … a church in which the officeholders too, in joyous humility, allow for the fact that the Spirit breathes where it will and that it has not arranged an exclusive and permanent tenancy with them.”

“Until death’s door I’ll hold doggedly fast, if I may say so, to the belief that there is an eternal light that will illumine me … if a people or even humanity were to fall into the abyss, then I would still be firmly convinced — and I hope to keep this conviction — that even such an abyss always ultimately ends in the arms of an eternally good, eternally powerful God.”