Vatican Shuts The Window





This October we will celebrate the opening of the Vatican II Council.  The beloved Pope John XXIII would often state his reason for convening the Council was the need to throw open the windows of the Church to allow some ‘fresh air’ in.  That was fifty years ago. 

Last week the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF), (previously known in the 15th century as the Roman Inquisition), in conjunction with the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops called for a “reform” of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).  This organization represents 80% of the women religious congregations in the United States.  The CDF found “serious doctrinal problems” with the LCWR’s activities including promoting “radical feminist themes.”  They went on to accuse the leadership of focusing too much on poverty and economic injustice while alleging keeping “silent” on abortion and same sex marriage.

So now, for the next five years they have an overseer to answer to, the archbishop of Seattle, Peter Sartain.  Which I guess makes great sense since the male clergy have been stellar overseers of their own institutions these past forty years or so.  I mean, no scandals there – right?

So these religious sisters who have worked in our schools, prisons, hospitals and priest retirement homes...the sisters who have fed and clothed the poor and served the homeless of our streets...the nuns, who seemed to be reading and following the gospel way too much in their focus of poverty and social injustice – what are they to do?

According to Georgetown Law Professor, Fr. Ladislas Orsy, S.J. – the woman religious have no real options.  There is no appeal process.  He states, “It’s not complicated.  The Vatican has taken control...and they hope in five years they will put LCWR on a different track.”

Wow!  OMG, what was that sound I just heard?  Must have been the window Pope John the XXIII opened fifty years ago...slamming shut. 

So much for the fresh air.

Homily: Second Sunday of Easter



The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio



Thomas was really no different than any of the other disciples of Christ – he just got the bum rap.  For none of them believed in the risen Lord until their eyes were opened and they saw the Christ.  But simply seeing and believing were not enough for Jesus.  He made it clear that it was time for the disciples to get out from behind locked doors and to be sent forth. Not to build a religion, but to follow his actions of mercy and forgiveness.

So what does that have to do with the sanctuary veil that was torn in two upon the death of Jesus?

Click here for the readings.

Click here for the homily.

Easter Sunday - Things Hidden

Every year before our family Easter dinner, we hold our annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Over 125 eggs are hidden in the back yard.  Some contain candy, some coin and a select few contain paper money.  As the kids got older (top picture = 2000, bottom = 2011), they quickly learned to pick up the egg, shake it and if it didn’t rattle, assumed it to be paper money and kept that egg.  If it rattled, they placed it back and continued on the search. So, in time, the Easter Bunny got smarter and would always include a coin or two in order that all would rattle and thus fool the teen seeker.

God is like that.  God is hidden where you least expect to find God. Where, you ask?  Author Paula D’Arcy writes, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”  Our challenge is, like the Blind Man in the gospel story, we need to have our eyes opened!

Lent was a time for introspection, a time to scrutinize oneself, to look internally at our own darkness so that we may be open to the light of Christ.  But it is now Easter!  Christ is Risen and Christ is among us!  Easter is the time to look outward and to open our eyes to see Christ in our lives.

Christ is in your spouse, your child, your family, your co-worker, your neighbor, your church family.  Christ is also in your estranged friend or loved one, in your hurts, your wounds and your ‘enemy.’  Christ is found in those at the top of their lives and those who are at the bottom.  Christ is found in you and me.

Fr. Richard Rohr reminds us in his classic book, Everything Belongs, that spirituality is all about seeing.  During this Easter season, open your eyes to all that is hidden, whether it rattles or not.  For it is there that you will find God waiting for you!

Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

Good Friday and Hot Cross Buns

So you ask, ‘What do Hot Cross Buns have to do with Good Friday?’

Tradition has it that Pope Gregory IX journeyed with a group of Cardinals to Assisi for the Canonization of St. Francis.  But before he left town, his last stop was to visit Claire at the Convent of San Damiano.  So early one morning, they made the trip out to the Convent of the Poor Ladies where the sisters were waiting with great joy for the Pope.

The Pope, knowing that he was in the presence of a true saint, asked Claire to speak to them about the glory of God.  It is said that all become “lost in time”, which translates to, “Claire had a very long homily.”  So it was soon lunch time and the sisters were unprepared to feed the Pope and his entourage.  Only stale bread was in the kitchen.

Although Claire resisted, Gregory insisted that she perform the blessing over the meal.  When she was done praying, a large cross had formed on each piece of hardened bread.

It was around 1733 that the term ‘Hot Cross Bun” was first used. As years went by and the story was told, tradition lead this simple food staple to be baked on Good Friday to remind us of the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ. 

Since Good Friday is a day of fasting, click on this recipe and make a batch for you and your family to enjoy on Holy Saturday morning!

Postscript:  For those of you gluten free, click here for a recipe!

Sacred Oils

Many of us will possibly attend the Chrism Mass at our local diocesan cathedral this week.  This is the mass where the bishop blesses and consecrates the three sacred oils: Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism.  At the conclusion of this liturgy the oils are distributed to every parish in the diocese and received into each local church at the Holy Thursday evening liturgy.

But the question I often get is, “Where does the oil come from?”

And for our diocese, the answer is where else, but Sam’s Club!

So here is a pictorial view of the process:

About two weeks before Holy Week a trip is made to Sam's Club to purchase 22 gallons of Olive Oil - extra virgin, of course! And Yes! One does get strange looks when checking out of the store with this much olive oil!

Volunteers gather and after prayer the work begins in mixing chrism essence and balsam oil with the olive oil to make what will be consecrated as the Sacred Chrism.  The other two oils, are poured without any additives.

The oil, after being poured into individual eight ounce glass bottles, is packaged three bottles to a bag (one bottle of each oil).  The bags are packed out into wicker baskets that are used in the procession to the altar of the cathedral at the start of the Chrism Mass.

At the Chrism Mass the bishop blesses the three oils and consecrates the Sacred Chrism.  Afterwards the bags of oil are distributed to representatives of each parish who bring them back to their church where they are poured into vessels for use in the following 12 months.


Anointing with oil is one of the most ancient blessings in the history of the Church. It is the Oil of Catechumens that will welcome all to the Church during their baptism.  It is the Oil of the Sick that will be used to comfort and bless those who are ill in anyway. And it is Sacred Chrism that will be used to baptize, confirm and to ordain.

Let us keep in prayer this week the 150,000 adult men and woman in the United States who will be baptized this Easter, knowing that they will be anointed with the blessed Oil of Catechumen and Sacred Chrism and thus share in the common priesthood of all believers.