Jim Mahoney's Blog - Sacred to Etc.

Why Do This? - and Welcome!

(You can find the necessary disclaimers in the Profile section of the blog.)

It is the 21st century. The Vatican website (www.vatican.va) is far ahead of most websites of parishes, dioceses, and national bishops' conferences. We either use the new media in the everyday life of our Church or we run the risk of having our communications perceived as irrelevant and our ability to meet our people where they are as increasingly ineffective. Can anyone doubt that Jesus would use every means available to communicate his message?

Over time, the nature and hopefully the quality of this blog will be expanded. For now, this will simply be my thoughts on a variety of topics. I'll give a take on books, social issues, Church issues, politics, history, and popular culture. If I find things that might be interesting for you to read from other sources, I'll include them.

The commitment will be to make a post to this blog five times a week. Feel free to comment on anything that I write - or even on what others write. Kindly remember that I am easily hurt and remember all real and perceived slights forever. But I do forgive after a few decades. I am Chicago Irish. Among many things, this means that I never ever forget and am never ever disloyal to my friends.

April 19, 2019 - And Jesus wept. Notre Dame in flames. Our world united in grief and needing Easter

(Due to a frustrating combination of technical problems, I have had to truncate some different posts into this one post. I know things are bad when my home office computer, ipad, and blogging software are all unhappy for objectively unrelated reasons. I drove early this morning to my diocesan office where, at least for these moments, everything technical is working that is not part of my iPad or iPad keyboard.

Actually, I kind of like this particular post bringing together Paris, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Rather than have such a hiatus between series of posts, I have been trying to find an approach that works for us. Here is what I will do going forward: I'll write a few posts each week. I may comment or give a perspective on events of the day, our world, and the church. Sometimes, I'll recommend books or articles. Sometimes, I'll simply vent - but hopefully will always point this out so that you do not have read the ventings. I'm not a culture warrior. Ain't my thing. I feel strongly about issues. I am unabashedly in favor of life - at every age, stage, social condition, gender, and every other way we classify each other. I am a political animal - meaning that I devour political news and events. I have already read the Mueller Report - or at least those sections that were not covered over with redactions.

I will hopefully invite, cajole, comfort, observe, and share with you joy, meanings, and things important to me. A larger number of people than I ever expected have found this blog somewhat helpful. I hope that continues. Especially since I am a retired pastor, but not yet retired from other responsibilities, this gives me the chance to share things here that I might have shared in homilies, but may not now have the chance to do so. Before I retired, I would have preached at all the Masses about the fire at Notre Dame since it affects so many people. I miss so much that type of contact with all the people at Mass. However, I am grateful for the chance to celebrate Mass at least once at the parish on weekends - and deeply appreciate that invitation.

For those that wonder and others that have gently asked, I'm doing ok. It's a hard time in the church. So much anger. So much pain. Retiring as pastor was the right thing to do - but, oh my, do I miss so many things about it that were treasures - namely the people and the experience. I was far more wiped out as pastor than I imagined. It has taken me a couple of months to start to feel even a smidgen better. Paradoxically, being in the most wonderful parish also took an incredible toll on me. I was thinking that this Easter afternoon will be the first time since I was ordained in 1973 when I will not be totally exhausted from Holy Week and Easter. I'm assigned to lead the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday evening and have the 8:30 and 9:30 Masses on Easter Sunday. Once again, I appreciate the chance as a retired pastor to keep this connection. It does not happen in many places. And I never take this for granted.

Once in a while, and it is a fleeting phenomenon, I feel less stressed. Then it comes right back. I do not know what this condition is called, but I am a world-class worrier. The cumulative effect of worrying may have been the most driving thing in having to retire. So I have a long way to go. If you have things to worry about and you sensibly know that it will do you no good yet you want someone to do the worrying for you, I am always happen to add another worry. I am world-class, at least with respect to worrying.

I wish you a blessed and peaceful Easter. May the risen Christ light up your life and our world.

Now the post!)

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A French priest saved the most precious relics at the fire in Notre Dame:

At 9-11, firefighters carried the body of Father Mychal Judge, ofm, the first official fatality after the 9-11 attack. Mychal had served in one of our Franciscan parishes. I knew him slightly - and always respected him.

Once again, it has taken tragedies, caused by people and caused by fate, to unite the world and people of good will. It was interesting that as the flames were roaring up into the sky over Notre Dame Cathedral a few days ago - so many people in our country found that it reminded them also of 9-11. Totally different causes. But each event touched a spiritual chord in people's hearts. The recognition that we are not in control of so many things. The recognition that our common humanity is what unites us even during times of unrest and disunity. Perhaps especially at those times.

My constant feeling after the fire at Notre Dame was simply sadness. Once again, hearts were broken. One of my most treasured statues is on my desk at the diocese. Here is a larger reproduction: "And Jesus Wept."

This brief Scripture passage is the shortest line in the Bible, just three words. "And Jesus wept." What is your image of God? Of Jesus? I believe God weeps for us. The Gospels tells us that Jesus wept for Lazarus. Well, I believe that Jesus weeps for us a lot. When things like 9-11 happen, Jesus weeps. When Notre Dame, one of the most beautiful churches in the world, is ravaged by fire, Jesus wept. Not because a brick and mortar and wooden church was in danger, but rather for what Notre Dame represents to the world: Civilization. Beauty. Hope. A symbol without parallel of people reaching up to God, to heaven - and our God reaching down to us.

When we weep, we are vulnerable. We are without defenses. I would find it difficult to believe in a God who did not weep. And, for that matter, also hard to believe in a God who did not laugh. The profound nature of grief is one of the things that brings together people of good will. Didn't our world seem less fragmented during the fire at Notre Dame? We set aside our concerns about the problems of the world and focused, at least for a little while, on something primal, something important, something finally worth talking about with each other and our children. For a few hours, we forgot about the soon-to-be-released Mueller Report. This has always been one of my favorite images of Jesus at times like this:

Writing this on Good Friday morning, I go back to some words which I uttered in homilies every year on Good Friday: "Jesus died the death we fear - and saved us from the fear of death." These words make so much sense of things that are senseless. Jesus is with us. As we head into Easter, we need to remember over and ever again that death does not win. Life wins. Eternal life is our reward. Heaven is what keeps us going.

 

Easter means this: Jesus is risen. There is no need to be afraid. We will never be abandoned. Why? Because God never ever abandons the ones he loves. Easter is the feast of the God of Non-Abandoning Love. If every single thing just gnaws at you and gets you down, try to remember this - the most basic and important truth of our faith. Jesus came out of the tomb for us. He takes us by the hand. If we run from him, he will catch us. And hold us. And love us. Forever and ever.

(See you more frequently in this blog.)

 

April 16, 2019 - Notre Dame - Post coming in a day or two

I have been remiss in this blog lately, but am figuring out what I want to do with it.

My approach is not working for me (since I'm retired, I can think of "me"!!!!)  This began to crystallize with the horrific fire at Notre Dame in Paris. Usually when there are events that are primal, like this fire, 9-11, etc., I would immediately sit down and figure out a homily - to make connections with our faith and the particular tragedy, to offer some perspective, and, where possible, to offer some hope. But it is different now. I'm not a pastor. I'm retired. So I did not spring into action and offer some help.

My lack of doing anything bothered me - yesterday and today. People actually wrote and said that wanted to hear from me, expected to hear from me. So, I said - to heck with it. This blog is really like my mailbox to the world. So I can use it to send messages to people that might find them helpful. So will work, time permitting, over the next couple of days, to come up with some expression of meaning, wonder, and hope for the inferno in Paris. It will appear by Thursday. I hope it is helpful. 

 

 

 

 

 

March 26, 2019 - The Mueller Report - 26 Posts to go

 

 

 

Ok, I'm impatient. I want to read the report - preferably the whole report. What a chance for social psychologists to go nuts. Four little phrases were included by the Attorney General in his letter to the Congress - and already what he said was misinterpreted and publicized all over the world. There is a phenomenon today that boils down to this: in any issue, be first with your response, repeat it as often as you can, and finally this will be enough to influence many in our country, and perhaps all over the world. Truth does not seem to matter. Facts do not seem to matter. Am I the only one bothered by this?

Amazon is offering the report for $12.99 before anyone knows how many pages the report will be. It claims that the report will be available today. Prime free delivery is also promised. The only thing accurate will probably be free delivery - as long as you are part of Amazon Prime.

A crazy time. I would write more today but I'm too busy sputtering!

TODAY'S GRATITUDE:  Amazon Prime for free delivery.

 

March 25, 2019 - The Daily Miracle of the New York Times - 27 Posts to Go

 

I like to know how things work - how they come together - whether they be animate or inanimate. I am fascinated by organizations. I am fascinated by lots of things. For example, I am both fascinated and jealous of kitchens in restaurants. How do they do all of these meals? How do they keep such a varied menu? (Disclaimer: a few years ago, I was given a privilege of being trained by the executive chef at Rod's in Convent Station so that I could prepare a meal for 6 parishioners who had bid on my services for a small fundraising dinner at the parish. After kindly giving me a two hour overview of cooking, the executive chef met with the owner of Rod's to discuss my potential as a chef. They decided that, instead of being the chef, I would be the server! At least, I did not spill anything - although I incorrectly announced the course I was carrying in as polenta - when, in fact, it was crabcakes. Sigh.)

Yesterday, the New York Times had a special section named The Daily Miracle, prepared over several years, showing photographs of how their paper is printed. The front page said that Christopher Payne, the photographer, captured the craft, precision and unexpected beauty of the newspaper printing process.

Why do I mention this? It was a work of art. The complexity of the necessary process left me just in awe. If you just ignored that section, find it and read it and, above all, savor it.

This is a weak parallel, but the NYT project reminded me of the creation of human life. The complexity leads to something so simple and so awe-inspiring and so worthy of protection. I always am just speechless at the wonder of birth. May we protect this life at every age, stage, social condition - everything - because it belongs to God.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: Human life.

 

March 24, 2019 - Read the whole Mueller Report - 28 Posts to go

Lest I cause a media frenzy by the millions of readers who are waiting for my thoughtful commentary on the Mueller Report, I am thoughtfully giving a snipet of my thoughts before we hear anything conclusive about it today. The summary is supposed to be available imminently - within a few minutes or hours or days or months.

I am a political junkie. I love politics. I love to read about politics. I did become less so over the past few years when I saw some politicians had become just vulgarians and the opposite of the values which I hold. I am not dissuaded from long reports if they give me information and perspective that I would not have by simply getting reporting from the media. In recent memory, the best example of this was the 1200 page report on the clergy sex abuse crisis in the state of Pennsylvania. I read the whole darn thing. You would only know the truth if you read the whole thing and connected the dots. If you relied solely upon the summaries contained in that report, you would never have known that it was filled with some valid insights and then a lot more amateurish analysis -  incompetent analysis. I found it to be amateurish. It took a complicated reality filled with obvious heartbreak and reasons for anger, and then just did a hatchet job. I pray that the same thing does not happen in New Jersey with the work of the Attorney General. But obviously, no guarantees. Especially when some seemed to have formed their conclusions when the work has barely begun. Some early indicators do not fill me with confidence. But we can always pray. In fact, we should always pray.

I have one major question on the Mueller Report which I very much hope is answered. Did Russia influence our elections? Did people in our country cooperate in any way with the Russians? I hope that the answers are clear. We need to know. Will we? Beats me. But I will read the whole thing to find out.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: This might seem an odd thing to list in a blog that tries to be spiritual, but it certainly a reason for my gratitude at these times: The opportunities I had to take and retake and retake the Evelyn Woods Reading Dynamics course.

 

March 23, 2019 - Letting Lent Slip Away - Not Helpful - 29 Posts to go

Since I'm no longer living in the parish, I find that some things slip away which never happened before. This is especially true of Lent. I do have Mass, often private, but it is still different. I am scheduled for Masses in the parish regularly. That is great, but it is not the same. Somehow, being in that building where the focus is on Lent, where the dominant color is purple - makes it hard to forget the season of Lent. I recall periodically what I pledged to do for Lent. (None of your business, but essentially it is to make me a better person, happier, more joyful -and forgiving)

Now I am in the same position as anyone who is not a priest. To make Lent work, we have to work at it. It does not happen by accident. In such a brutally fast world, it can be forgotten without much difficulty at all.

One of the things that I always found helpful in Lent was the little wooden cross to carry in my pocket. I am glad that we made those available for decades to everyone at the parish. It might not seem like much, but it was practical and a constant reminder. I'm going to see where I might have packed those in my boxes for moving which have not yet been unpacked.

If you are like me (and I always pray you are not) - and have let Lent slip away a little, get back on track. I realize that I have to work harder to keep Lent in focus. And if I cannot find the little wooden cross in all my as yet unpacked boxes, then I'll order a small package of them if I run across people that might find them of value.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For those things, ideas, and people that bring me back to the Core of our faith - Jesus.

March 22, 2019 - New Zealand - a Place of Beauty marred by evil - 30 Posts to go

(sorry - I'm a few days behind on my postings on this blog - will rapidly recover by the end of today, Sunday. These next few blogs will be shorter, but reflect things that I have been thinking about over and over these past few days).

I know a few people who have been to New Zealand. They loved the country and the people. The monstrous evil those good people experienced brought my mind quickly back to such times in our own country, and so many other places in our hurting world. I have prayed a lot for those good people - and prayed that somehow, somewhere, some day, evil will be overcome.

Were you as impressed as I was at the rapid way in which the government in New Zealand instantly addressed the problem of weapons in the hands of their people - and found ways to restrict weapons that can only do harm and not good for their people? How continually sad that our nation, the finest on earth, cannot definitively address this scourge on our nation?

"Deliver us from evil."  Please.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For the first responders in every nation.

March 21, 2019 - Now There's Problems with Kale - Darn It!- 31 Posts to go

For the past few years, I have been eating kale because it was supposed to be one of the healthiest and best things that you could possibly eat. Granted that kale was not as appetizing as a pepperoni pizza, but I always felt confident that eating kale was good for me and made a difference. I always felt virtuous having a kale smoothie, a kale salad, even kale chips. Until yesterday!!!!

Now a health organization has placed kale as #3 on a list of dirty foods - where supposedly healthy foods are filled with levels of pesticides that are beyond any reasonable standard of health. Here are the miscreant foods and vegetables:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes

This list includes some of my favorite things to eat. The recommendation from the scientists about the study is to have organic foods. Some studies have shown that eating foods that are relatively free of pesticides can lower your level of pesticides in as few as six days.

If you are concerned about pesticides (and I am), then the only way to have some of these really healthy vegetables and fruits is to go organic. This is more expensive, but probably cheaper than the health problems associated with pesticides.

Why am I carrying on like this in this blog"

Some simple concerns:  It seems sometimes like you just cannot win. We are all going to die of something - so why even try to eat right. Is it a valid spiritual principle that unless something is hard, it is not worth doing? Is the spiritual life meant to be easy? Is life meant to be the agony in the garden or truly the path to heaven? Where does peace and happiness truly lie?

I find myself going all over the place on these questions. Sometimes, in spirituality, things are not easy to figure out - even though I want things to be. Here you have a choice - eat things that are supposedly good for you, but they are not. Or just eat what you want - and you will die - and vice versa. Hmm. Either way, you will die. That does not seem fair!

Savor the moment. Enjoy the kale. Wash off the pesticides or buy organic. Follow what Jesus asks - and just do what is right. Maybe that is the best solution - but why is it seldom that simple?

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For those times when things are not frustrating.

 

March 20, 2019 - Some Very Personal Thoughts on partially beginning retirement! - 32 Posts to go

I know that readers of my blog are anxiously wondering how things are going for me. Am I ok? Am I happy? Do I regret doing this? And all kinds of other questions. I felt that it might be helpful, hopefully to someone other than myself, to periodically share how things are going. These thoughts might be of interest to priests contemplating retirements or friends and family.

Just a few thoughts. Did I make the right decision? Pretty much yes. I profoundly miss the continuous connections with all the people. I miss them very much. I am happy to have some limited interaction by saying Mass usually once a week. I do miss the connections. (wrote that twice, hmmmm.)

I know that the years have taken a little toll on me. Probably should have done this a couple of years earlier. There is a valid reason why most corporations have a mandatory retirement at 65. (Can anyone maintain with a straight face that the church, by allowing priests and bishops and cardinals and even popes to remain in office into their seventies and eighties has made us better? Nah.)

I retired from one job at the parish and continue in the other job at the diocese. Right now, it is a very tough job. I do not know an end point. I wish I did. But I have to take care of myself. That is my dominant task during at least half-retirement. It is a silent preoccupation right now - and have tried to take some steps to achieve this.

I worry more about financial matters than I expected. From the time I was ordained 45 years ago, I was blessed by having so many things handled through my assignments. That was proper and the nature of the work. Now everything is different. Most things are now my responsibility. That is proper. Everyone faces this.  I am so grateful to people who gave me gifts for retirement. In no way am I now saying "poor me" - but it is a worry. During my mother's final years, I assumed a number of significant financial  responsibilities for her that I had not planned on, especially with assisted living. Looking back, I am glad that I did. Absolutely no regrets. But I worry about it more than I anticipated. (seem to have mentioned the word "worry" three times in one paragraph - hope I'm not being tedious)

I have yet to reach the point in life where I can just revel in happiness and joy and peace. Keep this to yourself. This is really what I want/hope to achieve. I'm going to do my best to have this happen. One sign of hope for me = every once in a while, I look around my little place for retirement. I sigh. I feel at peace. I even, if briefly, feel happy. I'll take it. 

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For a blessed life.  

 

 

March 19, 2019 - Saint Joseph - More famous than Saint Patrick? Impossible! - 33 Posts to go

Today, we honor Saint Joseph who is allegedly one of the most popular of all the saints. Whole countries. He has apparent powers to help you sell you home. If you place a prayer intention under his statue, he will work on your request while you sleep. all kinds of things about this person who is scarcely known because there are so few facts available about him. 

The most important fact about him is that he was the foster father of Jesus. He was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Holy Family, the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is our connection to family life. Scarce facts, but significant nonetheless.

I have one suggestion if you are thinking about Saint Joseph. He was an incredible influence upon Jesus. We speak of Jesus as human and divine. Well, the humanity of Jesus had to be highly influenced by Jesus. Any direct influence on what Jesus did in the Gospels = we just don't know. But there had to be a lot. It was real. What Jesus said, thought, and did had to be influenced as any parents influences his or her child. It is that simple.

Joseph influenced Jesus. Joseph grew with his wife, Mary, in love and commitment, and sacrifice. Not bad qualities to imitate. Think about the influence you have on others, in your family and other places. What is the legacy of your influence, your example? A good thought on the feast of one who may have been the greatest example of all to a child.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For my parent's influence. 

March 18, 2019 - An Oft-forgotten part of our parish history - 34 Posts to Go

Here is an anniversary that you may not possibly remember. On March 18, 1990, our parish church was dedicated. This is our 29th anniversary. It is a reminder of the fact that genuine 
"sacred space" comes from not only bricks, mortar, statues, and stained glass, but also comes from an environment where people encounter God - in worship, in prayer, and in experiencing the presence of God in the community and, most especially in the Eucharist. It is hard to recall that we worshiped in a gymnasium for 22 years before we finally had a church. Nothing like basketball hoops to make one yearn and pine for "sacred space."

This post is brief, but I just want these sentences to be a reminder of our church - a place that has formed us, comforted us, challenged us, and brought us closer to God. This is a day to be grateful for all the parishioners who came before us in 1968 and all those who have come before. Like any relationship, this church has been for us a place where we come in happy as well as sad times, where we seek meaning and hope and intimacy with God - and where we even come when things seem all discombobulated in the Church, such as our present times. Our church is a place where I come when I am especially searching and tormented and need consolation. I know Jesus is there in the most unique way in the Eucharist, in the focus on the altar, the Word, and the tabernacle.

We are named Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. May we each be faithful to the challenge and comfort. 

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For my connections with the parish over these past 45 years. Also with a prayer of gratitude for our new pastor who was installed as pastor yesterday.

 

 

March 17, 2019 - Being Irish - 35 Posts to Go

Ok, having spent yesterday’s post extolling the importance of recognizing that we are all part of a mosaic and not a melting pot, it is time to focus on one particular part of the mosaic - being Irish. I start with the customary disclaimer that everyone should focus on their own ethnic group - and revel in it. So today’s feast of Saint Patrick gives me the freedom, if not the responsibility, to focus on the Irish without intending any unflattering comparisons of any other nationality or ethnic group.

Where does one start? God is Irish. Jesus is Irish. The Holy Spirit is Irish. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an Irish mother. The Irish discovered America, electricity, cures for cancer, solar power, properly brewed Guiness, fashion, music, baseball, golf, literature, sculpture, poetry, the family, the Catholic Church (only the good parts). The Irish were the finest in these occupations or livlihoods: acting, singing, architecture, science, medicine, the social sciences, horseracing, agriculture, falconry, politics, and the list goes on and on.

The Irish are humble, even-tempered, somber, sober, inquisitive, love golden retrievers, castles, and the color, green. Years ago, Thomas Cahill wrote a book titled “How the Irish Saved Civilization.” You’ll get no argument from me. We do this every single day. 

I have heard, possibly from legends, that there are Irish people who enjoy a good time, savor medicinal spirits in liquid form, and frequent roadside chapels in Ireland that some call pubs. 

Over a long time, I have been up to speed on the sociology of the Irish people - and most especially Irish Catholic Americans. What can I say other than there is no group like them. That is a safe non-belligerent statement = which also recognizes that there are Irish Catholics who are more than capable of being belligerent - none of you, of course.

I do revel in being an Irish Catholic American from Chicago. That is my particular lot in life. I hope that each of you revels in what ever nationality/ethnic group/place of birth you have. We each need to revel in what we are and who we are. To me, this is part of being Catholic and American. 

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For being an Irish Catholic American Cubs fan from Chicago.

 

March 16, 2019 - Be proud of your nationality - It’s part of our national mosaic - 36 Posts to Go

When I was in school, certainly from grade school through college, we were taught that the United States is a meling pot - where apparantly all the nationalities were poured into the pot and out came homogenized Americans! Now we know that it did not really work like this, but the essential thought was sidely believed. This approach downplayed the importance of nationalities and have have, unwittingly, perpetuated prejudice.

The social scientist who came up with this theory of melting pot finally admitted that he got it wrong. We are far less a melting pot - and far more a mosaic - where every single nationality and ethnic group forms a valuable piece of the mosaic. If you dishonor even one piece of the mosaic, you do not honored the entire mosaic. I like this understanding of our country. 

The mosaic approach to understanding our differences is an important part to seeing how we have far more that unites us, than divides us. I am so saddened when I find national leaders put down other races or ethnic groups, use codewords to denigrate various groups. Who do they think they are kidding? It is simply not right. I get especially sad when those from Irish backgrounds are bigots. They really forgot where they are from. Hopefully, with good experiences from groups other than their own, they will change.

When you think about it, isn’t this the way of Jesus? I think so - and I hope you do as well.

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For people of insight who can bring us together, rather than divide us.

 

March 15, 2019 - When Life Itself Seems Lunatic - 37 Posts to Go

I must admit that I feel overwhelmed by the cacaphony of awful news about the Church right now. As i think about it, the reason for being overwhelmed is not merely the headlines about Church leaders. It is the frustrating fact these leaders are making it impossible for people to realize all the good that the Church does.  Who would ever know that, in the midst of this tremendous crisis of credibility in the Church, millions of people come to Mass every day, millions are helped by their parishes and agencies like Catholic Charities, the majority of Catholics like their parish priests, and all sorts of other wonderful things are still taking place?  But who would know this?

The headlines take on a life of their own. To try to insert context or facts has little hope of success right now. So I’m ticked. I suspect that, on a number of things, I am far more angry than most people. I know the incedibly good things taking place. To say the least, it is like walking up a steep hill. It gets harder and harder. It can be easy to give up. It can cause good people to just walk away. I don’t blame them. But we need them to be with us and help us improve things.

As Tip O’Neill used to remind people, “all politics is local.” In the Church, all religion is local. This is the reason why we can see the research showing that while people may not care for Church leaders in general, they do like their parish priests. It is a simple reality that an individual priest can represent the entire Church to another Catholic. This is why our people must be treated with respect, competence, and, dare I say it, hope. 

My frustration in this time of lunacy is expressed in one of my favorite passages from Men of La Mancha:

“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”

Perhaps, just perhaps, we need to acknowledge the awful things, but recognize the good things are worth continuing and support them. /accept the reality that we have to become unyielding in removing the bad (whether it be persons or practices or even policies). May the Holy Spirit give us hope and the right direction. And just a gentle reminder to Jesus, “Remember, you said that you would not leave us orphans.”

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For seeing a glimmer of hope.

 

 

March 14, 2019 - Will Catholics Walk Away? - 38 Posts to go

 

Let me change gears for a little bit and wear my sociologist/organizational theorist hat. (I like wearing that hat.) Here is the issue:

After seeing so many horrible things involving sexual abuse by priests, combinrf with horrendous neglect and wrong decisions by many church leaders, what effect have these two problems had on the faith of Catholics in our country?

The Gallup Organization took a national survey in late January and late February. Here were their major findings:

Comparison between 2002 and 2019 on question about leaving the Catholic Church:

The major awareness of the Church and sexual abuse happened in 2002, especially in Boston. In 2002, 22% of Cathollics said that they were considering leaving the Church. This year, that number has risen to 37% of all Catholics are now considering leaving the Church. This is beyond alarming. I fear that little is happening right now to reverse that trend. 

Consider the findings on specific groups in the church:

59% like the priests at their own parish

58% like Pope Francis

32% like priests in general in the United States

30% like bishops and other church leaders

Let me put this in context for you:

Priests at your own parish:

I would hope that this figure would be higher, but facts are stubborn things. Nonetheless, Catholics like their own parish priests more than any other group serving them in the Church. 

Pope Francis:

I would have thought this would be lower given the media reports on how impatient people are with a lack of progress made in many areas of conceren to people. But facts are stubborn things once again!

Bishops and other church leaders:

When twice as many Catholics have a more favorable opinion of their parish priests than they do of bishops and other church leaders, this means that any positive changes put in place by bishops and other church leaders have to be so persuasive that they reach huge numbers of people. We are well past the day  when “days of prayer,” litanies of reparation, etc. will convert hearts.  

I’m going to try to avoid getting on a soapbox for this particular post. Suffice it to say, we only get one chance to do something big in the next couple of months. Just the publicity these past few days of Cardinal Pell, Cardinal Barbarin in France, the two bishops in West Virginia, and so many other things is beyond discouraging. Pray that more people will not lose heart. The awful thing is when these situations could have been prevented. That is one of the most frustrating matters for me - many problems could have been averted if wiser things had been done. The Catholic people are steadily losing heart and faith in what we do. They still like their own priests - but other leaders in the Church, not so much. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 13, 2019 - A Balanced Life (is it worth seeking?)- 39 Posts to go

We hear so much about leading a balanced life. Holiness equals Wholeness. We are body and soul. We are body, soul, and spirit. Some people are so busy driving that they have no time to get gas. In order for the goose to lay the golden egg, you have to build up and nurture the goose. This can drive you nuts. A sound mind in a sound body - sigh. Sounds good, though. 

But - here is the question.  Should a balanced life be our goal? I know some people whose approach to anything is “on the one hand, on the other hand” to present both sides of view. More and more, I find these approaches infuriating. What if Jesus was so explicitly balanced? Would he say that we should do good things, but, on the other hand, we should do bad things. We are for life. We are against life. 

I am intrigued with people who have a single minded focus on justice. Sometimes, these folks are difficult and tedious to be around. I often find them a bit annoying. But, at the same time, I respect people who try to live by their convictions.

Over the years, I have tried to be informed on the whole gamut of issues - involving religion, politics, etc.,  (but I am single-minded about the Chicago Cubs).The thing that bothers me with those who just comprehend one side is often they feel the need to trash the other side. That seems to be one of the things hurting any chance of national dialogue - and this includes the Church as well. Is anger and vitriol the only way that we can discuss deeply held issues? 

Here is my take on balance: I think we need a basic equilibrium in our lives - where we give attention to the spiritual, the physical, the intellectual, and even playful. I don’t know if we need equal parts of each of these four things in our daily lives - but at least some attention to them. I am thrilled when I have people, friends, who can discuss calmly the issues facing our society and the Church. I lack patience today with the people whose approach is basically haranging and demonizing those who think differently. If you have to harangue, then your arguments lack depth. Why have we lost the ability to disagree and to somehow find even minimal common ground!

So many things have let us down in the past few years in our Church and society. This makes me sad. Once again, one of the few remaining things we can do is pray. So, please join with me.

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For people who have views diferent than mine - and can discuss them without raising their blood pressure or mind!

 

 

March 12, 2019 - Worry Less - Nah!! 40 Posts to Go

I’m a worrier. I am very good at this. If you have trouble worrying and find that you cannot worry at all, just email me and I will do this for you.  It is not that I see my glass as halfempty or halffull, whichever is worse, but I am at times preoccupied with worry.

If I ever so gingerly dip into self-analysis and try to understand why I worry, it possibly has something to do with my trust in God. Do I trust God enough to know that God will take care of me? Probably not. I trust, but always seem to cut the cards. (I have no idea what that means,but it seems profound!)

This Lent, I’m going to work on this. I do need to trust God more. I viscerally believe in the non-abandoning love of God. Maybe this Lent, I will really focus more on this. Way deep down, have a hunch that worrying just adds to my stress. I also have a grudging recognition that my life would be more tranquil with less worry.

Why haven’t I done this before in my life? Heck, there are lots of ways I could have lived my life better. I just hope that God is satisfied with many of the choices that I made. More often than that, tilted towards serving people all kinds of situations. Could I have helped people more if I worried less? Perhaps. Sigh.

Worry less. Trust more. I hate slogans - especially when they make sense!

TODAY’S GRATITUDE - These fleeting moments when I get my act together. 

March 11, 2019 - A Smidgen Less Stress - 41 Posts to Go

One of my goals in retirement was to have less stress. I did feel a little less stress yesterday. I am consciously addressing this with practical steps that I know work - if I only do them. I cannot get stressed about being stressed. That would be spectacularly counter-productive, but I am working on this. 

I am not terribly good at self-awareness. But occasionally I do recognize that I have had a lot of stress in my life - for all kinds of reasons. I also know that there are several different kinds of stress - and stress can actually be caused by good things as well as negative things. But the body still receives the stress as a negative.

This post will be brief but contains one major thought. Reducing stress does not happen by accident. A person has to consciously reduce stress in practical ways and make sure these things become habits and not one-time events. As I think about it, I never pray to God that my stress become less. Maybe I should. Maybe I will. Heck, I will - as long as I don’t forget!

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For even a smidgen less stress.

March 10, 2019 - Spring Ahead, Fall Back - 42 Posts to Go

(Brief confession - for some reason, I thought that I had written this post so that it would have been posted at 12 a.m. this smorning. I just went on-line and discovered to my dismay that I had not done this. Mea culpa.)

The easy way to remember which direction we go in changing our clocks is found in the phrase: spring ahead, fall back. This is not a bad description of what happens in our spiritual lives. We make progress and we spring ahead. Then we forgot or make excuses or just really foul things up and we fall back. We do this over and over again.

I used to set five clocks to get me up in the morning. I stopped doing that a few years ago - a change which I can date exactly. I was served with an ugly unfounded unwarranted self-serving vicious lawsuit on a matter dealing with my other job. From that afternoon going forward, I no longer slept like a baby at night. Since it is Lent, I just wont share my feelings about the individual who did this. You may fill in any blanks you wish. This also was my first experience of lawyers who were not honorable.  In my life, I have been blessed with knowing some tremendously principled individuals in the legal profession. Now I have dealt with some over the last few years who were not. Sigh. Bah.

Is there a point to this post other than a chance to raise my blood pressure? It is a very simple one. In my life, and looking back, rather than forward, I find that I gave power over to people who may have done something really bad to me - and in fact lost my own power and sense of self. It has taken me 71 years to recognize that these people are not worth losing my own inner peace and happiness and spiritual tranquility. I surrendered my power over to these people. I was only hurting myself and also hurting my relationship with God. 

It is far easier said than done to keep things in perspective. One thing I hope to achieve in prayer is to stay centered on God and not let these distortions happen again in my life. Perhaps retirement will be a help.

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For people who have gently helped me be balanced, even if for a fleeting moment.

 

 

March 9, 2019 - Is Jesus Sleeping? 43 Posts to Go

 

 

I have been musing lately about the whole idea of sleep - from a few different directions. I used to sleep soundly and always for at least 8 hours. It took five alarm clocks to finally get me out of bed in the morning. Those days are long gone - possibly a function of age - even though I refuse to recognize that as a cause. 

I come to a spiritual concern about sleep.  This is a really discouraging time in the Church. Jesus tells us that he will always be with us. I believe it. I believe strongly in the non-abandoning love of God. There is not a question about this in my mind.

HOWEVER: When we talk about God, we are dealing with God who is divine, eternal, and somehow part of the creation and life of the world. This is the life-force, the power of love, the presence of the Creator and the Holy Spirit in the world - shown to us by Jesus and continued through the Mass. (I have greatly condensed the theology, but essentially this core is valid.)

So where am I going?  I’m a hopeful person, but I can also a melancholy person. It does cross my mind, especially when things are going so awry in the Church, that Jesus might be sleeping. Even though I’m trampling upon deeper meanings of divinity and humanity, is there a chance that Jesus is asleep, is there a chance that God is allowing this awful time to be so significant that we have no choice other than to pray more, to search more intensely for God - all sorts of things.

On the off chance that Jesus may be reading this blog - here’s a plea, Lord: Wake up. Enough of this hands-off approach. We are drowning. Lord, save us.

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: Maybe this crisis is going to deepen our faith. I don’t know. I do know that many people are suffering because of what has been happening in the Church late.  Time to get up, Jesus. I write this respectfully - but forcefully! Darn it. 

March 8, 2019 - The Pressures of Time - 44 posts to go

 

 

 

One of my preoccupations is the use of time: how much time; how much time do I have; why is my schedule so packed with things; could I ever have the good sense to actually schedule down time? Why am I always rushing? I could go on and on.  It is just possible that this topic is something that really bothers me because I know that my way of utilizing time is probably not the wisest thing I do. I can accomplish a lot of things - but at what cost? In doing so much, what am I missing? 

Jesus reminded us that “you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” Well, the simple truth is that you and I are given a finite amount of time, a limited number of minutes in which to live on this earth.  I have to slow down. I have to savor time. I have to enjoy time. I have spent so much of my life all stressed - and I know that it took a toll. So, this is part of my Lenten changes - can I do this - can I really smell the flowers - can i slow down.

I know that I must. I must take deep breaths and enjoy life. I have not done that very well - what time I have wasted while doing so much. Must keep at this topic for Lent. I think it will help me.

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For this self-realization. I think it is very important - (at least for me - but hopefully someone else could benefit as well.)

 

 

 

March 7, 2019 - Is Lent Over Yet? 45 More Posts to Go

 

So here we are - the second day of Lent - and already I’m grimacing while thinking about the 40 days of Lent (actually 47 days if you count every day including Sundays - but we use the number 40. 

I’m a reasonably or even unreasonably impatient person. I try my best to be patient with people. I actually dont have to try that hard. I operate under the premise that everyone is really doing the best they can. I also recognize that there are many people over the years who have been very patient with me on various things. My point in raising the idea of patience is from the above photograph. Why can’t Lent be just one day or three at the most? In this time of instant information, 24-7 schedules, constant deadlines - couldn’t we fit the themes of Lent into a day or two?  I have zero hope that this brilliant idea will go absolutely nowhere - so I am just resigned to grumble quietly to myself.

Is there a spiritual point to the above meandering diatribe on the length of Lent?  Actually, yes.

When I’m impatient, I can miss things. Things happen so quickly that things can get lost, not receive the proper emphasis, all kinds of things. As I get older, I start to be more aware of things that I have missed over the years - the pace of life, the never shrinking responsibilities, all kinds of things cause me to lose sight of those things that are the most important. 

I’m going to really try this Lent to miss out on nothing that is truly important. There is a wise organizational principle that says: never let the critical replace the important. I preach this, but seldom live it. So I’m going to try to change during Lent. I hate the phrase, “take time to smell the flowers.” But deep down, I know that it is a wise and good idea.l

TODAY’S GRATITUDE: For the times when I am totally aware of all the wonderful things in my life.

Ash Wednesday, 2019 - Turn Away from Sin - Lent Begins - 46 More Posts to Go

This next batch of posts will be written each day of Lent and end on Easter Sunday. I did a series of 100 posts which ended on the day of my retirement Mass on January 13, 2019. I kind of enjoyed such a routine and, with the exception of several melt-downs and waiting the white flag because I was out of ideas, it seemed to work out well. As I began to type this, I did feel a slight sense of disconnection since this is the first Ash Wednesday/Lent when being a priest did not connect with me with a particular parish or community. Total disclaimer: when I write these posts, I'm really writing to myself - hoping to share what is going on inside me spiritually in the hope that these peregrinations (I have no idea what this word means!) will be helpful to you. Many found the last batch of 100 posts to be helpful. That makes me feel good so, if it helps some folks, it is well worth the effort.

What to do for Lent? As I type this the day before Lent, I am still wondering what to do for Lent. There are usually two basic approaches to this: one is positive - what I want to explicitly do during Lent; the other is negative - what I want to give up during Lent. Both types have value.

Since half of my life is as a retired pastor, I go back and recall all the Lents - at least 45 of them - which I have spent as a priest. Lent involves change. Just the phrases associated with Lent remind us: "change your life" - "return to me" - "remember you are dust and unto dust shall you return" - "turn away from sin." I want my Lenten practices to focus on the unfinished business of so many Lents. What did I intend to do and never accomplished? What is still nagging me in my spiritual life? Where do I still feel unsettled? In a perfect world, what would I be? (pretty much the same, obviously, since i'm already perfect? - this may be the crux of the problem - not remembering that I'm a sinner - so apparantly I can find some things to change in myself for this time of Lent.

Where to look? I'm going to start with my knee-jerk reactions to some people and situations. I am mentally facile and think quickly. This can be helpful - and also be something that pushes me away from God. As I focus on this, it seems that the best way for me to start to change is here: Is my first reaction to someone a conscious pause when I give them the benefit of the doubt? Or do I make a judgment right away. I know what Jesus would prefer!So - I have at least 40 days to get this right.

(As I did in the past, I'll continue to come up with a gratitude every single day)

Today's Gratitude: I'm so grateful for how nice people were when I retired as pastor. Such goodness. I will always be in my debt to Corpus Christi. I am so glad that Father Kevin is my successor.

 

 

 

Final Post in in this Series of 100 Posts - January 10, 2019 - Yippee - I did it

I'm happy that I did this - and that i stuck it out. I even finished a couple days early. Practicing the discipline worked. The process worked. This gave me a chance to explore myself in the hope that it might be helpful to those who were reading this. I hope so. If that is what happened, I'm glad. Know that I pray for you. We're all in this together. We're here for each other.

God bless. Love, jim

I end with this blessing written by one of my closest friends, who went home to heaven a few years ago, a person who always believed in me far more than I could ever believe in myself:

    May a silver moon reign over this harvest night

    And glorious Irish dreams explode anew

    May those glittering blue eyes dance with light

    While argent stars whirl to the pipes with you

    May your journey be at least twice as long

    And your people prevent you from growing old

    May Jesus and Mary join in your song

    And henceforth may every day be purest gold

    And  may the Lord of the great Sacrament

    Bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

                Andrew M. Greeley

 

 

TODAY'S GRATITUDE - I will resume writing on this blog starting this Ash Wednesday. By that time, I'll be pastor emeritus of Corpus Christi!

 

2 Posts to go - January 10, 2019M - I'm getting excited about my future

I genuinely believe that I'm ready for this next phase of my life. I'm ready to move on - I'm ready to grow - I'm ready for my bucket list - I'm ready to have more time with my friends - I'm ready to thank and to be with all those who are so important to me. Without belaboring the point even more than I have, I'm still perplexed that I have some very good friends, probably more than most, who always stuck with me. My hunch is that it may not have been easy at times - minimally, I probably just shut down in a way that was terribly frustrating for them. Who knows? I certainly don't.

This exercise, this discipline, of writing 100 Posts has had some very positive impact on me. The process helped me in ways where I did not know that I needed help. But I did - and it happened - with the help of God and all those I love.

I am such a fortunate person.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE - Read the above - and also the last post in this series which comes next.

 

3 Posts to go - January 10, 2019L - Continued Self-Exploration

My fear now is that, having admitted that I'm an introvert, I may have created a monster just going on ad nauseum about myself. In truth, this topic will only last through this particular post. Then I will be all defensed up to reach the 100th and last post in this series of 100. 

I have struggled for a long time with a poor self-image. This is not a case of "poor me" or "feel sorry for me." But I am quite often perplexed when people find me likable. I laugh at myself when I realize how often I use the word "joy." I'm absolutely serious about this word - it is so important. Yet, even this is a struggle which I try to overcome.

This may be a reason why I mention so often in preaching that God is absolutely crazy about us. I'm preaching to myself - and even trying to convince myself that I am lovable. I am being authentic as possible because I would never say something in a homily that I did not viscerally believe. 

I'm amused at myself in sharing some very private things in these last two posts - but obviously it is connected with the fact that this Sunday is my retirement liturgy. I'm starting a new phase of life. I continue on my lifelong task - of trying to help others. Often I'm trying to help me as well as help you. It kind of worked for me. I hope that it kind of worked for you.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: I'm so grateful to all of my extraordinary friends who have stuck with me over these decades.

4 Posts to go - January 10, 2019K - Keep this to yourself - I'm an introvert

I am a genuine certified introvert. In some ways, this can be somewhat of a challenge in my life of work, shall we say. My hunch is that the majority of people would not really classify me as an introvert. But I am. Without question. Not open for discussion. This is the reality. In many situations that I am in, due to my jobs, being an introvert is probably not an ideal thing. It can make some things more difficult and certainly more tiring. I don't relish many social gatherings. I am usually uncomfortable at them.  If I am at a function, I instinctively try to find a couple of people whom I'm comfortable with - and just stick around them. 

A few years ago, I was with a friend at a conference. I just mentioned that I was an introvert and don't like conferences. He seemed intrigued that I was an introvert since he has seen me in many social and professional settings. His wife was kind enough to send me a book about me - truly about me - which I read instantly - Here is the title: Quiet - the Power of Introverts in a world that cannot stop talking. The author explained that introverts, in order to cope and survive, adopt an "extrovert persona" in order to function in many social settings. That made total sense to me. The insight helped me. And since then, when asked, it allowed me to help other introverts. But I'm not going to go up to you and say that I see you're an introvert, here is a book to help you. Nah, you have to admit it first. I don't know if this is being an introvert, but I am about the least intrusive or prying person that you will ever find.

I do have to spend so much time in my "extrovert persona." The graphic at the top of the post really explains me to me - and hopefully to you. It is accurate!

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For these occasional bursts of self-discovery.

I cannot believe that, after 45 years, I actually wrote about this. I must be really tired and my well-constructed defenses are down!

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For understanding something about myself which I never understood.

 

 

5 Posts to go - January 10, 2019J - Things I Like about Priesthood and Things I Don't!

This is a photo of Bishop Casey who ordained me as part of a class of 23 in 1973. I liked Bishop Casey a lot and worked for him on a number of things during the last year of his life. He was no scholar, but I learned a lot from being around him.

This post is about things that I like about priesthood and things I don't.  I've been a priest for 45 years. Cannot believe that number. So let me share the things that I really like about priesthood:

Celebrating Mass/praying

Preaching

Being with the people on weekends (even though I'm an introvert - Really!)

Teaching

Trying to share with people the Joy of Christ

Figuring out answers and approaches to problems that people have in their lives

Helping people walk more closely with God

Leading a parish

Now I'm going to list the things that I don't like about priesthood. 

(PERSONAL SHARING: there will be nothing here. it is not that I like everything about being a priest. I don't. I obviously like many things or I could never have lasted. But there are things that I just hate doing as a priest. Nonetheless, I do them. We all have to do things we don't like. That is life. But since being a priest means ministering to people, I would share with people that the very thing that I am doing for them as a priest is something that I really can't stand doing or am uncomfortable thing  or would even avoid doing if I could. No one needs to know this. Just know that, even with those things, I try to do my best. I am comfortable knowing that I have never shared with people what I don't like about being a priest. That is not their problem. It is my problem. I do know that, on those things that I do not like doing, I try extra hard to be effective. People have a right to that from their priests. We are not given a menu and told to chose the things we like and just do them. Life does not work that way. Even relationships do not work that way. So this paragraph is the best that I could do on this question.)

 

  

6 Posts to go - January 10, 2019I - Things in life I learned, but did not like learning them, and now glad that I did!

(This is not me. I could not find a photo me playing the piano.)

As I continue to reflect on my past, particularly now since I'm heading from one phase into the next, I have been thinking about lessons learned, things learned, things tried, and some rather spectacular foul-ups. Consider the example of playing the piano. When I was in grade school, I took piano lessons. I do not recall begging my parents for piano lessons. I do not know how this began. Neither of my parents played a musical instrument. But somehow I had eight years of classical piano lessons.

I had to practice one hour a day up in my room. I had developed a strategy to make this less boring. I would play various exercises on the piano which I could memorize. Then I would place a book on the piano and read. My parents never knew this. Downstairs, they could hear the piano music so they thought that I was practicing - actually I was - but hardly giving it much concentration. 

When they would have company, they would invite me to play the piano in the living room. I then usually selected a sonatina or some other type of classical music - and just played and played and played - until the people in their living room lost interest, began talking, and gradually I would end the piece, excuse myself, and go back upstairs.

By the end of eighth grade, I had developed a total hatred of classical music. Did not play at all in high school. When I went to college, I went play in our beer hall - no classical music, but mostly Broadway show tunes which I enjoyed. Then I stopped playing for years. I only resurrected my piano playing in the parish when annually I played the piano to accompany our Children's Christmas Pageant. Only once did I revert to classical music when we dedicated a new piano for the church. I played one sonatina. It was fun, but that was it. Enough.

Is there a moral to this painful spectacle of introspection? Yeah - I'm glad my parents made me learn the piano. In the long run, I was glad that I could play the piano. Figure out the life's lesson for yourself. Some things that require discipline can ultimately be fun.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For accepting later in life that parents actually knew what they were doing.   

7 Posts to go - January 10, 2019H - Will Jesus recognize you when you die?

A close friend once said to me that she hoped Jesus would recognize her when she died. I always found that an interesting way to sum up the whole complicated fact of judgment at the end of our time here on earth. Without knowing it, she used rather good theology - which is absolutely faithful to the Scriptures and our tradition. Recognition is part of the spiritual life. Do we recognize Jesus in others and treat them accordingly. Can people recognize Jesus in us by the way we treat them! 

Where can we recognize God? I've touched on this point a few times in this series of 100 posts because I think it is really important. I remember when I was in high school the teacher was going to be late. So he taped on the blackboard a picture of Jesus - with the caption, "I'm Watching You." We thought it was silly. But today, it kind of makes sense - God watches us - and watches over us. We want God to recognize us - and welcome us. It is almost that simple.

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: I'm grateful for the many people in my life whose very life helps me to recognize God.