This is a sweet documentary on the Redemptorist Monks of Papa Stronsey, Scotland ~~~ the Transalpine Redemptorists. And it’s only about 17 minutes long:
Weblog
Dore's White Rose
Gustave Doré achieved some commercial success in his lifetime with his artworks and illustrations.
Here is an engraving from Dante’s Paradise. What an amazing and beautiful image of the heavenly host, the light shining in the darkness, paradise.
It’s especially fitting with the Gospel tomorrow, on the Kingdom of Heaven being as a pearl of great price. How fitting that we should tend to Heaven as our number one concern.
Sometimes there’s only time for one picture, one thought; length of days, and prayer, beckon.
Q & A with Fr. K
Today I did something that I rarely, if ever, do.
I opened up my Google Documents Folder.
To my complete surprise I have a document stashed away, which I had evidently put aside when Google Documents first came out and I briefly considered using it.
It ws during the Dark Age, after Katrina, and I had forgotten all about it.
Except, er… it asks about the Message for 44th World Communications Day, which was last May.
Oops. Oh my… that was during a different Dark Age, the one after St. Catherine’s. I’ll have to get these time lines and Dark Ages straightened out.
Here at last are my answers to whoever asked me these questions. And I do apologize for not recalling who you are. I promise it won’t happen again.
Questions:
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Why did you decide to share your faith in internet? How much time do you spend working on it and how many people you think read your blog?
I decided to share my Faith on the internet back in 2002. I had read a weblog on blogger and thought it would be fun to have one and to be a part of St. Blog’s Parish. So I joined Blogger, pre-Google, and even have a Blogger-Pro sweatshirt somewhere. I hope it’s collectible one day.
Why? I enjoy the internet and consider it an amazing place to learn, to meet people, to share ideas, to experience and to express creativity. When we share our Faith we are sharing ourselves; even if it is just by example.
I don’t spend a lot of time working on my blog, and that’s painfully obvious. However, last year I went through the whole consideration of whether or not to blog, whether or not to have a website at all.
That’s a long story.
Point being, I’ve been giving it a lot more consideration and have been praying about what I should do with it.
How many people read my blog? Some of my friends who are internet savvy keep up with it, and my traffic logs tell me that hundreds of unique visitors spend time here each month. It’s not quite a thousand, but who can blame anyone for being gun shy when it comes to my blog? One never knows if it is going to have new content or even exist from one day to the next. So, I decided to just go with it and blog.
With God as my witness, I will never accidentally erase comments or delete my blog again!
That was a long question.
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Do the priests use internet for evangelization enough nowadays? Is it priest’s duty to do this, or more the duty of laymen?
Priests do use the internet for evangelization to a great degree. Let’s face it, it comes down to whether or not one wishes to spend time writing. Some Priests have no desire to write, yet they do have great websites for their Parishes, and/or put Homilies and Bulletin letters up. Blogging can take up a lot of time, whereas having a well maintained website with a few thoughtful articles is being done by many Priests.
Priests and the laity both have the obligation to use the internet for evangelization. By the simple fact that there are much more of the laity than there are numbers of Priests, it stands to reason there should be some excellent work done by the laity in the realms of blogging, web development, etc.
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Why is it important to have priests who could spread the Gospel through internet? What a priest should be that he would be able to do this effectively?
Well, initially I thought it would be a good place to share Homilies, and for my family and some friends to keep in touch with me. As time has gone by, we’ve all seen the contributions which blogging Priests are able to make to society.
It’s a good witness to people, who may come across a Priests website or blog and be able to learn more about the lifestyle, the writings, the thoughts, of a Priest. Internet research and interaction is a trend that not going to diminish; it is only going to grow exponentially. So, we should make sure that Priests, the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ all have a presence in cyberspace. If we’re not there, who do you think will be rapidly and gladly filling up the void?
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Is it really possible to reach young person through internet and to help him become faithful?
Yes. It is.
Of course, it depends on the young person, and on every other factor that might be involved. But sure, it’s possible.
I started researching vocations by looking on the internet back in 1996. The only person who answered my e-mails was the Vocations Director in Los Angeles. He must have been an INFP; tech savvy and a writer to boot. But he answered all of my questions and encouraged me in the right directions all via e-mail. It was wonderful. I hope to find out who he was one day so I can thank him.
Maybe you had any experiences?
Many young people have mentioned that they read my blog. I do pray for them.
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Priests are usually very busy people. To spread the gospel through internet takes a lot of time and knowledge. How a priest can harmonize the need to serve for people in the real life and in the internet?
Well again, it boils down to what a Priest wants to do with a blog or a website, and how much time have to put into the project. Canonically speaking, the internet and cyberspace have obviously never been addressed. So a Priest’s obligations are obviously best spent addressing the concerns of his particular assignment. A blog an either fit into that schema, or be a hobby that one pursues when one can. For me it’s always had to be more of a hobby, until recently. In fact, just the other day I … well, never mind.
As for knowledge, Priests spend years studying Theology and Philosophy, and writing lenghty research papers. Hopefully there’s no shortage of theological know-how, or the ability to look it up in proper sources.
As for web-publishing, it’s a snap these days, with imagery, video, et cetera, et al to boot.
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What do you think about “MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 44th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY”? What were your thoughts or expressions reading this document?
It’s a beautiful address. It also addresses some of the issues which you are asking in this interview. It does not get into the nitty gritty aspects of exactly how Priests should find the time to be present Pastorally on the internet, but it is a compelling and sober proclamation of the Priestly call to live in Truth and to utilize all means to spread the Gospel.
So, whoever asked me these questions… Thank you for your patience. Now, who are you again?
Psalm 69
I love Psalm 69, which we read through in the Office of Readings this morning. At times it’s been the official Psalm of my Priesthood.
Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck.
I have sunk into the mire of the deep, where there is no foothold. I have gone down to the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me.I am weary with crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes have failed, looking for my God. More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Too many for my strength are my treacherous enemies. Must I now restore what I did not steal?
You know, one day I posted a picture called ‘Agnus Dei’. It’s (obviously) a picture of the Lamb of God, taken from a book of Dover Artwork. It’s currently on my site theme, though I’ll probably change it out soon.
After I posted it, a friend wrote and said I need to find forgiveness for one of my former Pastors. She knew I had put that picture up to get back at him.
But I had put the picture up because I liked it. It echoed the artwork on the Parish’s website only because I had chosen most of the artwork for the site, and had written at the time most of the copy. Obviously there was going to be some similarity.
Frankly, some injustices have occured. And at some point in time I need to tell my story. It’s as simple as that, and it’s just a part of being alive and well.
Not to do so would be dysfunctional. And I know, because I’ve studied the Rules of Dysfunction! Which include silence about such things as injustice, and rigidity in the unwritten rules of non-expression.
God, you know my folly; my faults are not hidden from you.
Let those who wait for you, LORD of hosts, not be shamed through me. Let those who seek you, God of Israel, not be disgraced through me For your sake I bear insult, shame covers my face. I have become an outcast to my kin, a stranger to my mother’s children.
Because zeal for your house consumes me, I am scorned by those who scorn you.
I have wept and fasted, but this led only to scorn. I clothed myself in sackcloth; I became a byword for them.
They who sit at the gate gossip about me; drunkards make me the butt of their songs. But I pray to you, LORD, for the time of your favor. God, in your great kindness answer me with your constant help.Rescue me from the mire; do not let me sink. Rescue me from my enemies and from the watery depths. Do not let the floodwaters overwhelm me, nor the deep swallow me, nor the mouth of the pit close over me.
That being said, I am far from perfect, filled with foibles and defects and, as Psalm 51 relates, ‘my sin is ever before me’ in the eyes of God.
So, when I say I need to relate my experiences in the Priesthood, I’m not trying to shunt blame for any wrongs I may have done. And I’m not trying to ‘get back at’ my former Pastors. To do so would be to get mired down in low level thought processes and to shut down the refreshing sunlight of the spirit working in my life.
Also, I would never break any confidences, or relate in any way shape or form material which may be scandalous to the Faithful (not that there is any of course.)
But, those things which happened in the public eye, things which were said and done which did cause scandal to the Faithful, and to myself, I have no quandaries writing about. Everyone knows such things anyway.
Answer me, LORD, in your generous love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; in my distress hasten to answer me. Come and ransom my life; because of my enemies redeem me.
You know my reproach, my shame, my disgrace; before you stand all my foes.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak; I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none. Instead they put gall in my food; for my thirst they gave me vinegar.
Conformed to the Cross of Jesus Christ; now that’s a challenge for us all.
We have to learn lessons from life’s trials. Because when we allow God to teach us in our hearts, we are able to grow in wisdom and to be of service to Him in our work with others. I pray to reap the rewards of lessons learned, and to grow stronger in Christ as a result.
Can you believe this next part is a valid prayer on the part of King David?
Make their own table a snare for them, a trap for their friends.
Make their eyes so dim they cannot see; keep their backs ever feeble.
Pour out your wrath upon them; let the fury of your anger overtake them.
Make their camp desolate, with none to dwell in their tents.
For they pursued the one you struck, added to the pain of the one you wounded. Add that to their crimes; let them not attain to your reward. Strike them from the book of the living; do not count them among the just!
Whew! Gracious, Lord Jesus Christ! Have Mercy! Mon Dieu!
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help protect me, God, That I may praise God’s name in song and glorify it with thanksgiving.
My song will please the LORD more than oxen, more than bullocks with horns and hooves: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, take heart!
Humility.
Everything always comes down to humility, doesn’t it? To love God with all our heart, all our might, all our mind and all our soul, is to acknowledge that His greatness far surpasses our own.
Humility is a keystone, capstone, cornerstone of the spiritual life.
For the LORD hears the poor, does not spurn those in bondage.
“Let the heavens and the earth sing praise, the seas and whatever moves in them!”
God will rescue Zion, rebuild the cities of Judah. God’s servants shall dwell in the land and possess it; it shall be the heritage of their descendants; those who love God’s name shall dwell there.
Perhaps I will be able to write down my experiences, so that others may find hope in God’s providence. Perhaps God will lead me in a different direction entirely in writing. As long as I pray to discern His will and try to do that, it’ll be for some benefit.
Aside form that, it’s not terribly interesting, and we’ve already established that blogging is not my forte. It’s a relief to realize that my dull, lifeless website is AOK for my rambling rambles, thoughts in prayer, and deeply boring chronicles. A little something for everyone!
What I have learned is to always trust in the Lord, and to remain faithful to Him. All ought flow from closeness with Jesus Christ, or all is for nought.
A New Teaching
This from the Naked Pastor.
The Anchoress was writing about just the same thing today. More or less. She writes: “Perhaps if all of us turned off the TV, shut down the internet, silenced the iPods and spent 15-30 minutes a day taking instruction in his presence or beneath his Cross, our humility would be such that we could never cry out “heretic” without first proclaiming it for ourselves.”
Salient thoughts. And discourse today has gotten so strident. Ouch.
Now, I had really meant to post something about the Burning Bush today, since it was in the daily Mass readings and it was a great source of prayer this morning. I’m just remarkably tired. Or just tired of things as they are.
I am opting out of political discourse I do believe. The world has gone crazy in so many areas. Of course my site is currently called ‘Life and Times‘ of a 21st Century Priest, not just ‘Life’. Maybe I should call it ‘Photoblog of a 21st Century Priest’s Life.’
That’s a real winner. Catchy.
I was going to call it Confessions of a Catholic Priest, but… I didn’t. It’s a long tragic tale, filled with drama and intrigue. It’s the type of thing I never write about here on my dull, lifeless weblog.
I am going to be devoting myself to prayer and discernment of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and in the world. The future is so bright in many ways.
I have some walking to do before I get to Night Prayer. And then, blessed sleep. The hour, it grows late for such things…