tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61508360681607502132024-03-13T05:40:09.760-07:00The Irish BlessingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128310767134716983noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-67618299980618601102014-04-29T13:52:00.001-07:002014-04-29T13:53:32.760-07:00Forever Notre Dame<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting ready to graduate can be stressful – it’s a big
transition from college to the “real world”, figuring out jobs, grad school,
where we’re living and who we’re living with all while finishing classes – it
can be a lot. Without a doubt, Notre Dame has prepared us well for the real
world – we’ve seen thousands of people go before and be successful, and so
while we may be sad that our time at Our Lady’s University is coming to a
close, there is nothing to fear. As we work to ensure that our plans for next
year are lined up, we also need to remember to work on our faith as we enter
into new stages of our lives.<br />
<br />
After talking to graduates from the Class of 2013, here are
some tips on engaging in your faith post-college as well as some general tips:</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Find something regular you’re interested in –
whether it be a Bible Study, Young Adult Volleyball or a service group – and
try to go every time they meet. Seeing people consistently really helps build
friendships and it’s a great way to find a community after college!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cad8gIjdTvo/U2AQ54OTUEI/AAAAAAAAAzY/ewKPX-xTB44/s1600/graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cad8gIjdTvo/U2AQ54OTUEI/AAAAAAAAAzY/ewKPX-xTB44/s1600/graduation.jpg" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t underestimate how important relationships
are. Don’t be afraid to pass up a higher salary or a better opportunity in
order to live closer to family or friends. And remember that money is merely a
means to an end and never an end in itself.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Living a good faith life is all about will. If
you want to live a good moral and faith filled life you have to act like you
want to. It takes far more time and effort to attend mass, pray or discuss
morality/theology in the real world and to keep a good faith life requires
putting in extra effort. You have to make a habit of wanting a good faith life
and moral compass.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t worry about having a long term plan. Most
people still have no idea what they want to do with their life even after
college. If you ever feel frustrated or overwhelmed, it’s okay to vent to God
about it – He’s always listening!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Go Parish shopping! Different parishes have
different styles and different cultures. It’s okay if you don’t feel at home in
the first parish you go to; it doesn’t mean you’re a bad Catholic, try a
different one!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Go to mass every Sunday even if you’re tired,
hung over, or don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of it. Mass will help
create the cornerstone for your faith.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Once you do find a parish you like, remember to
register! This generally involves just stopping by the parish house and filling
out your address but it’s a good way to be more connected to the community and
know when different events are going on.</span></li>
</ul>
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Dame Alumni Association also has some great tools available for us to use. You
can sign up for the daily email </span><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/faith/social.aspx?sid=1210&gid=609&pgid=5683&cid=15492" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> which sends the Gospel reading, a Reflection, Prayer and Saint of the day to
your email Monday – Friday at 5am EST. To find times for Mass, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;">Reconciliation</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> and Adoration in parishes around you, check out masstimes.org. Make sure to connect with your local Alumni Club for help finding a parish. Also check out faith.nd.edu for other
events and activities to get involved with and stay connected to the ND
community. </span></span><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-48058321766383587122014-04-22T10:13:00.000-07:002014-04-22T10:15:12.954-07:00Around Campus: Getting to Know Fr. Lies!<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Fr. Bill Lies is
currently serving as the VP for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs at Notre
Dame and a priest in residence at Alumni Hall. I have the had the great
opportunity to get to know Fr. Lies during my past three years here at Notre
Dame and am constantly inspired by his dedication to the Lord and to Notre Dame
as well as his obvious love for his family, particularly his strikingly
handsome, identical twin brother. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What is your favorite
thing about Notre Dame?:</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Alma Mater at the end of the football games. Indeed, the Alma Mater at the end of
anything. It’s really not about
football, it’s about the way our community embraces each other in moments like
that. It’s not just a nice tradition; it
touches the heart of who we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzE_z_mtGLw/U1aiVhGzYwI/AAAAAAAAAyw/gM4mVPwwFkU/s1600/fr+lies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzE_z_mtGLw/U1aiVhGzYwI/AAAAAAAAAyw/gM4mVPwwFkU/s1600/fr+lies.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from: www. nd.edu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How did you come to
your current position?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was the Executive Director at the Center for Social
Concerns and Fr. John [Jenkins] was thinking about ways in which we might be
more intentional about reaching out to the U.S. Church, and not just the
bishops but Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services and a zillion other
organizations and ways in which we could more effectively support the Church in
this country and beyond through scholarship and service. Through numerous
conversations with other people and myself, Father John created this Office of
Mission Engagement and Church Affairs. Notre Dame is a robustly Catholic place,
so many of these things were already going on.
The hope is that they will be brought together in a more official,
integrated ways through this office.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What is one of your
favorite memories at Notre Dame?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a brother, Jim, who was at Notre Dame for some years;
he’s a Holy Cross priest as well. He’s an identical twin… (and strikingly
handsome I might add). He first came here for graduate school, and it’s how I
came to know Notre Dame and Holy Cross in the first place. Many years later,
when I was looking at religious life, Holy Cross became one of the obvious options,
which we had both talked about; he joined as well a couple years after me. Jim
is now the VP for Mission at Stonehill College doing essentially the same thing
that I’m doing here, which is almost impossible for us to believe. One of the great graces in my life is that Jim
and I are both brothers in life as well as in Holy Cross. Regarding the
funniest moments here at Notre Dame, they mostly revolve around Jim and I being
confused for one another… and the examples through the years are endless. For
instance, when he comes for a visit to Corby Hall, our priests and brothers
residence on campus, they put an envelope with his name on it on a board in the
front entry. The second that envelope goes up on that board, several Holy Cross
guys at Corby will call me Jim the next time they see me. And I just set them
straight and tell them that he’s not coming for another couple days. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPUN12kFc_I/U1aif7uhF8I/AAAAAAAAAy4/1XIKi1HvKeU/s1600/holy+cross+congregation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPUN12kFc_I/U1aif7uhF8I/AAAAAAAAAy4/1XIKi1HvKeU/s1600/holy+cross+congregation.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><i>Can you talk a little
about your calling to the priesthood?</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I graduated from undergrad, spent a year as a lay volunteer
with the Dominicans in Chicago, then I worked for two years. I was contemplating
the seminary and priesthood. One day, in the middle of time in Chicago, someone
asked me, “What are you going to do?” And I responded that maybe I would be a
priest, unless I fell in love and got married.
Well, I thought to myself later, am I just going to let my whole life
happen to me? If someone like me, who loves the Lord, doesn’t think seriously about
ways to serve Him, then who will? From there, it was a relatively easy choice
to choose religious life with Holy Cross. It helps too that I come from a long
line of religious people by the way. In
my mom’s family, the first is a Franciscan sister, the next is a priest, the
next a Christian Brother. In fact, it
was so much a part of our life and family culture, I used to joke that this
wasn’t such a hard choice… I thought everyone was doing it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Do you have any advice
to students discerning their future?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be open and prayerful. As I look back at different times when
these questions weighed heavy, I sense that with a certain openness and prayer,
grace always filled the spaces of doubt and the Lord ultimately led my
discernment. And get someone to talk with, like a spiritual director or
confidant, who can walk with you along the way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-29435442462503802812014-04-14T21:18:00.000-07:002014-04-14T21:18:40.585-07:00RCIA: Welcome to the Church!<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With Easter right around the corner, we are about to
celebrate the end of this year’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
program on campus. This is a program through which Christians of various
denominations receive the sacraments to become full members of the Catholic
Church. . I had the privilege of talking with two Notre Dame members of the
Elect who will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the
Eucharist at Saturday’s Easter Vigil Mass in the Basilica. Both of their
perspectives on joining the Catholic Church were beautiful to hear, and
excerpts from their interviews are as follows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Sean Yuan is a
junior Business major at Notre Dame</i>:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRsK86DWiWQ/U0yyzLxm0jI/AAAAAAAAAyE/b9xZ79ZfiII/s1600/3.30.13+Easter+Vigil+27910+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRsK86DWiWQ/U0yyzLxm0jI/AAAAAAAAAyE/b9xZ79ZfiII/s1600/3.30.13+Easter+Vigil+27910+(1).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Q. Why did you decide to participate in the RCIA program?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Sean</i>:<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I wanted that sense of peace and to participate in this
wonderful community. I decided that the Catholic faith provides me with a
lifestyle that teaches me to become who I was meant to be. It's a comforting
thought, but not a comfortable lifestyle by any means. In fact, I think being
Catholic in this world is one of the toughest decisions to make. But without
being intentional, I feel that my life wouldn't have any direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Q. Can you walk me through your RCIA experience?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Sean</i>:<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I was a bit nervous at first, because I didn't really know
what I was getting into. However, I learned that I don't have to figure out
everything to become Catholic. My faith journey has taught me that it's all
about building a loving relationship with God, and as time goes on, God will
slowly reveal to me more and more when I'm ready for it. Meanwhile, I'll do my
best to keep reading and learning from my friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q. What are you most looking forward
to upon entering the Catholic Church?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Sean</i>: <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First Communion, hands down (or up, in reverence). We're all
just hungry, imperfect children, and God promises to keep us nourished in this
lifetime until we may finally join him after death. Wow. I could never deserve
this, but God gives freely anyway. That's some serious love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Q. What advice do you have for someone considering
joining the RCIA program?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Sean</i>: <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If any readers are at all interested in getting confirmed, or know someone who might, please contact <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/about-catholicism/sacramental-preparation/" target="_blank">Campus Ministr</a>y.They're seriously the happiest,
most qualified people for this. It's thanks to their tireless efforts and the
Holy Spirit that I made it this far. If you're a Catholic and wondering if you
can help, consider applying to be someone's sponsor. It's a really rewarding
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pu3FMmYbq7E/U0yy5UJepWI/AAAAAAAAAyM/F112BzxZb6I/s1600/DSC_4814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pu3FMmYbq7E/U0yy5UJepWI/AAAAAAAAAyM/F112BzxZb6I/s1600/DSC_4814.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Faith Spady is a
Sophomore Architect Major.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Q. Can you walk me through your RCIA experience?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Faith: </i>I
remember being at the first couple meetings and wondering “Why on earth are
these people so happy?” There really is a sense that everyone is sharing each
other’s joy and triumphs as well as their pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q. What are you most looking forward
to upon entering the Catholic Church?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Faith: </i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Eucharist. It was one of the most powerful motivating
factors throughout this process of discerning my faith, long before I ever even
knew about RCIA. When I was very little, my dad used to take me to mass with him and he would take me up with him to receive communion. He had to explain to me after the mass that I couldn't partake in it because I wasn't a part of the church<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> –
</a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">growing up, the
agreement between my parents on the issue had always been that I'd choose one
day which Church I would belong to when I was older so I had not been baptized
or received First Communion</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mass is supposed to be so much more, something that
requires full and active participation. I could feel that as a young girl. If I
say to anyone else that being denied a tiny little wafer was painful, they will
look at me like I'm crazy. If I say it to a Catholic, they'll understand
precisely what I mean. It’s rare to find a Catholic who hasn't slipped up at
some point by not attending mass for a few weeks or not going to
reconciliation. Many will say how hard it is, how painful when you start up
again. Perhaps some of the pain is from the guilt of not coming, but mostly it’s
the idea that when given the opportunity you denied yourself of the Eucharist,
of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Q. What advice do you have for someone considering
joining the RCIA program?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_EfXG0RApE/U0yy_gX9RlI/AAAAAAAAAyU/pf9kmySm7x4/s1600/DSC_4762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_EfXG0RApE/U0yy_gX9RlI/AAAAAAAAAyU/pf9kmySm7x4/s1600/DSC_4762.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Faith: </i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RCIA is not just to convert "pagans" or bring
people back into the church. It is clearly illustrated in the definition of
conversion which is supposed to be a turning towards God. That could be the
initial big turn or a continued step in the right direction. It’s not supposed
be like stepping out onto a straight paved road, where getting on is all you
really have to do. There will be rocks and dips in the path, you will get tired
and you will question yourself at times. Why did I get on this path? What am I
supposed to do now? It looks disturbing up ahead, should I keep going? How can
I? The little things are usually what refresh us enough to pursue the faith a
bit longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks so much to Faith and Sean for
sharing your experience in the RCIA program! I am so excited for you both to be
able to share in full communion with the Church this Saturday! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“<i>May you cling to
Wisdom, for She will protect you…and if you cherish her, she will keep you
safe.” Book of Proverbs</i></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-88945431119280051742014-04-01T10:46:00.000-07:002014-04-01T10:46:56.999-07:00Covering the Hard Issues: Gay Marriage<div class="MsoNormal">
Gay marriage is perhaps the hardest teaching of the Church
for our generation. It’s the topic no one wants to talk about because it always
brings out very strong emotions and defending the Church's position is widely
viewed as discriminatory. While I’ve always been vocal about my pro-life views,
defending marriage is something I generally have not taken a stand on unless
pressed about my beliefs. I’ve seen the fact that I defend traditional marriage
drive a knife into friendships and stop others from progressing and yet I
cannot pretend to change my beliefs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPlU_65KrP0/Uzr6pHofPoI/AAAAAAAAAwg/GCiHolFr6zU/s1600/wedding_rings_clip_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPlU_65KrP0/Uzr6pHofPoI/AAAAAAAAAwg/GCiHolFr6zU/s1600/wedding_rings_clip_art.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a>In many conversations I’ve had with friends, they bring up
the fact that they have friends, siblings, or other family members who are hurt
because they wish their relationships and love to be recognized in marriage. I
too have close gay friends who have struggled and have been hurt by this, but
this should lead us to delve deeper into Catholic teaching rather than reject
it outright. It is only through study and reflection along with much prayer
that we can properly discuss the Catholic teaching on marriage and come to
realize it’s based not on emotions, but on the ability of a man and woman to
participate in creation. Consider that the Church does not officially recognize
the relationship between two friends, which can be full of love, and so there
must be another reason for recognizing marriage while not recognizing other
relationships.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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In order to understand the Church’s teaching on gay
marriage, we must first understand its teaching on marriage. Marriage is one of
the seven sacraments of the Church. It is important to note that it is not the
wedding that is the sacrament but the marriage itself. According to the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and
a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by
its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and
education of offspring”. (Part 2, Sec. 2, Ch.3 Article 7). According to this
definition, the outward sign of the sacrament of marriage, sex, must have a
procreative aspect, which is not possible among two members of the same sex.
This definition of marriage is stated in Genesis 2 and restated in Matthew 19:
“Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them
male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they
are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined, let man not
separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6). The design of marriage is seen in our
complementary creation, a complementarity which places the possibility of
procreation at the forefront of our relationship in a marriage and which cannot
be disengaged from marriage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lkn57a_rGqE/Uzr62YUtSHI/AAAAAAAAAwo/Q1AbCHnQhQg/s1600/male-and-female-relationship-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lkn57a_rGqE/Uzr62YUtSHI/AAAAAAAAAwo/Q1AbCHnQhQg/s1600/male-and-female-relationship-sign.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a>It is important to note that the Church does not persecute
homosexual people. Pope Francis’ remarks on this topic are perhaps most
revealing, “If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them?
They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the
problem…they’re our brothers”. Rather than persecution, the Church calls homosexual
people to live a life in holiness just as they call all men and women of the
Catholic faith to live a life in holiness. Recently, great work has begun to
consider more fully the Church’s teaching on homosexuality and especially the
call to a deep friendship. I’d encourage anyone looking to find out more, to
explore the writing <a href="http://spiritualfriendship.org/" target="_blank">on this website</a>.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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As Catholics living in an age in which gay marriage is the
culturally accepted norm, we are called to engage this teaching through love
and a prayerful heart. The Catholic Church considers defending the Truth as a
duty of every Catholic, seen from the Apostles down through 2000 years of
history. We as Catholics must do all we can to reason and learn why the Church
teaches what it does and ultimately, have faith. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-26945634138045447672014-03-24T20:33:00.001-07:002014-03-26T10:56:34.958-07:00Catholic Aerobics<div class="MsoNormal">
We all know that Sunday is a day of rest, so why is it that
the Church insists we move around so much during mass? Kneel, sit, stand, sit,
stand, sit, stand, sit, stand, kneel, stand, kneel, walk, kneel, sit, stand.
Try saying that one ten times fast. The meaning behind the movements of the
mass, or Catholic Aerobics, are often lost or forgotten among the other parts
of the mass. So why do we go through these movements and what do they mean?
I’ll admit that I knew very little about why mass involved so much movement, so
I created a cheat sheet on certain aspects of mass for us to reflect upon the
next time we go:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sNUFSa6t_o/UzD4gr7HZNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/hgme5IF1IHQ/s1600/movement+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sNUFSa6t_o/UzD4gr7HZNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/hgme5IF1IHQ/s1600/movement+cartoon.jpg" /></a><i>Standing</i>: The
times in which we stand during Mass are the times in which we are showing
respect to either the Priest or the Word of God (during the Gospel). Just as we
stand when we are introduced to a person, we stand when the priest enters to
show respect. We also stand during the Gospel and Profession of Faith to show
reverence and emphasize the words which we are hearing or professing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Sitting</i>: We sit
primarily during the first and second reading and the responsorial psalms. This
set-up, with us sitting and the reader standing, imitates a classroom with us
as learners. During the Liturgy of the Word, we are the students, learning from
the readings and from the lesson proclaimed through the homily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Kneeling</i>: We kneel
during the sacrifice of the mass, standing only for the Our Father and Sign of
Peace. We kneel during this time because we are witnessing the Eucharistic
Consecration, kneeling symbolizes our reverence and respect for the sacrifice
of Jesus and his physical presence. The act of kneeling links back to the
beginning of the Church through Peter as he “knelt down and prayed” in Acts
9:40.*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Other aspects of the Mass that every Catholic ought to know:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Genuflecting</i>: We genuflect
when we enter or exit the pew to show reverence to the physical presence of
Jesus in the tabernacle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaiI_1DTuKA/UzD4nnlUufI/AAAAAAAAAwI/M7_KDMjfcow/s1600/SignSitOrKneel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaiI_1DTuKA/UzD4nnlUufI/AAAAAAAAAwI/M7_KDMjfcow/s1600/SignSitOrKneel.png" height="178" width="320" /></a><i>Transubstantiation:</i>
That hard word that we had to memorize how to spell in the 4<sup>th</sup> grade
if we went to Catholic middle school and were too busy spelling to remember the
meaning. Transubstantiation occurs during the consecration when the bread and
wine are transformed into the true Body and Blood of Jesus. The second time
that the bells are rung during the consecration alerts us that the fact that
transubstantiation has just occurred.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course they are many more aspects of the Mass that have not been covered in this blog. If there is an aspect of the Mass you're confused about or have just learned about and would like to share, please comment below and we can continue learning!</div>
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<br />
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*According to <i>The
General Instruction on the Roman Missal #43</i> (U.S. Version), “In the
dioceses of the U.S.A., they should kneel beginning after the singing or
recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer,
except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the
large number of people present, or some other good reason.” Perhaps this is
something that we ought to look into at our dorm masses!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-90359218484884000802014-03-18T08:31:00.000-07:002014-03-18T08:31:13.917-07:00A Universal Church: Catholic Style<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps one of the greatest things about the Catholic Church
is its universality – that Church teaching and the celebration of the
sacraments does not change from culture to culture. This unique facet of the
Catholic Church allows for one to be at home wherever you may travel. While it
is true that one can pray anywhere, the physical presence of Jesus through the
Eucharist is something that Catholics always have access to, even in cultures
in which they are not familiar.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W7hP7W7-pN0/UyhmK-qkN8I/AAAAAAAAAvc/ptuZ-cYhvoY/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W7hP7W7-pN0/UyhmK-qkN8I/AAAAAAAAAvc/ptuZ-cYhvoY/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I was lucky enough to spend my spring break
in Switzerland conducting research and visiting the country for the first time.
Switzerland is a very interesting country because its culture is highly
influenced by its neighboring countries, Germany, France and Italy. In fact,
the culture within Switzerland changes drastically from one part of the country
to the other depending on which bordering country is closest. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The history of Switzerland is closely tied up with the
history of Catholics and Protestants’, especially as the home of John Calvin.
With such a rich history, Switzerland is full of majestic sacred architecture,
of both Catholic and Protestant denominations, and touring Switzerland includes
viewing countless churches and basilicas. Perhaps one of the most striking
realizations of this trip was the ease in which one is able to immediately tell
whether a church is Catholic or Protestant or another denomination. Upon
entering a church, it is so easy to tell whether Christ is present in the
Eucharist there or not, easily ruling out if the church is Catholic or not.
I’ve heard other friends and family members describe to me this feeling, that
walking into a church where the Eucharist is not celebrated is not the same as
walking into a Catholic Church and I had a hard time believing them until this
trip. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEB6X9amBlQ/UyhmWbhlw3I/AAAAAAAAAvk/36sXaRDzhcw/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEB6X9amBlQ/UyhmWbhlw3I/AAAAAAAAAvk/36sXaRDzhcw/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This immediate understanding of the presence of the
Eucharist greatly attributes to the universality of the Catholic Church. Being
in a foreign country or experiencing a new culture is always an exciting
adventure but it can get overwhelming at times and having that opportunity to
find a church and feel at home is one of the greatest reliefs of being
Catholic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While in Switzerland, Elizabeth, my fellow travel companion,
and I decided to go to one of the great churches we had visited earlier for
Sunday mass. We were excited to go to an English mass after dealing with
language barriers for a couple days. Unfortunately we misread the schedule and ended
up at a German mass much to our confusion. Although we were unable to
understand the readings and the homily was completely lost on us, there was a
beauty in being able to celebrate the Eucharist in a form in which we were
familiar even though the language was foreign. We may not have learned the
lesson the priest was promulgating from the pulpit through his homily, but we
were able to celebrate the Eucharist in a community that was truly one,
universal and apostolic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1T92mqDR0PI/UyhmhVuUblI/AAAAAAAAAvs/9TYIEFg8siI/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1T92mqDR0PI/UyhmhVuUblI/AAAAAAAAAvs/9TYIEFg8siI/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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As we traveled throughout Switzerland, unable to read any of
the signs and frequently having to ask people if they spoke English, I realized
that this is what it must be for children before they are able to read; unaware
of their surroundings beyond what they are able to perceive for themselves or
what an adult may tell them. In many aspects we were forced to have the faith
of children, both a disconcerting and humbling experience. Similarly, while
celebrating mass, we were asked to believe without fully understand the words,
to have the faith of a child and believe. The experience was very rewarding and
one which I can’t wait to repeat in future travels!</div>
<o:p></o:p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-85904400053220199782014-03-04T06:43:00.000-08:002014-03-04T06:43:02.571-08:00Reconciling fears of Reconciliation<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up, reconciliation was something I always dreaded. I
didn't understand why I had to tell a priest my sins when I could just
communicate them directly to God. Looking back, I really didn't have much to
confess to the priest, it was probably the most innocent confession he ever
heard. Yet, I remained nervous about going. My childhood-self saw the purpose
of reconciliation as a shaming process: a practice designed to make you so
embarrassed about your sins that you never commit them again because otherwise
you have to tell the priest again and that would just be downright humiliating.
Really, it’s no wonder I feared confession so much!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LlBCSbis6YE/UxXmGKKwQLI/AAAAAAAAAvA/fNwi_bD7TUM/s1600/rec003.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LlBCSbis6YE/UxXmGKKwQLI/AAAAAAAAAvA/fNwi_bD7TUM/s1600/rec003.png" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was in junior high, I remember my older sister coming
home and sharing the view her friend had on confession, that confession was like erasing
a dirty chalk board.
I liked this metaphor because it was one I could understand. The priest
absolving your sins was like walking away cleansed, free from the marks that
had been there before. And there was nothing shaming about this process:
chalkboards get marked up all the time, of course they had to be cleaned! While
this metaphor might not exactly encompass all aspects of reconciliation, it was
a metaphor that I was able to understand at the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Human relationships are broken all the time because we are
imperfect beings. It is in our nature to get upset, to disrupt a harmonious
relationship or end up hurting someone. This does not mean that we are oriented
towards this end but that these things happen, and it is not necessarily
something we have to be ashamed about. Rather than being ashamed, we ought to
work towards fixing these broken relationships: seeking forgiveness and moving
forward. This same concept applies to our relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a way of cleansing our
relationship with God. God loves us so much that He sent His only son. Jesus
carried the weight of our sins on His shoulders and through His Passion, the
doors of Heaven have been opened for us. To be able to enter fully into Heaven,
however, we must be in a state of complete grace, a state of sin-lessness.
Reconciliation is a way of entering into that state, even though it may be
temporary. It is a way of deepening our relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1r8AxBnp-M/UxXmNB7trVI/AAAAAAAAAvI/JrS02hrkOPE/s1600/forgive_1446c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1r8AxBnp-M/UxXmNB7trVI/AAAAAAAAAvI/JrS02hrkOPE/s1600/forgive_1446c.jpg" height="320" width="186" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many Catholics seems to lie in two different categories:
either it seems as if they are going to reconciliation every day or they only go when obligated.
For some, reconciliation is a sacrament that evokes fear while for others, the
graces of the sacrament are truly a joyful, or freeing experience. Although
there is no right or wrong amount of times to seek Reconciliation, we need to
make sure we are not comparing ourselves to our neighbor but doing what is
right for our faith life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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As Catholics, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">we have an obligation to receive the Sacrament
of Reconciliation at least once a year</a>.
Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the five precepts, or
duties, required by Catholics. These precepts are outlined by the Catholic Church
in order to “<a href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P75.HTM" target="_blank">guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth of love of God and neighbor</a>”.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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In my experience, Reconciliation is an especially rewarding
experience when you are struggling with something in regards to your faith life
or your relationship with others. It allows you to take a deep breath,
acknowledge your wrong-doings and move on, striving to do better. Even though
the fears of my childhood self sometimes creep up, I try to remind myself that
Reconciliation is not about being ashamed, it is about striving to understand
and do God’s will, and that is not something to be scared of!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Reconciliation is particularly pertinent as we enter the
Lenten season. Lent provides a time for us to evaluate our lives, figure out
what is holding us back and try to form new habits going forward.
Reconciliation is a perfect complement to a sacrificial exercise. There may be
times when we fall, but what matters is that we dust ourselves off and try
again. With the beginning of Lent, I’d encourage all of you to seek out the sacrament
of Reconciliation, we are blessed to have many <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/basilica-of-the-sacred-heart/mass-schedule/reconciliation-schedule/" target="_blank">opportunities to attend on our campus</a>. Also check out the <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/about-catholicism/lent/campus-lenten-opportunities/" target="_blank">Campus Lenten Opportunities</a>.</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-6787136238601132232014-02-24T19:49:00.000-08:002014-02-24T19:49:50.065-08:00Why Should I Know My Faith?<div class="MsoNormal">
In a conversation with friends the other day, the question
was posed on why one should bother to study his or her faith? Why continue
study beyond the basic building blocks of fundamental faith understanding? In
an earlier post I discussed the Church’s call to evangelize, specifically in
regards to the <a href="http://theirishblessing.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-evangelization.html" target="_blank">New Evangelization</a>. How, then, would it be
possible to evangelize and spread our faith if we cannot explain it? Both in my
work in the <a href="http://theirishblessing.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-it-means-to-be-pro-life-advocate.html" target="_blank">pro-life movement</a> and as a Catholic, I have
found that a deep understanding of one’s beliefs is essential to being able to
share and explain your viewpoint with others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beyourhands.com/wp-content/images/episode31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.beyourhands.com/wp-content/images/episode31.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campus Ministry's Theology on Tap series is a great way to <br />learn more about your faith</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last year as President of the Right to Life Club, I was
thrown into a position where people often looked to me for their answers. In
all honestly, in the beginning of the year I was not prepared to answer
questions about why the Catholic Church teaches that contraception is wrong or
where the Church stood on the death penalty or to thoroughly explain the
pro-life teachings of the Church. In many cases, I believed in certain
teachings of the Church because they were just that, teachings of the Church
and as a Catholic, these were the teachings I believed in. Especially in
regards to contraception, I would not have been able to defend my beliefs
beyond saying it was a teaching of the Church. In conversations about whether
contraception is right or wrong, I would be easily persuaded to the other
person’s beliefs – whether they were for or against it. It wasn’t until I
really started to look into the issue, knowing that I’d be asked about it at
some point, that I began to see the Church’s teachings as a truth that I knew I
could believe in and actually began to develop my faith around the issue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
What I learned from this experience is that if I don’t take
the time to educate myself on my beliefs, then not only will I have a difficult
time discussing my beliefs with others, but I would also be at risk of being
easily swayed to an opposing view. This is not to suggest that we should not
listen to other faith perspectives but that we ought to understand more than
just the surface of our beliefs. For me, knowing that I was pro-life was a good
thing but eventually it was not enough. Without researching the issue, it
became very hard to defend my beliefs and even harder to share them with
others, to evangelize the pro-life mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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The study and a deep understanding of one’s beliefs is so
essential to being an evangelizing Catholic because it allows you to express
your beliefs in terms that the person you’re in conversation with can
understand. Without a deep understanding of your beliefs, it can be very easy
to fall into a trap of doubting all your beliefs, especially when you are not
surrounded by a community as supportive as Notre Dame.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Our Lady is always close to us, especially when we feel the weight of life with all its problems.<br />
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex/statuses/437910897508372480">February 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Understanding your faith can be as simple as keeping up with
the Pope’s activities and teachings (try following @Pontifex) and discussing
points you don’t understand with family and friends or the religious on campus.
Here at Notre Dame, we are surrounded by some of the premier theological
scholars of our age, take advantage of that and visit them at office hours or attend
one of their lectures. Don’t be afraid to have these discussions with friends
of opposing beliefs, often time their questions can make you question what is
at the foundation of your belief and make you research what exactly your
beliefs mean. Remember that it’s okay to question where your beliefs come from,
and why you believe what you do, but these questions should fuel our studies of
faith rather than lead us to abandon it. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-78505333866875432732014-02-18T09:12:00.001-08:002014-02-18T09:12:43.648-08:00Perceiving Pornography <div class="MsoNormal">
Until last year I was very naïve about the pornography
industry. To me, it wasn’t something that existed, wasn’t something that people
wanted to look at. In a conversation with friends last year, the topic of
pornography came up and I was surprised to learn that it was something that so
many people on campus struggled with, people who I cared about and people who I
never would have expected to struggle with it. Since then I’ve talked with friends
about it, trying to figure out if it was true and what it all meant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riQasS1lcaw/UwOUCYm1jEI/AAAAAAAAAuI/N-YfOnZ5RoU/s1600/computer-addiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riQasS1lcaw/UwOUCYm1jEI/AAAAAAAAAuI/N-YfOnZ5RoU/s1600/computer-addiction.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I’ve learned from these conversations is that pornography
is something that everyone, and especially men, have to deal with at some point
in their lives. (Women are affected as well, but historically it has been far
more prevalent among men.) In a conversation with a friend on how he fell into
porn, he described it as an “innocent accident”: “you can find anything online
these days, just type something into Google and hundreds of thousands of
possible sites come up. All it takes is being a little too curious and clicking
the wrong link and you find something you never intended to see…for me, as a
boy just hitting puberty, when I would see swimsuit ads of course I was going
to be curious. It doesn’t take much at first to get the hormones running as
there is no desensitization. One nude picture would be enough to get
sufficiently aroused, but as time progresses it takes more. And more.” As this
testimony suggests, advertisers understand that men are very visual and use
this to their advantage. Once boys view porn, even if it’s on accident, they
are going to be bombarded with more ads, making it a struggle for boys to
consider not looking at porn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Viewing porn, especially continuously over a long period of
time, has a huge effect on a person’s mind. Having struggled with porn for
several years, my friend suggested that “porn is a perversion of love in the
ultimate sense. Instead of giving fully of yourself, you are taking from
another. In viewing porn all I would care about is my pleasure, how to get what
I want…I was literally killing my sense of love. Pope John Paul II tells us
very clearly that we live to love, while pornography told me you live for my lust.
It rewires the brain such that I would see others as objects for my pleasure
and not as humans with dignity…Once porn has turned your definition of love on
its head, you turn to it instead of proper sources of love. When you’re
stressed, super busy, get rejected, or searching for something to do all it
takes is just one little click of the mouse and you are back into it. In all of
those cases, I was looking for love and instead of turning to friends or
family, pornography filled that hole.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svOZ1-Kwwb0/UwOUIyntO_I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/MPUzdxLdnyI/s1600/220px-X_rating_symbol.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svOZ1-Kwwb0/UwOUIyntO_I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/MPUzdxLdnyI/s1600/220px-X_rating_symbol.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movies rated X often have displays of pornography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unlike drug or alcohol addictions, porn addictions are never
talked about on campus. We persuade ourselves that as Catholics or good
students, this is something that surely does not affect our friends or family
members. Or if we are struggling with it, we persuade ourselves that it is
something that we must struggled with alone; in some ways, it is not something
that we are not allowed to struggle with. Rather than shying away from this
topic, however, it would be much more fruitful to acknowledge its presence.
Challenge friends we know who view porn to stop. As my friend suggested to me, “I cannot count
the number of times I wish I had been caught. Deep down I wanted someone to
discover it, to force me out, to bring the shame to the surface so I no longer
had to hide it…I was a lucky one though, for just as porn had driven me away
from an understanding of love, my friends and family, and the love that we
shared brought me back. After years of struggle and finally opening up to some
friends with similar struggles, I was finally able to dump porn
altogether…Pornography distorts love. That is its most basic and harmful
aspect. The best weapon we have against that is living a life of true love by
gift of self. ” Perhaps in bringing to light some of the effects of porn in
conversations with friends we can work to change the culture. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-57973493183762953692014-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:002014-02-11T12:13:26.427-08:00Notre Dating<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve heard more often than not that the dating culture at
Notre Dame, or “Notre Dating”, is unusual. I disagree though, I think the dating
culture is strange in our generation, that this is a not a problem isolated to
Notre Dame. The fact that we have single sex dorms, that many students identify
as Catholic, or at least religious, and that we have an entire department
related to gender relations may give the perception that our culture is
atypical, but I’d like to offer a different conclusion: that our entire generation
has lost its understanding of what it means to date. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BB-41lwfI-U/UvqCSA1zxnI/AAAAAAAAAtk/ayv1W8vuyEY/s1600/valentines-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BB-41lwfI-U/UvqCSA1zxnI/AAAAAAAAAtk/ayv1W8vuyEY/s1600/valentines-day.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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Growing up in society today, young men and women are taught
that we must go to the best college possible, focus on our careers, be leaders
within our clubs or dorms and everything in between. Peer pressure teaches us
that we must look like we are having a great time on the weekend, that we have
to be up to date on the latest music, TV shows, celebrity scandals and make
sure we have at least a couple of Instagram and SnapChat -able moments
throughout the week. Young women have the added pressure of being up to date on
the latest fashion trends and young men must finish the newest X-box or
PlayStation game and know every possible fact about sports. Oh yea, and don’t
forget about classes, you need to get straight A’s. All of this adds up to a
lot of pressure, little time for sleep and even less time for relationships;
it’s no wonder that we no longer know how to date, we don’t have time for it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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This mountain of pressure and stress, however, does not have
the power to overtake our natural desire to love and to be loved. Instead, the
pressure allows this desire to manifest itself in a way that is entirely
unhealthy. Our generation has managed to replace traditional dating with
hook-ups and one night stands. We have been trained to not get attached, check
our emotions at the door and allow our physical desires to rule. In some ways,
I would argue that we are not responsible for this mindset. We have grown up in
a culture in which half of all marriages end up in divorce, we are constantly
bombarded with messages from the media that relationships ought to be casual
and that we are not worthy of love until we have attained bodily perfection.
Yet it is childish to suggest that we are not responsible for our own actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l_lb47SP7U/UvqCdQmPlsI/AAAAAAAAAts/jY67pRFdACg/s1600/stephen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l_lb47SP7U/UvqCdQmPlsI/AAAAAAAAAts/jY67pRFdACg/s1600/stephen.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
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In many ways you can argue that this atypical dating culture
is because so many of us have grown up in broken homes or witnessed friends
struggle with their family. While I think there is a prevalent misunderstanding
of marriage that attributes to this culture, I also think there is a prevalent
misunderstanding of dating and the goals of dating. What does it mean to date?
At what point are we ready to date? And what does dating entail?<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are questions that I’ve heard professors speak about,
that I’ve had discussions with friends about and that I’ve struggled to
understand myself. To me, dating must have a goal, without which it loses its
purpose. The goal of dating seems obvious in my mind, to find the person you
are going to marry. But does this mean you have to be ready to get married
before you start dating someone? I don’t think so. Marriage is the complete
union of two people, it is not something that you can prepare for by yourself
and so it makes no sense that you would be ready for marriage before you find
someone to marry. I do think, however, that you have to be open to the
possibility of marriage in the next few years before you start dating. I’ve
heard a professor tell students that dating can only end two ways: in heart
break or in marriage. Following this logic, we ought to be mature enough to
consider the idea of marriage, otherwise we are simply on a self-destructive
path. This goal, this understanding of why we want to date, seems so lost in
college life today. I have heard many people say that they want a significant
other and yet it seems like we don’t consider what this commitment may entail,
and whether we are even ready for commitment. While there is no perfect answer,
it is certainly something worth considering and taking an introspective look
at, as well as a conversation worth having with friends and family, or someone
you are considering dating.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This Wednesday night, Campus Ministry’s event <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/about/events/2014/02/12/25325-theology-on-tap-the-lost-art-of-dating/" target="_blank">Theology on Tap</a> provides the perfect atmosphere to have this discussion in a relaxed atmosphere
with friends and classmates. Join Bree Haler at 8pm at Legends as
she discusses the two different extremes of trends in today’s romantic
relationships. (All ages welcome). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-31906088729332593872014-02-03T22:27:00.000-08:002014-02-04T14:18:39.428-08:00The University's Call to LoveTwo and a half years ago I was confronted with a difficult decision, whether to remain at Providence College where I spent my freshman year or to transfer to Notre Dame, which had always been my dream school. After my first semester at Providence, I really did not even want to apply to transfer to Notre Dame. I loved it. I had great friends, professors who pushed me and a supportive atmosphere. After some encouragement from my parents, however, I decided to apply and was thrilled to be accepted. Even after I received the acceptance I was unsure of my decision. On the final day to send in my letter of acceptance, I was in the car driving through the Blue Mountain Ridge on my way to a family vacation and made my decision to dive in, challenging myself to leave my comfort zone and transfer to Notre Dame.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NOh0yCDO4E/UvCGnom5keI/AAAAAAAAAtE/vrYmXRjqnqk/s1600/pope_francis_and_fr_jenkins_at_the_vatican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NOh0yCDO4E/UvCGnom5keI/AAAAAAAAAtE/vrYmXRjqnqk/s1600/pope_francis_and_fr_jenkins_at_the_vatican.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
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It wasn’t until I became involved in various activities on campus that I realized that what made Notre Dame so special was its true Catholic identity. Not to say that Providence wasn’t Catholic but that Notre Dame has really been challenged as an institution, constantly criticized and forced to stand strong to protect its Catholic mission.<br />
<br />
Last week, the University of Notre Dame received a special blessing from Pope Francis I. Pope Francis’ remarks were one of accolade and a reminder to stay true to the true mission of Notre Dame – to the “<a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/45917-notre-dame-leaders-meet-with-pope-francis/">missionary spirit</a>” which inspired Fr. Sorin to found Notre Dame in 1842. As we celebrate the<a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/45957-notre-dame-to-celebrate-father-edward-sorins-200th-birthday/"> 200th birthday of Fr. Sorin</a>, Pope Francis’ words are a reminder to stay true to our beliefs, “<a href="http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/01/30/pope_to_notre_dame_delegation:_full_text/en1-768720">It is my hope that the University of Notre Dame will continue to offer unambiguous testimony to this aspect of its foundational Catholic identity, especially in the face of efforts, from whatever quarter, to dilute that indispensable witness. And this is important: its identity, as it was intended from the beginning. To defend it, to preserve it and to advance it!</a>”.<br />
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The Catholic mission of Notre Dame is what makes me so proud when I tell people that I go to Notre Dame. This mission is constantly shown in various events and activities on campus from Appalachia trips sponsored by the Center for Social Concerns to <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/">various worship</a> and <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/undergraduate-resources/anchor-leadership-program/">leadership opportunities </a>supported by Campus Ministry. This weekend, Notre Dame will host the Edith Stein conference on campus, showing once again that Notre Dame is not only dedicated to educating the mind but to feeding the spirit. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACZrTSWtB6k/UvCHPiX_nSI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/Qx-4XHDXn1o/s1600/edith+stein.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACZrTSWtB6k/UvCHPiX_nSI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/Qx-4XHDXn1o/s1600/edith+stein.PNG" /></a>The Edith Stein conference is a yearly tradition centered on the life and teaching of St. Edith Stein who dedicated her life as a Carmelite sister and died in Auschwitz, unwilling to deny her faith. This year’s theme is “Relationships and the Call to Love”, based off of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s call to love as “the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being”. The conference, though open to all, is specifically geared toward Catholic women, highlighting Notre Dame’s dedication to advancing the understanding of the role of women in the Catholic Church. The various conference speakers will address the question of exploring how “<a href="http://www.irishrover.net/?p=4720">the differences between men and women [can] beseen as gifts, and not limitations</a>”.<br />
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Notre Dame is a special university not because it is Catholic but because it is committed to educating the mind and the heart, just as Congregation of Holy Cross founder, Basil Moreau intended. The Edith Stein conference is yet another example of Notre Dame’s dedication to its student body and a reminder of why I’m proud to say that I am now a member of the Irish community. <br />
<br />
Registration for the conference is free to all ND/SMC/HCC participants, registration and an entire conference schedule can be<a href="https://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/idnd/"> found here</a>. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-38509182327354708512014-01-28T22:00:00.001-08:002014-01-29T06:46:53.996-08:00Marching for Life, Again & Again<div class="MsoNormal">
This year marked my 7<sup>th</sup> year attending the
<a href="http://marchforlife.org/" target="_blank">National March for Life in Washington D.C.</a> Over the past seven years, I’ve had
the opportunity to lead the entire national March, be in charge of organizing
trips for my high school and coordinate efforts on behalf of Notre Dame Right
to Life. I’ve attended the youth rally at the Verizon Center, gone to the
Students for Life of America conference, the Rose Dinner, and the National
Review conference, met various senators and congressmen and done everything in
between. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOMFC0eUJEE/UuiXFIZTN6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/ddSOKysjoDo/s1600/mfl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOMFC0eUJEE/UuiXFIZTN6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/ddSOKysjoDo/s1600/mfl.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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My first March for Life, I was a naïve high school freshman
looking for an adventure and a chance to miss school to hang out with my older
sister and friends. Little did I know that this trip to D.C. was going to
become a yearly pilgrimage and end up altering my perspective on life so
dramatically. Attending the March all through high school, I vividly remember
watching Sister Mary, our high school chaperone, marching us girls through
hundreds of thousands of people while holding a tiny stick with two pieces of
ribbon. We were told that if we lost sight of that ribbon, we were responsible
for finding our own way back to NJ. All of us held tightly to each other,
scared of being the one left behind. Looking back, I’m not sure how we all made
it safely home, but thank God we did!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In college, attending the March for Life became a larger
time commitment, missing classes and opportunities to hang out with friends.
Eventually, I had to question why it was so important for me to attend this
event every year, what was I getting out of it and what did I hope to achieve?
At first, the answer was obvious, I was pro-life, and this was an event I was
expected to attend as a pro-lifer. But that simple explanation didn’t hold much
weight when you considered the idea of 12 hour bus ride, nights sleeping on a
concrete floor and standing outside in the freezing cold. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JhtkHtqzC4/UuiW-K4CS-I/AAAAAAAAAqo/ZniyxIeyMn8/s1600/mfl+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JhtkHtqzC4/UuiW-K4CS-I/AAAAAAAAAqo/ZniyxIeyMn8/s1600/mfl+logo.jpg" /></a>When I really started to question why I come, I found that
attending the March for Life served two main purposes in my life. First, it
allowed me an opportunity to discuss my beliefs with my friends. Often times,
it’s not easy discussing the question of abortion or contraceptives or even
adoption, with friends. Many college age students have been affected by these
issues, many have strong opinions they are not willing to stray from and get
offended when they are questioned at all. More often than not, it is easy to
empathize with friends when these issues come up, not wanting to hurt feelings
or step on toes, however, when you attend the March for Life, it is hard to
hide your beliefs. Friends question why you’re going to be gone for a couple
days, where you’re going and why you’re going and you’re forced to face your
fear of receiving judging looks and comments from friends or classmates. These
conversations, though painful, are so important to being pro-life and showing
people that there is another way to live besides what the media portrays. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i18eA-leMtI/UuiXMMHh4sI/AAAAAAAAAq4/-5vhzJdWFPM/s1600/mfl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i18eA-leMtI/UuiXMMHh4sI/AAAAAAAAAq4/-5vhzJdWFPM/s1600/mfl2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>The second purpose, and perhaps more central to my pro-life
beliefs, is that attending the March for Life is inspiring. Being pro-life is
extremely counter-cultural, and it can be exhausting, both mentally and
spiritually. Throughout my four years in college, I’ve questioned why I’m
pro-life many times but it has always come back to the fact that I cannot stand
for injustice. I get so upset when I hear that abortionists are permitted to
continue their practice even though they have<a href="http://www.operationrescue.org/noblog/in-their-own-words-womens-stories-of-coerced-botched-and-illegal-abortions-at-tillers-womens-health-care-services-in-wichita-ks/" target="_blank"> illegally performed abortions on underage girls</a> and not reported that they may be rape victims or that <a href="http://www.sba-list.org/negligence" target="_blank">health violations are not looked into until a woman is hurt at a clinic</a>. I do not
understand how ‘feminist’s’ who say that all they want is equality, continue to
look the other way after hearing stories like the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/05/14/gosnell-trial-revealed-horrors-abortion-media-silence/" target="_blank">Gosnell trial</a>. The pro-life
movement has morality, economics, and philosophy on its side and yet sometimes
it seems as if we are shouting to an empty room. It can be very tiring. This
tiredness, and frustration, however, is washed away as you stand packed into
National Mall with over 400,000 other people on your side. The pilgrimage to
the March for Life every year is about more than seeking to overturn Roe v.
Wade, it is about remembering that you are not alone, that there is an entire
community of support, and that we can make a difference. Without this support
and this yearly reminder, it is easy to be upset, to give up, and it is this
reason that I have continued to come back to D.C. every year. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-56229019152386474342014-01-20T12:49:00.000-08:002014-01-20T12:49:47.811-08:00Catholic Economics: Paradox or Truth?<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the things that first drew me to learn more about
Catholic Social Teaching were the questions I had about the Church’s teaching
as an Economics major. Economics is all about supply and demand, searching for
the perfect equilibrium and maximizing outcomes. An interest in public policy
has also prompted me to question what the role is of Catholic teaching in
regards to government and the economy. My interests have prompted some nagging
questions about the government’s role in providing for the poor, specifically
in regards to people living on welfare and the minimum wage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f15Ndwf4rrw/Ut2LKEufLpI/AAAAAAAAApg/gsUj9WODbfs/s1600/states-minimum-wages-2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f15Ndwf4rrw/Ut2LKEufLpI/AAAAAAAAApg/gsUj9WODbfs/s1600/states-minimum-wages-2014.png" height="212" width="320" /></a>Both of these topics inspired many talks and debates with
friends and family as I struggled through what the Church thought and my
understandings of its teachings. After learning a couple years ago about the
difficulty for those in a low socioeconomic group to live on minimum wage, I
had become convinced that raising the minimum wage was not only the answer to
ridding the U.S. of poverty, but a necessity in order to allow people to live
with the dignity that they deserve. At that point, I became a big advocate of
the minimum wage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SO6dzxKy2Mc/Ut2LZcBlciI/AAAAAAAAApw/qnCWJ8caONI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SO6dzxKy2Mc/Ut2LZcBlciI/AAAAAAAAApw/qnCWJ8caONI/s1600/images.jpg" /></a>As I learned more about economics, in particular labor
economics, I began to change my mind. I began to understand that increasing the
minimum wage would decrease the amount of jobs and lead to many jobs going to
part time, similar to the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/wendys-obamacare_n_2425066.html" target="_blank">response to the Affordable Care Act seen by many businesses</a>.
Many small businesses would not be able to survive in this type of economy as
they would end up running a deficit. If small businesses are not able to
survive and many jobs are cut, this policy would hurt the poor even more. So
perhaps we should not raise the minimum wage. But this did not change the fact
that it is nearly impossible to live on a minimum wage in the United States. So
what is the answer to this conundrum?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many conversations with my dad and his perspective as a
small business owner, prompted me to look deeper into what the Church teaches
on the minimum wage and other welfare policies. My Introduction to Catholic
Social Teaching class last semester provided me with the perfect opportunity to
study and discuss exactly what it is that the Church teaches on this topic.
What I discovered is that the Church’s teaching on these social economic issues
are still being worked out as the perfect answer has yet to be discovered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdI_5pu-9Dg/Ut2LZYAIMaI/AAAAAAAAAp8/KH2ljMdzjE4/s1600/subsidiarity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdI_5pu-9Dg/Ut2LZYAIMaI/AAAAAAAAAp8/KH2ljMdzjE4/s1600/subsidiarity.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a>My biggest breakthrough in understanding the Church’s teaching
came with the understanding that the Church does not encourage one perfect
system of government. The Church acknowledges that there are pros and cons to
different government systems, and that as long as the government is based on
human dignity, many different types of government set-ups can be considered
just. In regards to minimum wage, the Church advocates for a liberal teaching;
not, however, in the traditional terms of ‘liberal’. The Church advocates for a
personal liberal stance – that each business owner should take into account his
or her employees and pay them both according to their ability and taking into
account their dignity and familial circumstances. Small businesses that are
just beginning and not producing a profit, may have to pay their employees a
lesser wage in order to be able to compete in the market and get their feet on
the ground. Once the business starts to return a profit, however, the employees
should be rewarded. In regards to a government-set minimum wage, however, I personally
do not see a strong Catholic argument for such a policy. The Church does not necessarily
see this as the role of government but the responsibility of each of us to look
out for our brothers and sisters. I understand the Church’s call to advance the
economic freedom of everyone as a call to personal liberalism rather than a
liberal government. This idea revolves around the notion of subsidiarity --
that what can be done on a local level, should be done on that level rather
than relying on a more centralized organization. This difference was key to my
understanding of the teaching of the Catholic Church. Because Catholic Social
Teaching is still being expanded upon, these are questions that are being
debated and dialogued about with many Church authorities. As a Catholic
Economist I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what the future holds in
light of these teachings!</div>
<o:p></o:p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-79708139295266000872014-01-13T19:53:00.000-08:002014-01-13T19:53:12.980-08:00Catholic Social Teaching<div class="MsoNormal">
Entering into my senior year this past August, I decided
that I should seize the opportunity to learn more about the Catholic Church
while I had access to some of the best theologians in the world. Almost by
chance I stumbled upon and ended up adding the Catholic Social Tradition minor.
I was looking for a class that offered the opportunity to study some of the
papal encyclicals, writings that I did not even know existed until I came to
Notre Dame. The class that offered this opportunity was the Catholic Social
Tradition minor introductory class and while I was at first hesitant about the
class, it ended up opening my eyes to a new perspective on the Church’s
teaching.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Catholic Social Teaching is an aspect of our faith that is
often forgotten about, regularly referred to as the Church’s Best Kept Secret. The
Gospels and the life of Jesus Christ lay the foundation for Catholic Social
Teaching. Although this foundation was laid over 2,000 years ago, the philosophy
and term “Catholic Social Teaching” did not come about until a series of
encyclicals were written on the idea of social teaching. Beginning with <i>Rerum Novarum</i> by Pope Leo XIII in 1891
and continuing today with <i>Lumen Fidei</i>
by Pope Francis, the past 100+ years <a href="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/foundational-documents.cfm" target="_blank">have featured prolific writing on thephilosophy of Catholic Social Teaching</a>.
So what is Catholic Social Teaching and why is it that we don’t hear more about
it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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At its core, Catholic Social Teaching is a call to love and
protect human dignity, most especially the dignity of the poor. Through the
recognition of the dignity of the poor blossoms a commitment to improve the
circumstances of the poor. We come to recognize this inherent dignity and this
commitment through our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist, God humbling
himself out of love for us. In seeking to understand Christ, we are often
called to study his life. The life of Christ portrays a complete commitment to
the poor. Consider that Jesus was born in a manger, the Holy Family fleeing
from persecution and that he made a living as a carpenter. Jesus could have
been born into any circumstances he chose. He could have been born an earthly
king as well as a heavenly one and yet he chose to be among the poorest of the
poor. This decision to live among the poor provides a lesson that no other king
has been able to provide because Jesus truly lived out his teaching. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the story of the Rich Young Man seeking to follow Jesus,
Jesus told the young man “if you wish to be complete, go and sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Jesus’<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Windows%20User" datetime="2014-01-13T10:54">s</ins></span> life
and teaching revolve around a commitment to the poor, to loving those whom he
considers his equals. This tenement is at the core of Catholic Social Teaching,
this is how Jesus calls us to live our lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While the call to love and the model of Jesus’s life are a
powerful foundation, in my Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching class, I
found that the prolific writing on Catholic Social Teaching challenged many
beliefs I had always believed to be endorsed by the Catholic Church. This class
challenged be to come to a deeper understanding of my faith by way of reason, forcing
me to examine and grapple with my beliefs rather than assume them to be true.
In my next blog post I will expand upon the aspects of Catholic Social Teaching
that I most struggled with and my perspective on them. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-40556724815279224002013-12-09T17:01:00.000-08:002013-12-09T17:01:16.102-08:00Advent: Coming to Christmas<div class="MsoNormal">
Advent is a season of waiting in excited and hopeful
preparation within the Catholic Church. The first Sunday of Advent, marks the
beginning of the New Year within the Church. For many, the Advent season is
marked with the frenzy of putting up Christmas decorations and finding the
perfect gift. As children, we may have had Advent calendars where you opened a
window every day and got a piece of chocolate. A piece of chocolate every day
for 25 days is a very exciting prospect as a child, especially when you get to
eat it before breakfast. Within the Church, however, Advent holds much more
meaning than a piece of chocolate a day or Christmas decorations.</div>
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Advent comes from the Latin word ‘adventus’, meaning
‘coming’. During this season we are looking forward toward the coming of
Christ. In some ways, it seems strange to put so much emphasis on looking
forward to birth of Christ. This is an event that happened in the past, Christ
came as a child nearly 2,000 years ago; He is not being re-born every year. We
also are not celebrating His birthday in the terms of celebrating another year
of life, we are celebrating His birth. So why is it that every year we dedicate
an entire season to waiting in hope and anticipation for His coming when we
know that He has already come to Earth?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The answer to this is really twofold. First, looking forward
and waiting for His coming reminds us of the time before Jesus came to Earth. A
time in which the Chosen People really were longing for His coming. While it is
hard to fathom that people lived before the first coming of Jesus Christ, it is
a reality. Consider the Jews fleeing the Egyptians, their prayers were
different than ours in that they were praying for the first coming of Jesus. We
are fortunate enough to live during a time in which we have already gotten to
experience the first coming of Jesus and have the opportunity to experience His
presence in the physical form every day in the Eucharist. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The second aspect is that we are always waiting in joyful
expectation for the Second Coming of Jesus. We are fully aware that we do not
know the time nor the place when Jesus will return to Earth. The season of
Advent, which reminds us how the Jewish people waited for the first coming of
Christ, reminds us that we must always be ready for the Second Coming. The
Advent season is a perfect time to ask ourselves if we are prepared to meet
Jesus face to face if He should decide to come again during our lifetime.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One tradition that has been handed down through the
generations in my family is the preparation of the manger for Jesus’ birth. On
the first Sunday of Advent, we set up a manger scene in our house, complete
with all the characters minus the baby Jesus. Every day after dinner we gather
together as a family and discuss what good deeds we have done for others. For
every good deed, we got straw to put in the manger. Over the four weeks, the
straw in the manger builds up. By the time Christmas comes, and as long as we
have actually performed good deeds, the manger is warm for baby Jesus because
of the straw. As little kids, this was a good way of getting us to think about
preparing our hearts for Christmas and being able to see the results. This
daily exercise of having to think through your day and question if you have
performed any good ideas prompts you to remember what the Advent season is all
about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we prepare for the coming of Christmas this year, let’s
try not to forget the importance of Advent. It is through full participation in
the Advent season that we are able to truly rejoice in the joy of Christmas. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-46803366555337790322013-12-02T20:21:00.001-08:002013-12-02T20:21:17.097-08:00The Beauty of Music<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSbJ5Mz6yMI/Up1btuB157I/AAAAAAAAAnU/6tHhr13RGhc/s1600/alc_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSbJ5Mz6yMI/Up1btuB157I/AAAAAAAAAnU/6tHhr13RGhc/s320/alc_1.jpg" width="320" /></a>As a child I spent countless hours banging away at a piano.
I’m honestly not sure I can even call it playing or even practicing. I just
banged the keys -- off-rhythm and more often than not, hitting the wrong keys.
My stubborn Irish grandma told me that if I just acted like I played the whole
song right and didn’t stop that nobody would ever know the difference. I
believed her. One time my mom took my sister and I to a specialty teacher that
made me sit there for an hour and hit the drum in rhythm. My sister picked it
up within the first minute or two and I left after an hour still unsure of what
I was doing wrong. Eventually I realized the piano wasn’t for me. Neither was
any type of instrument. Or singing for that matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Mv81iJ1nqU/Up1bzgqxdqI/AAAAAAAAAnc/0F0FV5RCshw/s1600/alc_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Mv81iJ1nqU/Up1bzgqxdqI/AAAAAAAAAnc/0F0FV5RCshw/s320/alc_2.jpg" width="213" /></a>A couple months after I gave up on my dream of becoming the
best pianist in the world, a priest told me that if you can sing you should use
the gift God gave you and if you can’t sing you should sing twice as loud as a
gentle reminder to God that singing was not your gift. Since then I’ve been
sending a constant gentle reminder to God, especially around Christmas time. I
will freely admit that I am one of those people who loves when Christmas music
comes on in mid-October. Advent and the Christmas season are my favorite time
of the year in the Church because of how exciting and joyous the music is at
Mass. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Advent is a season of waiting in the Church – we are
waiting, excited and filled with hope as we look forward to the birth of our
Savior, the baby Jesus. The music associated with the Advent season is perhaps
some of the most hopeful music within the Church. It is music that inspires
giving and encourages us to faithfully prepare ourselves to celebrate one of
the most anticipated seasons of the year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This year, Notre Dame will once again present its annual
Advent Lessons and Carols service. This event features all of the Basilica
choirs, including the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, the Women’s Liturgical
Choir, Folk Choir, Handbell Choir and the Basilica Schola. Advent Lessons and
Carols includes music and readings that are all presented in candlelight in the
Basilica. An interdenominational service centered on the singing of traditional
Advent and Christmas carols. The event is based off the Anglican Church’s
Christmas Eve service. This year, Advent Lessons and Carols will take place in
the Basilica of the Scared Heart on Sunday, December 8<sup>th</sup> at 7:15pm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This event is a great way to continue to prepare ourselves
for the Christmas season. It is a chance to hear some of the amazing talent
that we take for granted all too often at Notre Dame. If you were gifted with
the talent of vocals, it is a chance to join in with some beautiful music and
if you were not, it is a great opportunity to send yet another reminder to God. </div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-75979690016471898992013-11-18T21:15:00.000-08:002013-11-18T21:15:49.898-08:00New Evangelization<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
November 24<sup>th</sup>, 2013
marks the end of the <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/about-catholicism/year-of-faith/" target="_blank">Year of Faith</a> as declared by Pope Benedict XVI. This Year of Faith was themed, “The New
Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”, a year to “<a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20111011_porta-fidei_en.html" target="_blank">usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.</a>” The process of reflection and rediscovery is not a process that ought to come
to a dead halt on November 24<sup>th</sup>. The movement of the “New
Evangelization” that was started by the hierarchy of the Church around the time
of the Second Vatican Council is one that is vital for all of the lay people to
consider in their faith lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many
Catholics are hesitant about the idea of Evangelization. The idea of going out
and preaching the Good News and attempting to persuade others of your faith
which you know to be Truth is difficult. In some ways, evangelization seems to
be a part of the history of the Church. We are familiar with the stories of the
apostles and their journeys to various parts of the world to spread the good
news like St. Paul and his many letters, Luke the evangelist who traveled with
St. Paul, and John who traveled all around Asia Minor. There is a distinct association of
evangelization with the persecution of the early church up through the Middle
Ages, which is perhaps why in this modern age we are reluctant to heed the
Pope's call.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Evangelization
in modern America, however, very rarely results in death. Today, living out
your faith results in a new kind of persecution. Catholic culture is by no
means mainstream. In fact, living a Catholic life is very counter-cultural. In a
recent homily on the beatitudes, a Holy Cross Father remarked on how living
life according to Catholic teaching should not be easy. We live in a culture
where we are pulled in an opposite direction. Hollywood teaches us that casual
sex is the norm, that modesty is irrelevant and that we should be allowed to
express ourselves in whatever means necessary. It is extremely difficult to
live a life fully steeped in our Catholic faith where we evangelize through our
actions rather than words.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/key-data-points/u-s-catholics-key-data-from-pew-research/#attendmass" target="_blank">recent study performed by the Pew Research Center</a>, only 41% of Catholics report
attending worship serves on a weekly basis, 41% report attending monthly or a
few times a year and 17% never or seldom attend. We’ve all been in mass on Christmas or Easter in extremely over packed church’s
wondering why it is we never see some parishioners at regular Sunday masses.
The New Evangelization encourages us to seek out these Catholics. Catholics who
have been swayed by the mass media, Catholics who need a helping hand in
returning to the faith. This New Evangelization calls us to always be witnesses
to our faith and to be vocal about it, to explain why we are Catholic and what
that means to us and engage in dialogue with those around us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Living
out our Catholic faith in light of the New Evangelization we are called to
means much more than daily prayer or weekly mass. It means first being a
witness in the fights we are waging – it means being willing and open to
adoption as pro-lifers, it means defending the stance of traditional marriage
through both word and action, it means serving and befriending the poor. Being
an evangelizing Catholic means encouraging our family and friends to do the
same. It means preaching the Good News everywhere we go and not being afraid to
talk to others we know to be of different faiths about our own beliefs.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-82338037001453560902013-11-11T14:56:00.001-08:002013-11-11T14:58:37.920-08:00Discernment: What's it All About!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Discernment: It’s one of those words you are probably
very familiar with if you grew up in the Catholic faith and one you’ve probably
never heard of if you didn’t. In recent years, I’ve grown very wary of this
word. People throw around the word like they should be discerning every life
choice. “I’m not sure if I should apply to the program, I have to discern. I’m
discerning if this is the right college for me. We are discerning a
relationship.” These casual references to discernment, however, detract from
the real meaning. Even more than that, I’ve found myself truly frustrated with
those people who use ‘discerning’ as a way to push off a commitment or a
decision. Several times I’ve heard that discernment is a Catholic’s way to make
procrastination seem okay. At the same time, however, discernment is a process
that is taught and endorsed by the Catholic Church, so shouldn’t we support it?
Well, that depends on the definition and context of discernment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Discernment can be defined in so many different ways. We
can consider spiritual discernment, vocational discernment, career discernment
or everyday discernment just to name a few. Digging deeper, we can even
consider different approaches to discernment, most notably Ignatius
discernment. With all the different types of discernment, however, the most
important aspect remains the same, and that is to be acting in accordance with
God’s will. Sounds easy, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a conversation with <a href="mailto:emack1@nd.edu" target="_blank">Ed Mack</a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></span>who
works with <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/about-catholicism/vocations/" target="_blank">students at ND seeking guidance in discernment</a>, and quite an expert
on the subject, he noted that the two most vital things in a discernment
process are honesty and prayer: honesty, especially with yourself, and prayer,
taking time out of your day and in your decision process to spend time with
God. It seems like nearly everyone has a different opinion on how to go about
the discernment process, with all of their suggestions including finding peace
in your decision. Again, this doesn’t sound super simple, so let’s break it
down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What does it mean to be honest with yourself? Well, this
should be the easy part -- if we just eliminate all the influences constantly
surrounding us. Unfortunately, that’s generally impossible to achieve. So what
do we do? Maybe we give up. Or maybe we first try to be honest with ourselves;
are we simply using this discernment period to delay a decision or are we truly
struggling with what is the right decision? And then we find those people in
our lives who we can always talk to. Those people who will allow us to talk
through our decisions and offer advice that we value. Our family and friends
often know us best and if they’re true friends, they’ll support us in decisions
we think are best for us and will push us to do better when we go down a wrong
path. So talk to a friend, a spiritual director, a priest, or Ed Mack! (His
office is in CoMo right by the ball floating in water and he is quite open to
students dropping by whenever.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Praying also seems like an easy task. We’ve all been
taught how to pray at some point in our lives. However, when we think about
finding peace with our decision through prayer, we immediately come up against
the question of, how do we know if we’ve found peace? What does that mean? The
problem with starting discernment in this way is that if we’ve never known or
felt peace, how will we recognize if we are at peace with our decision? As a
result, in addition to Ed Mack’s two criteria, I would add a third: if we have
never felt peace in our lives, most importantly in our prayer lives, we must
learn what it means for us to be at peace. This perhaps is the hardest piece of
the puzzle – knowing that we have come to the right decision.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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In his most recent interview with America magazine, Pope
Francis offered some wisdom on the process of discernment. He said, “Sometimes
discernment instead urges us to do precisely what you had at first thought you
would do later…I am always wary of decisions made hastily. I am always wary of
the first decision, that is, the first thing that comes to my mind if I have to
make a decision. This is usually the wrong thing. I have to wait and assess,
looking deep into myself, taking the necessary time. The wisdom of discernment
redeems the necessary ambiguity of life and helps us find the most appropriate
means, which do not always coincide with what looks great and strong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The process of discernment takes time and generally
relates to big decisions in our lives. We need to be patient in these decisions,
but also ready to take the first step. God works with each one of us in a unique way,
all we have to do is listen and follow.<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-46281342670841233282013-11-05T18:01:00.001-08:002013-11-05T18:01:09.818-08:00One-on-One Time with God<a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/undergraduate-resources/personal-prayer/eucharistic-adoration/" target="_blank">Adoration, or Eucharistic Exposition</a>, is often one of the
most overlooked forms of prayer. Adoration is a time of silent worship and
contemplation before the exposed Eucharist – the Body of our Lord. While not a
sacrament itself, it is a form of prayer from which we receive great graces.
When we consider what Adoration truly is, it seems that it is exactly what we
are striving for in heaven – to be fully in the presence of God. Why is it,
then, that we are not constantly running to Adoration? Why is it not a place we
visit daily?<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sR48oB3Rlf4/UnmhzdEguMI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Bic1xbuwmBc/s1600/coleman_morse_chapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sR48oB3Rlf4/UnmhzdEguMI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Bic1xbuwmBc/s320/coleman_morse_chapel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Adoration is a form of prayer that uniquely places an
emphasis on you and your relationship with God. We are not caught up in the
recitation of prayers or worrying that we remember the exact phrasing of the
new mass translations, we are silent and we are solely in the focus of God.
This is not to say that the rosary or the Mass are lesser forms of prayer, the
mass is the greatest; rather it is to emphasize the different qualities of
Adoration and to suggest that perhaps we need to start incorporating this form
of prayer into our faith lives as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In some ways we can think of our relationship with God as a
child in a large family. Being in a large family is fantastic – I can attest to
this fact being from a family of seven children! There are many perks to being
in a large family, there is always someone around to help you out or to go
along with your stupid ideas. However, just like coming from a small family,
that one-on-one relationship with your parents is so important and helps you
grow like no other relationship can. In our faith lives, we need to make sure
that we make time for that one on one relationship, time to seek God in the
quiet and still and to focus just on you and Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUYbLA3IPS8/Unmh7iGBpYI/AAAAAAAAAlc/-BEWMtfnF3M/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUYbLA3IPS8/Unmh7iGBpYI/AAAAAAAAAlc/-BEWMtfnF3M/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a>Attending a half hour or hour of Adoration can oftentimes be
difficult for us. We are so used to constantly being entertained-- texting,
calling, FB updates, tweets and music! We have been trained to hate the silence
and to never purposely “go off the grid” and not check our phones for an entire
hour! In the beginning of this semester I realized that I did not start classes
on Tuesday and Thursday until 12:30pm. While it sounds like every college
student’s dream, I knew I’d have a hard time being productive before class if I
didn’t have an extra motivating factor. Having heard about <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuzRuwKNvLc0dExnQk1aV2d4dkxoX3MtSDZPS29fRWc#gid=0" target="_blank">adoration sign-ups</a>
last year I decided to give it a try this year and sign up for a Thursday
morning slot to at least get my day started a little earlier. In the beginning,
I had a very hard time concentrating. Not sure what to do for an entire thirty
minutes, I tried to completely rid my mind – it did not work very well, I tend
to overanalyze just about everything. I cannot tell you exactly what it is that
has kept me coming back, except that I knew I had an obligation to be there
since I had signed up. I can, however, attest to the fact that I’ve always left
feeling better and I’ve come to look forward to that silent time, a time of
reflection and listening. As I continually try to unravel my thoughts into a
cohesive prayer, I’ve come to realize that the beauty of Adoration is that we
don’t have to come before God as something that we are not. We should bring all
our worries, our troubles, and our exciting news, and we should lay it before
the Lord. This is not to say that we should not try to focus on the Eucharist
but that we should approach this time with God as a time to stop, tell God what
is on our mind, and listen to what He has to say – just as we would with a
parent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mother Teresa was perhaps one of the biggest advocates of
Adoration. She once said, “<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus has made
Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If
you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that
Adoration.The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best
time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will
deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and
beautiful in Heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Together, we should
challenge ourselves and our friends to spend this time with Jesus – to take
time out of our hectic schedules so that we too can better understand His love
and His path for our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Adoration is available on
campus </span>Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Coleman-Morse Chapel) and<br />
Friday: 12 – 5 p.m. (Basilica, Lady Chapel)<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-13161965180469866752013-10-29T18:40:00.000-07:002013-10-29T18:40:07.625-07:00The Communion of Saints: Do you know your faith!?“I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of
saints and the forgiveness of sins”.<div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a line we recite every week – perhaps more than once a
week, and yet, how often do we stop to question if we really understand what we
mean by professing a belief in the communion of saints? I’ll be the first to
admit that I have managed to rush past this line more times than I can count
without stopping to question my own professed belief in the Church’s teaching
on saints. Growing up in a Catholic family and attending Catholic school, I’ve
been taught the importance of the “s” vs “S” saint, but how do saints become
Saints? How many saints are there? Isn’t there something about miracles involved
with this?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbEfXb_5RJE/UnBilb2AjBI/AAAAAAAAAkg/72P77OuRi0g/s1600/allsaintsday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbEfXb_5RJE/UnBilb2AjBI/AAAAAAAAAkg/72P77OuRi0g/s200/allsaintsday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the celebration of All Saints Day coming up this Friday
(reminder: Holy Day of Obligation) I’ve decided to look more into these
questions in an effort to learn more about my faith. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The communion of saints referred to in the Apostle’s Creed
every Sunday refers to a communion of “holy things”, most importantly, the
Eucharist. It also refers to a communion of all believers, both living and
deceased, it is the unified body of Christ. The reference refers to all saints,
all believers in Christ, saints with a lowercase “s”. The reference refers to
us, to you and me. But what about the Saints that we so often <a href="">hear </a>about?
The ones whose heads were chopped off for their beliefs? The ones who were
crucified upside down or were thrown into a lion’s den? Where do they fit into
the Church’s teaching? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The history of Saints in the Church is long and profound but
let’s start with a process we have all heard of yet may not have a deep
understanding of, the process of being canonized a saint. A recent saint canonized
in 2004 by Pope John Paul II is <a href="http://www.stgiannaphysicians.org/" target="_blank">St. Gianna Beretta Molla</a>, I will use her story
to help illuminate this complex process.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Canonization is a process that starts generally 5 years
after the individual’s death and follows these steps:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(1)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Servant of God”. A bishop gives permission to
open an investigation into a candidate for sainthood in response to a petition
by members of the Church. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This investigation, run by a council of laypeople –generally started
by friends or family members–</span><span class="MsoCommentReference" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">is
quite exhaustive, it includes detailed accounts of speeches, writings and eye
witness accounts of the individual’s work and life recorded in a detailed
biography. The conclusion of the individual ends in presenting the detailed
account of this individual, now called a “Servant of God”, to the Congregation
for the Causes of the Saints (part of the Roman Curia). The Servant of God is
designated to a particular individual, called a postulator. The postulator
gathers more evidence and eventually receives permission to exhume the body for
examination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
-St. Gianna’s cause was opened up by the
Cardinal of Milan after hearing stories of her holiness and dedication to a
virtuous life. St. Gianna’s family had been presented with an award by the
administration of Milan honoring her memory ten years prior. This award specifically
honored her commitment to life – pregnant with her fourth child, St. Gianna
refused an abortion and hysterectomy even after realizing that continuing the
pregnancy could result in death. St. Gianna delivered her last child on April
21, 1962 and died as a result of complications with the pregnancy seven days
later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(2)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Heroic in Virtue”. If the postulator is able to
gather enough evidence that the “Servant of God” has demonstrated the cardinal
and theological virtues to a heroic degree, he is recommended to the Pope. At
this point, the Pope can declare the “Servant of God” as “Venerable”. At this
point, the Catholic Church encourages its members to pray for a miracle through
the intercession of this Hero in Virtue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
-Evidence was gathered by the newly formed
Gianna Physician’s Guild in conjunction with the Cardinal Carlo Martini,
Archbishop of Milan. Her case was presented to Pope John Paul II and received official
approval to continue the process. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(3)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Blessed”. Beatification is the last step before
being declared a Saint. For an individual to be beatified, they must be
declared either a martyr or a confessor. In order to be considered a confessor,
a miracle
must have taken place through his or her intercession.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The
miracle is determined through an official Vatican commission through a process similar
to the scientific methodology.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
-Because St. Gianna was not a martyr, a
miracle had to be attributed to her in order for her to become “blessed”. St.
Gianna’s first miracle story takes place in Brazil in a hospital founded by her
brother. A young woman was brought in one night having delivered her fourth child
a couple days earlier. The young woman had a serious rectal-vaginal fistula
that was only able to be operated on in a hospital over 600 kilometers away.
Transporting the patient carried serious risks. Three of the nurses at the
hospital started praying for the intercession of Gianna and according to the
patient, the pain immediately subsided. Upon examination, it was found that the
fistula had completely disappeared. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(4)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Saint”. The canonization process is complete at
the declaration of Sainthood. In order to be recognized as a Saint, another
miracle must be attributed to the individual. Once an individual becomes a
Saint, they are assigned a feast day in the Catholic Church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
-The second miracle attributed to St. Gianna
concerns a baby born without amniotic fluid. Due to a large blood clot, a
physician informed his patient that her pregnancy would most likely result in a
spontaneous abortion. Deciding to continue with the pregnancy, she returned to
the doctor at 16 weeks knowing something had gone wrong. An ultrasound showed
that the membranes had broken and there was no amniotic fluid, meaning that the
child and mother were in serious danger. When treatment failed, doctors
predicted that the baby would die. The local Bishop was alerted to their
predicament and urged them to pray through the intercession of Blessed Gianna.
After many precarious months and a complicated C-section that resulted with in
more complications, a healthy baby was born and the mother regained her health.
St. Gianna was canonized on May 16, 2004. Her feast day is celebrated on April
28<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Besides canonization, here are some more fun facts about
Saints:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-In the Roman Catholic Church, there are over 10,000 saints.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-We do not pray to Saints, we pray with them. Remember there
is a difference between asking for a Saint to pray on your behalf and praying
to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-At Baptism, we are assigned a Patron saint and given their
name, generally your first or middle name.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-91663043879967582862013-10-14T19:04:00.000-07:002013-10-14T19:04:33.665-07:00A Profound Silence<div class="MsoNormal">
In the middle of last year I found myself tied up in the
craziness of being busy. Applying to internships, involvement in various clubs
on campus, taking some of my hardest classes and all the while trying to make
sure that I take the time to enjoy my junior year. At some point I realized
that I needed a break from the constant going and embarked on a journey of
silence. I had decided to sign up for a Silent Retreat held at Moreau Seminary,
run by Campus Ministry. I knew this retreat was going to be different than
others I had attended in the past. As I walked with a friend past the lakes
toward Moreau, we seriously debated turning back; being silent for 48 hrs
seemed like a monstrous feat that I wasn’t sure I felt up to trying. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_BeugnmdGw/UlyiC4TtbwI/AAAAAAAAAkI/NUN2jTQo_S8/s1600/Moreau+Foggy+Morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_BeugnmdGw/UlyiC4TtbwI/AAAAAAAAAkI/NUN2jTQo_S8/s320/Moreau+Foggy+Morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moreau Seminary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon our arrival we shared a meal with other retreat
participants before entering into silence. Getting to know others and forming a
community has always been my favorite aspect of retreats; I’ve always enjoyed
hearing other people’s stories and being able to relate to them on a personal
level. However, after dinner we were not allowed to talk to one another from
Friday night until Sunday afternoon and so it seemed that any fellowship would
end then and there.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The retreat included three sessions of meeting with a
spiritual adviser to discuss where you were in your prayer life and suggestions
of where to focus your prayer. Participants are paired up with spiritual
advisors upon arrival and continue with the same spiritual adviser the entire
time. While extremely hesitant to discuss my prayer life with someone else, I
greatly looked forward to these sessions because it meant I could talk! I was fortunate
to be paired up with Sister Mary Lynch, who instantly made me feel at ease. The
first session that I went into I really tried to focus on prayer and not the
difficulty of being silent. I was utterly surprised when I was told that I
should try not to read but just learn to be in God’s presence. Here I was
thinking that I had fooled the system because I loved to read and a weekend of
just reading sounded very enjoyable to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7yEIhdgUMM4/UlyiKmJbSQI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/dpP8R5w2jA0/s1600/CMLogo_cmyk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7yEIhdgUMM4/UlyiKmJbSQI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/dpP8R5w2jA0/s320/CMLogo_cmyk.jpg" width="320" /></a>While talking was a huge benefit of these sessions, I also
found Sister Mary’s guidance really allowed me to focus my prayer life. Being
silent and focusing on myself rather than building connections within a
community, allowed me to discover where in my life I found God’s presence. At
one point Sister Mary asked me what came to mind when reading a certain passage
in the Bible and I responded with a saying my grandma always reminds me of,
“you are a beautiful daughter of God”. Sister asked me to reflect on that, to
think through what it meant to be a daughter of God, to be a <b>beautiful</b> daughter of God. It was an
exercise I was in some ways uncomfortable with in the beginning – we are
constantly surrounded by this pressure to be better, to compare ourselves to
photo-shopped models, to save the world. What I discovered is that sometimes we
need to focus on ourselves and remember that not only are we created and loved
by God but we are created in the image of the most perfect Being. We are more
than good enough, we are beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The end of the retreat came with a sigh of relief of being
able to talk again and excessive amounts of speaking for the rest of that
Sunday. Although I struggled with the silence and not being able to interact
with others, my weekend on a silent retreat taught me so much more about myself
than any other retreat I had attended in the past. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-584331968132109612013-10-07T18:10:00.001-07:002013-10-07T18:10:51.556-07:00What it Means to be Pro-Life: An Advocate for Love<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the current ND <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/m4l/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">March for Life</span></a> Trip
Coordinator and former President and Treasurer of ND Right to Life, these past
years have been an eye-opening experience of the inner workings of the pro-life
movement. From standing in the cold rain at a life chain with <a href="http://www.prolifemichiana.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">St.Joseph
County Right to Life</span></a> to leading the <a href="http://www.marchforlife.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">National
March for Life inWashington D.C.</span></a> to volunteering at the <a href="http://www.womenscarecenter.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Women’s Care Center</span></a> to lighting candle after candle at
the Grotto for the end to abortion, being pro-life has come to permeate every
aspect of my life. I did not set out to let being pro-life define me but as I
learned more about what being pro-life truly means, I realized that I could not
truthfully call myself pro-life and limit this ideal to one aspect of my life.
Along my journey in the pro-life movement, I have discovered some important
truths about being pro-life that I hope to share with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I
have often found that there is a huge misperception of what being pro-life
means in society today. I have sat in classroom debates, had
conversations and often been accused of being a bad person for being pro-life.
It is through these encounters where I have realized that the pro-life movement
is much more than a legal battle, it is a battle for hearts. Most commonly the
thought goes, “you’re pro-life, so you’re against abortion, right?” or “don’t
women deserve the freedom to decide what should happen to their body?” While
being pro-life means not supporting abortion, it means so much more than that.
By its very definition, being “pro-life” means being “for life”. When I say I
am pro-life I mean that I am constantly striving to love life, to love my life
and to love and cherish the lives of those around me. It is as simple as
saying, “I want to love”. Not in this romantic, Disney-esque fairy-tale way,
but in a love that allows Christ to shine through in everyone. As pro-lifers we
are called not to judge but to love. We do not seek to simply end abortion or
euthanasia but to love our neighbors enough that they do not have to face these
difficult decisions. It is not our place to look down on those who have chosen
a decision we disagree with, it is our place to call them our brother or sister
and regard them as a person whose dignity is irrevocable.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk2yqwSS1RI/UlNY-La8VyI/AAAAAAAAAjg/F8g_QML6iuc/s1600/537223_584589898221905_1686432379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk2yqwSS1RI/UlNY-La8VyI/AAAAAAAAAjg/F8g_QML6iuc/s320/537223_584589898221905_1686432379_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> As
a pro-lifer, I believe in the inherent dignity in all human life. I believe
that this dignity deserves to be cherished and celebrated. As a member of the
pro-life movement I cannot just oppose abortion, euthanasia and the death
penalty. To only oppose abortion and not seek to understand the position of a
woman in a crisis pregnancy or a family member hoping to ease the suffering of
their elderly grandparent, would be a hypocritical stance. In order to truly
promote a culture of life, the pro-life movement seeks to support women in
crisis pregnancies, to assist those with mental or physical handicaps and to
treat the elderly as beloved members of the human community. Service is just as
much a pro-life act as protesting the <i>Roe v. Wade </i>court
decision in Washington D.C. The goal of the pro-life movement is not to create
legislative change but to create cultural change. To change a culture of death
into a culture of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5LP4l0z1Ks/UlNY-B8kBOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/QyQE1MaEb_4/s1600/424821_584589741555254_1920170913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5LP4l0z1Ks/UlNY-B8kBOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/QyQE1MaEb_4/s320/424821_584589741555254_1920170913_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This
week (Oct. 6<sup>th</sup>- 12<sup>th</sup>), the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNrX58Yn1Sg" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Notre Dame Right to Life Club</span></a> celebrates <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I2wb_B5I-w&feature=c4-overview&list=UUTLMN_3hidDoEd2LO8rGbMA" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Respect Life Week</span></a>. This
week includes a series of events to advocate and promote what it means to be
pro-life. We, as a club, seek to challenge the Notre Dame student body. This
week we challenge those who consider themselves to be pro-life to consider what
that truly means in their lives. We challenge those who consider themselves
pro-choice to consider why they hold these beliefs, and most importantly, for
those on both ends of the spectrum to enter into discussion with those of
opposing beliefs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I'd like to
invite all those in South Bend to attend the <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/prolifend/events-activities/respect-life-week" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">various events surrounding Respect
Life Week</span></a>. On Tuesday, Oct. 8th, join the ND Community in a Rosary
for Life with Fr. Jenkins at 6:30 pm in the Basilica. Tuesday night at 8pm we
will be setting up a pro-life display on South Quad, all are welcome to come
out and help! On Wednesday, Oct. 9th, the National Director of the March for
Life, Jeanne Monahan, will give a lecture on "What Does it Mean to be
Pro-Life?" at 8pm in Mendoza Auditorium. On Thursday, all are invited to
share the gift of life through donating blood on Bond Quad from 10am - 3pm and
join us for a candlelight vigil at 11pm on South Quad. We will conclude the
week on Friday with a LifeFest on South Quad from 5pm-7pm, come celebrate the
gift of life with us!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aDKeuyKLR8/UlNaY7IVT_I/AAAAAAAAAj0/NtIJXuCnzOU/s1600/Baby-Justice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aDKeuyKLR8/UlNaY7IVT_I/AAAAAAAAAj0/NtIJXuCnzOU/s320/Baby-Justice.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Along my journey toward understanding what it means to be pro-life, I
have heard many outstanding speeches, witnessed martyrs to the cause and come
to know some of the most loving people. One of the most powerful questions I’ve
been asked is this: as U.S. citizens we’ve grown up in the era following the
end of slavery and racial discrimination. It is easy, in hindsight, to question
our grandparents and great-grandparents, where were you when these atrocities
were committed? What did you do to end this terrible evil? </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is clear that we are not all called to dedicate our lives to the pro-life
cause, but we are all called to witness to the dignity in each and every life.
And so I challenge you to ask yourself this, when your children or
grandchildren realize that we lived in a time when it was legal to kill a
person based off of their stage of development or their health, what will your
response be to the question of what did you do to help change our culture into
a beloved culture of life?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you or someone you know has personally been affected by an abortion
and would like to talk to someone about it, please contact Project Rachel at:
(888) 456-HOPE</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you or someone you know finds themselves in a crisis pregnancy, please
contact: 1(800) 848- LOVE and remember that<a href="http://studentaffairs.nd.edu/health-safety/assistance-for-pregnant-students/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"> Notre Dame’s policy is that it
is committed to life and to providing resources that support the choice of life</span></a>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-32683538279072043592013-09-30T17:42:00.000-07:002013-09-30T17:42:00.334-07:00Notre Dame Fellowship<div class="MsoNormal">
Fellowship is at the heart of nearly every activity in the
Notre Dame community. The University of Notre Dame is unique from many other
elite universities because we foster a supportive community. Not only do we
want to achieve success but we want others to achieve success with us; we are
constantly encouraged to do our best and also to encourage our peers to do
their best. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As part of a community rooted in fellowship, we rejoice in
each other’s successes and help each other when we falter. The beginning of
this academic year may be off to a rocky start as the Notre Dame community
received three email alerts in quick succession regarding sexual assaults on
our campus. We failed as a community, not once but three times. A quick
response to these emails came in the form of a prayer service at the Grotto.
How fitting that at a time when mistakes are made we turn to Our Lady for
assistance and guidance.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgXKsVvUq2g/UkoZwnkVGSI/AAAAAAAAAi4/m-exBGBTpMc/s1600/grotto+prayer+service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgXKsVvUq2g/UkoZwnkVGSI/AAAAAAAAAi4/m-exBGBTpMc/s320/grotto+prayer+service.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last Sunday night, Notre Dame’s Student Government’s called
us together as a community to reflect on our failings and to encourage us to
seek a better future. Notre Dame students came together as a community in
prayer to reflect on the importance of standing together, acknowledging our
weaknesses and preparing to move forward in support of one another. We know we
are not perfect, we know our brothers and sisters are not perfect, regardless,
we seek to always be there for each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Through Jesus’ own example, we realize the need for
fellowship within our community. One of Jesus’ first acts in his ministry was
to gather together twelve apostles. These faithful disciples gathered together
in support of one another. They raised their doubts as individuals to seek the
support of the community. Jesus knew that following His teachings was going to
be hard; as a fallen people, we no longer live in the safety of Eden. However,
coming together in fellowship allows us to participate in the renewing
community of a redeemed people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Just as in the time of Jesus, being a Catholic is not always
easy. We are often called to stand up for beliefs that go against the cultural
or societal norms. The teachings of the Catholic Church do not change as
society’s view changes; they remain grounded in the firm reality of truth as
revealed through Christ to the Church on earth. This truth is oftentimes
counter-cultural, making living out the values of a Catholic life very
difficult. It is in striving to live our lives in a Christ-centered manner that
we must form a community around us that we know will support us, even in our
failings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoZxvnWm1JA/UkoZv9lnAqI/AAAAAAAAAiw/PIvDlgNfu1Y/s1600/Last+Supper.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoZxvnWm1JA/UkoZv9lnAqI/AAAAAAAAAiw/PIvDlgNfu1Y/s320/Last+Supper.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Notre Dame community faltered in its recognition of the
human dignity of others. We failed because we let our brothers and sisters
fail. However, we must surround each other with the hope and support of the
fellowship of Catholics. As much as our achievements define us, we must ensure
that our failures do not define us.</div>
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Any time that we, as a student body, receive an email about
a sexual assault, Student Government is committed to holding a prayer service
immediately following. Through our turn to prayer as a community, we are
reminded that we must rely on the Redeemer and find our hope in Him. Notre Dame
is a unique university because we place our trust in God and encourage others
to follow us on our journeys. We are a
community, rooted in the truth of God’s teaching, attempting to live in a world
that may not always support us, and so we must make sure that fellowship
remains alive in our community.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-13560028262057368812013-09-23T09:36:00.000-07:002013-09-23T09:49:22.115-07:00#prayforpeace<br />
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The authority of the Pope in the Catholic Church is often
one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Church. The lineage of the Pope
starts with St. Peter and can be traced all the way through Pope Francis, quite
a remarkable feat for a 2,000 year old institution! Yet the role of the Pope is
often very misconstrued by both Christians and non-Christians. The Pope’s main
role is as the visible head and symbol of unity for the Catholic Church. The
Pope’s role as “Supreme Pontiff” entitles him to make the selection of bishops
and cardinals and to be the final decision in any disputes within the Catholic
Church. While the Pope has always been a public figure, the public became
fixated on the role of the Pope this past spring. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D0g-lFwd6CE/UkBsup1SCSI/AAAAAAAAAiE/rp7uvhMYKpY/s1600/pope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D0g-lFwd6CE/UkBsup1SCSI/AAAAAAAAAiE/rp7uvhMYKpY/s320/pope.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=534829526556269&set=pb.204594199579805.-2207520000.1379873279.&type=3&theater" target="_blank">Campus Ministry Facebook Page</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On February 11<sup>th</sup>, 2013, the Catholic Church
became the focus of media worldwide. In what seemed like an unprecedented
event, Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement—from pope-dom! All of the
sudden, the Catholic Church was receiving positive press coverage from a
bewildered media. The appointment of pope is a lifelong appointment so how
could this happen, and why!? I’m sure all of you watched the coverage as main
stream media attempted to explain the inner workings of the Roman Curia and the
election of the pope, perhaps some of you even placed bets on who the next pope
may be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KutOdUWnJ5U/UkBtft863yI/AAAAAAAAAiU/g8yh5VkZIzo/s1600/peace.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KutOdUWnJ5U/UkBtft863yI/AAAAAAAAAiU/g8yh5VkZIzo/s200/peace.png" width="190" /></a>In a very momentous moment in the Catholic Church, the first
South American pope was elected: Pope Francis. Of course, the crowd immediately
fell in love with him, he was a cute old man, visibly humble and dedicated to
social justice. There were immediate speculations on how Pope Francis was going
to change the Church and how his history and personality were going to impact
his role as Pope. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Within his first few months as Pope, Pope Francis has shown
that he is not going to fulfill the ‘typical’ role as Pope. From showing up to
pay his hotel bill after his selection as Pope to insisting on living in simple
quarters, Pope Francis has stayed true to his Jesuit roots to his devout
humility in Christ. In a recent interview when asked about who he was, Pope
Francis responds with “<a href="http://www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview" target="_blank">I am a sinner</a>”. </div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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In many ways, Pope Francis has taken the world by surprise.
From the surprise announcement by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI of his retirement
to Pope Francis’ ‘<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/pope-selfie-twitter-vatican_n_3844061.html" target="_blank">selfie</a>’ that has taken over Buzzfeed, Pope Francis has proven that he is not going to
going to stick to the traditional role of the Pope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TscB7rbWCTM/UkBtPvnVDOI/AAAAAAAAAiM/lf0OgYCgeVE/s1600/peace+tweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="73" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TscB7rbWCTM/UkBtPvnVDOI/AAAAAAAAAiM/lf0OgYCgeVE/s400/peace+tweet.png" width="400" /></a>We witnessed his humility once again in his response to
Syria. Rather than issue an official
promulgation on the stance of the Church, Pope Francis called for a worldwide
day of prayer and fasting, along with the message “pray for peace”. In his
actions, Pope Francis appealed to the universality of the Church. Prayer and
fasting are both simple actions that Catholics and non-Catholics alike can
partake in, and peace is a message everyone can agree on. The Notre Dame
community joined in this international effort with<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHzfeCjxCEw" target="_blank"> an entire day of prayer and fasting for Syria</a>. Pope Francis spread his message to a worldwide audience with his a series of
tweets from @Pontifex that included the message #prayforpeace. This trend took
off as thousands of follows joined in prayers and fasting (and tweets!) for
peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pope Francis has transitioned into a tremendously important
role with the grace and humility only a man in a deep relationship with God may
attain. He calls us all to “replace dogma with love”, not to forget our faith
but to ensure that we also remember Christ’s call to love. His faithful service
to the Catholic Church has been a true witness to Catholics across the globe
and through his actions we are reminded of our own call to a profound love for
Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150836068160750213.post-105759138677865062013-09-16T12:09:00.000-07:002013-09-16T12:10:16.339-07:00The Call to Holiness<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://theirishblessing.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-perfect-community.html" target="_blank">In my previous post</a>, I described how being made in the image
of a Trinitarian God, we are called to live in communion. This week I will
approach the notion of being created <i>Imago
Dei</i> from a different angle, one of differences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOBn3u77qM8/UjdW9vaMhqI/AAAAAAAAAhs/zkdyyzI9pwY/s1600/Freshman+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOBn3u77qM8/UjdW9vaMhqI/AAAAAAAAAhs/zkdyyzI9pwY/s320/Freshman+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We see in the Trinity how a call to unity is not a call to
oneness. We are not called to be the same person, we are called to be unified
in one Christ. The differences between unity and sameness are the differences
between persons. We are all uniquely made in the image of God. There are no
replicates. You are solely yourself and no one can change that or re-create
that. Just as in the Trinity there are three persons in one, in the body of
Christ (the Church), there are many parts. The Holy Spirit and God the Father
are unique Beings, they are wholly separate from another and yet wholly united
with each other and the Son. While we strive to imitate their unity in our
communities, we must also strive to imitate their individualism in our
differences. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/11/" target="_blank">Genesis Chapter 11</a>, we see a completely unified people.
Men have come together and declared, “let us build for ourselves a city, and a
tower whose top will reach into heaven”. It would seem at first glance that
these men are unified in their love for Christ, for their goal is to reach
heaven. Reading further on, however, we see that sin controls their actions,
“let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad the
face of the whole earth”. The unity of these men is rooted in the sin of pride.
They seek to reach God in order to make a name for themselves, not for the sake
of attaining unity with God in heaven.
God then confuses their language and spreads them throughout the whole
earth. It is here where we see the first instance of diversity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While we do not know why God decided to confuse the language
of the men building the tower of Babel, the focus is how do we deal with these
differences as Catholics? A brief look at the history of the Church
demonstrates that these differences should not be squandered. We should not
strive to be the same, rather we should all strive to be holy. We are each
individually called to holiness and this is manifested in different ways for
different people. At Notre Dame we are all challenged to live out this call to holiness
in our everyday lives. Whether through <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/undergraduate-resources/personal-prayer/eucharistic-adoration/" target="_blank">adoration</a>, <a href="http://campusministry.nd.edu/basilica-of-the-sacred-heart/mass-schedule/" target="_blank">daily mass in the dorms or Basilica</a> or theological debates among friends, <a href="http://www.nd.edu/about/mission-statement/" target="_blank">we are constantly encouraged to find God in our everyday lives</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbbujpGMqT4/UjdXJODCVsI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Kgnh6jDfIoM/s1600/9.8.13+Spanish+Mass+2_LowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbbujpGMqT4/UjdXJODCVsI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Kgnh6jDfIoM/s320/9.8.13+Spanish+Mass+2_LowRes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rather than look at cultural or vocational differences in
others as pulling us apart from one another, these differences allow us to
follow an individual path towards God. The Church encourages us to seek God in
our own way and to develop a personal relationship with Him. It is through
these differences that we are able to see our own humanity. Though we are all
different, we are all able to experience the presence of God and it is in this
realization that we are able to able to reason that there is some greater
presence than ourselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is this greater presence of the all-encompassing God that
must unify us, both personally and socially.
In each person's uniqueness, there is also a unique call from God that
cannot be accomplished by anyone else.
Each person is special not in spite of their differences, but because
their differences add so much to ourselves and society. We are all created different <i>and</i> in the image of God, and in this way
our differences are a light by which we can discover more of Him and His
purpose for humanity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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